Green Building

1. Green Building Thinking About Our Footprint on the Earth

2. What’s In A Home? • There are more than 76 million homes in the U.S. today • These homes… - account for over 2/3 of electricity used in the U.S. - are a major source of the pollution that leads to poor air quality and climate change - are accountable for 35% of carbon dioxide emissions, the chief pollutant blamed for climate change - create 3-7 tons of waste each in construction • By 2010, another 38 million buildings will be constructed

3. Green building practices offer an opportunity to create environmentally sound, resource efficient buildings Small changes in the way we think about building will make all the difference ex. If 10% of homes in the U.S. used solar water heating systems we would avoid 8.4 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year We begin by looking at the relationships between a building and its components, surroundings, and occupants

4. Seeds of Solidarity Farm and Education Center • We will walk through this home as one example of the changes we can make in the way we think about and build our homes

5. Before building we think about our needs, the land, and the available materials • All building has a major effect on the land – this thought process allows us to build with minimal impact

6. Basic Shape of House • The house is rectangular because this is energy and cost effective • While not that exciting, it allows for a lot of artistic work to be done inside

7. Foundation • Foundations are usually dug 4ft into the ground causing a lot of disruption • This frost protected slab involves minimal digging, then layering gravel, foam, and 8 inches of concrete • The result is a stained concrete floor which absorbs sun and heat from the stove in the winter, and cools in the summer

8. Insulation • Double walls are built and then filled with blown-in cellulose • This extremely tight and efficient insulation is made of recycled paper and is locally produced

9. Heat • The house is heated through the use of a wood stove • In New England, correctly harvested wood is renewable • Heat is saved because the chimney is built inside the house and in a central location • The house is so well insulated that it takes only 1.5 cords of wood to heat it for an entire winter

10. Passive Solar Heat • The roofing overhang is designed at an angle which protects the house from the high summer sun and allows the low winter sun to come in through the windows and heat the concrete floor

11. Solar Power • The home is powered entirely by an 8 solar panel system • Each panel contains silicon chips which work to produce 120 watts of energy

12. Solar Power… • Energy is stored in a battery bank as direct current • An inverter changes direct current to alternate current which can then be directed through regular electrical outlets • This system is not connected to the main grid, systems that are connected can send extra energy back to the grid

13. Energy Efficiency • Household appliances are energy efficient and only used when necessary • Compact fluorescent light bulbs are used in place of inefficient incandescent light bulbs to save electricity • An on-demand hot water heater heats water only when needed - this will soon be replaced with a solar hot water system

14. Local Economy • Local craftspeople are used when necessary to promote a local economy • Wooden beams are local cedar

15. Vegetable Production • A greenhouse is built onto the house • In the winter, excess heat from the house can be let into the greenhouse • Excess heat is never wasted; it can be used to produce food

16. Organic Growing • The land around the house is farmed lovingly and sustainably • This attention benefits both the land and those who work it

17. Biodiesel • The family cars are run using biodiesel • This is a combination of fresh or recycled vegetable oil and ethanol/methanol that can be used for a number of things, including running a car and heating a home

18. Biodiesel … • Biodiesel lowers pollutants and is made in the U.S. • It is available locally through Burke oil

19. These are the choices one family has made about how to shape their footprint on the earth • Green building offers us many choices about how to make our homes more sustainable - from switching the light bulbs in our lamps, to building with straw • These are a few more options…

20. Strawbale Construction Strawbale construction uses baled straw to create walls which are then covered with a mud plaster or cement stucco This is a highly effective use for the waste material left in fields after plants have been harvested for seed

21. Strawbale Construction… • Straw is a low cost material which creates highly insulated walls • There are many different styles of strawbale construction which allow for individual artist work

22. Adobe Construction • Adobe is made of dried mud (20% clay, 80% sand) which can be made into bricks or hand layered to build up walls • It has been used in construction for thousands of years

23. Adobe Construction… • The mass of adobe walls will absorb heat and radiate it back out into the house at night, working well with solar energy • Materials are cheap, local, and easy to build with – but can involve a lot of detail work

24. How Will Your Home Affect This Earth? • Information is at your fingertips, go and look for yourself… www.sustainable.doe.gov www.strawbalehouse.com www.epsea.org