Green Builder magazine recently re-issued their Homeowner’s Handbook. The Green Building Pyramid lays out a logical path towards efficiency and health. We all remember the food pyramid:
What you find at the base of the Green Building Pyramid may surprise you.
Siting/Orientation
How the building is placed in relation to the sun and surrounding terrain
Location: The more driving required the less efficient the home. A super-efficient home with a long commute is less efficient than a closer-to-work less efficient one
Education: You have to understand what you’re doing. Many homeowner improvements contradict sound building science or are of little or no value.
House Size: Doubling a house size triples its energy use. Living Large, like driving 80mph on freeway, costs a lot more. Better to have a well-designed and detailed home
Note that none of these fundamentals involves high tech, high cost, or significant lifestyle changes. They work in the city and the suburbs. They are universal.
