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Donald Gardner House Plans > Duplex Floor Plans by Donald A. Gardner Architects > Castle House Plans > Building Green - Site Analysis search  


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Tips for Building "Green" - Site Analysis
The vast amount of information available about building green can be overwhelming. To assist our customers in making environmentally sensitive decisions while building their new home, Donald A. Gardner Architects has compiled this handy FREE guide to building green.
Site Analysis

This is the first important step. Survey your site and look for the best location for your home. Take into account location of sun rise and set, annual sun angles, existing vegetation (deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs), prevailing winds, contours, area noise and annual rain fall.

Orientation: Orient your home to minimize summer afternoon solar heat gain and allow for some winter solar heat gain. The long sides of the home should face south or north. The shorter sides should face east or west. If this suggested orientation is not possible, then the use of natural barriers (trees, hills) should be taken advantage of where possible. A sun angle calculator is available through Ball State University at: www.sbse.org/resources/sac/index.htm. Determining the sun angles at your site enables you to better position your house for less summer solar heat gain and more winter solar heat gain.

Orient your home to take advantage of prevailing breezes during spring, summer and fall. Fresh outdoor air circulating through your home reduces the use of mechanical systems (HVAC). Create a "chimney effect" with high and low operable windows, having cool air entering at the lower level and warmer air exiting the upper level. Research the climate data for your area, call the local airport for information, or refer to the NOAA website (www.noaa.gov).

Tips for Building Green by Donald Gardner

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GREEN TIPS
  • Introduction
  • Site Analysis
  • Infiltration
  • Mechanical
  • Plumbing
  • Plumbing Fixtures
  • Lighting
  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Appliances
  • Landscaping
  • Green Resources


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