An Architect's Perspective

Green Building - Energy And Environment

2009-09-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

- The House Designers

At the core of what makes a home green is how efficiently it responds to its environment. The key to building a home that provides maximum indoor comfort, temperature balance and energy efficiency is understanding your sustainable design options and purchasing the right HVAC system.

A very useful tool is LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes, which is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for everyone living in it. LEED-H has established guidelines to help homeowners get the most out of their heating and cooling, while using as little energy as possible.

Here are some helpful guidelines to get you started so you can create the perfect home environment using proper orientation, insulation, sealer, windows and the right heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC), no matter the season, climate, location or size of your home.

Proper Orientation

You'll want to take advantage of your site, by positioning your home so that the rooms, doors and windows can maximize natural resources like solar heat and wind patterns. This is what architects and designers call a Passive Design, because it allows your home to absorb and/or reflect heat and cool air without the use of HVAC systems.

This design method is obviously the best way to start building a green home because it relies only on natural resources, which greatly reduces your energy bills, improves the air quality inside your home and protects the environment. Talk to your designer/architect and builder to make sure that the orientation of your home will lend itself to a sustainable home.

Here are some general design guidelines to follow so you can to take advantage of your site:

-If you live in a colder climate, turn the broadest side of your home toward the sun. If you live in a warmer climate turn the broadest away from the sun.

-The same rules apply for the placement of windows and doors.

-Surround your home with trees because the shade keeps the majority of your house protected from unwanted heat.

-If you don't have trees, consider porches, deep overhangs and pergolas. They won't protect your roof from the sun, but they will help shield your walls and create a cooler microclimate around your home.

Insulate! Insulate! Insulate!

While insulation may not be the 'hot' product to purchase for your new home – it is one of the most important products when it comes to building a green home. There is a lot to be gained in comfort and savings, by spending a little bit of time researching insulation.

Choosing the right insulation material for your home depends on where it will be used and the building and energy codes for your particular town. Your contractor can help you choose the best options for your needs.

Insulation works by slowing the flow of heat trying to leave your home by making it jump across million of tiny air spaces. The smaller and more plentiful the air spaces, the better the insulation. Your home easily loses heat to the outside air through radiation and conduction, which moves the heat from a warm area to colder area - basically from your heated house to the outdoors.

Insulation is rated by its R-value, which is the insulation material's resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. To compare the effectiveness of various types of insulation you'll want to look at the R-value per inch of insulation. There are four basic types of insulation: loose fill, batts and blankets, rigid board and spray foam.

Seal Your Home

The challenge of making your home air tight is that air and water can pass through the smallest cracks, so you'll need to pay special attention to areas around your light fixtures (particularly recessed lighting), electrical outlets, attic openings, and gaps around your windows and doors.

Make sure your builder wraps the frame of your home with an air/moisture barrier such as Tyvek.

Let Windows Light & Heat Your Home

When it comes to choosing your windows, you need to look beyond the aesthetics and focus on the glass itself, because it's the glass that will block the heat in the summer, cold in the winter and allow for an abundance of natural light. When you're purchasing windows, be sure to take note of the U-value, which is a measure of how much heat makes it through an assembly (as opposed to an R-value, which is a measure of resistance.) The lower the U-value of your windows, the more insulation they provide.

Thanks to the push for green building, insulated glass (two panes of glass sandwich an airspace, which serves as an insulator) and Low E window glass (treated with a layer of invisible, microscopic silver coating to provide greater energy efficiency and increased comfort) are becoming more common in new construction.

Choose ENERGY STAR® Equipment

Since most of us don't live in a climate where we can utilize a passive solar design, we need to purchase heating and cooling equipment. High efficiency begins with choosing ENERGY STAR® qualified equipment.

A great placed to start to build your dream green home is researching the EPA's ENERGY STAR® project – they have great tips on energy efficiency, particularly when building a new home.

Most importantly, make sure everything works together!

Green Building Techniques

2009-09-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

Build for Passive Solar Energy

http://www.weloveaustin.com/ - Roselind Hejl

Passive solar design for natural heating and cooling is practiced throughout the world under all climate conditions. As energy costs rise, it is critical to use building orientation, window placements, stone floors, roof overhangs, reflective barriers and other techniques to control natural solar energy. In warm climates, face the broad side of the house to the north or south, to avoid excessive heat gain as the sun rises and drops in the horizon. Use deep overhangs or solar screens to shield glass areas from direct sun. Avoid skylights or greenhouse rooms, because they allow too much heat gain. In colder climates, solar heat can be captured and stored in materials such as concrete or stone to be slowly released during the evening.An open floor plan optimizes the effect of passive solar heating or cooling. Doors and windows should be placed to catch the prevailing breeze and allow cross ventilation. Lower inflow windows and higher outflow windows keeps air moving, as hot air rises. A thermal chimney uses a hot zone, such as a glass cupola with windows or vents, to create rising air currents to pull air through the building.Double glass panes provide an insulating air space between the panes, reducing heat transfer. The metal oxide coating on Low-E (emissive) glass helps to keep solar heat out, and interior heat in.

Ventilate attic spaces.

In hot climates, attic spaces can accumulate heat, transferring it to living areas below. AC ducts located in the attic will absorb this heat. In cold climates, moisture can accumulate in unventilated attic spaces, causing wood rot or mold.Continuous eave and roof ridge vents will create natural air flow through the attic. Air enters through the eave vents, and moves out through the ridge vents. As heated air rises, it ventilates the attic. Lighter colored roof materials absorb less heat. Reflective heat barriers on the underside of the roof deck help to reduce heat gain. High levels of insulation in attics and exterior walls is crucial for comfortable indoor temperature in all climates.Some research is being done on building sealed, highly insulated attics.

Optimize your heat and AC systems.

An oversized system will cool too quickly, and leave the room clammy. Smaller systems run long enough reach the desired temperature, and, at the same time, clear the air of humidity.A smaller system lasts longer, does not cycle on and off frequently, and costs less to purchase. Check for leaks in duct work joints, and around windows, doors, attic stairs, exhaust pipes, recessed lights, and electric outlets. Ongoing maintenance of central air systems is necessary to prevent air loss.Use programmable thermostats to regulate your energy usage. Use Pleated-Media Filters in AC return-air grills. This filter removes particles as small as mold spores from the air that is drawn back into the AC blower, keeping coils cleaner and improving the air quality in your home. Heat pumps on electric furnaces reduce energy use by drawing heat from outside air, using the same technology that air conditioners use to remove heat from indoor air. Check with your utility provider for free diagnostic testing and rebates for high efficiency AC systems, insulation, solar screens, and weather-stripping.

Reduce water needs.

Native landscaping that is suited to the rainfall in your area is fundamental to building green. Keep as much native growth on your lot as possible.Water pervious materials such as crushed granite or open paving blocks allow water to percolate into the ground. Rainwater catchment systems use gutters and barrels to catch and store water that falls on roofs. Front loading washing machines use less energy and water. Some dishwashers use less water and have no-heat drying. Check water and energy usage before buying appliances.Low flow toilets and shower heads reduce water usage. Reduce water and fertilizer needs by re-cycling yard waste and leaves for use as mulch.

Use renewable or recycled materials.

Consider decks made of waste wood and plastic, such as Trex or other brands. Medium density fiberboard (MDF), a wood product used for interior trim and doors, does not contain formaldehyde.Fiber-Cement siding, trim, and pipe materials (Hardie Board) are very durable, rot resistant, and fire retardant. Use locally produced, and easily renewed, materials when possible. Consider alternative building materials, such as rammed earth, straw bale or insulated concrete panels.Concrete floors utilize the foundation material as finish floor, saving materials and labor. Recycled wood floors are a very attractive re-use of materials. Bamboo floors are made from a rapidly renewable source - bamboo is a grass that can grow several feet per day. Hard surface floors do not hold dust, molds, and allergens, and are very durable. Use materials with recycled content when possible, such as cellulose insulation, Thermo-ply, and lumber composites. Plan for a place to re-cycle household trash, such as a storage bin in the kitchen, and holding bin in the garage.

Use Safe Materials

Trees, vegetation and bird habitat on the site should be protected during the construction. Native trees, grasses, rock outcroppings and natural drainage can be made a part of your building and landscaping design. Reduce the impact to the building site as much as possible. Make sure construction waste is properly disposed of, especially paints and solvents. Do not allow them to be buried on the site. Use products that are biodegradable, non toxic, water based, and cold water compatible. Avoid products that contain dyes, ozone depleting chemicals, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or known carcinogens. Avoid solvent based finishes, particleboard, adhesives, some carpets, and other products that release volatile chemicals into the air. Look for green rated labels on carpets and other products. Remove old-style pressure treated wood when possible, especially in play structures. Green building is an approach to design and construction that respects the environment and conserves resources. It is a common sense approach that is available to all home owners. Green building techniques create a more cost effective, enjoyable and sustainable home to live in. http://www.weloveaustin.com/ - Roselind Hejl

Our Newest Plan

2009-06-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

We're pleased to introduce our newest house plan called the "Evandale". It's based on the "Glenmoor", one of our most popular plans. Some of the new and improved upon features of this home include a larger Kitchen with Breakfast and Sunroom combination with lots of windows and French doors. This creates a wonderful area for families to gather together and relax as well as for entertaining. Add to this, a Covered Porch on one side of the Sunroom and Screened Porch on the other side with access also from the Gathering Room and the result is limitless funtionality and flow. Although only 2325 heated sq. ft., this home feels much larger due to the openness of the floor plan and the higher 12' ceilings in the Foyer and Dining Room and vaulted ceilings in the Gathering Room and Sunroom. Upon entering the Foyer, a feeling of spaciousness is achieved by being able to see thru the Gathering Room all the way into the Sunroom. In the Master Suite, we added a tray ceiling and a sitting area that also accesses the Covered Porch through French doors. Finally, if you're tired of a Garage that's just barely large enough to walk all the way around your car, and you would like to be able to open your car door without fear of "dinging" your other car's door, then you're going to love the oversized Garage and third bay which provide ample space for 3 cars and/or workshop areas. Needless to say, we're very excited about the "Evandale" and feel it will prove to be that "just right home" many are looking for at this time. So, please take a look at it for yourself. We welcome your comments and hope you will feel the same ...

Architectural Styles

2009-02-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

The following is an article written by Trish Stukbauer and published in the January/February 2009 issue of Today's Custom Home magazine.

Frank Snodgrass is known for creating timeless residences of enduring beauty. To create those residences, the architect borrows from the past. "If you're building a home today, someone should be able to drive by it 10 years from now and not be able to tell if it was built then, today or 100 years ago. To achieve that, we like to practice architecture that has historic roots. Because we create architectural design based on historic styles, we incorporate details that are appropriate for each particular style of architecture. We do a tremendous amount of research to ensure that we get those details correct, which is what will help the home endure. Craftsman Bungalow, Country French and Shingle styles are all rooted in American and European history. They are the types of styles that people always come back to. There's a sense of tradition inherent in the structure," he says.

Many of the elements characteristic of those architectural styles have their roots in necessity. "A lot of architectural elements were designed to control climate. So, for example, a Mediterranean home will have a low roof pitch and wider overhangs that work together to control the amount of sun that reaches the interior. Likewise, they would use materials that were indigenous to the region, like clay for the roof tiles. A Country French home, on the other hand, would have a steep pitch roof and use a lot of stone from the surrounding countryside, whereas the French Normandy style would make use of the heavy timbers common in that area. Every style of architecture has its own rooflines, eave details and building materials.

"We also practice four-sided architecture, which in essence means that we want the home to look good and be symmetrical on all four sides. Every side is just as important as the other. We want the product to be pleasing to the eye, so we line up elements like windows and doors so you're not just seeing a hodgepodge effect. Even in an asymmetrical design, there will be symmetry within each section of the facade," he notes.

"Massing is also an important consideration. As lots become smaller, you often have a courtyard garage that's 22' or 24' wide, and in some cases, you may not have 22' left on the lot for the main body of the house. The task then becomes playing down and visually breaking up the mass of that garage to focus attention on the main body of the house," he notes. The pitch of the roof and where it is sloped, the width of overhangs and diverse materials used on the facade all contribute to how the house carries its visual weight. "When it's done properly, people will ride by and like what they see, but they may not know why. These are the types of steps we take and the thought we put into each of our homes, whether they are 1,100 square feet or 11,000 square feet," Snodgrass says.

A Solid Green Foundation

2008-07-24T05:26:00.000-07:00

A Green foundation is the point at which your home connects with nature. We’re talking: cold, moisture, and pests. You can deal with much of the cold aspect by using good sealants and thorough caulking. This is not a typical concern for a new homeowner, but as a Green home builder, you will want to monitor everything, especially where energy loss can occur.
Trying to include recycled materials in the foundation of your green home can also make a huge difference in cost and in your impact on the environment. Persuade your builder to work with you on locating recycled CMUs or at least using recycled concrete aggregate as a coarse fill below grade. (Take care to avoid moisture problems around your foundation; this is nothing new to green home building.) You can also specify recycled content in your concrete, such as fly ash and slag. Take this opportunity to install insulation for your concrete forms.
To avoid pest problems, and the later use of environmentally harmful pesticides, make plans now. Use permanent pests shields – especially termite shields – around the perimeter of the house. Employ plastic and metal dividers and fasteners to separate wood and concrete along the perimeter of the foundation from the surrounding ground.
And while you’re at it, protect your foundation from invasive roots by moving your shrubs and trees at least 3 feet from the house perimeter. A green home or any other can’t be happy without a sound foundation. These efficient building practices can be applied to any house plan.

Efficient Floor Plans

2008-07-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

Not every pre-designed or stock home plan comes with "Green" features and Energy Savings.
But, you can easily add features and products to the plan to make it "Green" and efficient. You can also incorporate "Green" ideas in the planning stages beginning with your site work. For example, the first thing to consider is how your new home should be positioned on your lot. This is sometimes referred to as the "smart" or intelligent “Siting” of your new home. On every conceivable lot, there are bearings in which to face the house for improved energy performance and thus increased comfort. The primary objective should be to plan the site in regard to the path of the sun. Also to be considered are prevailing winds, but to a lesser degree. The next thing you should consider is perhaps changing the exterior wall thickness from 2x4 studs to 2x6 framing. While the additional strength of the thicker wall would be a plus, the big benefit for your family will be the extra insulation, and the reduced energy use for the life of the home. However, there are now certain types of insulation that can give you higher R-values in 2x4 construction which equal that of 2x6. You should consult with insulation companies regarding this. You might even want to change your house plan to specify Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) in the construction of your outside walls. The energy performance of these products is miles ahead of stud framing of any kind and should be a “Green” change to be considered. So, the simplest and most effective measures you can undertake to "Green up" your house plans are: Site the house "smart" in relation to the sun, and revamp your exterior walls to either SIP's, 2x6 construction, or new types of insulation so that additional R-values are part of your home’s future.

Selecting a Green Lot

2008-07-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

So you're ready to build that efficient and environmentally friendly home. First things first… Do you have a lot to build on? If not, I suggest you get one first. It's best to purchase a lot before you commit to a specific house plan. In most cases you can modify any house plan to fit your lot, but, it's much more difficult to find a lot that will always accommodate a specific house plan. Think about your lifestyle when choosing your lot. Do you have children? Do you have a green thumb? How much yard are you willing to maintain? How important is it to be close to schools, grocery stores, and work? These are important questions to ask yourself, as the old saying goes ... location location location.
Now lets look at the lot. How is the land situated? When choosing a lot with "green" objectives, you will want to take the path of the sun, the corridors of the wind and the slope of the land into your primary factors. Considering how the sun rises and sets on your lot will help you decide on which side of the house you want certain rooms to be, such as a sunroom or screened porch.
Many experts will agree that a gently sloping lot, with a south-facing slope, would be ideal. If your house was located midway between the top and the bottom of that slope, it would be all the better, as you would avoid winter’s cold blast from the north. If you can determine the direction of the winter and summer winds (they usually come from different directions), you can incorporate that into your selection process; since you will want a lot where you can divert or block the winter chill, but channel and exploit the summer breezes. Save as many existing tree's as possible. Trees provide shade in the summer months, but help block cold winds in the winter. Knowing what kind of views you have will also help you select a house plan that will take advantage of the natural setting of the lot. So, Choose a house plan that will best compliment the natural surroundings of the land.

Building Green

2008-07-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

Today the Green Building movement is bigger than it has ever been. The environment is precious and anything we can do to help is worth doing. Aside from saving the environment, there are also other benefits from building a green home, a better insulated home will save hundreds in utility bills alone each year. The comfort of being cool in the summer and warm in the winter sounds good too. One thing to remember is that building green can be costly but living green is not.
Most pre-designed house plans you find today, whether it's from a book or even a plan you find at Living Concepts Home Plans is not going to be green by design. Building Green is not just about the plan, it's about how you build the home and the materials you choose to build with. These factors will make the biggest impact on how green and efficient your home will be. Let's face it, the Green Movement is here to stay. So, stay tuned! My next series of blogs will address things that can be done during the building process to build a green and efficient home.

Low Country House Plans

2007-09-20T06:02:00.000-07:00

Our new Low Country house plans have grown from a tradition of coastal and resort homes - many were originally elevated off the ground! - to be interesting and complete homes that promise satisfaction for everyday living.

Once especially popular in the South, our Low Country house plan designs have been built – with exciting visual impact and full of relaxing comforts – all over America. The slightly formal appearance of the Low Country home plan emerges from the symmetry of the large front windows, the French doors and the broad front steps. But the warmth of the interior offsets that semi-formal first impression. Your family gathering space is one of less formality: the open floor layouts that waste little space to hallways and make for delightful family-style interiors. See this home plan.

Craftsman House Plans

2007-08-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

If you're drawn to an American favorite, consider the broad earthy shoulders, the sheltering eaves and the forceful details of our Craftsman house plans.

Since the earliest days of publishing house plans, Craftsman home plans have been in strong demand.That may be why it’s easy to identify the Craftsman house plan:

The natural materials and master carpentry leap from one element after another.
Your new Craftsman home plan welcomes guests onto a spacious front porch, often boasting tapered columns on stone bases supporting the low protective rooflines.
Wide overhanging eaves with corbels and exposed rafter tails are common features of craftsman house plans.
Wooden angle brackets along the roof edge, with planter boxes and decorative fretwork at gable ends or along the porch.
The windows of a Craftsman house plan may feature transomed windows, with a multi-pane upper sash over one large pane at the bottom.
The options of highly crafted built-ins throughout the Craftsman home plan like ceiling beams, tailored bookcases and a custom-made front door. As if growing out of the earth, Craftsman house plans stand strong – a solid part of the landscape, as if at one with its setting.

Your new Craftsman house plan will be part of a century old tradition but with discriminating new elements and workmanship that have broadened and renewed its appeal – the picture of beauty and strength. See this plan.

European House Plans

2007-07-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

European houses have a distinct look and feel to them. Living Concepts offers European house plans that pull from many different European home plan styles. These plans feature architectural elements from French country, Spanish, Italian, and Mediterranean house plans.

These European house plans tend to be for large homes with 1 1/2 to 2 stories. However, there are small European house plans for one story homes and these are growing in popularity.

Normally a European house plan features a stone, brick or stucco exterior. Roofs for these European home plans tend to be steep and can have sloping and angular. Roofs for these homes come down to the windows.These details give the European home plans that architectural interest. See this plan here.

The Traditional House Plan

2007-07-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

One description that springs to mind when looking at Traditional house plans is elegant simplicity. Its understated appeal has something for everyone. A Traditional house plan can strive to be striking. Many say that Traditional house plans do not borrow from one particular style but instead collect interesting features from several home plan design fashions. The exterior features of this home plan are the best that many schools of architecture have to offer. As you imagine your new Traditional home plan, you will have tremendous flexibility: It can be impressive in stone or brick, stucco or lap siding. It can be dazzling in one story or two. See this Plan.

Affordable House Plans

2007-07-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

The only thing you can be sure of with Affordable House Plans is that they will be less expensive to build.

Affordable house plans are indeed economical. But that is not all. The Affordable Home Plan is just as likely as any other home to be beautiful, charming, and a joy to live in...But the Affordable House Plan we offer, under 2,000 square feet, are not just versatile, inviting and easy to maintain; the cost a lot less to build. Great thought has been engineered into efficient interiors and pleasing exteriors.

The interiors have integrated designs, often with an open style with consideration for the likely placement of furniture. One of the ways that affordability has been achieved is to suggest the use of stock doors, windows and finishes. Limit the corridor space. Even so, you will see that your Affordable house plan can be something very special. Quality and elegance is maintained but without the over the top expense of custom materials.

On the exterior, we refrain from elaborate framing techniques and unique structural fixtures – bay windows for example.

You will find single level ranch plans and two story floor plans in a variety of delightful design styles. Our Affordable house plans have been one of our most popular house plans. Tour through the designs that follow and see if your new dream home is among them.

Tips when choosing a house plan.

2007-06-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

1. Pay close attention to the grade/ slope from front to back on your lot. I have seen a lot of people have such a high foundation wall on the back of a house that they paid for and with just a little more money could have had a basement , finished or unfinished that could almost double the value of the home.
2. A hard finished deck on the house will give a more perceived feeling of value over a wood deck that after a few years will look tattered and dilapidated.
Do not get wrapped up in the square footage as much as the finishes in your home. You can always add more expensive finishes to your house but it is very costly to add a foot back in that Family room or Den where you spend all your time. You have a tremendous amount of control of your final price with the finishes you choose.
See this home.

A Great House

2007-06-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

A great house does not have to be big. I would rather see a small house with good architectural detailing than a huge house that has absolutely no charm. A great house needs to have good flow and traffic patterns and consideration given to how someone is going to live in it. A house needs to have good exterior massing relationships. It is important to think of each exterior mass and how it relates to the other masses that make up the entire exterior elevation. Proper exterior features like cornice and eave details, material selections, roof shapes, and color selections that are true to the architecture style are extremely important. Fenestration of windows and doors on the exterior as well as the relationship of windows on the upper floors to the lower windows is extremely important/. A couple of the worst mistakes that I see as far as the exterior is concerned are as follows:
1. Too many different materials and too many different textures. Don’t get me wrong, texture is important but it needs to make sense.
2. Garage masses that over whelm the rest of the exterior masses.
3. Dormer windows with such large roof overhang that dormer looks like it is getting ready to take off ( the flying nun syndrome I call it).
4. A hodgepodge of windows and doors on the exterior of a home and no thought given to how the relate to each other.
5. Finally, color is extremely important.
The average person typically will look at a house and realize that there is something wrong but does not know what it is. Then again some people have been sold on bad design for so long that they think bad design is good. Our house plans give a lot of attention to the proper elements that go into a Good House.

Budget Myths

2007-06-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Most people focus on square footage as the big item for cost control. This is not always the best place to cut cost. You can build two houses from the same set of plans with different specifications and have a significant difference in price. One house can have a slate roof, granite countertops, lots of trim or molding, etc., while the other house has the cheapest composition shingle, Formica” countertops, and little or no trim and moldings. The biggest mistake someone can make is to pick a plan solely on square footage. Buying a plan with a family room or den that is too small and you end up miserable in the house because of it is a huge mistake. Consider cutting back on finishes to save money. You can always add a nicer roof, granite countertops, or even more trim and molding. But you can not add that foot back to that family room or den.
Frank Snodgrass