Environmental Design + Construction - March 2009 - (Page 31) (on a working farm producing organic food), and it showcases the effectiveness of re-purposing beautiful building materials from demolished structures while meeting the highest standards for energy efficiency and carbon reductions. Attractive and inspirational, this structure will serve for generations as a powerful early example of what deep-green building is all about. JASON F. MCLENNAN, LEED AP, SERVES AS THE CEO OF THE CASCADIA GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST’S LEADING ORGANIZATION IN THE FIELD OF GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. CASCADIA IS A CHAPTER OF BOTH THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AND THE CANADIAN GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL. JASON IS THE AUTHOR OF THE LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE, AN INTERNATIONAL GREEN BUILDING PROGRAM AND CO-CREATOR OF PHAROS, AN ADVANCED BUILDING MATERIAL RATING SYSTEM. THE NET-ZERO ENERGY GREEN DIRT RESIDENCE MEETS NEARLY EVERY REQUIREMENT OF A LIVING BUILDING, FEATURING RE-PURPOSED BUILDING MATERIALS WHILE MEETING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CARBON REDUCTIONS. PHOTO COPYRIGHT © BOB GREENSPAN. Keep cool. Given the finite supply of the wood available to us, we faced the unique challenge of designing the house around the materials rather than ordering whatever supplies would suit our drawings. We adjusted column heights and re-thought certain interior and exterior architectural features based on the sizes and shapes of the pieces we had. It was unquestionably an investment in time and money, but it yielded incredible results. Most importantly, we played with the notion of design, beginning with what we had on hand rather than a blank slate. In so doing, we stayed truer to the notion of practicing within a system of constraints. Net-Zero Energy from Efficiency to Renewables The house itself is a net-zero energy structure. All electricity requirements are met through a combination of integrated photovoltaic panels and an on-site wind turbine located at the top of the hill. In addition, hot water is provided through a solar thermal system, and much of the space heating comes from direct passive solar. Mechanical conditioning, when needed, is provided through a ground source heat pump. We oriented the home along an east-west axis and considered the position and specifications of each window. (Most, except the south, are triple pane.) Roof overhangs and shading devices add maximum seasonal efficiency. Structural insulated panels provide an excellent thermal envelope with minimal bridging. Rainwater is collected from the roof, serving the property’s landscaping and irrigation needs, and is used efficiently with dual-flush toilets and other water-saving devices. In its entirety, the Green Dirt residence meets nearly every requirement of a living building. (For details on the Cascadia Region Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge, visit www.cascadiargb.org.) OF SO KOOL RO LUTIONS Keep cool with POLYGLASS’ KOOL ROOF SOLUTIONS Package! POLYGLASS ® provides KOOL ROOF SOLUTIONS for your roofing needs with its revolutionary Kool Roof Modified Bitumen Systems and Kool Roof reflective white Coatings helping the heat-island effect and which helps reduce a building’s energy consumption and lower the roof system lifecycle costs. KOOL ROOF SOLUTIONS products deliver reflectivity that meets or exceeds Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC®), ENERGY STAR®, ASTM International and CA Title 24 standards. CA TITLE 24 Compliant Long-Term Solutions In every sense, the Green Dirt home serves as a model for sustainability. It houses a family fully committed to living and working the green ethic www.polyglass.com Reader Service No. 194 www.EDCmag.com/webcard www.EDCmag.com 31 http://www.polyglass.com http://www.cascadiargb.org http://www.polyglass.com http://www.EDCmag.com/webcard http://www.EDCmag.com
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