Green Building
Oriented on the site to use the sun’s energy to heat and light the home, this design includes overhangs to reduce heat gain in the summer yet still allow winter sunlight to enter the structure. Operable windows allow natural breezes to cool the house. The exterior walls and roof are made with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS), a polystyrene core sandwiched between two pieces of oriented strand board (OSB), that provide greater acoustical and temperature insulation than conventional wood framing. Concrete floors throughout the home are made with 50% fly ash, a waste product from coal fired plants that enhances the strength and moisture resistance of the concrete. The windows and glass doors are made with insulated, Low E glass, with “slim shades” between the glass panels, reducing the amount of light generated heat entering the building. Formaldehyde-free shelving and cabinet materials and non-toxic sealants, adhesives and oils were used in the kitchen and dining room areas. The walls are painted with paints and coatings that do not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Additional green materials in the kitchen include slatescape kitchen countertops, a bamboo breakfast bar, and a sunflower seed board bookcase and desktop. (Architect: Thompson Naylor Architects)
