Excerpts from Chapters Eleven to Fifteen
Chapter Eleven
Sustainable Design and Green Building Techniques
Shirley Plantation, Virginia
“We did not inherit the Earth from our ancestors;
we are borrowing it from our children.”—David Brower
Sustainable design in the residential sector simply means designing homes that will last—homes that have an enduring value for generations. This concept is not new; in fact, it has been around for millenniums. If you have ever been to Europe or other parts of the world and seen old houses that have been standing for hundreds of years, it was not by accident that these homes are still there. They were designed that way so that they could be inherited for centuries.
In Chapter Six, we briefly discussed the castles of Europe, among which is Burg Eltz. That home has been in the same family for more than 700 years. There are hundreds of homes, large and small, throughout the world that have been designed and built to last indefinitely. It is possible to design and build your home the same way.
Green building techniques are the means by which we accomplish the intent of making the design a reality. By using materials that can reduce their impact on the environment with a minimal carbon footprint, last as long as possible without replacement and/or be recycled for reuse or into other sustainable products, we can have a positive impact on our global community.
To recap, the three major components of green building are:
Designing for sustainability, starting at the community planning level, through rational zoning, thoughtful building design and sensible construction practices. Think before you act.
Living in harmony with our natural environment by contributing as little as possible to the carbon footprint through total lifestyle planning.
Selecting materials that will last as long as possible without requiring much maintenance.
we are borrowing it from our children.”—David Brower
Sustainable design in the residential sector simply means designing homes that will last—homes that have an enduring value for generations. This concept is not new; in fact, it has been around for millenniums. If you have ever been to Europe or other parts of the world and seen old houses that have been standing for hundreds of years, it was not by accident that these homes are still there. They were designed that way so that they could be inherited for centuries.
In Chapter Six, we briefly discussed the castles of Europe, among which is Burg Eltz. That home has been in the same family for more than 700 years. There are hundreds of homes, large and small, throughout the world that have been designed and built to last indefinitely. It is possible to design and build your home the same way.
Green building techniques are the means by which we accomplish the intent of making the design a reality. By using materials that can reduce their impact on the environment with a minimal carbon footprint, last as long as possible without replacement and/or be recycled for reuse or into other sustainable products, we can have a positive impact on our global community.
To recap, the three major components of green building are:
Designing for sustainability, starting at the community planning level, through rational zoning, thoughtful building design and sensible construction practices. Think before you act.
Living in harmony with our natural environment by contributing as little as possible to the carbon footprint through total lifestyle planning.
Selecting materials that will last as long as possible without requiring much maintenance.
Chapter Twelve
Happy, Healthy, Safe and Secure
This is what black mold looks like.
Have you ever walked into a building and felt as though something was terribly wrong? It just didn’t feel comfortable. Perhaps there was a strange odor, or you felt sick but could not put your finger on anything tangible that could make you identify what was wrong. You might not have even realized that it was the building that was making you sick. But you were experiencing something real. It is called Sick Building Syndrome.
What is Sick Building Syndrome? Simply put, it means that there are materials or chemicals that are embedded in the materials that cause sickness in people. It is not a new phenomenon. Many years ago, building scientists realized that certain hazardous materials were life-threatening.
The US Environmental Protection Agency investigates suspected building contamination for the protection of the general public. The EPA has been giving more attention to residential structures; first, communities of multi-family dwellings, and more recently, single-family dwellings. Many products used in home construction have come under close scrutiny by the EPA, and hundreds have been banned.
"The way to control indoor mold growth
is to control moisture.”--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
In the event of a natural disaster, home invasion or terrorist threat, where would you go? Have you made plans? Now is the time. Don’t wait until your home is finished.
A safe room can be built into a home so that you cannot tell that it is a secure shelter. It can be finished to be used as a closet, bathroom, wine storage room or home office. Real estate sales statistics indicate that safe rooms and storm shelters actually improve a home’s value.
By definition, a storm shelter is a different type of shelter. It is a detached structure that is available in the event of an impending disaster or emergency.
What is Sick Building Syndrome? Simply put, it means that there are materials or chemicals that are embedded in the materials that cause sickness in people. It is not a new phenomenon. Many years ago, building scientists realized that certain hazardous materials were life-threatening.
The US Environmental Protection Agency investigates suspected building contamination for the protection of the general public. The EPA has been giving more attention to residential structures; first, communities of multi-family dwellings, and more recently, single-family dwellings. Many products used in home construction have come under close scrutiny by the EPA, and hundreds have been banned.
"The way to control indoor mold growth
is to control moisture.”--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
In the event of a natural disaster, home invasion or terrorist threat, where would you go? Have you made plans? Now is the time. Don’t wait until your home is finished.
A safe room can be built into a home so that you cannot tell that it is a secure shelter. It can be finished to be used as a closet, bathroom, wine storage room or home office. Real estate sales statistics indicate that safe rooms and storm shelters actually improve a home’s value.
By definition, a storm shelter is a different type of shelter. It is a detached structure that is available in the event of an impending disaster or emergency.
Chapter Thirteen
Florida: The Rules are Different Here
Florida has been known for more than a century as a place for winter vacations and retirement living. It is also a place where people go to experience a new lifestyle, perhaps a new career or a new start in life. The weather is not as harsh as in other parts of the country or world and many people are seeking a place to live without having to shovel snow, slip on icy streets or shiver in the freezing weather. This does not mean that everyone who lives in Florida is a transplant from somewhere else. Hundreds of thousands of people are native Floridians, born and raised here. These people are proud of their heritage, lifestyle, culture and vernacular architecture.
What many people do not realize when they move to the Sunshine State is that the process of designing and building homes in Florida is not the same as in other areas of the country. Although Florida does not have snow, ice and other winter conditions with which to contend, it does have its own peculiar climate issues. That does not mean that Floridians do not get cold weather. They certainly do.
Before deciding what type of home you want in Florida (or anywhere else), you should become educated in what is common in that area regarding building methods, indigenous materials, styles, the effect that certain building types have on the environment and other common local factors that affect the way homes are designed and built. You will also need to know how these factors will affect the way you live in your new home and community and how they will affect your future health. Armed with this education, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions which you will not regret after your project is completed and you have moved in.
What many people do not realize when they move to the Sunshine State is that the process of designing and building homes in Florida is not the same as in other areas of the country. Although Florida does not have snow, ice and other winter conditions with which to contend, it does have its own peculiar climate issues. That does not mean that Floridians do not get cold weather. They certainly do.
Before deciding what type of home you want in Florida (or anywhere else), you should become educated in what is common in that area regarding building methods, indigenous materials, styles, the effect that certain building types have on the environment and other common local factors that affect the way homes are designed and built. You will also need to know how these factors will affect the way you live in your new home and community and how they will affect your future health. Armed with this education, you will be better equipped to make informed decisions which you will not regret after your project is completed and you have moved in.
Chapter Fourteen
The Foreign Experience: The Rules Are Different There Also
Many thousands of Americans have become expatriates, that is, retaining US citizenship while residing in a foreign land. And they do so for a variety of reasons: employment, retirement, health, education, business and/or investment opportunities among others. Customs, history, culture, climate, language, lifestyle, family life, food and architecture are differences that you may want to study carefully before embarking on a permanent move.
Just because a particular style is prevalent in one particular area of one country does not mean that all the homes of that style will look alike. There is a great deal of variety within a style in any community in any country.
If you decide to move to a foreign nation, make sure that you have carefully thought out your decision thoroughly, done your homework and made careful preparation in planning for your new home. After all, the rules are different wherever you decide to move.
Just because a particular style is prevalent in one particular area of one country does not mean that all the homes of that style will look alike. There is a great deal of variety within a style in any community in any country.
If you decide to move to a foreign nation, make sure that you have carefully thought out your decision thoroughly, done your homework and made careful preparation in planning for your new home. After all, the rules are different wherever you decide to move.
Chapter Fifteen
Selecting a Builder
SELECTING a builder to construct your dream home can be one of the most intimidating tasks that any homeowner can make. Owning your dream home is said to be the “American Dream.” If you’re happy, it will be your dream. If not, it could be a regretful nightmare, a choice that many people would not repeat. Therefore, hiring the right person or company to construct your house per the design and specifications prepared by your design professional should not be taken lightly, any more than hiring the best design professional.
