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Section 2 Architectural Planning
Before designing the house, spend some
time at the building site. Notice the shade pat-
terns at various times of day, and whether there
is a prevailing wind (wind that blows in the
same direction most of the time). Take these
items into consideration so that you can place
windows and doors to maximize the use of nat-
ural breezes to cool the house.
Plan to pave as little of the site as possible.
If you choose a concrete driveway, place the
house to minimize the length of the driveway.
Concrete holds heat and reduces the natural fi l-
tering processes of the land. It also contributes
to runoff in heavy rains.
Designing a Sustainable Home
The design stage of building a home is criti-
cal to its long-term sustainability. At this stage,
you can plan not only materials, but also build-
ing processes that minimize impact on the envi-
ronment. Consider ways to incorporate recycled
or recyclable components and to reduce or elimi-
nate the use of toxic substances.
Reclaimed and Recycled Building
Materials
According to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), building construction accounts for
60% of the raw materials used in the United States
for purposes other than food and fuel. Salvaging,
or reclaiming, materials from buildings that are
being torn down and from other sources is a good
way to boost sustainability. Reclaiming materials
reduces the need for waste disposal and can even
add character to a home. See Figure 11-7. Lum-
ber, bricks, doors, windows, fi xtures, and cabinets
are examples of items that can be reclaimed. For
more ideas about designing with reclaimed mate-
rials, consult recognized organizations such as
PlanetReuse, Habitat for Humanity, and the
Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA).
Habitat for Humanity also operates stores that
sell reclaimed building materials.
Figure 11-6. The large tree on the right side of this home helps protect it from the heat of the summer sun.
(Nejron Photo/Shutterstock.com)