Q: If you are building your own green home, are there aspects of planning in which you would benefit from consulting with an architect?

A: During the planning stage of a project, there are many things that need to be determined including the site selection, proper orientation of the building, selection of energy resources, the flow and functional layout of spaces, material selection and building methods, finishes and the budget. All of those decisions impact a green design.

An architect can help with all of these decisions, but the best approach would be to find an architect with previous green building design experience. A good and efficient design will utilize the possibilities of the site and incorporates the owners’ needs. For example, with proper orientation, sunlight can be utilized for optimal day lighting and active or passive solar gain. If solar panel use is intended for hot water or electricity, the roof has to have the right orientation.

Shading needs to be taken in to consideration as well. An efficient layout of spaces will results in appropriate size of building and optimal resource use. A good architect not only provides a great design but also helps to identify the owner’s needs. One of the most difficult decisions is the selection of the building materials, construction methods and finishes. Since there are tens of thousands of products on the market, it’s important to make conscious choices.

How do you make the optimal decision for sustainable design with the available budget in mind? The architect can provide information regarding green building materials, their performances and costs.

Alice Dodson has been a practicing architect since 1977. Visit her website at www.greendragondesign.net or call her at 828-645-9326.

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