Smart Lot Selection for Optimal Energy Efficiency
Photo credit: jeremylevinedesign
One of the easiest ways to design a new home efficiently is through site selection. Simple building orientation and location can make a huge difference when designing a high performance home with a reduced environmental impact. The greenest development sites are in-fill properties like former parking lots, shopping malls, etc. Consider the area infrastructure and proximity of resources. Are you near public transportation, leisure, workplace and stores? Can you make use of the existing landscape and does it require grading excavation/infill? The Green Home Guide recommends a density of at least six units per acre which maximizes infrastructure. Let’s start selecting land by careful analysis and not by how well you like the street address.
The home should be oriented to make use of natural daylight and prevailing winds. Ideally the longest side should run east/west with windows placed predomanantly on the south side. Natural and architectural shading devices can be used on the south and west facades to control the amount of light that enters your home. These things sound simple but they could cut your energy bills in half! Be sure to plan ahead before you are paying $100/hour to flip this and flop that around your floor plan.
