How green can you make your home?
Green Home
Dean Petrich
(206) 324-5055
Below is a list of the ultimate combination of products from this site to create a truly green home. If our goal is to leave as small a footprint as possible on the earth while at the same time to live a wholesome, happy, inspiring, exciting, fullfilling and satisfying life, then the first step is to create an efficient low-impact living environment. How can this be done and what should be encorporated into the house? Below is a package of items to include in the ultimate green home.
Essentials
- Phoenix composting toilet system
- Brac greywater treatment system
- Trap'n Toss drain strainers
- Rainwater collection system
- Staber clothes washer
- Fireball solar hot water system
- Ozone whole-house water treatment system
- Multi-Pure drinking water filter
- Household products that are safe and ecologically sensible
- Light Bulbs Which are best: CFL? LED? Incandescent?
- Recycling collection dedicated area
- Bicycle storage area
- Work from home
Additional Suggestions
- Pond.
- Greenhouse
- Clothes line.
- Eat less beef.
- Wind generator.
- Lower your thermostat.
- Safe & efficient light bulbs.
- Energy-efficient appliances.
- Turn off your computer at night.
- Edible permaculture landscaping.
- Thickly insulated, well ventilated.
- Organic vegetable and herb gardens.
- Use a human-powered lawn mower.
- Bamboo flooring with in-floor heating.
- Invest in green energy. Purchase green tags.
- Photovoltaic power system (solar electricity).
- Constructed with salvaged & recycled materials.
- Light tubes, sky lights, mirrors & reflective walls.
- Shop locally, buy organic, Avoid excess packaging.
- Within walking or bicycling distance of income source.
- Accessible toys and play areas: rope swing, slide, zip line, trampoline, pool, concrete slab for skating & ball games, etc.
- Drive less and use renewable fuel, like ethanol or biodiesel. Get a hybrid or an all-electric car, or one powered by fuel cells.
- Dedicated small spaces with low ceilings and thick insulation, allowing these rooms to be heated and remain warm simply from body heat.
Environmentally Conscious Houses
Here are a couple green houses in Washington State:
SunRay Kelley crafts his own enchanted forest in Sedro-Woolley | Local News | The Seattle Times
and
Dean's Huckleberry Hill
|
Tiny Houses
Tiny houses are efficient. They require little space, are transportable, conserve energy and water, and are cozy and appealing.
More and more people are finding that living in smaller spaces -- backyard cottages and tiny houses -- leaves room for a larger life. Here are some of their stories grist.org. |
An extremely small example of a tiny house is the tricycle house:
http://www.jetsongreen.com/2013/01/sustainable-and-portable-living-in-the-tricycle-house.html
Micro-Units and Podaments
MicroUnits in New York
MicroUnits in Seattle
In Winning Design, City Hopes to Address a Cramped Future
By VIVIAN YEE
"My Micro NY" will create a building of 55 micro-units each measuring between 250 and 370 square feet,
with 40 percent of the units priced to be affordable, the mayor's office said.
Poplar Network
Poplar Network is a free online community for green building professionals.
They can create professional profiles, connect with other members of the industry, read about green building, and use an interactive Q&A forum.
It's completely free to use, and is a very valuable resource for green builders.
http://www.poplarnetwork.com