Green design architectural design can be different things to different people. Designing a home to be energy efficient saves on resources used to operate the home's heating, lighting, and appliances. Design alone will not reduce energy if the builder does not follow the plan and use the techniques to air-seal the space, super insulate the walls, and use advanced framing layout. Some builders are more open to these new ideas than others so make sure that you ask when you are selecting a builder.
For others green design means using more renewable inputs for the physical building supplies. This can be sustainably grown lumber, recycled materials, hardwood or bamboo flooring, recycled glass tiles, to name a few of the more popular materials. Building a smaller house with lots of multi-use spaces and an open floor plan, will reduce both the amount of materials used to build the house and the energy required for heating and lighting.
Other homeowners want to green up the actual atmosphere of the air within the finished structure. For these people avoidance of toxic glues used in cabinetry, engineered lumber and construction adhesives is very important. Carpet not only has potential to offgas chemicals from typical backing materials, but also collects dust mites, dander and other allergens in the pile.
There are lots of small decisions to be made in the process of designing and building a new home or remodeling an existing home. These decisions affect the overall energy budget of the finished product and also quality of the interior atmosphere. When looking to design a green home it is helpful to find a design professional who is familiar with these issues. It is also important to find someone that you are comfortable working with.
