The phrases “building green” and “sustainable design” have become very popular lately, but many of the practices they refer to are actually very established strategies about how to plan and construct a house.  One central idea of green design is that a house should be planned with great care for its specific location.  A good designer studies the sun angles of the site and understands the local climate well enough to create a positive balance between the inside and outside of the house.  In a true “green” home, air conditioning and heating may be required only on extreme days, and the interior can be lit mostly with daylight.  This process takes longer than selecting a premade plan, and it may require a larger initial investment; however, it will more than pay for itself financially and in your enjoyment of your home.

Sustainable thinking has moved from being a small niche in the design world to taking center stage as a concern. The future of energy and available resources means that it will not be a passing fad. Investing in a green home will give you something unique now and desirable for the future.                          

DEFINING GREEN BUILDING:

Many people interested in green building find they are confronted with many new terms and organization names that are unfamiliar to them.  The following list of links and descriptions will give you a quick introduction to some of the most common groups in the green building community and to some of the best reference sites.

LEED
LEED has become the most widely recognized rating system for sustainable design.  The US Green Building Council introduced it as a way to create standards and highlight the most important steps a designer can take.  It operates on a scale from Certified to Platinum, with Silver and Gold ratings in between.  LEED's newly introduced LEED for Homes rating system is an excellent guide for addressing all of the issues that go into planning a green home.  While getting your home LEED-certified can be a costly process, using the system as a guide is free and beneficial to any project. 

                
ASHRAE
ASHRAE is The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.  They advocate the most efficient use of mechanical devices in homes, and they produce best-practices guides and certifications for professionals.  Many point entries in LEED refer to ASHRAE standards, which are extremely exacting and technical.  Having an ASHRAE-competent engineer on your project team will expand the possibilities of what is possible to achieve in your project.

Building Science Corporation
Building Science is an extremely useful information source and also a consulting firm.  They run the very informative buildingscience.com site, which has a wealth of data on almost every issue relevant in green design.  Many of their recommendations seek to provide information more directly useful to homebuilders than a general rating system.  Studying this site and speaking with your contractor will help you achieve the most long-lasting and well-built structure possible.

Green Building Initiative
GBI is another rating and information organization, somewhat similar to USGBC's LEED.  They offer a lot of useful information and the Green Globes management tool, which helps planners or homeowners keep track of materials, strategies, and project organization in a green context.

Green Builder.com
Green Builder.com runs an exhaustive reference site.  Unlike many more formal organizations, they provide reference lists of professionals and real estate.

Oikos Green Building News
This blog provides the most up-to-date information on changes and developments in the green building community.

Green design is an approach, not a style, so almost any look- from the ultra contemporary to the traditional- can be achieved. 

Builders need to know more about the Stimulus Plan in order to save you money!

Smart Grids is a new program on how to conserve energy, and for more Smart Grids News .

This project by New Design Studios uses overhangs and traditional forms as a fitting response to a hot, humid climate.

HGTV Green Home: This project for a television show illustrates how easy, livable, and attractive a green approach can be.

                     - A 3-D simulation of the Mediterranean living room

Sunset Magazine Idea House: This West Coast urban project is a perfect example of how to maximize use of space, creating a home that is both efficient and impressive.

Green building offers exciting opportunities in new materials, as well as recognizing the value of existing ones.

Here is video on the Not-So-Big House......  http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid10172865001?bctid=11893392001

2008 SPOTLIGHT HOUSE PLAN

   A "Classic French" design by New Design Studios

ICF (insulated concrete forms) is the selected method of construction for this home.

The choice for best methods of construction should always be considered to see which is suited for a particular design.

Be sure to check out the Apex Block presented at the 2010 International Builder's Show in Las Vegas.

N e w   D e s i g n   S t u d i o s is always looking for innovative ideas and interesting building systems to incorporate into one of its architectural designs. 

Weekender Homes is a modular home design focused on being able to live in remote locations.