We see it in sports all the time, if there is a weak link on the team, they cannot win the championship. It takes everyone operating at their top level and working together to achieve success and win it all. The same holds true in home construction. You have to build a complete and balanced team to actually get a green home.
There are many aspects that go into achieving your dream green home. It has to fit your budget, provide healthy indoor air, operate efficiently, be economical to build, and conserve water (just to name a few). The appropriate team depends on the complexity of the design. As I have written many times, just purchasing a plan from a magazine does not take into account the site, the climate, or locally available materials and expertise. A builder is not an expert at selecting materials that are the most efficient and affordable option to achieve your goal. Many times they will send you to a supply house to make your selections – this puts all the burden on you to determine the most economical and appropriate option. Unless you frequently build homes yourself, you should not be expected to know the best solutions.
If you don’t have a builder that understands efficient home construction, you will be paying someone to learn how to build efficiently. While it seems simple, just changing to advanced framing to be able to upgrade your insulation package, for instance, requires some understanding of all the impacts this change will have on other aspects of the home. If you don’t have an insulator that understand efficient insulation installation, you will undoubtedly pay more than you should for an insulation that does not perform as well as possible. If you hire an architect that does not understand specifications and building science, you will likely have a moisture problem in your conditioned attic. There are many considerations that need to be made. You should have a team that knows building science, design, construction, material selection, and installation.
NEST Rebuild, 2010
Don’t fall for the old trap of purchasing a plan that does not address the site, materials, your functional needs, or the climate. Don’t hire a builder that does not know and understand building science. Don’t allow installers to learn by their mistakes on your project. Don’t let a designer with little experience in efficient homes learn how to design your green home. Find a balanced team of experts and pay a little more up front if that is needed to get the best team; it will save you everyday with a job done right.
Invest in green. There are many good mutual funds and stocks available.
Recycle your electronics and computer equipment.
Safely dispose of hazardous materials, like batteries, CFLs, and chemicals. Check locally or online for resources.
Recycle everything possible. Glass, metal, plastic, paper, cardboard (don’t forget junk mail!) and more. And participate in special item recycling days, such as for paints or electronics.
Plant native plant species, which are better suited to your climate and will require fewer chemicals and water.
Water your lawn less frequently and more deeply and at night in most areas, to avoid evaporation.
Eat less meat, which causes the most environmental harm than any other type of food production.
Never let your car idle. If you’re not driving or stopped at a light, shut the engine.
Use post-consumer, recycled content products, such as paper, napkins, toilet paper, tissues, and more.
Use reusable plates, cups and utensils. And no styrofoam. Encourage others to do the same.
Print double-sided both at home and at work.
Recycle those printer cartridges.
Don’t use artificial air cleaners or plug-ins.
House plants can help clear the air. Peace plants and philodendron are particularly well suited to eliminating many common air pollutants.
Use doormats at all doors to keep particulates, dirt, and pollutants out of your home.
Patronize companies that are making efforts to become more environmentally sustainable. From consumer products to services, your dollar can make a difference.
Buy consumer goods that are produced in a more environmentally sustainable manner and with less packaging.
Install a solar PV system to offset your electric demand.
Use an energy star shingle when you replace your roof.
Shop at a Farmer’s Market.
What else should be on the list – leave tips in the comment section and I will add them!
Should you buy online plans or should you hire an architect? It is a common question in this tight economy. If you are looking for the lowest price for the design solution, the simple answer is purchasing plans online will cost less than if you hire an architect.
However, if you are looking for the lowest price for the total project, I am confident hiring an architect will be the best value.
My question to you is: Why suffer the impacts of paying for generic design when you could get all the benefits of custom design?
Online plans are generic designs that offer the widest appeal to the biggest population. They are not designs that fit your specific needs, they don’t look at your land, and they don’t take time to understand your goals. Sure hiring an architect is more expensive if you are only comparing the cost of plans vs. the architect, but the architect brings all elements into the design. Looking at the best way to place your home on the lot can reduce your costs of excavation, heating and cooling (through passive design), and placing your home to make it livable for a lifetime. Architects bring a thorough understanding of structural efficiency and material characteristics. Architects study building science constantly, looking for the best solutions for their clients. Architects reduce your stress, simplify the finish selection process, and help you find the right builder for your home construction. Finally, the architect can help you stay in control during the construction process by catching problems before they are major issues, answering questions to keep the intent of the design intact, and offering insights from past experiences.
Here are some simple ways to cut energy and water use in your bathroom remodel.
When replacing water faucets, shower heads, or even toilets look for water efficient options. Be careful, there are still a few solutions on the market that don’t work, but with a little research you can find solutions that cut your annual water bill. Look for options with the EPA WaterSense label.
Turn off the lights. Natural light will make you feel better and allows you to cut off the lights. Install a window if the bathroom is located on an outside wall or a solar tube if a window is not possible.
Replace your outdated water heater by a Heat Pump Water Heater or an on-demand unit. These units are very efficient and will reduce the amount of energy used to heat your water. Even more efficient – install a solar thermal heating system utilizing an on-demand unit for supplemental heat in times of high demand.
Replace your incandescent and Compact flourescent lights with LED’s. These lights use a fraction of the energy of traditional lights or even CFL’s and last longer.
Skip gadgets like heated floors and heated towel racks – a properly insulated home with a well designed heating and cooling system will be comfortable year round.
Creative Works Farm, the proud home of camp LIGHT, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Virginia nonprofit corporation. We are developing an energy-efficient, environmentally responsible LEED certified children’s summer camp and community center. The special-needs youth and families served by this “green” showcase campus will be supported with fun and imaginative activities in a loving and healthy space. Our mission is to show kids with special needs and circumstances that life is only limited by their imagination, and to give them new tools and skills, along with love and support to inspire them to become anything they can dream.
Camp LIGHT has been established to provide services for kids with their special needs and their families. Both mentally and physically challenged, also including inner-city children and at-risk youth.
Camp LIGHT will be designed as healthy, sustainable , environmentally friendly facility.
Camp LIGHT will offer typical camp programs such as aquatics, animal management – equestrian ,zip lines, Arts, music ,theater,nutrition, Sports, technology, and team building.
Unique programs to the camp would include environmental education organic gardening and horticulture, costume design, creative make up, mask making, set design, sound effects / lighting and prop animation and much more!
Camp LIGHT is tentatively scheduled to open summer 2014.
We have been running a haunted attraction for 13 years called Twizted Creationz . We have always supported local charities, now the proceeds will help fund Camp LIGHT . Twizted Creationz is a haunted attraction with many optical illusions, startle scares and 3-D maze. This is a family-oriented event.
Creative Works Farm is 162 acre facility that will house the camp, 50s town,(special event area that will be utilized during Halloween and Christmas events). We will also be able to have school field trips, corporate retreats, and weddings. These events will run at various times during the year and will help fund the camp.
Creative Works Farm is currently in its capital fundraising campaign and we are seeking corporate sponsorship, private donations and product donations.
We see it in sports all the time, if there is a weak link on the team, they cannot win the championship. It takes everyone operating at their top level and working together to achieve success and win it all. The same holds true in home construction. You have to build a complete and balanced team to actually get a green home.
If you don’t have a builder that understands efficient home construction, you will be paying someone to learn how to build efficiently. While it seems simple, just changing to advanced framing to be able to upgrade your insulation package, for instance, requires some understanding of all the impacts this change will have on other aspects of the home. If you don’t have an insulator that understand efficient insulation installation, you will undoubtedly pay more than you should for an insulation that does not perform as well as possible. If you hire an architect that does not understand specifications and building science, you will likely have a moisture problem in your conditioned attic. There are many considerations that need to be made. You should have a team that knows building science, design, construction, material selection, and installation. 
Should you buy online plans or should you hire an architect? It is a common question in this tight economy. If you are looking for the lowest price for the design solution, the simple answer is purchasing plans online will cost less than if you hire an architect.
Online plans are generic designs that offer the widest appeal to the biggest population. They are not designs that fit your specific needs, they don’t look at your land, and they don’t take time to understand your goals. Sure hiring an architect is more expensive if you are only comparing the cost of plans vs. the architect, but the 
