Sustainable Homes LLC

A New Approach - It is Time to Evolve:

For too many of us, it has become painfully aware that a vast proportion of our existing homes are not suited to meet the energy constraints of the future. Advancements in building material design has taught us that the days in which fiberglass insulation and semi-permeable house wraps provided a suitable barrier for a temperature controlled living space have long past. In fact, it has been shown that there are a great deal of inherent disadvantages to many of the building practices commonly in use today. At Sustainable Homes LLC, we have dedicated ourselves to vastly improving upon and, in many cases, completely rethinking the status quo in order to produce a structure capable of comfortably meeting demands the home will surely encounter.

We categorically identify particular aspects of the design and construction process where benefits may be gained through extra attention to detail.

Site Orientation: Perhaps one of the most overlooked aspects of the design process can be used to position the home to benefit from active and passive solar opportunities, gain shade cover at other times of day and season, and permit landscape solutions that require minimal maintenance and watering. In so doing, sensitive ecological features can be identified and protected prior to any physical site preparation.

'Thermal Envelope': Without question, the most crucial detail when considering a home�s sustainability is its ability to insulate the living space within from extreme outside temperatures. Ultimately the home will be more comfortable while placing less demand on the mechanical systems in the home dedicated to climate control thereby consuming fewer resources. A �thermal envelope� generally consists of the exterior wall structure, and size, type, and location of doors, windows, and skylights in addition to the function and efficiency of any ventilation equipment.

Mechanical Systems: Great advances have been made in climate control technology in terms of system efficiency. An upgraded thermal envelope allows homeowners to realize the full potential of such systems. Indoor air quality levels have been vastly improved using heat recovery ventilation systems that work in unison with various climate control methods. Electrical and lighting technology has progressed to where modern lighting systems can provide equal levels of illumination at a mere fraction of previous incandescent fixtures using century-old technology.

Appliances and Fixtures: Updates have led to greater efficiency in common household appliances which use significantly less energy and water to function. Common examples of particularly effective upgrades include tankless water heaters and dual-flush toilets.

Peripheral Generation Systems: Private photovoltaic and wind turbine installations are becoming much more commonplace as advances have led to greater wattage output per installation. Government organizations have created financial incentives to defray initial system costs making such installations even more viable.

Restoration/Renovation: Many of the same principals discussed can be applied to the restoration process depending upon the style of home and extent of the rebuild. In fact, some of the greatest environmental benefits may be realized by homeowners wishing to preserve the architectural qualities of a vintage home while maximizing its efficiency and functionality without consuming the resources necessary in construction of a new home.

Sustainable Homes LLC

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A New Approach - It is Time to Evolve: