Green Home Design
Home Design Features
Back in 2007, when Matt & I decided to sell our 3000sqft house in suburbia and move to the farm – a 24-acre piece of pasture in Ridgefield, WA, that Matt inherited in 2004 - we created what we call “Our Guiding Principles,” which are exactly as they sound, they are principles that we use to guide us when making choices and decisions.
These 3 principles are: Simplicity, Sustainability and Serenity.
Sustainability - to us - means supporting practices that have our long term interests and the planet's long term interests in mind. It embodies not only the current popular terms "green," and "conservation of resources" (as in on our planet: trees, fossil fuels, etc.) but for us, sustainability also refers to the conservation of our personal resources; our time, talent and money.
Simplicity - means keeping things simple and uncomplicated which helps to conserve our personal resources.
Serenity - is the natural result of both Simplicity & Sustainability. We use Serenity as a guide to help us know if we are on track. Should we not have it, we go to the other two principles to find out where we are off balance.
When we began our farmhouse project, in April 2008, we started out with a very different home design. Our first design was a two level, 2640sqft home and contained all the green features we had ever wanted: passive solar design complete with ICF block construction for the basement, concrete floors throughout, Serious brand windows (which are seriously expensive), a solar thermal hot water system, custom cabinetry in the kitchen, bath and mudroom and hi-tech appliances… just to name a few. Along with these features came a hefty price tag – over $400,000!! So back to the drawing board we went! This time we used our Guiding Principles to help evaluate and decide what would be the best use of all resources involved.
Here is a list of the building & design features we chose for our house:
Home Design: We made a list of all the features we wanted in a home, all the while using our 3 principles as a guide. From that list Jen sketched out a basic floor plan and design. We used the help of Patrick Sughrue of Structures NW, a local sustainable designer and building advisor from Salmon Creek, to create a set of plans. The home has a fairly small building footprint – 24’x32’ – and while the house may be small in size, at only 1240sqft, it’s BIG on usable space and storage! It has a very open, studio-like kitchen/living space with high ceilings along with the master bedroom, bathroom and mudroom, all on the main level and a loft upstairs that holds another bedroom and small open, loft living space that is open to the downstairs. We love it!! We chose a building site on the property that wouldn’t take away from best most productive tillable farm land or pasture.
Site Work: We used back-fill dug from the foundation to use in the landscape and did not haul off any materials dug from the excavation. This was the best way to ensure a small carbon footprint for sourcing this material. We tried to source as many products and supplies locally as we could, as well as hire local contractors. We used Dan Tapani Excavation LLC - a local company from Battle Ground - to do our excavation.
Foundation: We used recycled concrete for our road base and sourced the gravel and sand from local quarries. Because of the slope on our site it allowed us to use a section of the crawl space for a root cellar! So while it required more concrete than if we did not build a root cellar, the root cellar will allow us to store food, both fresh and canned, that we otherwise would not be able to. The foundation was done by Cedar Creek Concrete – a local company from Woodland, WA.
Framing: Instead of traditional stick framing and fiberglass insulation we opted to use Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs ). SIPs are high performance building panels and can be used in floors, walls, and roofs. The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions – significantly reducing construction debris – and they are custom designed for each home.
The result is a building system that is:
Insulation: We used a spray-in foam insulation for the crawl space and rigid foam insulation under the mudroom floor.
House Wrap: We used 30# felt; a tried and true method for keeping water out. On top of the felt we installed a rain screen by securing a ½” thick furrowing strip every foot (the SIP’s panels require the siding be secured every foot) which will hold the siding off the structure, allowing moisture that may get past the siding to move down and fall off the building.
Siding: HardiPlank Siding is a sustainable and durable product that is manufactured locally (Tacoma, WA.) and made from natural renewable materials (wood pulp, cement, sand water - no petroleum products) and it lasts longer than other materials resulting in less in our landfills!
Roofing: Painted Metal Roof from Taylor Metal Products Inc. a local company from Salem, Oregon. Metal roofs have numerous sustainable benefits:
Patio: The back-fill dug from the foundation was used to build up the patio and other sections of the landscape. We went with 24” exposed aggregate pavers for both the front and back patio.
Venting: Due to the super tight envelope, we will need fresh air to circulate around the house and to do so we will be using a Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV). The HRV provides fresh air and improved climate control by cooling the incoming air in the summer and heating it in the winter which saves energy by reducing the heating (or cooling) requirements.
Building Materials: We are trying to use recycled, reclaimed or salvaged material throughout the house - primarily from a house built by Matt's Great Grandfather in the late 1800's - that we deconstructed last summer. The majority of our remaining materials came from our local Parr Lumber. They are only a mile from the farm, making those last minute runs to get something we inevitably forget nice to not have to waste our resources: time, money, gas, personal energy, etc!
Windows: Integrity windows by Marvin which are Energy Star qualified with Low-E glass. The Wood-Ultrex Series of Integrity windows and doors feature exteriors of Ultrex fiberglass and beautiful real wood interiors. The Ultrex fiberglass used provides superior strength, heat, UV and corrosion-resistance to deliver a durable and resilient product that can far outpace other materials. Ultrex takes less energy to make than vinyl and is made from silica sand - a safe and renewable resource. We are also used Velux skylights in the Kitchen/Living area and Loft. (More on Velux below)
Flooring: We used recycled, reclaimed wood from local sources for the floors of the house with the exception of the bathroom & mudroom. We reclaimed wood from a house that we deconstructed that was built by Matt’s Great Grandfather in the early 1900’s (that he milled himself from trees from the land we now own) which we plan to use in the FarmStore we plan to build this winter, opening in the spring! We also reclaimed several wood doors, molding, trim, beams and other lumber from the deconstruction, some of which will be used in the framing of the loft floor as well as other parts of the house & FarmStore! The bathroom floor will have pebble tile and the mudroom will have a concrete floor.
Exterior & Interior Paint: Low & Zero-VOC paint and Zero-VOC, non-toxic, water-based, natural stains for all interior mill-work and flooring.
Plumbing: We have a Dual Flush Toilet that can flush with just 1 gallon of water, a stainless steel sink in the bathroom (recyclable) and a FiberFab tub/shower manufactured locally in Gervais, OR. When we first started coming up to the farm in 2008 on the weekends, Matt built himself a rather upscale outhouse complete with composting toilet. This is the nicest outhouse you have ever seen, it has a fir front door with stained glass window, that allows natural light to come in, and Matt plans to add corrugated metal siding he salvaged from an old barn and even add a living roof!
Lighting: We bought used track lighting from someone off craigslist adding to the long list of recycled and reclaimed items used in the construction of our home. All lighting will be low-wattage halogens, CFL’s and LED’s. The Velux skylights will also offer balanced, natural light resulting in less need for electrical lighting.
Cabinetry: After looking at all the options available in cabinetry these days, we opted to go with Ikea. I love the overall modern look and design of, well, everything Ikea designs! And while their products may not be locally made and in some people’s eyes they are a “big box store,” I appreciate the value they offer their customers and their ability to be conscious at the same time. They go to great lengths to be sustainable and offer excellent warranties on many of their products. Our cabinetry has a 25 year warranty!
Counter Tops: We decided to go with both Caesarstone and Vetrazzo counter tops in the kitchen. All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the total material and most of the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. The glass in the mix we have chosen is from things that once were in someone’s kitchen… soda bottles, olive oil containers, pickle jars, wine and water bottles, so it made sense that it go back to where it once came and be made into our kitchen countertop! Both Vetrazzo and Caesarstone provide a healthier food prep surface than traditional materials. I also want to give a shout out to Heidi Olsen at EcolutionNW in Vancouver, WA – a green building supply store featuring innovative, gorgeous options for countertops, flooring, tile and more – they offer many great green & sustainable (and local!) options! Her customer service is the best and is a wealth of information, I highly recommend checking them out!!
Heating: The SIP’s panels create such a tight envelope; keeping our house warm in the winter, we did not have the need for a traditional heating system and have opted to use Cadet wall heaters. Zonal electric heat is an energy-saving alternative to heating an entire home. By heating only the areas in use, we can reduce our heating bill AND conserve energy. By reducing the amount of energy we consume, we not only reduce our monthly utility bill, but also the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Cadet heaters are also extremely efficient. Nearly 100% of the electricity consumed is directly converted to heat. Many older gas-heating furnaces have AFUE ratings as low as 65% - which means for every dollar you pay for heating, only 65 cents actually go towards heating your home. The remaining 35 cents escape as hot vapor. Although gas furnaces are becoming more efficient, AFUE ratings do not account for heat lost in the duct system, which can account for 15% of heat loss. With Cadet heaters, no heat is lost through ductwork or exhaust like central gas systems, which means every dollar spent on heating goes towards heating our home - no energy is wasted!
Air Conditioner: The SIP’s panels will also keep our house cool in the summer, making air conditioning unnecessary. To help with air flow we got operable windows wherever possible so we can open and close them to help moderate the temperature effectively and the Velux vented skylights are particularly effective for ventilation and passive cooling, which requires no energy expenditure. The HRV will also help in not only the venting and regulation of fresh air, but in assisting to keep our house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Ducting: The HRV contains a minimal amount of ducting, but the system filters the air, allowing us to regulate the indoor air quality. With the exception for the HRV, there won’t be any traditional ducting! Ducting collects dust and allergens and is remarkably hard to clean. With our Cadet heaters and no air conditioning our home will not require the ducting found in traditional construction!
Appliances: Energy Star appliances from Ikea and a GE Monogram Professional Dual Fuel Range and Hood.
Power: We’re using electricity for a majority of our energy needs. The cooking range is dual fuel that uses electricity for the oven and propane for the burners and griddle, so we will have propane as a small power source
Greywater Recycling: Greywater is wastewater generated from household activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing, which makes up 50-80% of residential waste water. We plan to recycle our Greywater in the future. We installed separate pipes for both our Blackwater (sewage) and Greywater and then plan to filter the Greywater in a series of ponds and use it to irrigate our fruit orchard. In addition to the house, Matt also plans to recycle the rainwater from the roof of our pole barn to water our large farm garden!
These 3 principles are: Simplicity, Sustainability and Serenity.
Sustainability - to us - means supporting practices that have our long term interests and the planet's long term interests in mind. It embodies not only the current popular terms "green," and "conservation of resources" (as in on our planet: trees, fossil fuels, etc.) but for us, sustainability also refers to the conservation of our personal resources; our time, talent and money.
Simplicity - means keeping things simple and uncomplicated which helps to conserve our personal resources.
Serenity - is the natural result of both Simplicity & Sustainability. We use Serenity as a guide to help us know if we are on track. Should we not have it, we go to the other two principles to find out where we are off balance.
When we began our farmhouse project, in April 2008, we started out with a very different home design. Our first design was a two level, 2640sqft home and contained all the green features we had ever wanted: passive solar design complete with ICF block construction for the basement, concrete floors throughout, Serious brand windows (which are seriously expensive), a solar thermal hot water system, custom cabinetry in the kitchen, bath and mudroom and hi-tech appliances… just to name a few. Along with these features came a hefty price tag – over $400,000!! So back to the drawing board we went! This time we used our Guiding Principles to help evaluate and decide what would be the best use of all resources involved.
Here is a list of the building & design features we chose for our house:
Home Design: We made a list of all the features we wanted in a home, all the while using our 3 principles as a guide. From that list Jen sketched out a basic floor plan and design. We used the help of Patrick Sughrue of Structures NW, a local sustainable designer and building advisor from Salmon Creek, to create a set of plans. The home has a fairly small building footprint – 24’x32’ – and while the house may be small in size, at only 1240sqft, it’s BIG on usable space and storage! It has a very open, studio-like kitchen/living space with high ceilings along with the master bedroom, bathroom and mudroom, all on the main level and a loft upstairs that holds another bedroom and small open, loft living space that is open to the downstairs. We love it!! We chose a building site on the property that wouldn’t take away from best most productive tillable farm land or pasture.
Site Work: We used back-fill dug from the foundation to use in the landscape and did not haul off any materials dug from the excavation. This was the best way to ensure a small carbon footprint for sourcing this material. We tried to source as many products and supplies locally as we could, as well as hire local contractors. We used Dan Tapani Excavation LLC - a local company from Battle Ground - to do our excavation.
Foundation: We used recycled concrete for our road base and sourced the gravel and sand from local quarries. Because of the slope on our site it allowed us to use a section of the crawl space for a root cellar! So while it required more concrete than if we did not build a root cellar, the root cellar will allow us to store food, both fresh and canned, that we otherwise would not be able to. The foundation was done by Cedar Creek Concrete – a local company from Woodland, WA.
Framing: Instead of traditional stick framing and fiberglass insulation we opted to use Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs ). SIPs are high performance building panels and can be used in floors, walls, and roofs. The panels are made by sandwiching a core of rigid foam insulation between two structural skins of oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are manufactured under factory controlled conditions – significantly reducing construction debris – and they are custom designed for each home.
The result is a building system that is:
- Extremely Strong: SIPs are 3x as rigid as a traditionally framed stick constructed wall.
- Extremely Energy Efficient: Providing a better R-Value. Our walls are 6” thick creating an R-Value of R-24 and a 10” thick roof creating an R-Value of R-38.
- Extremely Cost Effective: Building with SIPs is saving us time, money and labor.
Insulation: We used a spray-in foam insulation for the crawl space and rigid foam insulation under the mudroom floor.
House Wrap: We used 30# felt; a tried and true method for keeping water out. On top of the felt we installed a rain screen by securing a ½” thick furrowing strip every foot (the SIP’s panels require the siding be secured every foot) which will hold the siding off the structure, allowing moisture that may get past the siding to move down and fall off the building.
Siding: HardiPlank Siding is a sustainable and durable product that is manufactured locally (Tacoma, WA.) and made from natural renewable materials (wood pulp, cement, sand water - no petroleum products) and it lasts longer than other materials resulting in less in our landfills!
Roofing: Painted Metal Roof from Taylor Metal Products Inc. a local company from Salem, Oregon. Metal roofs have numerous sustainable benefits:
- Metal roofing can have up to 90% recycled and 60% post consumer content.
- 100% recyclable - 7 to 10 million tons of shingle waste is dumped in landfills across the country each year.
- Durable - with a 50 year warranty – a metal roof may never need to be replaced in our lifetime.
- Its reflective coating saves energy in cooling the house.
- Low maintenance - moss free; no need to use moss-killer, a storm water runoff pollutant.
- The best option for rainwater harvesting - zero fiberglass and tar runoff.
Patio: The back-fill dug from the foundation was used to build up the patio and other sections of the landscape. We went with 24” exposed aggregate pavers for both the front and back patio.
Venting: Due to the super tight envelope, we will need fresh air to circulate around the house and to do so we will be using a Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRV). The HRV provides fresh air and improved climate control by cooling the incoming air in the summer and heating it in the winter which saves energy by reducing the heating (or cooling) requirements.
Building Materials: We are trying to use recycled, reclaimed or salvaged material throughout the house - primarily from a house built by Matt's Great Grandfather in the late 1800's - that we deconstructed last summer. The majority of our remaining materials came from our local Parr Lumber. They are only a mile from the farm, making those last minute runs to get something we inevitably forget nice to not have to waste our resources: time, money, gas, personal energy, etc!
Windows: Integrity windows by Marvin which are Energy Star qualified with Low-E glass. The Wood-Ultrex Series of Integrity windows and doors feature exteriors of Ultrex fiberglass and beautiful real wood interiors. The Ultrex fiberglass used provides superior strength, heat, UV and corrosion-resistance to deliver a durable and resilient product that can far outpace other materials. Ultrex takes less energy to make than vinyl and is made from silica sand - a safe and renewable resource. We are also used Velux skylights in the Kitchen/Living area and Loft. (More on Velux below)
Flooring: We used recycled, reclaimed wood from local sources for the floors of the house with the exception of the bathroom & mudroom. We reclaimed wood from a house that we deconstructed that was built by Matt’s Great Grandfather in the early 1900’s (that he milled himself from trees from the land we now own) which we plan to use in the FarmStore we plan to build this winter, opening in the spring! We also reclaimed several wood doors, molding, trim, beams and other lumber from the deconstruction, some of which will be used in the framing of the loft floor as well as other parts of the house & FarmStore! The bathroom floor will have pebble tile and the mudroom will have a concrete floor.
Exterior & Interior Paint: Low & Zero-VOC paint and Zero-VOC, non-toxic, water-based, natural stains for all interior mill-work and flooring.
Plumbing: We have a Dual Flush Toilet that can flush with just 1 gallon of water, a stainless steel sink in the bathroom (recyclable) and a FiberFab tub/shower manufactured locally in Gervais, OR. When we first started coming up to the farm in 2008 on the weekends, Matt built himself a rather upscale outhouse complete with composting toilet. This is the nicest outhouse you have ever seen, it has a fir front door with stained glass window, that allows natural light to come in, and Matt plans to add corrugated metal siding he salvaged from an old barn and even add a living roof!
Lighting: We bought used track lighting from someone off craigslist adding to the long list of recycled and reclaimed items used in the construction of our home. All lighting will be low-wattage halogens, CFL’s and LED’s. The Velux skylights will also offer balanced, natural light resulting in less need for electrical lighting.
Cabinetry: After looking at all the options available in cabinetry these days, we opted to go with Ikea. I love the overall modern look and design of, well, everything Ikea designs! And while their products may not be locally made and in some people’s eyes they are a “big box store,” I appreciate the value they offer their customers and their ability to be conscious at the same time. They go to great lengths to be sustainable and offer excellent warranties on many of their products. Our cabinetry has a 25 year warranty!
Counter Tops: We decided to go with both Caesarstone and Vetrazzo counter tops in the kitchen. All of the glass used in Vetrazzo is recycled, and it makes up about 85% of the total material and most of the glass comes from curbside recycling programs. The glass in the mix we have chosen is from things that once were in someone’s kitchen… soda bottles, olive oil containers, pickle jars, wine and water bottles, so it made sense that it go back to where it once came and be made into our kitchen countertop! Both Vetrazzo and Caesarstone provide a healthier food prep surface than traditional materials. I also want to give a shout out to Heidi Olsen at EcolutionNW in Vancouver, WA – a green building supply store featuring innovative, gorgeous options for countertops, flooring, tile and more – they offer many great green & sustainable (and local!) options! Her customer service is the best and is a wealth of information, I highly recommend checking them out!!
Heating: The SIP’s panels create such a tight envelope; keeping our house warm in the winter, we did not have the need for a traditional heating system and have opted to use Cadet wall heaters. Zonal electric heat is an energy-saving alternative to heating an entire home. By heating only the areas in use, we can reduce our heating bill AND conserve energy. By reducing the amount of energy we consume, we not only reduce our monthly utility bill, but also the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Cadet heaters are also extremely efficient. Nearly 100% of the electricity consumed is directly converted to heat. Many older gas-heating furnaces have AFUE ratings as low as 65% - which means for every dollar you pay for heating, only 65 cents actually go towards heating your home. The remaining 35 cents escape as hot vapor. Although gas furnaces are becoming more efficient, AFUE ratings do not account for heat lost in the duct system, which can account for 15% of heat loss. With Cadet heaters, no heat is lost through ductwork or exhaust like central gas systems, which means every dollar spent on heating goes towards heating our home - no energy is wasted!
Air Conditioner: The SIP’s panels will also keep our house cool in the summer, making air conditioning unnecessary. To help with air flow we got operable windows wherever possible so we can open and close them to help moderate the temperature effectively and the Velux vented skylights are particularly effective for ventilation and passive cooling, which requires no energy expenditure. The HRV will also help in not only the venting and regulation of fresh air, but in assisting to keep our house warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Ducting: The HRV contains a minimal amount of ducting, but the system filters the air, allowing us to regulate the indoor air quality. With the exception for the HRV, there won’t be any traditional ducting! Ducting collects dust and allergens and is remarkably hard to clean. With our Cadet heaters and no air conditioning our home will not require the ducting found in traditional construction!
Appliances: Energy Star appliances from Ikea and a GE Monogram Professional Dual Fuel Range and Hood.
Power: We’re using electricity for a majority of our energy needs. The cooking range is dual fuel that uses electricity for the oven and propane for the burners and griddle, so we will have propane as a small power source
Greywater Recycling: Greywater is wastewater generated from household activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing, which makes up 50-80% of residential waste water. We plan to recycle our Greywater in the future. We installed separate pipes for both our Blackwater (sewage) and Greywater and then plan to filter the Greywater in a series of ponds and use it to irrigate our fruit orchard. In addition to the house, Matt also plans to recycle the rainwater from the roof of our pole barn to water our large farm garden!
