Efficient Floor Plans

Not every stock home plan comes with Green features and Energy Saving workings.
But you can easily add to the plans and make it Green and efficient.
For example, the first thing you would consider would be the intelligent “Siting” of your new home location. On every conceivable lot, there are bearings to face the house for improved energy performance and for increased comfort.
The primary objective would be to plan the site in regard the path of the sun. A lesser consideration would be prevailing winds.
The next thing you would consider would be 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.
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: Site the house smart in relation to the sun, and revamp your exterior walls to either SIPs or 2x6 construction so that additional r-values are part of your home’s future.
We’ll talk more soon about these ideas and more…
Labels: craftsman house plans, green building, green home plans, house plans, house plans, southern house plans


