by Dick Pirozzolo

Timber Homes Illustrated offers these ideas if you want to minimize your 'footprint'

If you want to minimize the environmental impact of your new home and go a little greener, here are 10 ways to begin:

1.    Site your home right. It saves energy, improves aesthetics and keeps neighbors happy. If siting on a hill, homeowners are tempted to build on the highest point. Site the home below the highest elevation instead to avoid breaking up the natural ridgeline. The view will be just as impressive, and the wind will not buffet the home.

2.    Use free energy from the sun. In colder climates, a southern exposure for the family room and kitchen is ideal. During construction, mark and protect existing trees with hay bales. The trees will pay dividends in beauty and lower energy costs. Maintain fir trees as a barrier along the cold and windier north and west elevations. Plant or preserve existing deciduous trees along the south and east elevations for summer shade. When those trees lose their leaves, there will be plenty of sunlight and warmth coming into the house in the winter. Remember to keep trees branches from overhanging the roof—it is a fire hazard in many areas.

3.    Reach for a star. The federal government established its Energy Star program to provide consumers with guidance on reducing energy costs. The Energy Star label provides ratings for a wide range of components and products. The savings can be significant. For example, compared to single-pane windows, Energy Star rated low-e glass with solar shading cuts annual energy bills by $110 to $400.

4.    Rethink utilities. In the kitchen and bath, Energy Star rated appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models—more than making up for their slightly higher costs. Look for energy-rated water heaters, too, and consider an on-demand heating system that eliminates having to keep a tank of water warm around the clock. 

5.    Make enlightened choices. Install fluorescent fixtures and use compact fluorescent bulbs that cut energy by 70 percent. The ambient color has gotten better, but if you still have trouble getting used to compact fluorescents, start by using them in utility areas like the laundry and basement. Balance compact fluorescents with incandescents in bedrooms, home offices and living areas. Automatic timers, built-in photo sensors or motion detectors eliminate waste.

6.    Watch your windows. Since double-glazed windows first appeared, three significant improvements have been made. The space between the panes is now filled with an inert gas such as argon that stems the flow of heat between the panes. The spacers, which once created an “energy short circuit,” have been replaced with low conductivity materials. And, now, microscopic metallic coatings are used to create low-emissivity (low-e) glass, reducing radiant heat flow.

7.    Pump it up. For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. During the heating season, heat pumps take advantage of the outdoor “heat” and move it into the home. During warm weather, the process is reversed. Because they move rather than generate heat, heat pumps can deliver up to four times the amount of energy they consume.

8.    Clear the air. Improving your indoor air quality is important for you health. Consider incorporating a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter to the heating and air-conditioning system.

9.    Add a fan. Ceiling fans circulate warm air in the winter and make occupants feel cooler in the summer. Look for Energy Star models, as they are 50 percent more efficient than conventional units.

10. Start from the bottom. Consider insulated concrete form (ICF) technology for poured-concrete basements. ICF forms are made of plastic foam that is lighter and easier to handle than old-fashioned wooden forms. The ICF forms remain in place after the concrete is poured and cured, resulting in an insulated basement that is drier, warmer and easier to heat. If you’ll use your basement as living space, research your options for basement finishing systems. Owens Corning offers panels that layer the interior wall finish with insulation in a single unit. The panels help the walls breathe, reducing mildew, and still provide easy access to plumbing and electric service.

Source: Timber Homes Illustrated