Buildings
use a sizeable chunk of our resources, both by their creation and their energy
use. live-work-play is committed to including sustainable design practices wherever
possible. Here are a few strategies:
energy:
have an energy audit performed; reduce air infiltration through air sealing; use more insulation than required by code so the building uses less energy; use
a high efficiency heating system; use a heat recovery ventilator for incoming
and outgoing air to increase energy savings; use
energy star appliances and equipment
the
building: create only as much space as you need; reuse an existing house;
recycle
an existing house; reuse an existing lot, with services already provided for it;
use locally or regionally manufactured materials where possible; create a
durable building
wood framing: use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)
lumber for framing; use stacked or advanced framing techniques to reduce the amount
of lumber used
water:
use rainwater as much as possible on site so that it is part of the evaporation
cycle, instead of the sewer treatment system; here are a few ideas: collect rainwater
for landscape use; create a bog garden to use some of the roof water; collect
rainwater; store it, filter it, and plumb the toilets and laundry to use this
water
finishes:
select for recycled
content/ low environmental impact/ air quality/ durability
