Building a Green Home It’s Easier Than You Think—with some Forethought!

Agenda Who Was Involved? Ensuring “Green” Success Making the Project “Green” Challenges What We Did Right What’s Next? Who Was Involved? Ensuring “Green” Success Making the Project “Green” Challenges What We Did Right What’s Next?

Who Was Involved?

Who was involved? Me: Tom Termini, the owner, and eventually the General Contractor Mairin Coleman, my wife and the ultimate customer/boss Me: Tom Termini, the owner, and eventually the General Contractor Mairin Coleman, my wife and the ultimate customer/boss

Architect Tom Shiner, AIA

Sub-Contractors Tim Bennet, Mason Harvey Hottel, HVAC Franklin Plumbing MR Electricians Corely Roofing Christian Sanchez, general carpentry Tim Bennet, Mason Harvey Hottel, HVAC Franklin Plumbing MR Electricians Corely Roofing Christian Sanchez, general carpentry

Ensuring “Green” Success

Three Things Made this Project Work: 1. Site 2. Budget 3. Design 1. Site 2. Budget 3. Design

First, a We Got a Site

Location, Location, etc. Patience — we looked for more than a year We knew roughly what areas we liked We lucked out — the property backs to a park and has older trees The site allows for excellent south-eastern exposure, and is on a hill top Patience — we looked for more than a year We knew roughly what areas we liked We lucked out — the property backs to a park and has older trees The site allows for excellent south-eastern exposure, and is on a hill top

Second, Budget Baseline: We priced houses that were larger, wouldn’t need work, and that we could afford We opted for reasonable size and amenities that were not extravagant We made “green” a goal, because it met our requirements for efficiency and low maintenance Baseline: We priced houses that were larger, wouldn’t need work, and that we could afford We opted for reasonable size and amenities that were not extravagant We made “green” a goal, because it met our requirements for efficiency and low maintenance

Finally, Design We knew some things we wanted... Efficiency, Low Maintenance Simple, Modern Look Something Affordable We knew some things we wanted... Efficiency, Low Maintenance Simple, Modern Look Something Affordable

...And Some Things We Didn’t: Cost-Overruns Cheesy Half-Baked...And Some Things We Didn’t: Cost-Overruns Cheesy Half-Baked

“Green” Came Naturally—We Got an Architect to Help Cohesive, “Big-Picture” Approach – Design! Technically Complex – Expertise Required An Ally Cohesive, “Big-Picture” Approach – Design! Technically Complex – Expertise Required An Ally

Making The Project “Green”

Design To Aid Cooling High-placed Celestory Windows Promote Convection Sky Light that opens to help make the Central Stairwell a “Chimney” Trees on site provide shade in summer and from western sun High-placed Celestory Windows Promote Convection Sky Light that opens to help make the Central Stairwell a “Chimney” Trees on site provide shade in summer and from western sun

Overhangs

Reflective Membrane Roof

Renewable Materials Bamboo Floors Linoleum Recycled the Concrete from Demolition Bamboo Floors Linoleum Recycled the Concrete from Demolition

Gas-charged High-R-Value Windows + Doors Gas-charged High-R-Value Windows + Doors Extra-Thick Walls Permit More Insulation Extra-Thick Walls Permit More Insulation

The Drill Rig

Geothermal Heat Pump

Geothermal Heat Pump Geothermal Heat Pump

Not Just a House, But a Home for My Family

Challenges

Retrofitting is Tough

What We Did Right

Got an Architect Sized Appropriately Choose Three Things to Go “Green” With Got an Architect Sized Appropriately Choose Three Things to Go “Green” With

What’s Next?

We pre-wired for a residential Fuel Cell, which is being tested by Ballard Power in Japan New types of Photovoltaics may be an option (rate-of-return on current systems too low) We pre-wired for a residential Fuel Cell, which is being tested by Ballard Power in Japan New types of Photovoltaics may be an option (rate-of-return on current systems too low)