The ultimate, integrated green building includes a host of standard green features combined with sensible design, sound financing, low operating costs, and a healthy home environment.
A totally integrated green home would include passive orientation, water catchment and wastewater reuse, nontoxic materials, renewable energy, thermal mass, insulation, and enhancement of community. A Brownfield or old abandoned structure restored into a beautiful, detoxified, sustainable property can enhance both the ecosystem and the surrounding community.
Solar orientation includes capturing passive solar energy that adjusts with the seasons and solar angles. Passive heating, passive shade, and passive ventilation allow the air to come in low on the “hot” side of the home and out high on the “shady” side.
Harvesting rainwater and reclaiming gray water are keys to having an integrated green home. Filtering and processing the water used for washing dishes, showers, and general household cleaning, along with captured rainwater, allow less virgin water to be used from underground aquifers.
Renewable energy comes in the form of solar panels, wind energy, or geothermal heat pumps. The Earth has a stable temperature of 58 degrees, providing a utilitarian source for heating and cooling a green home. Whether it’s hot in the summer or cold in the winter, geothermal heat pumps can save a lot of BTUs.
Thermal mass is a material that holds its temperature for a long time and slowly equalizes in relation to the outside temperature. Concrete, stone, earth, stucco, and even water are all examples of thermal mass. When heated, thermal mass can take 3-4 days to cool down.