Sustainable Design Blog

---

NET ZERO, AND LOVIN' IT!

 

Hi everybody, and happy 2017! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and were able to celebrate the New Year with good people and good times.

 

Speaking of, I wanted to kick the year off with a little celebration of my own - because we just received report back on our 2016 Gold LEED certified nature center at Audubon - and it turns out that just by existing, our building is contributing to solving our energy crisis!

 

---

Similar: How to Choose a Solar Power System for Your Home or Business

 

I would like to use this blog to give you an update on one of our recently completed projects - the Audubon Nature Center located at the celery fields in Sarasota, Florida (see gallery here).

 

The building has been open for a little more than a year, and we have been gathering data on its electrical use. As I reported earlier, the building is a net zero energy building, which means it creates more electricity than it uses.  

 

So, now we have a full year's worth of data to share, and even a break down of how the power was consumed.

 

Below is a table which shows the actual annual power demand and actual solar PV generation for the Nature Center. Total demand is 15,107 kWh per year. And, according to a study conducted by the EIA (US Energy Information Administration), that is almost identical to the energy consumption in the average household here in Florida and an average of nine other nearby states.

 

Download the resource: How to Design a Green Home

 

The electrical system exports more than 25% power (4,000 kWh) than it consumes (15,000 kWh)!  By making significantly more energy than it consumes, it not only offsets 100% of it carbon footprint caused by electrical generation, but it helps others do the same by providing clean, renewable energy to the electrical power grid.  So, the building has exceeded net zero performance and is operating as a net positive facility.  

 

Total Demand	15,107	kWh
Lighting	3,462	22.91%
HVAC	6,536	43.27%
DHW	309	2.04%
Refrig	428	2.83%
Plug Loads	4,372	28.94%
Solar PV	19,117	kWh
Net Export	4,010	kWh

 

One thing to remember - this is NOT just about solar power. Net Zero Energy starts with the building envelope, and carries on with passive design features that put conservation first. Then, one does not need to create as much of it its own energy to become net zero or net positive.

The building has a highly efficient building envelope including insulated concrete form walls and double glazed insulated low E coded windows.

 

Plus, the building orientation and wraparound covered porches provide shading 100% of the time. The building has a sealed attic with spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof deck.

 

The building creates its own energy by using its 11.2 KW's PV solar array mounted on it south facing roof.  

 

But back to the results, because I find them to be quite fascinating.

 

It is no surprise that the HVAC electrical use is the largest use in the building. What I find interesting is that the plug load electrical use is the second largest component of energy used in the building.  

 

Plug loads are those things inside the building that the occupants use that demand electricity.  It could be the coffee pot, copy machine, printer or a desk lamp or a little tabletop fan- things like that. These are electrical uses that are not well defined in the design phase and they are hard to estimate and difficult to control.  Plug loads are one of the main reasons why net zero energy needs to be proven through actual use and not just modeled/predicted.

 

The Audubon Nature Center received LEED-NC Gold Certification in January of 2016.   The high-performance design has actually been exceeding the projected energy performance predicted by the energy modeling.  And, in Oct 2016, the project won the prestigious USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter Outstanding LEED for New Construction/Non-Profit Award for the region.

 

Try also: Does the Cost of Solar Energy Outweigh the Benefits?

 

---

CONCLUSION:

Forget about Net Zero Energy.... Let's talk about Net Positive energy design! It is possible, even on a modest budget.  

 

Wouldn’t it be great if every new building provided more energy than it consumed, so new construction actually reduced the overall power demand in a neighborhood or region instead of increasing the demand? Some people are already doing it, and their making it easier for you and your friends and family to exist and prosper.  

 

What if architecture added resources instead of consuming them? Why don't we make that our goal? If you're interested, I'm happy to walk you through a consultation for your next build to see if sustainability is a worthy investment! Click HERE:

---

 

---

Change is coming:

If you do not yet sense an urgency for change, you will soon.

Sure, there's market resistance, and there will continue to be, and so far, it doesn't seem to have moved very fast. But that's because the market will only transform so fast without a crisis.

The sweet spot for now may be where both sides are angry:  The market is uncomfortable with the required rate of change, and those that understand the current and pending risks are angry that change is not happening fast enough.  

The question today: Why do something different?  We are all pretty good at what we do, so why change?

---

When the risk of NOT changing exceeds the risks of change, change becomes inevitable... so long as everybody sees and believes it. 

Change involves risk and creates tension, so we must keep that in mind.

 

Currently we face many threats and opportunities

• Climate Change: The Planet is stressed
• Carbon
• Population Increase: 7+ billion people now
• Geo-Political Risk
• Cost of energy
• Government taking Action (codes)
• Long term performance
• Eco Systems provide basic services

 

Rewards also exist for those who are proactive, not reactive.

• Increase profits
• Access to natural resources
• Access to Capital
• Efficient management of resources

 

Climate change is like the internet.  It arrived one day, gets bigger every year, and shows no signs that it will ever go away. It's transformed industries, created new ones, and impacted EVERYBODY... Just like climate change.

 

The goals of 2030 Architecture

Net Zero Energy is a path that began with the establishment of a base line of energy use/efficiency standard set in 2003.  The path goes from 2003 to 2030, and the point is to incrementally reduce the energy use of buildings, shifting to the use of fossil free energy, and having all new buildings be carbon neutral by 2030.  

Energy Codes have improved efficiency requirements by about 40% since 1985, and within that window, the large bulk of the change (36%) happened since the first efficiency standards were set in 2003.  

So, codes have taken us about 1/3 of the way to our 2030 goal, which is a good start, but we're already 48% of the way to the deadline.

 

How does one achieve NET ZERO? (Carbon Neutral Building)

Step 1:  

Design a building that uses 60%-80% less energy than a minimal code compliant building.

 

Step 2:

Provide fossil free fuel energy for the remaining energy needs.

 

Simple, right?  The playbook to get to net zero is widely accepted and a proven, successful approach. But reducing energy consumption by 70-80% and maintaining comfort is not accomplished by simply tweaking the way we have always designed and built buildings.

However, a fully integrated, thoughtful and intentional design IS.   

Out of these two areas for improvement, we can directly impact the first, which is energy efficiency. Two, we continue to put pressure on legislative support for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Even with minimal increases in the latter, we can go a long way when building design is driving the change.

 

(MORE LIKE THIS: Does the Cost of Solar Energy Outweigh the Benefits?)

 

The current 2030 goal is 70% reduction in 2016:

 

Since 2003, we have seen an increase in energy efficiency requirements, including one of the most recent in 2014. The graphic below shows the steady improvement of the Energy Codes over the past 30 years.

(Graphic above provided by US Green Building Council)

 

LEED will always try to stay ahead of the building codes. The next graphic shows this pretty clearly.  

 

(Graphic provided by US Green Building Council)

 

As the codes improve, LEED changes it base line criteria to be more stringent to stay ahead of the curve. In my opinion, this kind of pressure is helpful in driving better legislation, which drastically improves our chances for success.

Green Building codes and green rating system standards are gradually incorporated into the code requirements for all buildings. Eventually (ideally by 2030), the code will require all to be net zero energy buildings, which will mean that new buildings will have zero carbon impact to the environment based on energy usage.

Currently, we are developing new buildings that have less negative impact than in prior years, which is fine for starting, but "less bad" isn't where we want to settle. Why not move toward developing buildings that have a positive impact on the environment?

Examples of Net Zero Buildings & Net Zero Ready Projects:

Audubon Visitors Center - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

 

Cancer Support Community - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

 

Sun N Fun Wellness Center - Sarasota, FL (FULL GALLERY)

 

HGTV Green Home 2009 - Port St. Lucie FL (FULL GALLERY)

 

Kashi by the River - Sebastian, FL

RESOURCES

2030 Challenge

www.architecture2030.org

 

NZEB

www.living-future.org/netzero

 

New Buildings Institute

http://newbuildings.org

 

US Green Building Council

www.usgbc.org

---

Want to know more about designing for Net Zero?

Schedule a free consultation or download this great ebook on how to design a green home:

 

---

 

What are some systems for solar power generation that I should consider?

People come to our firm for green design because it's a very personal mission of ours to contribute to the sustainability of our planet and the preservation of our species. We also design beautiful buildings, if I do say so myself...

So, it's not all that uncommon to get questions about how to include solar power, our abundant and clean resource, in the overall design.

---

First some basics:

Solar panels (aka Photovoltaic Panels, aka PV) make electricity from the sun. They produce DC power, like batteries, which can be used directly to charge your electric car, stored in a large battery system, or be converted to AC power and used directly in your home or business.

The cost of PV has been dropping steadily for the past decade. Our first PV install was in 2003, and the cost was round 11 cents per watt.  Now PV is running around 3.5 cents per watt, and even less for larger installations

Here are some other useful facts that will help you narrow in on the right system for you.

 

1. Battery vs AC vs Net Metering

Battery storage is not required, and although battery storage systems are getting better, technology still needs improvement. You may have heard of the Powerwall, by Tesla. It is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery product for home or small commercial use. It stores electricity for consumption, load shifting, and backup power.  

 

Converting the DC power to AC and using the power directly is still the best option. Net metering is also very helpful, but eligibility varies greatly depending on the location of the property. Ideally, net metering is provided by your local power company and allows you to sell the power you make back into the grid at the same price that you pay to buy power from the power company.

 

Be aware- Sometimes the utility company sells electricity at one rate but buys is back at lower rate. Since many power companies are monopolies, and exist for the benefit of their shareholders, not their customers, you need to check with your local utility to determine if they have a net metering option, and exactly what the details are.   A good net metering program allows you to use the utility grid as your "battery" to store the excess power you make on site.  

 

If you have true net metering (1:1 buy/sell pricing) putting PV on your home or business makes great sense.  If you do not have access to net metering, you want to size your PV system so it makes some or most of power that you need, but does not typically make more power than you would normally use.

 

Net metering gives you a better opportunity to achieve net zero energy if that is your goal.  You can size your PV system to make more power than you need at some times of the day or year, so you have excess power "stored" in the grid to use when you cannot make all the power that you need, such as in the hottest part of the summer in Florida when your electrical loads are the highest.  

 

2.New construction

For new construction, considering the price of PV and the rising cost of electricity, the best thing to do is include your PV in your construction budget and install it when the building is constructed. It is a great investment with a strong return.

 

Can't afford it today, but want to stack the deck in your favor?

The next best thing is to set up your new building to be solar ready.  This means positioning the building so it can gather the sun when PV panels are installed in the future. Provide South facing, sloping roofs that are set up for panels to be installed later.  A standing seam metal roof is best for mounting, but other roofs can be accommodated.

 

If your building design wants to have a flat roof, be sure there are no other structures on the building that could prevent the sun from shining directly on the roof, such as stair tower, tall parapet walls, etc.  Of course your roofs will be light in color to reflect the heat of the sun, but that topic was covered in an earlier blog (Green roofing system selection by Carlson Studio Architecture). Typically, proper "solar ready" orientation will tend to create a building that has it long sides facing North and south, with it short sides facing east and west.  

Roofs oriented within 15 degrees of due south are recommend in the LEED for Homes criteria. The Birch Haven residence designed by Carlson Studio in southwestern lower Michigan is a good example of setting the home up properly for solar panels.  The site boundaries were oriented 35 degrees west of due south.

 

This was less than optimum, so we created a design that allowed the main roof of the home to be facing only 15 degrees west of due south, while the interior of the home was still aligned with the site boundaries to take full advantage of the build-able area of the site and the views.  And, we included the PV panels into the construction budget, so a 7KW PV system is about to be installed on the roof as the project is nearing completion.  

 

And if you're thinking about the long-term value of your investment, you should know that buildings that are"solar ready" are going to be worth more than those that are not, as noted by this study by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and personalized to your situation with this PV home value calculator by SolarSimplified.org.

 

3. Existing Buildings

For existing buildings, everything discussed above still applies, but you may have been dealt a less than ideal situation based on your building's orientation. Hopefully you did not just buy a home or office building with no way to retrofit solar panels onto it.

 

Get together with your experienced sustainable architect (Carlson) and have them evaluate the possibilities for your existing building.  The panels are lightweight, so most existing structures can support them, and wiring from the roof to the electrical room is just being able to get the conduit runs to work through the existing building.  

 

---

CONCLUSION:

PV panels can last 25 years of longer. The initial payback ROI can be as short as 5-10 years, depending on your net metering options, and the cost of your electricity. There is still a 30% Federal tax credit available too.  And the cost of energy is rising.

 

Of course, our planet is also wasting away with the excessive usage of fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources. Now is the time to get PV on your home or office building, or at the very least, set yourself up to succeed and save money in the near future by being prepared to add PV at any time.

 

Interested in learning more? Set up a free green architectural design consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

---

 

---

(The Wellness Center incorporates recycled construction materials - See the project by Carlson Studio Architecture)

 

WHY Recycled Products in Construction

Whether or not you believe that Climate Change is man-made, you cannot deny that the problems associated with trash, specifically plastic, are not caused by Mother Nature.

In an article by Laura Parker in the National Geographic, published Feb 13, 2015, she notes that 8 million tons are dumped into the ocean every year.  This is the equivalent of filling 5 grocery bags with trash and lining them up on EVERY foot of coastline in the entire world! 

As of the year 2014, this was estimated to be a total of 245,000 tons floating in the ocean (source: National Geographic). That doesn’t even account for what is sitting in landfills, lining the side of our highways and roads, or what has been ground up into microplastic and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

That's a lot of plastic, and quite the mountain of a problem to solve. 

---

A new way of thinking:

One of the ways that we could help reduce this growth of waste is to make it even more profitable for the waste to be recycled into usable products.  As is happening in the organic food industry, this occurs when the public demands it.  As a start, why not insist that as many construction products as possible are made from recycled products? 

Here are some already in existence that make us very happy. If more people ask about them and insist upon them, then we may be able to reduce the amount of trash AND the amount of manufacturing of products using new material and/or harmful production processes.

Building green, after all, takes more than installing components that help you live with minimal impact on the environment once you've moved in. It also means thinking about the building process itself and incorporating embodied energy whenever and wherever possible.

 

1. Plasphalt ¹

Asphalt for roads, parking lots, etc., that is made from grains of plastic from unsorted waste that replace the sand and gravel used in regular asphalt.  It has been reported that plasphalt wears better and longer because the asphalt emulsions bond better to the plastic particles than the sand and gravel.

 

2. Nappy Roofing ¹ 

Roofing tiles made from disposable diapers – yes AFTER they’ve been used!  The organic compounds are removed and the remaining polymer is used to create fiber based construction products such as roof tile.

 

3. Plastic Blocks ¹

Used plastic bags and plastic packaging (some of our most problem and prolific waste) are placed in a heat mold and compressed to form decorative blocks that can be stacked to make non-load bearing indoor or outdoor room dividers.

 

4. Composite deck products

Tired of building and rebuilding that outdoor deck because it rots and warps within 5 to 10 years, and has to be constantly recoated – even if it is cypress?  Then look into composite decking, including structure and railings, made from recycled wood and plastic with eco-friendly manufacturing processes.  The slightly higher initial material cost is paid back in the reduction of maintenance and replacement costs.

 

5. Plastic Floor tile ²

There are plastic floor tiles made from recycled plastic that can be recycled and made into new tiles.  They are also interlocking and not adhered (no VOC’s).

 

6. Carpeting

A majority of carpet is made from plastic fibers, so why not be sure it is made from recycled plastic fiber?  There are many manufacturer’s that also assure that when it is time to replace the carpet, they will take it back for free and recycle it into new carpeting.  Let’s try to reduce the amount of new plastic that needs to be produced while keeping the existing plastic in circulation.  After all, it is the durability and non-degradable aspects that make it so desirable for flooring in the first place.

 

7. Plastic Lumber

Tired of termites destroying your home including the structure and the moldings and trim? How about moisture damage and dry rot in humid climates?  There is 100 % plastic lumber that is 90%+ recycled content.  It comes in premium grade products for finished work and trim applications as well as structural grade lumber.

 

8. PVC Windows ³

Normally not considered a sustainable product, there are European companies that are now producing PVC framed windows that are made from 98% recycled content delivering significant CO2 savings during processing.

 

 

---

CONCLUSION:

And this is just a start of the way that we could keep plastic from sitting in the ocean for the rest of our lifetime let alone the generations after us.  Here at Carlson Studio Architecture,our 14 LEED certified projects including 2 Platinum, and 5 Gold awards, all have a wide variety of materials that are produced with recycled content, such as carpet tiles, gypsum wallboard, metal roofing, hollow metal doors and frames, and linoleum flooring.  Check out such projects as the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, The HGTV Green Home, and the Wellness Community Center, to name a few.

1. http://www.citymetric.com/skylines/9-building-materials-made-entirely-waste-products-932 , 9 building materials made entirely from waste products, as taken from the book Building With Waste, complied by Dirk E. Habel, Marta H Wisniewska, and Felix Heise.
2. http://www.proudgreenhome.com/news/recycled-plastic-flooring-tiles-install-without-smelly-adhesives/ Recycled plastic flooring tiles install without smelly adhesive
3. http://www.bpf.co.uk/sustainable_manufacturing/recycling/The_Worlds_First_100_percent_Recycled_PVC_Window.aspx The World’s First 100% Recycled Content Window

Interested in learning more about designing and constructing a green building? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

 

 

 

---

 

---

We're beyond sustainable architectural design for the environment, to design for sustainable societies and economies.

I have dedicated the better part of the last two decades to green architectural design, both in practice and in educating the public of its economical and environmental benefits. So have my talented colleagues. We wanted to have an impact on the world around us that was bigger than ourselves, so we have dedicated a lot of energy into it.

But sustainability doesn't end there. It's a bigger concept that finds its way into all sorts of corners and crevices in our lives, and we have been fortunate at Carlson to be able to integrate our designs into pieces of the world that many don't realize are critical to sustaining our socio-economic climates.

---

 

Sustainability in the built environment is our primary focus, but we also recognize that is not enough by itself to create a truly sustainable community.  Social and economic equity are also key component.  

We have completed many projects throughout the years for non-profits that have similar goals in social or economic equity.  Projects like the Cancer Support Community (more at www.carlsonstudio.org), Easter Seals, and the Community Center at Janie’s Garden Public Housing complex all support a greater purpose.

The Business Of Sustainability

 

Here are a couple of recent projects that combine both as well: 

1. Project 180

Project 180, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a reentry program for male prisoners in Florida. They provide assistance for those about to be released from prison in the state to assist in their transition back into society.

The goal is to reduce the impact of repeat offenders upon public safety, public spending, Florida families and individual lives. They begin to provide assistance 6 months before a prisoner’s release.

Project 180’s next major goal is to open a residential facility that can assist those who do not have immediate access to housing when they are released.  Upon the grand opening, it will feature a two year, highly structured, 24/7 clean and sober residential environment, marketable job skill training, paid apprenticeships, academic education, rehabilitation, and safe, slow reintegration into the community.

Some amazing statics provided by Project 180 about Florida

• Florida’s prisons currently house over 100,000 inmates.
• Over 30,000 return to our communities every year.
• More than 45% of those housed in the Florida state prison system are repeat offenders.
• Almost 40% of Florida’s prisoners test at or below a fifth grade education level

 

2. Kashi By the River

Our Kashi by the River Project is a 41 unit multifamily project in Sebastian, Florida.  It is specifically designed for up to 10 individuals to live together under one roof, and provide support for each other in a caring, small community environment.  Each person has their own sleeping room and private bathroom, and they share common functions and spaces such as the living area, kitchen, dining, pantry and laundry.  In the case of Kashi by the River, we also provided accommodations for a few couples, and we clustered four 10 bedroom buildings together to create a small neighborhood of like-minded individuals.

The community creates an environment of harmony with nature and each other, a kind of sustainability that isn't easiest to measure, but very easy to see.

 

 

---

 

---

CONCLUSION:

Throughout the years we have found that our clients are motivated by many different things.  Some are motivated to create a healthy and comfortable place to live or to work; others like to save money by reducing their energy and water bills through conservation of those resources (the return on investment is amazing - by the way); some have a passion to reduce their carbon footprint and combat the effects of climate change on an individual or corporate level; others simply want better design in harmony with the natural environment.

I personally look for opportunities for sustainability everywhere (probably driving the people who know me well a little nuts from time to time).

After all, everything is connected.  Architecture that is good for the triple bottom line- social, environmental (or ecological) and financial.  (Also referred to as the 3 P’s-People, Planet and Profit) should benefit everyone, and reduce our negative impacts in every way possible.  There are so many like-minded organizations around the world that are tackling the important issues of our society today.  

Organizations like Project 180.

Interested in discussing an architectural design concept or master design project that harnesses sustainability beyond the envelope? Schedule a consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

---

 

---

Green architecture is a great idea.

Sustainability and environmental consciousness are important to you. You make choices throughout your life, weighing convenience, costs, and personal well-being with your commitment to leave the world in a better state than when you arrived.

Because of this, you seek green alternatives whenever and wherever you can. You read labels, compare specs, and make the best choices you can based on the information that’s readily available.

And if you’re about to build a new structure, you have an incredible opportunity to incorporate principals of sustainability that will have an enormous impact on the world we live in – for many years to come. That’s why it’s probably a good idea to poke around and make sure you are engaging a firm where “green” is woven into their DNA, not just a marketing ploy to snag some extra business.

Because of that we’ve put together a list of ways to weed out the real green architecture firms from the rif-raff.

---

It's not like green was born yesterday...

The USGBC was founded in 1997, and LEED V2 went public in 2000.  That was 16 years ago!  Green Building became defined, and a system to independently verify the sustainable features of a building was put into place. 16 years is a long enough time for these 10 questions and observations to make sense in helping you identify the real McCoy.

 

1. What is their company car?

An SUV? An oversized luxury car? A turbo’d out gas guzzler? Or is it something that makes a green statement, like a Prius, Leaf, Volt, or Smart Car?  Maybe they don’t have a “company car…” So, what is the owner driving? What are the other employees driving?

 

2. When you mention “net zero...”

Does your architect know you are not referring to the latest beverage from Coca Cola?

 

3. Where is their office located?

Is it in a suburban office complex where everyone has to drive to and from the office, and drive to get lunch, and drive to go to the bank, and drive to get the dry cleaning, or is it located near where there is a great deal of housing and all the necessary services that are convenient for the staff, where staff and clients can walk to lunch, to the bank and to the dry cleaners?  Is it accessible by walking or biking? Are they located next to a public transportation hub?

 

4. Do they claim they do green building design, but...

“just don’t seek and independent green rating certification?” Um… why not? That’s like when children say they’re cowboys or astronauts… Saying the words doesn’t make it true – but having proof   So, why wouldn’t they seek certification if they qualified? 

 

5. Do they use "accredited" and "certified" right?

buildings are certified and people are accredited? If you hear your architect telling you they have X number of LEED certified staff, please run away as fast as you can.  (On a related note, products do not receive any certification or accreditation by the USGBC.  So is someone is trying to sell you a LEED certified product, run away!)

 

6. What do they think of "heat island effect?"

When you express a desire that your project reduce its “heat island effect” does your architect think that is a tropical condition caused by an island in the Caribbean? Reducing heat island effect is about light colored, reflective roofing and site hardscapes such as parking lots and sidewalks.  It can also involve landscaping that provides shading. 

 

7. Do they belong?

What sorts of organizations does the firm belong to, support or contribute to? Is the firm a USGBC member?  A Florida Building Coalition member? For how long?  15 years? 1 year?  What other green building organizations is the firm active in?  How about social equity organizations?  Community Service Organizations?

 

8. Do they care about their own carbon footprint?

Do they occupy an existing building that maybe is an adaptive reuse of a building that functioned for another purpose (see our blog about embodied energy).  Is there office in a dense urban environment?

 

9. Are they consistently certified?

How many LEED buildings has the architect done in the past 15 years? Does it seem that they always have a LEED project in design or construction, or is there one here and one there without any consistency?

 

10. Do they like the ponies?

Does your architect think the Triple Bottom Line is a bet at the horse track?  Or does the firm believe in People, Planet and Profit all equally?

---

CONCLUSION:

For many, "green" is a marketing term used to lure unsuspecting patrons who are looking to do a little extra to help their planet (and bottom line: read more). But you as a consumer are empowered to see through those who are faking it, and those who are actually making it, as long as you know which questions to ask.

Interested in learning more about green building design from an architectural firm that eats, breathes, and sleeps sustainability? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio Architecture today!

---

 

---

(Click HERE to see the green home design shown above)

 

Building a green home with your carbon footprint in mind is key:

Building a green home is a key step to reducing your carbon footprint.  Here in the USA we are about 5% of the world’s population, but we use about 25% of the world’s energy, and much of the energy used has a significant carbon footprint.

Hearing that we're leading the world in energy consumption is nothing new, but the entire world is now striving to be like the USA in their standard of living, consumerism, and energy consumption. If we stay on this carbon based energy trajectory, we will need 9 planets to sustain humans here... which, of course, is not an option.

There is a lot you can do to reduce your carbon foot when you build a new home.  There are also advantages to remodeling your existing home or office building and preserving the embodied energy in that existing structure.

 

---

 ANOTHER LIKE THIS: How to Incorporate Embodied Energy into Your Green Building Designs

---

 

 

---

Buildings are the largest energy user in the US.

Reducing your home’s energy use is the first and most important factor. This reduces your carbon footprint and saves you money at the same time. It is a win-win, and there are so many ways to conserve energy and reduce your home's carbon footprint!

 

1. Long Term Implications

Think about how long a building would last to provide the greatest return on energy and resources invested. "Forever" is a good time-frame, right?

Of course, "forever" is not possible, but it should stand for many decades, and possibly a century or more. Why not? At least the building envelope itself should. Maybe it's remodeled and repurposed over time, but if we think "long term" at the outset, we're much more likely to end up with something that lasts.

Work with your architect to develop an energy saving design from the beginning of the design process.  Use their expertise to help determine where to spend your construction dollars most effectively. 

 

2. Building orientation

Use proper building orientation, a well-insulated and air tight wall and roof system, great windows and doors, and an extremely efficient heating and cooling system that exceeds the code minimum requirements. 

The orientation itself could have huge implications depending on which direction its facing, where your resources are, and some other environmental and emotional drivers. If you're working with an architect that has "sustainability" woven into everything they do, there's very likely a deeper investment in things like getting the orientation of your building to minimize to your carbon footprint and overall personal well-being incorporated into the design.

 

3. Size Matters

Another important factor of your carbon footprint is to control the overall size of the home.

I know it's hard for some to leave room on the table when it exists, but you'll thank me on this later... Do not build more square footage than you need to be comfortable. It has as much to do with being green as the materials and systems.

In fact, the LEED for Homes green building rating system has guidelines for sizing your home, based on the number of bedrooms you need.  LEED has recommended limits to the square footage and rewards you for staying under the limits or penalizes you for going over the limits, on a per bedroom basis.  

This approach makes a lot of sense when you think about it.   If you were to make your home twice as big as it needs to be, and then make it 50% more efficient, you really have not gained anything if terms of energy use reduction or carbon footprint reduction.  

Work with your architect to program the spaces and functions of your home carefully so there is no wasted space.       

 

4. Location, location, location

Where you build your home is another very important factor. The energy and carbon footprint of transportation is the second largest use of energy in the US. Build in a dense area, near to where you work and near to the conveniences you need, such as grocery stores and other services you use all the time. 

Living in the sprawl of suburbia has huge carbon footprint implications.  Commuting back and forth from suburbia to work and services as one person in one car uses a lot of energy and wastes of time.  Put a value on your time.  If you can’t live close to work and services, the next best option is to live near and use public transportation such as subway, light rail and bus services.

Also, water plays another big role in your location. There is a great deal of energy used to treat water to drinkable standards, and to treat the waste water that is discharged into the sewer system.  Remember water = energy usage = carbon footprint.

Also, living in a dense area that already has infrastructure such as central water and sewer service in place reduces the carbon footprint of having to create all that infrastructure and extend it from its current service boundaries. 

 

5. Systems

Once you have built a very energy efficient home, and it is as small as practical, supplementing the energy your home uses with onsite renewable sources is the next step to further reduce your carbon footprint.

Use systems such as photo voltaic panels (to make your own electricity), hydroelectric (creating electricity from the flow of water), solar thermal (using the sun to heat water for you), geothermal (using the ground temperature to aid in heating and cooling your home) and/or wind energy (residential style windmills) to provide your own clean energy directly for your home. 

With these systems you don’t have the transmission losses of a grid distributed energy system, and you are not at risk for paying rising energy prices. 

Again, work with your architect to fully integrate these energy producing and saving features into the design of your new home (hopefully they know these options well). Your design team can also evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of these systems to better understand the life cycle cost implications of installing these systems.

 

---

CONCLUSION:

Many of your choices to reduce your home’s carbon footprint are free.  Where you build, how much you build, the orientation of the home, and how you utilize the natural attributes of your site are all free choices. While adding alternative on-site energy sources such as PV Panels or solar thermal to your project may add additional first cost,  if properly integrated into the design, these systems can pay you back (ROI) more than their cost to initially install.  

The most important thing is to work closely with your design team to develop comprehensive design solution that incorporates all the carbon foot print reducing features you desire in your new home.  Do it right and you can reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and move to a more sustainable existence without sacrificing comfort and quality in your life.

Interested in learning more about how to design YOUR green home and reduce your carbon footprint? Schedule a free consultation with Carlson Studio today!

Want more resources on building a green home? Try this ebook on for size!

---

 

Congratulations on your choice for a green home! Now it's time to ensure it's a smooth build.

When most people set out to build their green home, the obvious first step is to find the right design team. And while I agree, you want to partner with an architectural firm that puts green first, as in, the idea of sustainability isn't an after thought, but rather, a fully integrated component in the planning process - you also want your construction crew to be thinking in the same terms.

When approached with a new project, it's rare for our clients to have a contractor already involved, so they turn to us for referrals. However, unlike your design team, you need your construction crew to be as local as possible, so even though we have our favorites, they're not always the best option due to their location.

It IS something that should be handled at the outset of your design process, because the integrated approach will save you a lot of hassle, and help you get the most efficient building that meets and exceeds your expectations.

We always recommend hiring your contractor at the same time as you hire your design team.

So, I put together a list of to-dos and questions to help you find the best contractor for your project.

 

---

MORE LIKE THIS: How to Save Yourself (Not Your Planet) With Sustainable Home Design

---

 

 

The to-dos that will lead to a better green home design and construction process:

1. Interview 2 - 4 contractors

You want to select your contractors based on qualifications, not those who promise the lowest price - especially so early in the process. If you're doing it right, you're making this choice before the design process is underway, so they can add their input as we go.

 

2. Ask good questions

Building green is a specialty type of construction, so you shouldn't expect ANYBODY with a license to build to be able to deliver the goods to your green home. That's why we put together this list of important questions to ask to make sure you're not getting a lemon.

If they can't answer these questions, or find it difficult to be specific, you may want to keep looking. Mind you, these aren't ALL related to building green - some of them are just good questions to ask your contractor, so you are able to set realistic expectations and partner with credible companies that won't leave you hanging.

 

COMPETENCY:

1. Have you ever built a LEED certified home in the past?
   • If so, what level of certification was obtained?
   • What were some of the significant areas for efficiency?
2. Have you worked with a LEED provider in the area on a prior project, whom you'd be able to pull into this one?
3. Have you constructed a home that has a HERS rating of 30 or better?
4. How many homes are you typically building at any given moment in time?
5. Can you or your subcontractors help us evaluate alternative heating and cooling systems that are more energy efficient, and help us determine relative costs of the various systems?
6. Have you been involved in solar PV installations on any of your homes?
7. Have you built with alternative wall system types, such as ICF or SIP?
8. Have you ever installed solar hot water in any of your homes?
9. How much of your work is design/build versus construction only based on somebody else's design?
   
   

TEAM:

1. Who will we work with on a day-to-day basis duringpre-construction and construction?
   • Do you have a superintendent that you will be assigning?
2. Do you have preferred subcontractors who you like to use for your LEED and high energy efficient homes?
3. And are you okay with us suggesting some subcontractors?

 

COST STRUCTURE:

1. We would like to hire a general contractor based on qualifications and then work on price, and we would like to have the general contractor competitively bid the project to multiple subcontractors. How do you handle your pre-construction services, and how do you charge for them?

2. What is your standard form of owner/contractor agreement for the construction? 
   • Do you have a pre-construction agreement, or is it all-in-one?
3. Do you often work with allowances?
   • How do you manage all the detailed selections that need to be made (Such as a finishes, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures etc.)?
4. Are you used to doing monthly draws or milestone draws, such as when the foundation is complete, when the framing package is complete, etc.?

 

TIMING:

1. How long do you think it will take to build this house?
2. How much time do you need from the completion of the permitting bidding documents to the time that you can present a final price?
3. How do you limit waste, and how do you manage the waste that is created and divert it from the landfill?

 

3. Trust your gut

Have an honest and meaningful discussion with your potential contractors.  Trust your gut.  You can get a sense of the personalities involved and how they will mesh with yours.  Convey your goals and see if there is genuine passion from the contractor to help you obtain them. The design and construction process is complicated and fluid, which means that you need to find a contractor you feel comfortable with and that you trust.  

 

---

MORE LIKE THIS: Why Choose a Green Roofing System

---

CONCLUSION:

Building a new home is an exciting experience, and when you're designing it based on ideologies you believe in, such as sustainability, you should not have to compromise important goals late in the game because your contractors weren't rowing in the same direction as you and your design team.

Bring them in early and ask the hard questions up front to avoid unexpected expenses and unnecessary setbacks - Not only will you be happier with the end-result, something that you literally have to live with every single day, but you'll be happier about the process itself.

At Carlson, we believe in the integrated design process, which means bringing your team together early. Because of this, we are also hired as eco-consultants. Are you interested in learning more from a Carlson Studio Architecture professional? Schedule an appointment today!

You can also download this handy ebook on how to design your green home:

---

 

---

TRENDS IN SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE DEFINITION:

Talking about trends in sustainable architecture is a slippery slope.   Many of the “trends” are a simply the re-discovering of good design that worked well before we had so much technology to overcome poor design. That IS a plug for proven passive design solutions, but it IS NOT a criticism of technology. That is the strength of integrative design - to be able to look at entire system holistically and use the best of passive and active design solutions to obtain the optimum results. The following ideas are not new, but they are some of the ideas that are “top of the mind” in sustainable design today.

---

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN TRENDS AND EXAMPLES:

Below you will see what we believe to be some of the major sustainable design trends unfolding here in 2015. There are certainly other trends and evolutionary movement in the green building industry and we will write about those as well. So, please subscribe or bookmark this blog and you can stay informed and hopefully use some of our green building expertise and experience to help you with your next building project.

Trends In 2015:

1. Resiliency

Resilience: Def. Noun

1. The capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress
2. An ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

The Resilience Alliance defines resilience as the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain essentially the same function, structure, identity, and feedbacks.

A sustainable building needs to adapt over its life to changing conditions, and its life must be a long one. It needs to adapt to changes in climate, temperature, rainfall, sea level, flood patterns, advancements in building technologies such as heating and cooling systems, functional changes by the users, etc. It needs to be tough and flexible at the same time.

2. Biophilia

Biophilia Def. Noun

1. A love of life and the living world; the affinity of human beings for other life forms.

The biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems. Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis in his book, Biophilia (1984). He defines biophilia as "the urge to affiliate with other forms of life".

Whether or not we have thought about this concept, we know it. We enjoy being in the natural environment. When we cannot be in it, we enjoy looking at it from our balcony or through our window. The sun light and shadows that move across a space change the space constantly in a predictable way that is dynamic, full of life, and still comforting. We love the sound of the rain. We love the smell of the forest. The integration of our built world into the natural world is so important.

3. Net Zero Energy

A net zero building, is a building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site. See the Wikipedia definition of Net Zero Energy.

The living building Challenge has its own Net Zero Energy Building Certification. You can read more about this certification here: http://living-future.org/netzero

The Whole Building Design Guide also has a Net Zero Energy Building resources which you can read more about here: http://www.wbdg.org/resources/netzeroenergybuildings.php

We certainly must get to net zero energy building design by 2030. Many countries in Europe will get there much faster. This is a goal we can achieve step by step. Each building we design, or (as an owner or investor) commission to be built must be more energy efficient than the last one. And it must make significant leaps, not just tiny incremental improvements. Net Zero Energy Buildings are doable NOW. We can gain great efficiencies with thoughtful, integrated building design and technologies that can get us 60-80% more efficient than the codes require, and we can supplement the rest with renewable energy sources harvested right at our building site, using PV, solar thermal, geothermal, wind, or whatever is available at the project location.

4. Biomimicry

The Biomimicry Institute defines biomimicry as:

“Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.”

Janine M. Benyus’ book, Biomimicry Innovation Inspired by Nature published in 1997 got the whole idea started in the US.

The Whole Building Design Guide also has Biomimicry resources at: http://www.wbdg.org/resources/biomimicry.php

This is a wonderful concept that is being utilized in the design of many different things, from carpets, to aerodynamic shapes for the front of vehicle, to building design. It is using the lessons from nature- lessons that have been learned and proven over millennium- and applying those lessons to solve problems we face in design.

These trends are important. Every business and their industry has trends but without being too bias, The Sustainable Design Architectural Industry and these trends are paramount and need to obtain the attention of :

• Building Project Coordinators
• Architectural Firm Executives
• Multiple Project Decision Makers
• New Home Owners
• Residential & Commercial Architects
• Board Of Directors In The Education, Healthcare, Non-Profits, Interior Design Firms and More!

---

I would also like to offer you some other green building/sustainable architecture information, including LEED certified building examples & other relevant articles:

• Sustainable Residential Design Ideas For Florida (& other states)
• What Can Be Learned From A LEED For Home Charrette
• Green Interior Design Project Examples
• Sustainable Design Projects & Examples
• Hospitality Industry Green Building Design Projects
• Healthcare Green Building Ideas & Examples

 

  PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Carlson Studio is a LEED accredited team of sustainable design and green building professionals in Sarasota Florida. We encourage you to connect with us and ask any question you may have when considering an architect for an upcoming project that falls into any of the categories mentioned above. You can get a no obligation estimate, ask any questions when implementing your research or reach out and ask an opinion on an ongoing project.

Just use the button below to connect with us.

Good luck and highest regards to all that are considering our environment and including sustainable design in their construction plans.

---

 

---

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IN FLORIDA:

Being in a sub-tropical climate, sustainable design in Florida faces some unique challenges. Here are some of our thoughts, especially related to designing a Passive House, and trying to get to Net Zero energy use, in the hot and humid climate of Florida.

Here is a good illustration of climate zones in the USA from the IECC. Note the white line that indicates the Warm and Humid area of the country. Most of Florida is in Climate Zone 2.

 

Need more, related inspiration? Check out these other perspectives that will help you make other green building considerations:

• Other Sustainable Design Thoughts And Ideas
• Sustainable Design Hard Earned Awards
• More Abound Carlson Studio Green Building Strategies

---

PASSIVE DESIGN SYSTEMS THAT WORK:

Passive Design Systems and design criteria that work well in hot and humid climates:

• Tight and insulated homes vs. open and breezy homes: Open and breezy homes were the ideal design prior to the invention and wide use of air conditioning.   Air conditioning now allows tight and insulated homes to be more comfortable.
• Envelope concepts that work well:

1. Compact shape- reduce the exterior wall area
2. Continuous insulation- no interruptions in the building envelope

• Thermal bridge free- make sure there are no thermal bridges in the windows and doors, or in the wall or roof systems.
• Air tightness- seal the house tightly to avoid air infiltration coming in from outside or the leaking of the conditioned air to the exterior.   Air tightness should be <=0.6 ACH at 50 pascals pressure. (AHC is air changes per hour)
• The Passive house goal = 75% below energy star requirements with relative humidity (RH) = 40-50%
• Use good glass in the windows and doors- double glazed, low-e coatings.
• R>= 38.5 (R- value, insulation)
• SHGC 0.5-0.55 (solar heat gain coefficient)
• Use energy recovery system that brings fresh air in

---

LESSONS LEARNED:

1. If you get the building orientation wrong, you fight it all the way and it make some of the other energy saving techniques you may be using less effective.
2. In the south, people add to the interior climate issue by creating heat and moisture inside the envelope. This is beyond the designer’s control.
3. Energy modeling is not very accurate in predicting net zero energy use. Modeling does not take into account plug loads.
4. The primary energy demand per person is difficult to estimate.   Mixed climate zones are challenging- heating and cooling criteria need peak loads to insure comfort, in addition to annual loads.

 Check out the recommendations for climate zones in Florida  

---

Carlson Studio has over 30 years experience helping the following industry define and execute the best and most profitable solutions to successfully execute a green planning strategy:

• Healthcare
• Residential
• Non-profit
• Educational
• Hostipality
• International
• Mutli-family
• Religious
• Commercial

We encourage you to reach out to us and let us help you with your green building project. We are very confident we can assist you in a number of ways. Just hit the button below to make a connection.