Think “Sustainable Building” and “Green Building”
are hot new trends? In reality, the practice of building
sustainably encompasses techniques that humans have used
for centuries to preserve precious resources and save money.
Sustainable building includes: recycling and reusing materials;
using the sun’s energy to heat, light and power homes,
cooling with natural ventilation; utilizing energy-efficient
materials and appliances to minimize the use of fossil fuels;
and using low-toxic/natural materials to preserve air quality.
Websites:
Northwest
Eco-Building
Earth
Advantage
Sustainable
Building Sourcebook
Publications:
Environmental Building News
ArtHouse,
Tranquility, Desert,
Twisted and Studio
feature Sustainable Building
Believe it or not, straw bale house construction has been
around for more than 100 years. Made from the remaining
waste after harvesting wheat, rice rye, oats, or barley,
straw bales become walls and insulation. In fact, straw
bales have more than double the R-value than other types
of insulation. The straw bales also become the substrate
for the exterior stucco and interior plaster. Besides being
completely natural and breathable, the stucco-covered, straw
bale walls are weatherproof, fireproof and pest-proof.
Websites:
Development
Center for Appropriate Technology
Publications:
The Last
Straw
Tranquility
features Straw Bale Construction
Using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) is a bit like building
with Legos. The pre-made forms are stacked, then filled
with rebar and concrete. ICFs take the place of conventional
wood framing and insulation. Wood siding or stucco can be
applied to the exterior, and drywall or plaster can be used
inside. ICFs prevent air infiltration creating a wall system
that is more air tight and draft-free than wood framing.
While most ICFs are created from virgin Styrofoam, some
versions (such as Durisol and Rastra Block) are created
from recycled materials.
Websites:
ICF Web
Products:
Eco-Block
ARXX
Building Products
Twisted features
Insulated Concrete Forms
In addition to its superior energy efficiency and sound-absorbing
qualities, Durisol is recycled, non-toxic, breathable, mold
resistant and fire resistant. Made from 80% recycled materials
and containing no toxic substances, Durisol is a modular
block created from specially-graded, recycled waste wood
that is mineralized and bonded with Portland Cement. An
added layer of rock wool to the exterior increases efficiency.
The blocks are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with
concrete and steel to produce a reinforced concrete wall.
Websites:
Durisol
Wall Form System
Suppliers:
Humabuilt
Healthy Building Systems
To read more about Durisol see
Recycled and Energy Efficient Building Systems
Instead of waste wood, Rastra Blocks are made from 85% recycled,
post-consumer, polystyrene waste combined with Portland
cement. Rastra Block forms are set in place, then glued
or clamped together until the concrete is poured and rebar
is inserted. Rastra Blocks can be easily tooled to create
curves and other interesting shapes.
Websites:
Rastra
Blocks
Suppliers:
Green
Depo
Desert features
Rastra Block
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are built like a sandwich.
The outer skin is made from oriented strand board, while
the center is made from expanded polystyrene or straw. The
two are bonded together with a laminating adhesive. SIPs
are available in many different thicknesses and can be used
for walls or roofs. Because SIPs are cut to order in the
factory and delivered to your site, they can be installed
quickly. In addition, they are more air tight and draft-free
than wood framing.
Websites:
Structural
Insulated Panel Association
Products:
Agriboard
Suppliers:
Structures Northwest
Twisted features
Structural Insulated Panels
Developed by Old World craftsmen centuries ago, timber frame
construction never uses nails and screws. Structural posts
and beams are sawn from large, solid timbers and connected
with mortise and tenon joints. Typically, timber frame homes
are enclosed with a weather proof system on the exterior,
exposing the beautiful beams on the inside for a dramatic
affect. Using recycled timber allows you to build your home
from strong wood that was previously harvested, so you can
sleep well at night knowing you are conserving scarce resources.
Websites:
Timber
Framers Guild of North America
Timber
Frame Business Council
Suppliers:
Earthwood
Homes
Twisted features
Recycled Timber Framing
Tranquility and Desert
feature Recycled Wood
“Certified wood” comes from forests that are certified
by an independent third-party to meet sustainability standards
including environmentally, socially and economically responsible
management. Adopting the voluntary certification standards
ensures the long-term health and productivity of forests
for timber production, wildlife habitat and water quality
while also providing social benefits such as stable and
lasting community employment. When consumers demand certified
wood, forest managers see the incentive for obtaining certification
and thus adopt more ecologically sound practices.
Websites:
Forest
Certification Resource Center
Forest Stewardship
Council U.S.
Desert features
Certified Wood Framing
In too many homes, the air inside may be more polluted than
the air outside. Building materials from plywood to carpet
may off-gas toxic chemicals that can lead to “sick
building syndrome” in modern, air-tight houses. Fortunately,
sick building syndrome is avoidable. At homeowners’
request, more contractors are building with non-toxic or
low-toxic materials and providing fresh air through a “Heat
Recovery Ventilator.”
Websites:
US
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental
Building Supplies
Real
Goods
Tranquility
and Desert feature Non-Toxic Materials
Twisted features a Heat Recovery
Ventilator
With the increase in gas and electricity prices and the
advent of many new technologies, now is the perfect time
to build an energy efficient home. For best results, create
a “system” that begins with a tight exterior envelope,
into which you add energy-producing features. Try passive
solar heat, photovoltaic panels and solar hot water heating.
Combine these with an appropriately-sized heating system,
a fresh air ventilation system, natural ventilation and
lighting, efficient appliances and low or non-toxic finishes,
and your energy efficient home will be comfortable and healthy.
Harnessing the sun’s energy to heat your home does
not require costly photovoltaic systems. In fact, three
simple design features are all you need for passive solar
heating. South facing windows with the correct glazing allow
solar rays to penetrate as the sun makes its daily journey
West across the Southern sky. A brick hearth, stone wall
or other thermal mass stores the heat, releasing it slowly
each night. Overhangs or shades block the high summer sun,
while inviting in the winter sun, which enters at a lower
angle.
Even without a large thermal mass inside
your home, South-facing windows with glazing will allow
you to capture the sun’s heat and light during the
day, requiring other heat sources at night. Central Oregon’s
sunny, cool climate is ideal for passive solar heating and
sun tempering.
Websites:
Passive
Solar Design - New Mexico Solar Energy Association
Passive
Solar Heating - National Institute of Building Sciences
Passive
Solar Heating and Cooling - Arizona Solar Center
Tranquility,
Desert, and Studio
feature Passive Solar Heating
ArtHouse and Twisted
feature Sun-Tempering
Would you like to be your own power company, cut down or
eliminate your use of fossil fuels, and reduce the greenhouse
gases that your home produces? With today’s advanced
photovoltaic technologies, your home can create its own
electricity reliably and efficiently. Tie your panels to
the grid system and spin your meter backwards as you add
sell solar power back to the power company. Or, use a battery
bank for complete independence from the grid system.
Sub-contractors:
Sunlight
Solar
Cascade
Sun Works
Studio features
Photovoltaic Panels
Hot water produced by the sun can be used for numerous purposes:
domestic hot water, radiant floor heating, spa and pool
heating, and snow melt systems. Most commonly, solar hot
water systems are used for basic household needs such as
laundry, bathing, dishwashing and cooking. In Central Oregon,
a properly-sized solar hot water system will provide up
to 80% of a household's hot water needs.
Sub-contractors:
Sunlight
Solar
Cascade
Sun Works
Bobcat
and Sun, Inc.
ArtHouse and
Tranquility feature Solar
Hot Water Heating
Radiant in-floor heat consists of hot water moving through
tubes inside the floor. This heat radiates from the floor
to masses inside your home, such as furniture and people.
Silent and clean, radiant heat creates no air movement,
does not dry the air and does not gather high up at ceiling
level. Instead, it provides a comfortable, even heat where
you need it: around people. Radiant heat is suitable for
any type of home, and is especially well-suited to homes
with high ceilings.
Websites:
Radiant
Design Institute
Subcontractors:
Bobcat
and Sun, Inc.
ArtHouse,
Tranquility, Desert,
Twisted and Studio
feature In-floor Radiant Heat
Did you know you can lower your utility costs, reduce water
and energy use, help protect the environment, AND get a
rebate from the government? It’s a win, win situation
that you can take advantage of by installing energy efficient
appliances in your home.
Websites:
Energy
Star
Tranquility
and Desert feature Energy Efficient
Appliances
Natural cooling begins with shading your windows during
the hottest months of the year. Strategically-placed overhangs
and deciduous trees will shade your windows while retaining
natural light and views. Operable windows situated correctly
will allow you to capture natural breezes, effectively exhausting
hot air from your home. If your home design allows, you
can create a passive “thermal chimney,” the most
efficient method of drawing air currents through your home
and exhausting hot air.
Websites:
Natural
Cooling - Oikos, Green Building Source
Natural
Cooling - Earth Easy
ArtHouse,
Tranquility, Desert,
Twisted and Studio
feature Natural Cooling
Not only can you heat your home with
the sun’s energy, you can also light your home throughout
the entire day with only the sun. Capturing natural light
involves consciously arranging rooms so that they capture
light during the times of day you use them. Strategic placement
of windows allows you to capture light from the correct direction
to provide the type of light needed in each room.
Websites:
Natural
Lighting - Shelter Institute
Passive
Solar Heating and Daylighting
ArtHouse,
Tranquility, Desert,
Twisted and Studio
feature Natural Lighting
Over the past few years, the State of Oregon and power companies
operating in the state have created incentives for building
passive solar homes, installing active solar systems, and
using energy efficient appliances. A plethora of Information
is available about these incentives.
Websites:
Energy
Trust
Oregon
Department of Energy
ArtHouse,
Tranquility, Desert,
Twisted and Studio
feature Energy Credits
Website:
Building
and Planning Departments of Central Oregon
Deschutes
County Building and Planning Departments
