The field of green home design is a broad one, and as such may be intimidating to the newcomer. With green building encompassing buildings as diverse as homes handmade from clay and straw to homes equipped with the latest in solar electric technology, it can be hard to know where to begin.
For those looking to incorporate eco-friendly elements into mainstream building, passive solar design, solar electric systems and rainwater catchment offer a good point to begin. These technologies are well suited to a variety of building styles and with recent expansions in the market, are accessible both to those who wish to build their own homes and those who wish to hire expert help.
Solar Panels Today
In the past, one of the primary obstacles faced by homeowners considering solar panels (also known as photovoltaic energy systems) has been the cost. In recent years the price has come down and homeowners can estimate the cost of a solar panel system by contacting a local installation company or through online tools such as the PVWatts calculator developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
What is more, many local and regional governments now offer rebate programs for installation of photovoltaic systems. In addition, many power companies offer plans in which a customer with solar panels can connect to the power grid for the dual purpose of allowing the customer to draw electricity when needed and to sell excess electricity during peak production times.
What is Passive Solar Design?
Harvesting energy from the sun does not require photovoltaic panels. Passive solar design can be used to heat a home with warmth collected from the sun. Design elements that maximize solar gain, such as south facing windows and doors, are used to collect heat while warmth is kept in the house through a combination of insulation, double paned windows and weather-proofing and what is known as thermal mass (essentially, objects in the home that collect heat and release it slowly, the way a fireplace hearth does).
Additional strategies are used to keep heat out during the warm months, including overhanging eaves, curtains and shutters and the strategic planting of deciduous trees.
Rainwater Collection Systems (Rainwater Catchment Systems)
A rainwater collection system is an assembly of gutters and tanks installed to catch and hold rainwater. This water can be used as a sole source of household water in off-grid homes or can be used to supplement another source. If the water is to be used for drinking, careful planning is needed and a filtration system must be installed. However, if a separate source of household water is available, water from the rainwater collection system can be reserved for outdoor uses such as irrigation.
In this case, filters are unnecessary and building the system becomes simply a matter or selecting a location for a catchment tank, linking the gutters to the tank and providing drainage for excess water. In short, it becomes an inexpensive project almost anyone can successfully undertake.
Who Could Benefit from Including Simple Elements of Green Home Design?
Ultimately, all homeowners, whether building a new home with the help of professionals, building their own home or considering renovations to an existing home, can incorporate elements of green design. Including even one of the systems mentioned above can lower energy or water bills, and going deeper into the field of green building design will yield further benefits, both to the pocketbook and to the earth as a whole.
Sara Yoshihara - Sara Yoshihara lives and works in rural Japan where she and her family have a small no-spray rice and vegetable farm and an artisan ...
