Greening Your Home

Introduction vii 1 The Carbon Footprint of Embodied Energy 1 1. What Is Embodied Energy? 3 2. Hidden Energy Consumption 3 3. Explore Functionality of Current Design 6 4. Where to Draw the Line 7 2 Maximizing the Livable Space in Your Home 11 1. Maximize the Space in Your Bathroom 13 2. Make Your Bedroom Multipurpose 17 3. Utilize the Space in Your Living Room and Dining Room 17 4. Make Your Kitchen Welcoming to Visitors 19 5. Share Living Space 20 6. Consider Zoning Bylaws and Building Codes When Renovating 22 3 Building for Resale or for Yourself 25 1. The Split-Level Home 26 2. Staying Put in an Ideal Location 28 3. Resale Value 29 4. Think outside the Box 30 4 Building to Last: Key Maintenance Issues 35 1. Exterior Materials 36 2. Foundation 37 3. Perimeter Drain 38 4. Condensation and the Building Envelope 39 5. Annual Inspection and Maintenance Tasks 45 5 Design Features to Improve the Livability of Your Home 51 1. Venting and Makeup Air 51 2. Convection 53 iv Greening Your Home 3. Visual Space 55 4. Strategic Illumination 57 5. Placement of Windows 58 6. The Home As a Sanctuary 60 6 Water Conservation and Appliances 63 1. Water Conservation 64 2. Water Catchment Systems 64 3. Gray Water 66 4. Hot Water Tanks 67 5. Tankless Water Heaters 68 6. Appliances 69 7 Green Materials: How to Evaluate the Claims in a Changing World 71 1. The Progress Trap 72 2. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 73 3. Agriboard 73 4. Bamboo Flooring 74 5. Vinyl Windows 74 6. Drywall 75 7. Siding 76 8. Quality and Cost 78 9. Cradle-to-Cradle 78 8 Getting Ready for the Solar Revolution and Why It Matters to You 85 1. Early Innovators 87 2. Passive Solar Energy 88 3. Active Solar Energy 96 4. Distributed Energy 99 9 Do It Yourself or Hire a Contractor 103 1. Leverage Is Your Friend 105 2. Safety Is Number One 106 3. Plan Your Renovation 110 4. Do Your Research before Hiring a Contractor 110 Conclusion 116 Download Kit 118