New Leaf Home Design

Green Building

Good design is about thinking things through. Green design is thinking through how your home will use resources. There is no one right way to design a house that considers the environment. My goal is to guide you in the design process so that you are aware of your choices and their long term impact.

Building Science is the approach we will use to make decisions together.

Building Science considers the interaction between a home’s:

• Occupants
• Building components & systems
• Environment

All three need to be considered for a home to work well for your family, and careful planning can make it more sensitive to the environment too.

Basic green principles I try to use in designing any home include:

• Build the right size. Bigger is not always better.
• Build for energy efficiency. A well insulated house with little air infiltration tends to be more comfortable in both winter and summer, as well as costing less to heat and cool.
• Build it to last. Good quality materials and detailing will last longer, need less maintenance, and probably look better in the meantime.
• Remember where the sun, shade, and wind are. A house that works with its site can use these things to its advantage. A house that ignores its site will have to rely more heavily on mechanical systems to be comfortable.

Other things we will consider together are:

• Sustainable Resources. You may want to select products made from recycled or easily renewable materials, such as engineered lumber, cellulose insulation, or cork flooring to reduce the impact of your project on the environment.
• Life Cycle Costs. Some choices, such as a more efficient furnace, may cost more initially but save you money in the long term. Life cycle considerations may also include such things as how much energy is used in transporting a material to your home, and whether a similar material is available more locally.
• Indoor Air Quality. The materials we use in our homes can affect the quality of air inside, which in turn affects our health. The choices you make on things such as wall sheathing, kitchen cabinets, ventilation systems, and paints can affect the quality of the air in your home. We will work together to balance these concerns with other issues.
• Site impact. Considering existing trees, future garden areas, storm water management, and wildlife habitat can improve your enjoyment of your own yard, as well as help to protect local ecosystems.
• Alternatives to conventional building techniques and materials. There are many options available, and the possibilities will continue to increase as the construction industry responds to homeowners’ desire for environmentally sensitive products.

New Leaf Home Design will help you to make choices for your project that are right for your family and the environment.