Green Home Trends for 2010

Houses are central to the green movement. Buyers today are more aware of the consequences of their choices. When greener choices can be made, today’s buyers want to make them. They want to do the right thing – both for themselves and for the planet. Many of the design choices that we see coming in 2010 are grounded in the green movement.

Hard Surface Floors

Hard surface floors are a green design feature. Carpets hold dust, germs, mites and allergens. In the past, the smell of new carpet signaled a clean, updated house. Today, this smell signals chemicals used to make the glues, fibers, pesticides, and fire retardants in the material. There is serious concern about infants crawling on carpet before it has had time to cure. Concrete, stone, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, and wood are favored floorings. Bamboo, which grows a foot per day, is a popular choice because it is safe and sustainable to produce.

Healthy Choices

Buyers today are more health conscious. Through the green movement, their construction knowledge is deeper and more technical. There is a generalized concern about asbestos fibers, adhesives, high VOC paint, pressboard glues, and off-gassing from carpet. Homebuyers today feel good about using locally made materials and recycled products. For example, insulation made from old blue jeans is a gaining popularity. It makes use of recycled materials, is sustainable, is safe to use in homes.

Alternative Energy

Energy that can be produced on the property is gaining ground. Homes that operate at net-zero energy are possible. As alternative energy sources become more cost effective they will be more widely used. Neighborhood associations are now facing questions about solar panels and wind turbines on roofs. We will see more of them in 2010. A popular recent trend has been the solar tube, an alternative to the skylight, to gather solar energy and reflect the light down a tube into the room.

Re-thinking Fireplaces

These have been a must since the 1980’s. However, today air pollution and the net heat loss from fireplaces have people re-thinking the fireplace. Many have been converted to gas log systems. An alternative is the “direct vent” fireplace, which functions as a gas heating appliance. In warmer climates buyers may opt out of fireplaces altogether. On the other hand, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are trending in.

Lower Utility Bills

Today’s home buyers would like to reduce their carbon footprint and save on utility bills. They want their homes to be energy efficient. Low E Glass, R 38 insulation, high efficiency AC systems, passive solar orientation, solar panels, energy rated appliances, tank-less water heaters, and LED lighting are some of the basics that buyers expect to find, or are willing to upgrade to.

Down Sizing

The green construction trend, plus the current economic slowdown, has led naturally to a reduction in excess space in homes. Smaller homes, clean lines, and less clutter resonate with today’s buyers. Formal living rooms or media rooms that are unconnected to other core areas tend to not be used. They may be converted to studies or left off altogether. The open floor plan is a green choice. It allows conditioned air to flow easily, and it optimizes the effect of passive solar design.

Places to Walk

There is considerably more interest in walkability. Developers are re-thinking how neighborhoods are planned. People want to walk to parks, shops, and restaurants. They are concerned about our dependence on cars – unstable gasoline costs, environmental damage, and negative effects on personal heath. Garages are being left off in some urban areas in favor of carports or open parking. Home offices are expanding. Live-work lofts are a popular new design style. We are seeing this transfer to live-work spaces in homes.

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SIPS Roof: Perfect Fit for Austin Country Home

When Cheryl and Eric Cosway decided to build their dream home in the hill country south of Austin they teamed up with Bill Moore, Austin’s original green builder. Their passion for building green, combined with Bill’s technical knowledge, led to a truly sustainable home – built with sensitivity to the health of it occupants, use of energy, cost factors, footprint on the land, and to its impact on the environment as a whole.  

This is a blog series on the green elements of this “5-Star Energy Rated” house. Thanks to Cheryl Cosway and Bill Moore for sharing their thoughts.

Roselind: I understand that you used a SIPS roof ? What is this? Why was it selected?

Cheryl: Yes, we decided to use a SIPS roof, which stands for Structural Insulated Panels. These panels are usually made from expanded polystyrene sandwiched between two sheets of OSB. Bill Moore recommended that we consider the SIPS roof because it is extremely well insulated and sealed. There is also very little waste since the panels are pre-cut by the fabricator. The SIPS roof appeared to be our “greenest” option.

Bill: Every custom job has its own set of design variables. The site location dictates the view, the direction of cooling winds, and how the passing of the sun relates to the house design. In this case the view was to the north and the breezes came from the south.

So, the roof was designed with a shallow pitch that mostly faced south. The south facing roof design prepared the home for future photo voltaic panel placement. It also shades the interior from the summer sun by putting the ends of the house on the east/west axis.

When viewing the plan, I noticed how the simple roof design and the vaulted ceilings were well suited for a SIP (Structural-Insulate-Panel) system for the roof. This system was developed to reduce the energy load of the house, and shorten construction time.

I prefer to only use a metal standing seam roof on these panels because they are a structural unit. If the roof leaks, the structural strength can be compromised, and replacing a panel is extraordinarily difficult. But the standing seam metal roof was already a part of the design parameters, so that was not an issue.

Also this site is on a bluff with the potential for severe wind storms. This interlocking roof panel system is designed for high wind speeds. After Cheryl and I discussed the benefits of this greener approach, she agreed to go this route.

Roselind: So, the long, simple roof design made it a good candidate for a SIP system. Let’s talk about the panels themselves. Cheryl said that SIPS are made from rigid foam insulation sandwiched between two sheets of OSB. OSB is oriented strand board – made from wood strips laid in cross orientation, similar to plywood. The foam insulation core makes it very efficient in keeping a stable temperature inside the house.

What about the cost? How do you compare between SIPS and conventional roofs?

Bill: As is usually the case with comparisons – it is a difficult question. The SIPs panels are expensive and were ordered months in advance. We needed a forklift to unload the delivery truck, and we needed a small crane for a couple of days to put them up. But, it only took a few days to install a very large roof system. And, all the high value foam insulation was part of the system, with no waste and much less labor. All total, it may have cost a few thousand more total, but the energy savings should make up the difference in a few years with a return of continued savings after that.

Roselind: I can see that it is not possible to make an apples-to-apples comparison. In a standard roof system, you would buy lumber for roof rafters or trusses, plus a layer of plywood over the rafters, plus the insulation on the floor of the attic. In the SIP system the structural and insulation components are combined.

Although SIP’s provide excellent insulation and stability, they may not work well for complicated roofs. In order to realize the maximum benefit of the SIP system, you would build a simple pitched roof, with a vaulted interior ceiling, covered by standing seam metal. The panels are pre-made, so they can be put up faster, but there is some cost for machinery to lift them up, since they are heavy. Also, I imagine there is a learning curve to installing the panels, so it would be important to use a seasoned contractor.

Austin Texas Real Estate Guide

Screened Porches – A Idea Whose Time Has Come Again

Screened porches are a perfect fit in a green building project.  They provide an outdoor room that is in touch with the natural world, and at the same time, safe and sheltered.  In our recent building project we incorporated two screened porches.   

 

The central porch is truly the heart and soul of this home.  Both the entrance hall and the living area open to the porch in a big way.  The space can flow together for large gatherings.  On the porch there is room for a dining table, plus a seating area around the fireplace.  It is an inviting place to eat outdoors, entertain, or sit by the fire on cold days.  Beyond the porch, an open patio transitions to ground level.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The vaulted ceiling raises a 12 foot screened wall to a view of sky and distant hills.  Board and batten siding, exposed metal roof, cedar trim, and concrete floor combine interior and exterior materials.  On the lower screen panels we added galvanized wire mesh for extra strength.  The wire mesh panels are also incorporated into the railing for the outside patio.    

 

Old Texas homes often included a screened sleeping porch.  This was back before air conditioning.  The porch brought in cool night air and kept out mosquitoes.  High ceilings allowed heat to ventilate out.  With this in mind we built a sleeping porch off the master bedroom.  The lifted roof allows air to circulate and cool the space – important in our hot climate.  There is a stone wall on the front for privacy, with screen walls open to the view on the back.   

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Double glass doors extend the master bedroom to the porch, and expand the bedroom space.  Interior and exterior colors and materials relate to each other – limestone walls, cedar trim and concrete floors.  The sleeping porch offers a connection to nature outside the heated and cooled envelope of the house. 

 

The appeal of screened porches has endured for over a century.  They are romantic and historic.  Flapping screen doors recall a simpler time when interiors were not as tightly sealed.  Today, screened porches are in a period of re-discovery.  They are an idea whose time has come again.  They are a greener way to live, and today, we need them more than ever. 

 Austin Texas Real Estate – Green Building Project 

 

  

Austin Green Building Fair

Austin Green Building Booth

 

The 9^th annual Renewable Energy and Green Building Fair was held this weekend on the square in Fredericksburg, Texas. 

It was put on by the Texas Solar Energy Society.

The fair was a fun and enlightening experience, with lots of vendor booths, speakers on green topics, electric cars, and good food too! 

It was a great way to get in touch with new ideas and people who are committed to improving the way homes use energy.   I made a list of the vendors at the fair to keep for future reference.  Feel free to email me if you know of a vendor who should be on the list.   

Click here for the list of:  Green Vendors

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Some Cool Thoughts

Roby Rutherford Nunn

Ruby Rutherford-Nunn, my husband’s grandmother, grew up in north Texas.  She was the very first campus sweetheart at SMU.  She and Mr. Nunn lived in New York after they were married, where he was a part of the Nunn Bush Shoe Company.  When it came time to retire, Mr. Nunn asked her if she would be willing to move to Austin.  Her answer was, “Only if we have air conditioning.”  

We all know that, in Austin, hot weather comes early and stays late.  And in summer months, humidity hovers around 80%.  The humidity holds heat in the atmosphere and prevents temperature drops in the evening.  We need our AC. 

I have heard that the greatest user of electricity in Austin is our own city utility.  They use energy to pump water to serve homes and businesses.  So, in a round about way, we can help to reduce Austin’s electric energy use by reducing our need for water.   Another reason for converting to native plants. 

One of the most important elements in green building for Austin’s climate is making AC systems more efficient.  For example, it is more efficient to install the smallest system possible for the area served.  A larger system is more expensive to buy and uses more electricity by turning on and off more frequently.  In recent years the City of Austin has encouraged contractors to install no more than one ton of cooling capacity per 600 square feet.  

An oversized system will cool too quickly, leaving the room humid and clammy.  A smaller AC system runs long enough to reach the desired temperature, and, at the same time, clear the air of humidity.  A lower humidity means that people can be more comfortable at a higher temperature, so less cooling is required.  The downside is that a smaller system may have trouble cooling the house below 80 degrees on days when the outside temperature is over 100 degrees.  In my opinion, that is a minor inconvenience.  On our last building project, on

Brownwood Drive, Jim was proud that the AC contractor said it was a very energy efficient design, and he could recommend a 3.5 ton system.  This was one ton per 729 square feet.  This house had 18 windows and 12 glass doors.  However, the orientation, overhangs, and Low E glass protected against heat gain. Heating and air conditioning account for about 40% of our energy needs.  Improvements in this area can have a big impact on our overall energy use.  New requirements relating to  sizing AC systems, prevention of air leakage, and better insulation have just been mandated by the City of Austin.   

 

Austin Texas Real Estate Guide 

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Green Building – Solar Issues

Glass creates connection to outdoors.

Large glass areas can connect us to the natural world, but they have to be used responsibly. We have tried to develop a style that uses large windows and glass doors for maximum impact, but with a minimum of increased utility costs.

Large, wood doors with glass panels can be used as both operable doors and fixed panels to form a wall of glass. This gives a sense of openness, but keeps the glass area to a minimum. By comparison, the floor to ceiling glass curtain walls seen in high rise buildings and contemporary homes use significantly more glass. The wood doors also give a warmer, more craftsman look.

Similarly, large wood windows can be grouped and located to give a maximum impact connection to the outdoors. So long as these windows are carefully shaded and properly oriented, they can be used without seriously damaging the energy performance of the house.

Also, they can reduce energy consumption by providing good ventilation. In central Texas open windows are not practical most of the time, due to the heat and humidity. But, they can reduce the length of the season when air conditioning is required. Fortunately, we don’t have very cold winters, so heating concerns are less of an issue.

The Taylor Road house faces southwest. The front side is protected from the west sun by trees, porch roof, and it has fewer windows. The rear opens to the view side – the northeast. Glass on the view side is crucial to the appeal and impact of the house. However, the morning sun can make the interior uncomfortable and costly to cool. We will need to mitigate this. Deep overhangs, propped awnings over windows, and Low-E glass will be used. The lower floor is not a concern, because of trees and porches, but we have some concerns about solar penetration on the second floor, where tree cover is not available. If this were the west side, we would have a big problem. However, the morning sun does not have as much of an impact as the afternoon sun.

The give and take between connecting to the outdoors and shielding against harsh Texas heat has been at the heart of the design process. This is where some difficult compromises have to be made.

Austin Texas Real Estate Guide 

Blogs:

Green Building Project

Real Estate Market

Austin Energy Upgrades