the green house: new directions in sustainable architecture and...

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM 401 F STREET NW WASHINGTON, DC 20001 TEL. 202.272.2448 FAX 202.272.2564 The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design May 20, 2006 – June 24, 2007 / National Building Museum Wall Text or Exhibition Script In The Green House, • Experience 1 full-scale house called the Glidehouse™ that brings together green architecture, interior

design, and furnishings • Explore 5 principles that guide sustainable design • Examine 20 contemporary residences that demonstrate new ideas in green architecture and interior

design from around the world • Discover 58 green walls, roofs, carpets, countertops, and other materials that are attractive and readily

available Have you ever thought about living in a “green” house, one that is healthy for you and your family and helps conserve the Earth’s resources? Whether you are building a new home, renovating an existing one, or looking to make a few changes in your living habits, every household can incorporate features that support the conservation of the environment and improve our quality of life. As environmental concerns continue to mount worldwide, integrating more sustainable practices and products into our lives becomes increasingly important. There is growing interest in green living and the possibilities for achieving it in our homes are rapidly expanding. Because buildings consume enormous quantities of the Earth’s resources in their construction and daily operation, they represent tremendous opportunities for innovative eco-friendly design as well as cost savings. This exhibition demonstrates the emerging collaboration between stylish architecture, interior design, and environmental responsibility. Home is where going green begins—where we as individuals have the power to set a new course for a more sustainable future. Materials Used in the Design of the Exhibition Benjamin Moore® Premium Latex Paint Colors: #426 Fresh Grass, #623 Deep Sea, #552 Pleasant Grove, #705 Sioux Falls, #HC-118 Sherwood Green, #739 Un-teal we meet again, #525 Savannah Shade, #581 Floradale Isle Finish: Flat Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer Bamboo flooring Colors: Cinnamon red, whitewash, foundation brown, amber Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer

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Edipo cork plank flooring Colors: Charcoal, griege, infinity blue, bleach, primavera, red terracotta Manufacturer: Duro-Design FLOR House Pet carpet tiles Color: Frog Materials: Polyester and nylon Designer and manufacturer: Interface, Inc. Entropy carpet tiles Color: Chameleon Manufacturer: Interface, Inc. Plyboo bamboo plywood Finish: Amber Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the Manufacturer Dakota Burl™ composite board Materials: Agricultural waste Manufacturer: Environ Biocomposites™, LLC Strata and Solo Clear Ecoresin™ Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Permeable interlocking concrete pavement Materials: Portland cement Manufacturers: Balcon, an Oldcastle Company Gift of the manufacturer with support from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and the Portland Cement Association Interlocking concrete pavement Materials: Portland cement Manufacturers: Balcon, an Oldcastle Company Gift of the manufacturer with support from the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and the Portland Cement Association Glidehouse™ Introductory Text The Glidehouse™ One of the most significant recent developments in housing has been the effort to improve the reputation of prefabricated, or modular, housing. Using powerful design software, a growing number of architectural firms now combine the cost savings of factory-built homes with the benefits of customized designs. The result is sophisticated architecture and interior design that can be offered at remarkably low prices and assembled faster than traditional buildings. The Glidehouse™, designed in 2004 by Northern California architect Michelle Kaufmann, represents this new breed. Working with builders in Toronto, Vancouver, Portland, and Southern California, Kaufmann has begun selling several variations of the house. A total of 10 have been built—ranging from one to four bedrooms and from 672 to 2,016 square feet in one or two stories. The price, including the cost of the design, trucking materials to the site, and construction, but excluding the solar panels on the roof and the kitchen appliances—begins at about $132 per square foot for a house on a level lot. This translates to around $200,000 for most Glidehouse™ variations—that’s $83,000 less than the cost of an average American home in 2005.


But one of the best things about the Glidehouse™ is that it comes with everything you need to go green. Here you will find energy-efficient design, construction, appliances, and furnishings, as well as recyclable and renewable materials. As you walk through the house, examine these green components and consider integrating one or more of these elements into your own home. Glidehouse™ model label Glidehouse™, 2004 Michelle Kaufmann Designs Michelle Kaufmann, Designer Model by California Model & Design, San Francisco, California, 2006 Basswood and Plexiglas Text inside the Glidehouse™ “Truth window” text in living room space The house’s energy-efficient fiber-optic lighting system does not generate ultraviolet or infrared light and heat. As a result, fiber-optic lighting consumes as little as 25% of the energy of traditional lighting, which also reduces the energy used by the house’s air conditioning and ventilation systems. “Truth window” text in bathroom On-demand or tankless hot water heaters conserve energy by eliminating the need for the continuous heating of water stored in a conventional tank. Instead, water is warmed via a heat exchanger only when needed. “Truth window” text in mechanical closet The house relies on a heating, cooling and ventilation system that is 30% more efficient than typical methods. By using a High Velocity Soft Air System, hot and cold spots are eliminated, allowing for the gentle mixing of air in each room. Originally developed for hospitals, the house’s air purifier removes microscopic allergens, like mold and dust mites, and uses ultraviolet light that is more intense than sunlight to kill viruses and bacteria. ‘Call –outs’ Heating is achieved by passing air over a coil attached to the boiler. Cooling is provided by passing air over a refrigerant coil connected to a compressor or heat pump. An air to heat exchanger allows fresh air from the outside to be pre-heated, increasing efficiency and air quality. “Truth window” text for insulation The roof’s overhang allows direct sunlight to enter the clerestory window in winter and provides shade in summer. The deep roof truss allows for additional insulation, which helps to restrict the unwanted flow of heat into or out of the house. The walls and roof are insulated using a spray-in foam called Icynene® that expands to fill all of the gaps and cracks. This helps keep the house cooler in summer, warmer in the winter, and moisture resistant year-round. ‘Call-out’ Spray-insulation also restricts the entry of dust, exterior contaminants, and drastically reduces noise pollution from outside.


Buzzwords, Call Outs and Quick Tips in the Glidehouse™ Buzzwords in the Glidehouse™ Prefabricated: Standardized building sections that are created in a factory to be shipped and assembled in another location. Footprint: Land area taken up by a building. Energy Smart: Meeting your energy needs cost effectively and with the least impact on the environment. ‘Call outs’ in the Glidehouse™ The prefabricated nature of the house results in comparatively little construction waste, particularly on the building site. The house can be positioned on its site to minimize solar loss in the winter and solar gain in the summer. The house’s design layout has a narrow footprint, facilitating cross ventilation in all rooms. The roof is sloped to accommodate solar panels and create a clerestory window that brings in natural lighting and minimizing the need for artificial lighting. Windows are placed to maximize solar benefits and natural ventilation. Sliding panels of wood louvers cover the long glass façade and can be adjusted to control the level of sunlight entering the house, while maintaining air flow. Wood-to-wood wall joints are precisely caulked to make the house airtight, minimizing the vulnerability to mold and lowering heating and cooling loads. Floors are bamboo, a fast-growing, easily renewable material. Countertops are composed of recycled paper. Kitchen cabinets are free of toxic formaldehyde. Kitchen appliances are energy-smart. Walls are finished in non-toxic paints. The ENERGY STAR program, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), has proven to be an effective tool to help consumers choose energy-efficient products for their homes, preserving natural resources and lessening greenhouse gas emissions, as well as reducing consumers’ energy bills. ENERGY STAR labels can be found on appliances, televisions, heating and cooling equipment, electronics, and even new homes. A product or home with the ENERGY STAR label means that it meets the efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and the DOE. With the use of ENERGY STAR certified appliances, homes, and non-residential buildings, Americans saved 150 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2005, or four percent of the national electricity demand. They also reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the amount generated every year by approximately 23 million gasoline-powered cars. Energy-efficient consumers also save money; ENERGY STAR households have been found to save up to 30 percent annually on their energy bills.


‘True Cost’ tags in the Glidehouse™ Q: How efficient is your average light bulb? A: Traditional 75-watt incandescent bulbs waste 90% of the energy they use and last about 750 hours. A comparable compact fluorescent bulb lasts about 10,000 hours, saving you almost $50 over the bulb’s lifetime. And that’s just for one light bulb! Q: How much energy does your TV use when turned off? A: “Vampire” electronics such as TVs, DVD players, and microwaves suck energy even when switched off to keep display clocks and remote controls working. These vampires cost Americans more than $3 billion annually and spew 18 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. So remember to unplug! Q: How can double-paned windows double your savings? A: A double-paned window (two panes separated by a sealed air space) can retain twice the heat of a single-paned window, reducing energy use and associated costs by up to 50%. Q: How can blankets and linens cost you your health? A: Many household fabrics are bleached with chlorine, which releases chemical byproducts such as dioxin into the environment. Dioxin exposure has been linked with cancer, birth defects, and developmental disorders. Choosing unbleached products, or those whitened with nontoxic-agents, keeps chlorine's dangers out of your home. Q: What do you save by having bamboo floors? A: Hardwood forests, the environment, and money. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, requires no replanting and little fertilization or pesticides, and costs less than most other types of wood. Q: How much are you flushing away? A: The average American family flushes about 22,000 gallons of water down the toilet annually. By using low flow models like this one, nationwide we will cut our water usage by 3.6 gallons per flush and save ourselves $3.9 billion dollars per year. Q: What does it cost to be free-flowing? A: Traditional faucets and showers pour gallons of water and hundreds of dollars down the drain. Install low-flow faucet aerators and reduce water consumption and the cost of heating the water by as much as 50%. Q: How much can you save with this washing machine? A: This clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime. Compared to a model manufactured before 1994, energy-smart washers use half as much water per load and can save up to $110 per year on utility bills. Q: What’s in your cabinets? A: If they’re not solid wood or non-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) cabinets, they could be giving off toxic fumes that are hazardous to your health. Q: Is your refrigerator freezing your assets? A: If you replaced a refrigerator bought in 1990 with an ENERGY STAR-qualified model, you would save enough electricity to light your home for more than four-and-a-half months. The cost of running this refrigerator is less than the cost of running a 75-watt light bulb. Q: How much is a drop worth? A: Enough to make it worth fixing those leaky faucets. One drop per second can waste as much as 27,000 gallons of water per year.


Q: What do you save by using wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)? A: You save forests. Only 20% of the world's ancient forests remain today. An area of trees the size of a football field disappears every 2 seconds. The FSC stamp guarantees that the wood comes from sustainably-managed forests. ‘Quick Tips’ in the Glidehouse™ Scrape – don’t rinse! When using a dishwasher, pre-rinsing is no longer necessary with today's technology and detergents. You may be using more water to pre-rinse than the dishwasher uses for a full wash cycle. Check your refrigerator’s seal by closing the door with a lit flashlight inside. If you see light seeping out, the door should be adjusted or the seal replaced to stop energy leaks. Install lights with sensors that turn on when they detect movement and automatically turn off after a few minutes. Do not let the water run when brushing your teeth or washing your face. If every household in the US replaced 1 roll of 1000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100 % recyclable rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water. Furniture and Products Featured in the Glidehouse™ Exterior LokSeam® standing seam roof Color: Tundra Materials: 24 gauge steel with 25-30 post-consumer recycled content Manufacturer: MBCI Metal Roof and Wall Systems Gift of the manufacturer Metal roofing's energy savings come from its different finishes. Unpainted metal roofs reflect much of the solar radiation usually absorbed in a house's attic. For homes in warmer climates, pre-painted metal roofs not only reflect solar energy but also cool the house by re-emitting most of the solar radiation that is absorbed. PBC wall panels Color: Sandstone Metallic Materials: 24 gauge steel with 25-30 post-consumer recycled content Manufacturer: BIEC International, Inc. Gift of MBCI Metal Roof and Wall Systems The Glidehouse's metal wall panels are composed of a high level of recycled materials and are 100% recyclable. Brasilia™ wood composite decking Color: Burnished AmberMaterials: Reclaimed wood and plastic Manufacturer: Trex Company, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer SCRAPILE Dining Table Materials: Repurposed scrap wood Designer and manufacturer: Carlos Salgado and Bart Bettencourt for SCRAPILEGift of the designer and manufacturer


Twig bench Materials: Coppiced hazel wood Designer and manufacturer: Russell and John Pinch for PINCH Design Gift of the designer and manufacturer Giro stool Color: Tomato Materials: Bamboo with lacquer finish Designer: Ekobo® Modern Birdhouses™ Richard Neutra style birdhouse Materials: Sustainably-harvested teak, aluminum, stainless steel Designer: Dail Dixon for Wieler Holdings, LLC Veneerware plates Materials: Organically-grown bamboo Manufacturer: bambu, llc Candleloo lamps Materials: Plastic, rechargeable batteries Designers: Duane Smith and Stephan Barbeau Products and Materials Used Throughout the Glidehouse Benjamin Moore® paint Eco Spec® low-VOC Latex Color: #OC-64 Pure White Finish: Flat Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer Bamboo flooring Color: Amber Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer 400 Series Awning Windows Materials: Wood clad terratone with High Performance™ Low E tempered glass Manufacturer: Andersen Corporation Gift of the manufacturer 400 Series Skylight Materials: Wood clad terratone with High Performance™ Low E tempered glass Manufacturer: Andersen Corporation Gift of the manufacturer 400 Series Frenchwood Gliding Patio Doors Materials: Wood clad terratone with High Performance™ Low E tempered glass Manfacturer: Andersen Corporation Gift of the manufacturer Living room FLOR Terra™ carpet tiles Color: Furrows Designer and manufacturer: Interface, Inc.


Boston lounge sofa Materials: Cotton, maple frames, water based glue Designer and manufacturer: Donna Halloran for Furnature™ Gift of the designer and manufacturer Messenger upholstery fabric Color: Balsa Materials: 78% post-industrial recycled polyester Designer and manufacturer: Maharam Gift of the designer and manufacturer Risom lounge chairs Materials: Maple and natural cotton webbing Designer: Jens Risom Manufacturer: Knoll, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Knock-Down/Drag-Out chair Materials: Maple plywood with Chinese red finish Designer and manufacturer: Christopher Douglas for Material Furniture, Inc. Gift of the designer and manufacturer Flipper Screen Maple plywood with black walnut finish Designer and manufacturer: Christopher Douglas for Material Furniture, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Gotham Rocker Sustainably-certified European Beech with clear finish, automobile seat belt material remnants Designer and manufacturer: Peter Danko Design Gift of the designer and manufacturer Mucci coffee table Materials: Ecoresin™, steel Designer: K_now designers Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Giro stool Color: Kiwi Materials: Bamboo with lacquer finish Designer and Manufacturer: Ekobo W Magazine Stand Materials: Molded plywood Designer and Manufacturer: OFFI & Company Kitchen/Dining Area Madrid cabinets Materials: Solid maple, plywood, maple veneer Manufacturer: Brighton Cabinetry, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Richlite® countertop Materials: Paper fiber composite and recycled content Manufacturer: Richlite Company Gift of the manufacturer


NES Series Electric 4-burner cook top Color: Black Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer This cook top is manufactured of 98% recyclable materials. Downdraft ventilation system Materials: Stainless steel Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer 700 Series Single convection oven Materials: Stainless steel Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer This oven includes an electronic thermostat and a powerful third element surrounding a two-speed convection fan to produce even heating and reduce cooking time by up to 30%. Integra™ 800 Series dishwasher Materials: Stainless steel Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer All Bosch dishwashers are Energy Star® qualified and exceed federal energy standards by as much as 48%. The company’s dishwashers feature a “scanning eye” that checks soil levels, adjusts water and temperature levels accordingly, saving energy and using as little as 3.1 gallons of water per cycle. At the same time, the final rinse’s latent heat, which is stored in the unit’s stainless steel walls, dries the dishes. Evolution™ refrigerator Materials: Stainless steel Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer The energy-efficient features of this Energy Star® qualified refrigerator include a sensor that constantly measures temperature to control the defrost cycle, which runs only when needed, and a temperature control located on the unit’s exterior, meaning the temperature can be adjusted without opening the door and letting cool air out. Poise™ single-basin undercounter kitchen sink with Coralais® Decorator single-control pullout spray kitchen sink faucet Materials: Stainless steel Designer and manufacturer: Kohler Co. Helios pendant lamps Materials: Hand-blown glass, aluminum, and bamboo Designer and manufacturer: Jeffery Goodman for jGoodDesign Gift of the designer and manufacturer Arbor dining room chairs Materials: Sustainably certified European Beech with clear finish, automobile seat belt material remnants Designer and manufacturer: Peter Danko Design Gift of the designer and manufacturer Knock-Down/Drag-Out table Materials: Maple plywood with natural finish Designer and manufacturer: Christopher Douglas for Material Furniture, Inc. Gift of the designer and manufacturer


Europa barstools Materials: Maple with ebony stain, stainless steel Designer and manufacturer: Peter Danko Design Gift of the designer and manufacturer Forest Leaf Collection candlesticks Materials: Recycled cast aluminum and beeswax candles Designer and manufacturer: Michael Aram Flatware utensils Materials: Organically grown bamboo with food safe oil finish Designer and manufacturer: bambu, LLC Cho condiment dishes with spoons Colors: Kiwi and Lime Materials: Bamboo with lacquer finish Designer and Manufacturer: Ekobo Plato tray Color: White Materials: Bamboo with lacquer finish Designer and Manufacturer: Ekobo Tempo platter Color: Ash blue Materials: Bamboo with lacquer finish Designer and Manufacturer: Ekobo Branch Vidreco carafe and tumblers Materials: Recycled glass Designer: La Mediterranea TranSglass vases Reclaimed glass wine bottle Designers: Emma Woflfenden and Tord Boontje Manufacturer: Artecnica Schaschlik knife block Materials: Yellow pine and bamboo skewers Designer and manufacturer: Martin Robitsch FR300 multi-purpose radio with hand-crank power generator Designer and manufacturer: Etón Corporation Foundling Rabbit Materials: 100% organic cotton Designer and manufacturer: Hugg-A-Planet LoooLo blanket Materials: Certified organic cotton, Climatex Lifestyle™ yarns Designer and manufacturer: Joanna Notkin for LoooLo Textiles Solar voltaic backpack Materials: 840D nylon, UV-resistant polyurethane, nylon mesh Designer and Manufacturer: Voltaic Systems, Inc.


Ecoist handbags Materials: Repurposed candy wrappers, food packages, and soft drink labels Designer and Manufacturer: Marissa Rey for Ecoist WABI shoes Materials: Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) recyclable material with inner sock and coconut fiber insole Designer and manufacturer: Camper Huggy sports balls Materials: Natural flocked foam rubber Designer and manufacturer: Hooray LLC Recycled pencils and pens Materials: Recycled wood, currency, plastic, paper, denim, biodegradable ink Eco-friendly note cards Materials: Lokta plant fiber and recycled paper Manufacturer: Waste Not Paper Company Vintage magazine notecards Materials: Repurposed vintage magazines, inserts of recycled paper, recycled labels, non-toxic adhesives and soy-based inks Designers: Joshua Trees and Yván Martínez Manufacturer: Fake Forest Bathroom Madrid cabinets Materials: Solid maple, plywood, maple veneer Manufacturer: Brighton Cabinetry, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Richlite® countertop Materials: Paper fiber composite and recycled content. Manufacturer: Richlite Company Gift of the manufacturer Traffic Tread recycled glass floor tile Color: Charcoal Designer and manufacturer: Terra Green Ceramics Gift of the designer and manufacturer. Axxis™ Washer and Axxis Vented Dryer Color: White Manufacturer: Bosch home appliances Gift of the manufacturer Timpani Vessels countertop lavatory with Falling Water® wall-mount lavatory faucet Materials: Stainless steel in satin finish Designer and manufacturer: Kohler Co. San Raphael™ Power Lite one-piece toilet with Twin-Touch Actuator Color: White Designer and manufacturer: Kohler, Co. ShektaSTONE soap dish Materials: Recycled paper Designer and manufacturer: Stanley J. Shetka for ShetkaSTONE


Thrash Can Materials: Recycled tires, recycled plastic, aluminum Designer and manufacturer: Normal Design, LLC Mechanical Closet/Insulation Cutaways High Velocity Soft Air HVAC System Manufacturer: Select Mechanical and Design Gift of the manufacturer HTP-1 Hi-Temp Supply Panel Manufacturer: HPS Controls Gift of the manufacturer AquaStar 250SX Tankless Water Heater Manufacturer: Bosch Water Heating Gift of the manufacturer Fiber optics lighting system Manufacturer: Band, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer The Icynene Insulation System®

Spray-in place formula Manufacturer: Icynene® Gift of Insealators of Maryland and Virginia SP-200 Sun-Pure photo-catalytic air purification system Manufacturer: Ultra-Sun Technologies, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer fusiotherm® pipe system Materials: Fusiolen® PP-R (80) with fusion-welded joints Manufacturer: Aquatherm GmbH Gift of Nature Neutral, LLC Glidehouse™ Gallery Conclusion In the 1960s and ‘70s, the popular image of environmentally-sensitive housing included steep roofs covered with solar panels and walls constructed of recycled tires. These houses functioned as advertisements for the green movement, which was considered radical at that time. Today, however, the sustainability movement is reaching maturity and wider acceptance. As the Glidehouse ™ and other projects and materials featured in this exhibition demonstrate, interior designers, architects, builders, developers, and product manufacturers now view sustainability as a catalyst for creative home design. They have also begun to think strategically about the environmental costs of building. It is no longer sufficient to include just a few green materials or features. Instead, these new houses are being conceived as systems with extended life cycles that must meet green standards throughout the design, construction, and living process. They are making environmental responsibility an integral, but not always conspicuous, aspect of the contemporary house.


5 Principles of Sustainability 5 Green Principles Underlying Sustainable Homes 1 Optimizing Use of the Sun 2 Improving Indoor Air Quality 3 Using the Land Responsibly 4 Wisely Using the Earth’s Natural Resources 5 Creating High-Performance and Moisture-Resistant Houses The Earth provides us with a finite amount of natural resources and it is our responsibility to make them last. It is also up to us to use these resources in ways that are not detrimental to the environment or our health. When selecting products and materials to use in your home, look for ones that have: High levels of:

Renewability, Reusability & Durability Low levels of:

Embodied energy, the energy required to extract, process, and transport materials Environmental impact, the negative effects on outdoor and indoor environments

In an upcoming exhibition gallery is a resource room where you can learn more about these criteria and explore a wide range of green materials and products that are currently available. Optimizing Use of the Sun Most of us rely on oil, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels to heat and cool our homes. Not only are these resources expensive and polluting, they are also being rapidly depleted. A simple and cost-effective alternative is to plug your house into the sun by either active or passive strategies. Active strategies use solar panels that turn the sun’s heat into energy. Adopting passive strategies means that you do some of the following: Design and orient the house to minimize summer afternoon solar heat gain and optimize winter solar heat gain. In the northern hemisphere, this means orienting the long sides of the house to face south and north and creating roof overhangs and landscaping that shade the east, south, and west sides of the house. Situate the house to take advantage of prevailing breezes during the spring, summer, and fall. Not only are these breezes valuable for cross-ventilation in the house, but they can make screened-in rooms and porches more comfortable places to live. Plant shade trees and shrubs around your house. In summer, well-placed foliage helps keep the house cool, while bare branches in winter let the sunlight through to warm the house. Improving Indoor Air Quality Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors where air quality can be more polluted than outdoors. Pollutants range from toxins, such as asbestos and formaldehyde found in building materials, to allergens


such as mold, mildew, fungus, bacteria, and dust mites. These pollutants may cause health problems upon initial exposure or even many years later. There are measures that can be taken to improve indoor air quality: 1. Choose ventilation systems that remove dirt, dust, moisture, humidity, and pollutants. 2. Seal off the garage from the house to eliminate fumes from cars. 3. Select materials, such as those without formaldehyde, that limit off-gassing, have minimal or no toxic

properties, and do not shed dust or fiber. 4. Test your home for toxins that influence air quality with a do-it-yourself kit or hire a specialist. 5. Use the exhaust fan over your stove to remove gases like carbon monoxide. Use fans in the bathroom

to remove water vapors that can cause molds to grow. BREATHE EASIER Pollutants can be found throughout most homes, lurking in places where you would least expect them. Pollutant Map Call Outs: Gas stove: carbon monoxide Bathroom: molds, mildew, & bacteria Curtains, carpet: formaldehyde Fireplace: particles that can be inhaled DETECTING TOXINS Specialized gas meters can show the level of airborne toxins generated by household materials. Formaldehyde is a chemical that adds wrinkle-resistant qualities to clothing and draperies, is used in glues, and works as a preservative in some paints. Unfortunately, formaldehyde also releases a gas, which can trigger respiratory problems and allergic reactions. There are many formaldehyde-free and low-toxin products and materials available today, some of which are displayed in the adjoining gallery. Formaldehyde and other toxic gases are measured in parts per million (ppm). Example A Pressed wood product made using adhesives with formaldehyde 0.20 ppm Formaldehyde levels at or above 0.1 ppm can cause acute health effects including eye, nose, and throat irritation, wheezing, nausea, and skin rashes. Example B Composite material made without toxic solvents or glues. 0.05 ppm How levels of formaldehyde can be commonly found in both outdoor and indoor air and do not pose serious health risks.


Using the Land Responsibly You can create a sustainable house by making good use of the land your house sits on and by considering the impact of the house on the surrounding environment. When looking to buy a new home, consider the following: 1. Save fuel and money by purchasing a smaller, more compact house on a lot that is located near work,

public transportation, and community services. 2. Choose a neighborhood where houses are clustered closer together, leaving more open space for

residents to enjoy and helping to preserve the natural landscape. 3. Adopt smart gardening practices like using organic pesticides and composts, as well as native plants

that do not require extensive irrigation systems. 4. Use landscaping rather than paved surfaces, which impede storm water infiltration, often resulting in

the contamination of local water sources. SOFTER LANDINGS In each of these images, a house is shown situated on an identical piece of property. By contrasting these images, it’s easy to see how land use can impact the environment, your cost savings, and your level of comfort. Smaller house [image] Larger house [image] FOOTPRINT [small footprint] more natural

space, less materials and energy

[large footprint] – less natural space, more materials and energy

LANDSCAPE [native plants] requires minimal water and pesticides [compost heap] composting turns waste into fertilizer [exposed earth] absorbs rain and run-off

[lawns] – expensive to maintain, pesticide dependent [impervious pavement] – poor water drainage

SUN & SHADE [sun through window] sun provides heat and light

[shaded house] –windows don't utilize sun's light and heat

WILDERNESS [bird] preserves animal habitat

TRANSPORTATION [bus stop & bicycle] saves gas and reduces pollution

[cars] – driving depletes oil resources and increases air pollution

Creating High-Performance and Moisture-Resistant Houses The roof, walls, windows, and doors of a house create an envelope that protects residents from the weather and intruders, including pests, noise, and dirt. It also controls the entry of sunlight and, most importantly, helps maintain indoor comfort. Maintaining a constant level of comfort is often wasteful and expensive but can be done efficiently and economically by the following means:


1. Create a building envelope with more durable and energy-efficient materials that reduce drafts,

balance room temperatures, control moisture, and save on heating and cooling costs. 2. Seal any gaps or cracks where moisture can get in and heat or cooling can leak out. 3. Schedule a home energy audit. Many utilities offer them for free and the expert advice can result in big

energy savings. MAJOR AREAS OF ENERGY LOSS IN A TYPICAL HOME The average homeowner spends about $600 a year for heating and cooling. By sealing these leaks this household could reduce it’s heating and cooling needs by up to 30%, or $180 a year, minimizing financial and environmental costs. DETECTING LEAKS To determine where energy leaks are occurring, a specialized camera creates a thermal image. These images, taken at a home in Vermont on a winter day, highlight areas typically prone to energy leaks. The color red shows the greatest area of energy loss. Call-outs • single paned windows • door openings • fireplace flue • attic insulation • uninsulated ducts • plumbing access gaps Buzzwords in the 5 Principles Gallery Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present without depleting resources or harming natural cycles for future generations. Off-gassing: The release of gas into the air from products treated with chemicals during their manufacture. Envelope: The skin of a building--including the windows, doors, walls, foundation, basement slab, ceilings, roof, and insulation--that separates the interior of a building from the outdoor environment. Working with the Sun Gallery The Heliodon: Passive Solar Capture Heliodons or "sun machines" are devices used to simulate the sun’s movement in relation to a structure. A heliodon can be configured to observe sunlight and shading patterns for clear sky conditions anywhere in the world. It does this by adjusting for season, time of day, and site location. Architects and builders study these patterns to orient a house in a way that optimizes natural heating and cooling. This heliodon was specifically created for this exhibition to track the sun’s movements over a Glidehouse ™ , located in Washington, D.C. (39°17' N 76°36' W), and highlights solar activity during the solstices and equinoxes. Explore the ways in which the sun impacts the house at different times of day and year, for better or worse. How the Heliodon Works: Select one of the dates listed below and observe how sunlight strikes the house at various times of day as it tracks across the sky. Now, use the handle attached to the model to change the orientation of the house


(North or East) and select the same date. How does the different orientation change the effects of sunlight and shade on the house? June 21 Summer Solstice Orientation North: Very little direct sunlight hits the interior of the house, minimizing heat gain during the hot summer months. East: The house is flooded with direct sunlight throughout the day, overheating the house and negating the effects of natural cooling at night. Dec 21 Winter Solstice Orientation North: The exterior shades of the house can be opened to allow sunlight in, helping to heat the house in winter. East: Only a small amount of sunlight enters the house, minimizing the amount of heat gained from the sun. March 21/September 21 Spring/Fall Equinox (The sun has the same trajectory on both dates.) Orientation North: Exterior shades allow the occupant to control the amount of sunlight during the spring and fall, opening them to warm the house, closing them to keep it cool. East: In this configuration the residents are unable to take advantage of the predominant light from the south. Active Solar, or Photovoltaics Solar-electricity, or photovoltaics, is an active energy strategy for optimizing the use of the sun. Photovoltaic cells commonly power watches and calculators. But located on a building’s roof, photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity for uses such as lights and air conditioning. Few power-generating technologies have as little impact on the environment as solar-electricity. As it quietly generates power from the sun’s energy, a photovoltaic system produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It doesn't require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. And because its energy source - sunlight - is free and abundant, photovoltaic systems can guarantee uninterrupted access to electric power. Instructions for active solar control panel [BP Solar PV Module] Rooftop photo-voltaic modules convert the sun’s energy into direct current (DC) electricity. [DC to AC inverter] An Inverter changes the electricity from DC to AC (alternating current) making it suitable for household use. [Meter] The electric company uses a voltmeter to record the amount of energy produced and passes the savings along to the consumer. [electricity entering the utility] If more energy is produced than is used by the residence, the excess energy gets passed into the utility grid. [electricity powering home] The energy collected by the rooftop solar modules supplements energy drawn from the utility grid to power the residence.


[Dimmer Switch] The energy produced by the photovoltaic modules is dependent upon the amount of energy available from sunlight. Turn the dial to how the brightness of light affects the amount of energy produced. Buzzwords in the Working with the Sun Gallery Fossil Fuels: Carbon-rich deposits in the earth, such as petroleum (oil), coal, or natural gas, derived from the remains of ancient plants and animals and used for fuel. Photovoltaic cell: A device that converts sunlight into electricity. 20 Contemporary Green Residences For decades cutting-edge architecture and sustainable design have existed in separate camps: the leaders of each field had little dialogue between them. In the world of contemporary residential design, sustainability ranked well below considerations of style and cost. Many sophisticated designers believed that high-quality or cutting-edge architecture and interior design had little chance of making an aesthetic statement if environmental issues or energy efficiency took precedence. The environmental movement, for its part, was suspicious of the world of star architects, interior designers, and their style-conscious patrons. And green builders tended to concentrate their energies either on tinkering with their own residences or putting up experimental structures that many architects and critics dismissed as unsophisticated and unattractive. Beginning in the 1990s, however, avant-garde designers and the leaders of the sustainability movement began to move out of their isolated silos and toward common ground. They are now coming to understand that the goals of visually appealing design and sustainability are no longer mutually exclusive. CITY Cities consume over 75% of the world’s resources, while occupying only 2% of its land. Yet cities— where people share walls, mechanical systems, gardens, and transportation—are inherently more efficient than rural and suburban areas where these components are typically replicated in every household. Cities not only house more people on less land near jobs, shops, and transportation, but urban buildings are also more commonly recycled and renewed—a development strategy that minimizes waste and preserves resources. Many successful new green projects are small and dense, but low-impact materials and technologies are also increasingly common in residential high-rises. Perhaps the most important lesson that green architects, interior designers, and builders are learning from their urban experiments is that people in cities don’t have to live in denial of nature. P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Project 2001 Rotterdam, the Netherlands Korteknie and Stuhlmacher Architecten Rien Korteknie and Mechthild Stuhlmacher, Designers The P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. project is the first of a series of entirely new prototypes for a sustainable, opportunistic kind of urban housing in Rotterdam. (P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. stands for Prototype for Advanced Ready-Made Amphibious Small-Scale Individual Temporary Ecological Dwelling.) These experimental houses intend to make parasitic use of existing urban infrastructure by taking advantage of sites regarded as unsuitable for habitation, e.g. former industrial areas, roofs of existing buildings, and other “disused” spots in the city. The project’s urban densification strategy represents a sustainable alternative to suburban sprawl by exploiting existing transportation systems as well as underused mechanical systems in old industrial buildings. Located on top of a warehouse and attached to a stair tower, the P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. project tests new architectural systems that combine sustainability and prefabrication. The project uses a new timber system called Lenotec: load-bearing, insulating laminated panels made of waste wood that can be used for walls, floors, and roofs.


[Image captions] The first P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. project, a prototype for a sustainable, opportunistic kind of urban housing, is attached to a stairwell atop a renovated warehouse in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Factory-built panels made of waste wood were shipped to the site and assembled on the roof of the warehouse before being raised into place. A bird’s-eye view of the finished house reveals its parasitic use of the infrastructure of the building underneath. Photographs courtesy of Anna Bousema. [Architectural model] P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Project, 2001 Rotterdam, the Netherlands Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten Rien Korteknie and Mechthild Stuhlmacher, Designers Model by Ari Goldstein and Rahm Rechtschaffen of the Catholic University of America, 2006 Plexiglass, basswood, medium density fiberboard (base) Colorado Court 2002 Santa Monica, California Pugh + Scarpa Architecture Angela Brooks, Designer Colorado Court is the first large residential complex in the United States to combine advanced sustainability with low-income housing. With its striking grid of 199 bright blue solar panels, the forty-four unit building represents a rare effort to turn solar power into an aesthetic virtue. The panels produce enough energy to satisfy most of the building’s own needs and to relieve tenants of utility bills. Funded by a combination of public and private sources, the Southern California project includes a long list of additional sustainable strategies, from its use of recycled materials and natural ventilation to its anti-sprawl urbanism that houses residents within walking or biking distance of jobs and shops. Inside, natural light, breezes, and ten-foot ceilings help to open the 350-square-foot units to the outside. With its striking form and architectural panache, Colorado Court has raised the bar for green projects of its size and degree of social consciousness. [Image captions] The forty-four-unit Colorado Court complex is covered with deep blue photovoltaic panels and graced by open-air walkways that allow residents to enjoy breezes from the nearby Pacific Ocean. The building is w-shaped in plan, with two long wings at the perimeter and a shorter one in the middle. Photographs courtesy of Marvin Rand. Viikki Eco-Housing 1998 – ongoing Helsinki, Finland Various architects Although not yet complete, Helsinki’s Viikki community already ranks as the world’s largest and most ambitious green housing development. The project successfully combines 13,000 housing units, a satellite university campus and a biotechnology incubator at its core, marshland, and livestock grazing areas. Criteria for the master plan and the design of buildings stressed reductions of emissions, waste, and resource consumption, as well as promotion of healthiness and biodiversity. The project is a proving ground for green building strategies: renewable energy technologies include wind turbines and solar collection; rainwater is used for gardens where residents grow their own food; gray-water systems recycle water from sinks and bathtubs. The aim is to put such strategies to the test of actual construction and occupation and apply those lessons to building codes for residential development throughout the country. As a self-contained, sustainable community, Viikki provides an important model for urban growth.


[Image captions] Viikki’s residential areas include townhouses with private gardens and patios. The Viikki development is one of the most ambitious experiments in sustainable architecture and urban planning in the world, with buildings designed to generate solar and wind power, direct rainwater to communal gardens, and preserve marshland – all in the geographical center of Finland’s largest city. Photographs courtesy of Jussi Tiainen. Sea Train House 2003 Los Angeles, California Office of Mobile Design Jennifer Siegal, Designer The Sea Train House, wedged between a scrap metal yard and an industrial building in Los Angeles, is one of the most ecologically sensitive houses recently constructed in the United States. The structure is almost completely recycled from salvage materials found on the site, including used metal seagoing containers, wood crossbeams, and ceiling decking. The roof insulation circulates cool air via narrow shafts from the shady lower section of the roof up toward the exposed higher end. The main living area features a cascading waterfall that humidifies the air and supplies recycled water to an indoor pool made from an old trailer and now full of koi and Chinese carp. The Zen simplicity of the interior forms a perfect complement to the ethic of sustainability that inspired the structure. [Image captions] The lush, tropical garden fronting the Sea Train house appears like an oasis behind the property’s decidedly urban front gate. Honest, unfinished materials such as corrugated metal decking and concrete were used for interior finishes as well as exterior cladding. Lit up at night, the house resembles an exaggerated box lantern, glowing brightly at the end of the long garden path. Most of the units are double-height with open mezzanines and can be partitioned with panels or furniture arrangements for use as work or living space.

Adaptive Re-Use of Materials The house’s structural elements are old sea-going storage containers, some of which had been on site before the project began.

Natural Light

With a glass curtain-wall façade and strategically placed exposures on the side and rear elevations, the house is lit by only natural light during the day.

Reclaimed Wood

The massive Douglas Fir crossbeams, which support the cantilevered roof, were reclaimed from a nearby construction site.

Natural Microclimate

The lush front garden, which includes a stream fed by recycled water, generates cool breezes and fresh air, both of which are lacking in Sea Train’s asphalt-covered neighborhood.

Interior Perspective Drawing 1. B-36 steel roof decking 2. Tapered steel beams 3. Recycled wood joists 4. Plate steel security wall 5. Tube steel pergola 6. Aluminum frame windows 7. Salvage storage containers 8. Seatrain storage containers 9. Cherrywood flooring


10. Flagstone water wall 11. Recycled carpet 12. Aluminum grain trailer koi pond, interior 13. Aluminum grain trailer koi pond, exterior Photographs courtesy of Undine Pröhl. [Architectural model] Sea Train House, 2003 Los Angeles, California Office of Mobile Design Jennifer Siegal, Designer Model by Office of Mobile Design, Venice, California, 2006 Basswood, plastic, colored construction paper, chip board Battery Park City Residences 20 River Terrace – The Solaire, 2002 211 North End Avenue – The Verdesian, 2006 70 Little West Street – Site 3, projected completion date: July 2008 New York, New York Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Design Architect SLCE Architects, Architect of Record Beginning with the Solaire, the first residential tower in New York City to systematically embrace sustainable design and surpass all the city’s green guidelines, this trio of buildings has consistently raised the bar for environmentally sensitive architecture. Located in Battery Park City, a planned residential and commercial neighborhood on the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan, the 27-story Solaire is 35% more energy efficient than state codes demand. It also reduces peak demand for electricity by 65% and requires 50% less potable water. Photovoltaic panels generate 5% of the building’s energy at peak periods, and more than half the building’s materials (rated by cost) were manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the site, minimizing the energy used for transport. The most recent buildings in the complex have gone even further, with the new 33-story tower for Site 3 boasting an energy-efficient, on-demand ventilation strategy, which features sensors that monitor occupancy to adjust the amount of supply and exhaust air. Facing west across the Hudson River at the southern tip of Manhattan, the Solaire has embedded photovoltaic panels that capture sunlight throughout the day and even at dusk, above, as it bounces off the water. Two pesticide-free terrace gardens planted with native grasses provide a private retreat for the residents and a means of natural insulation for the building. With 3,400 square feet of photovoltaic panels, among other energy conserving elements, the Solaire uses 67 percent less electricity during peak hours than comparable buildings. Photomontage of Site 3 (70 Little West Street). Anticipated completion date for this new Battery Park City residence is July 2008. Upper right image courtesy of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. All other photographs courtesy of Jeff Goldberg/Esto. [Architectural model] Battery City Park Site 3, projected completion July 2008 New York, New York Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Model by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, New York, 2006 Acrylic and wood (Maple, Cherry and Birch)


Historic Front Street 2006 New York, New York Cook + Fox Architects Historic Front Street involves the restoration of eleven early nineteenth-century brick warehouses and the construction of three new buildings, producing ninety-five apartments and thirteen retail spaces in one of Manhattan’s oldest neighborhoods, the South Street Seaport. The architects efficiently and converted these four- and five-story buildings into modern-day residences by reusing and leaving exposed many historic materials, from brick walls to heavy-timber framing. The project’s natural heating and cooling system comprises ten 1,500-foot-deep geothermal pumps that have replaced all fossil-fuel-burning equipment, avoiding the need for both heating boilers and rooftop cooling units for air-conditioning. Two courtyard gardens bring city dwellers into contact with natural elements, enhance security, and foster community ties. Apartments are flooded with natural light and offer views of the courtyards and the skyline, while lighting and appliances meet high energy and environmental standards. [Image captions] The renovated exterior of Historic Front Street seamlessly blends elements of modern architecture with historical styles and materials. A typical apartment interior includes exposed structural beams and brick wall. The courtyard contains a zen-like rock garden offering residents a respite and retreat from their urban neighborhood. Upper and lower right photographs courtesy of Seong Kwon for Cook+Fox Architects. Upper left photograph courtesy of Karin Partin for Cook+Fox Architects. SUBURB Conceived as a utopia where city workers could live in pastoral surroundings, the suburb–with its typical low-rise, low-density development and infinite replication of lawns, garages, septic tanks, and mechanical systems—has become an anti-green form of development. However, new models aim to provide the comforts of suburban living while avoiding unnecessary waste and replication: they can be sited for optimal solar exposure, open space, and tree preservation; constructed from local renewable materials; and equipped with maximally efficient heating, cooling, and waste systems. By combining ancient vernacular methodologies with progressive scientific technologies, architects can now deliver on the suburban promise of a green lifestyle that combines urban proximity with pastoral tranquility. Mill Valley Straw-Bale House 2001 Marin County, California Arkin Tilt Architects David Arkin and Anni Tilt, Designers Located outside of San Francisco, the Mill Valley Straw-Bale House has a more unusual structural system than its appearance suggests. It does, however, contain a truth window that offers an inside view of the walls constructed of straw bales with a sprayed-earth finish, a structural system that provides efficient insulation as well as supporting walls. The roof is insulated with cellulose, a material made from recycled newspapers and covered in strawboard panels. Windows are shaded by deep overhangs that help keep out summer sun while letting in warming winter rays, and clerestory windows allow oblique natural light to wash the main interior living space without significant heat gain. Other green interior features include columns of unfinished eucalyptus logs harvested from the site, kitchen countertops of recycled glass, salvaged doors, re-milled cedar trim, a system for compost built into the kitchen counter, and bins for recyclables accessed from both indoors and outdoors. [Image captions] Straw bales make up the ground-floor structural system and also provide efficient insulation for this house, which sits on a relatively private lot just north of San Francisco. The public rooms of Arkin Tilt’s compact Mill Valley Straw-Bale House are contained in a single double-height space with large clerestory windows.


A load-bearing storage wall divides that space from bedrooms on the other side. An exterior fireplace makes socializing outdoors possible despite Northern California’s cool summer evenings. Openings in the long interior storage wall give way to bedrooms; these two are separated by a sliding door that can be opened to connect them. Upper left photograph courtesy of John Dolan. All other photographs courtesy of Edward Caldwell. Charlotte Residence 2002 Charlotte, North Carolina William McDonough + Partners Allison Ewing and William McDonough, Designers Although the house is set within the urban limits of Charlotte, the rustic finishes and forested location make it feel like a home in the woods. The lacy tree canopy provided the inspiration for the design and a strategy for sustainability. Not only did a survey of existing trees determine the footprint of the structure, but the interior spaces mimic the experience of being outdoors. Oriented for passive solar benefits, the house has a vaulted roof that provides deep overhangs for summer shade and, on the interior, suggests an expansive tree canopy rising above the main living areas. The floor plan is open, naturally daylit, and organized around fieldstone walls that draw the eye back outside. The green energy strategy combines highly efficient building insulation with a geothermal system that provides radiant heating in the stone floors. Non-toxic, locally produced materials are used throughout, and all wood is reclaimed or certified. [Image captions] The site for this McDonough + Partners design sits within the city limits of Charlotte but with its canopy of loblolly pines has the look of a secluded retreat. The interior space sits under a vaulted roof that the architects designed to resemble a canopy of tree branches. High cabinets and freestanding walls divide the house into discrete rooms while maintaining the sense of a loft-like open space. The view of the surrounding wood, which the architects worked hard to protect, is accentuated by large, gridded windows. Sunlight floods the interior during the winter, when the sun is low enough to slip beneath the exterior overhangs. Photographs courtesy of Philip Beaurline. Solar Tube 2001 Vienna, Austria driendl*architects George Driendl, Designer The Solar Tube house, located on the edge of Vienna, looks like the stuff of science fiction. Aesthetically and environmentally unconventional, the house pushes the science and style of sustainable architecture to the extreme, transforming a “solar tube” –a small light-and-heat capturing rooftop device--into a design concept for a whole building. The structure performs as one large energy collector, capturing and storing solar energy for heat in cold months. Sloped dual-ply windows with a thin metallic layer attract winter’s short rays and deflect summer’s long ones, while a central concrete core absorbs and stores the warmth during the day and releases it slowly at night. In summer months the ventilation system acts like a reverse chimney to funnel warm air up and out. On the interior the house feels like a twenty-first century treehouse, as all levels experience the sunlight filtering through the tree canopy and down through the retractable glass roof and glass floors. [Image captions] The Solar Tube’s rear façade, which faces north, features an inward-slanting windows that actually divert the high rays of the summer sun. The front façade is inclined upward so that the house can absorb the warming southern light. The glass roof above the house’s third story, which contains all four bedrooms, funnels light down to the two levels below.


An open staircase and inlaid glass floor panels on the second story keep the kitchen and living rooms, as well as the ground-floor offices below, flooded with natural light. Photographs courtesy of James Morris. [Architectural model] Solar Tube House, 2001 Vienna, Austria driendl*architects Georg Driendl, Designer Model by Dietmar Schubert, 2006. Loan courtesy of driendl*architects, Vienna, Austria Plexiglas, wood, aluminum WATERSIDE Sensitivity to the beauty and vulnerability of the natural waterside environment has spurred some of the most interesting experiments in rethinking the principles of residential development. Common strategies range from prescribing setbacks and restoring natural shorelines to exploiting solar and wind power and using indigenous building materials such as coral and bamboo husks. Green houses combine responses to extreme heat, wind, sunshine, salt, water damage, and climate change with technologies that allow them to be self-sufficient in their waste disposal and energy and water use. In sustainable waterside houses protection goes both ways—safeguarding the house from nature and nature from the house. Swart Residence 2004 Melbourne, Australia Cocks Carmichael Peter Carmichael, Designer Flanked by nineteenth-century terrace houses and facing both a major traffic artery and Melbourne’s Port Philip Bay, the Swart House was designed to be a compatible neighbor while emphasizing views of the water and minimizing traffic noise and pollution on the interior. The semi-detached, poured-concrete façade acts as a sun visor, vibration damper, and buffer against wind and noise. Rooftop photovoltaic cells and solar hot-water panels make the house self-sufficient most of the year, and rainwater feeds the garden irrigation system. On the interior, a central glazed airshaft improves internal air quality by ventilating all levels with fresh exterior air drawn from above the traffic level. A system of automated climate controls for lights, blinds, air conditioning, and security can be programmed to respond to varying conditions, continually adjusting with subtle changes in wind, tides, natural light, temperature, and occupancy. [Image captions] Facing Melbourne’s Port Philip Bay and a busy motorway, the Swart Residence is designed to accentuate views of the water while minimizing traffic noise and pollution. Photovoltaic cells and solar hot water panels on the roof capture enough energy to make the house self-sufficient much of the year. An inverter ensures that excess electrical energy can be returned to the electrical supply authority. The north-facing rear terrace, which is protected by a deep overhang and stainless-steel louvers, extends the third-floor living space, offering sweeping views of the city beyond. Passive and Active Systems

Central Airshaft Cutting through all three levels at the center of the house, the airshaft is a site-specific feature that improves the internal air quality by drawing fresh air from the exterior above the traffic line.

Photovoltaic Cells The solar collectors on the roof, which supply most of the house’s electrical power, are connected to the power grid with a 0.2KV inverter so that excess electrical energy can be returned to the electrical supply authority.

Rainwater Collections


Rain is collected from the roofs of the main house and the garage and distributed to the garden by an automated irrigation system.

Automated Climate Controls

An integrated systems controls lights, blinds, air-conditioning, and security, and can be programmed to respond to light and temperature conditions as well as patterns of occupancy.

Photographs courtesy of Derek Swalwell. [Architectural model] Swart Residence, 2004 Melbourne, Australia Cocks Carmichael Whitford, Pty, Ltd. Peter Carmichael, Designer Model by Ari Goldstein, Rahm Rechtschaffen, C. Dean Hutchison, and Bill Putnam of the Catholic University of America, 2006 Plexiglas, basswood Walla Womba Guest House 2003 Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia 1 + 2 Architecture Cath Hall, Mike Verdouw, Fred Ward, Designers This vacation house on the island of Bruny, Tasmania, sits lightly on its wooded waterside site. It is set on a raised steel frame to minimize the disturbance usually caused by excavation and to preserve natural drainage patterns. The alignment of the structure and the dramatic form of its roof take advantage of winter sun and summer shade. Woodwork and furniture are made from local recycled timbers and the neutral interior palette keeps eyes focused on exterior views. The Walla Womba house is “off-the-grid,” meaning that it is completely independent of local power, water, and sewer connections. Electricity is supplied by photovoltaic panels with backup from a gas generator, water is provided by rainwater, and all waste is handled on site. Power demand is reduced by high-value insulation, double-glazing, and bedroom locations on the cooler side of the house. While one or all of these features can be incorporated into many types of homes, their effectiveness is subject to variables such as geographic location, weather conditions, and the demand from appliances and systems. Through the remote location of the Walla Womba house necessitates its off-the-grid technologies, it is also a lifestyle choice guided by a desire to be self-reliant and environmentally responsible. To learn more about how this “off-the-grid” system works, explore the interactive at the Walla Womba Guest House model. [Image captions] This weekend house by the Tasmanian firm 1+2 Architecture uses a raised a steel frame to site lightly on its thickly wooded site, which is dotted with eucalyptus and casuarina trees and overlooks the water in three directions. Lifting the house also helps keep natural drainage patterns intact. The dramatically sweeping roof and deep overhangs telegraph its alignment to take advantage of summer shade and winter sun. The living room uses pale hardwood floors and neutral carpeting to draw the eye through the windows toward the view of trees and the water surrounding the island of Bruny. Upper right photograph courtesy of Peter Hyatt. All other photographs courtesy of 1+2 Architecture. [Architectural model] Walla Womba Guest House, 2003 Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia 1+2 Architecture Cath Hall, Mike Verdouw, Fred Ward, Designers Model by Ari Goldstein and Rahm Rechtschaffen of the Catholic University of America, 2006 Plexiglas, basswood, maple, chip board, oriented strand board (base)


Howard House 1999 West Pennant, Nova Scotia, Canada Brian MacKay-Lyons Architects Brian MacKay-Lyons, Designer The Howard House, whose exterior form evokes the indigenous boat sheds on the Nova Scotia coast, represents an architectural version of cultural sustainability. It also incorporates a range of green strategies: passive solar, passive venting, thermal massing and in-floor radiant heating, local materials, forms that respond to the site’s microclimate, and structural and fenestration strategies tailored to each exposure. The west side paralleling the open ocean is defended against prevailing winds with a concrete jetty-like casement. The south side, facing a quiet bay and beach, is wrapped with double-height windows to allow for maximum solar gain and features a balcony cantilevered towards the water. Using the materials and forms of local structures helps buildings stay in tune with the unique character of their native land: “The only source of real sustainable building is the vernacular,” according to designer Brian Mackay-Lyons. “The vernacular is what you build when you can’t afford to get it wrong environmentally.” [Image captions] The narrow, boxy silhouette of the Howard House was designed to resemble the local boat sheds Nova Scotia fisherman have been building in the area for decades. The breezeway is clad in unfinished plywood and paved with gravel. The mezzanine office space has and cabinets made of locally grown maple. The living room features pigment-free concrete floors. Upper and lower left photographs courtesy of Undine Pröhl. Upper and lower right photographs courtesy of James Steeves. MOUNTAINSIDE More than ten billion acres of the earth’s surface is covered in forest, most located in mountainous regions. Extreme weather conditions such as snow, wind, ice, freezing temperatures, and torrential rains, as well as exposure to intense sunlight and ultraviolet radiation at high altitudes, provide opportunities to deploy a wide range of green design solutions. The abundance of wind and sunlight allows builders to incorporate natural energy resources: houses can be oriented for optimal solar energy and minimal cold and wind exposure, while snow accumulations and frequent rainfall permit the harvesting of clean water. Green forest houses represent another key precept of sustainability—they use local wood, stones, and boulders, rather than non-indigenous materials that need to be hauled up mountains. Great (Bamboo) Wall 2002 Commune by the Great Wall Shuiguan-Badaling, China Kengo Kuma & Associates Kengo Kuma, Designer Located in the shadow of China’s Great Wall, the Great (Bamboo) Wall is a meditation on a single building material: bamboo. The use of bamboo is a sustainable choice because it grows quickly, allowing its stocks to be easily replenished. The house is as much about the properties bamboo as it is constructed from it, showcasing its ability to be sculptural, cast shadows, and add rhythm and texture to façades. The house features a wall of its own, made of bamboo stalks arranged in bunches along the longitudinal axis. In contrast to the massive Great Wall, however, this fragile-looking construction suggests the easy transfer of light and breezes in the house. Other surfaces such as walls and ceilings are clad in bamboo as well. Constructed in a private development of villas north of Beijing, the house demonstrates that luxurious modesty and eco-efficiency do not have to be mutually exclusive. [Image captions] Kengo Kuma’s bamboo house north of Beijing includes an open-air tea house, which seems to float above a shallow reflecting pool.


The house, with its long, horizontal profile, is designed to mimic the Great Wall, which runs along the ridgeline above. The tall windows of the living room provide expansive views of the lush landscape. Photographs courtesy of Satoshi Asakawa. House with Shades 2000 Jebenhausen, Germany Achenbach Architekten + Designer Joachim and Gabriele Achenbach, Designers The starkly modern steel-and-glass House with Shades is an elegant and energy-efficient anomaly in an otherwise architecturally traditional area of the Bavarian Alps. The goal was to maximize natural light on the interior and reduce daytime artificial-lighting needs, while capturing and storing solar heat. A mechanically controlled ventilation system fueled by photovoltaic cells works in concert with a thermal mass exchange unit and exterior shades to minimize heat loss and regulate temperatures. Strategically deployed light and wind sensors automatically regulate the optimal amount of sun and heat exposure, triggering the shades to rise or lower accordingly. Rooftop solar panels convert sunlight into electric power for heating water, while a wood-burning stove generates heat in cooler months. Native grasses planted on the roof absorb rainwater, improving the house’s microclimate and absorbing runoff. [Image captions] Joachim and Gabriele Achenbach’s sensor-driven automatic shades block the sun but not the Alpine views. In the winter, the exterior shades stay up nearly all the time, allowing the warming rays of the sun to help heat the house. In the summer, the shades are raised or lowered depending on sun and weather conditions. A solar sensor triggers automatic adjustments based on light levels. Laminated wood floors, ceiling panels, and siding made from locally grown pine trees help to visually and acoustically soften the glass-enclosed spaces. Photographs courtesy of Holgar Hill. [Architectural model] House with Shades, 2000 Jebenhausen, Germany Achenbach Architekten + Designer Joachim and Gabriele Achenbach, Designers Model by Ari Goldstein, Rahm Rechtschaffen and Brenden Rogers of the Catholic University of America, 2006 Basswood and chipboard R128 2002 Stuttgart, Germany Werner Sobek Ingenieure Werner Sobek, Designer Built on a steep hillside outside Stuttgart, R128 is an elegant embodiment of the credo that “architecture is environmental design.” Its sleek, impeccable form projects an aesthetic ambition rarely seen in sustainable building, representing an imaginative compendium of ideas about green design, energy conservation, and recycling. Conceived to be installed and dismantled with minimal impact on the land, its modular building components can be easily detached and recycled. Electrical energy is supplied by solar panels embedded in the roof, using the public grid as a zero-loss energy store. With an inner layer of metal-coated plastic foil that deflects long infrared rays, the triple-glazed panels of the façade have an extremely low heat transmission value. Water-cooled panels in the ceiling absorb solar heat, which is stored and released through ceiling radiators in cold months. Because it is completely self-sustaining, the house produces no emissions. And its three-dimensional transparency allows residents to feel close to nature.


[Image captions] Facing southwest on a steep hillside outside Stuttgart, Werner Sobek’s R128 is an emission-free house that requires no external energy input for heating or cooling. All of the electrical energy needed to power the house is supplied by forty-eight frameless solar panels embedded in the roof. The system uses the public grid as a zero-loss energy store, tapping in only when there’s an energy shortfall.

Solar Panels The electrical energy needed to run the mechanical ventilation system is supplied by solar receptors embedded in the roof.

Split-System Air Conditioning

Each floor has a separate temperature control, which allows the system to cool or heat only the space being used.

Recyclable Materials

From the wood panel flooring and glass walls to the bolted steel skeleton, every component of the house was chosen for its capacity to be recycled.

Triple Glazing

With three layers of glass containing a film of metal-coated plastic foil in the air space between the outer and central panes, as well as inert gas between each layer, the windows have an extremely low heat transmission value.

Natural Light Floor-to-ceiling windows eliminate the need for artificial light during the day. Energy Studies for summer daytime, summer night time, and winter show the changes in both incoming and outbound air temperature. Images courtesy of Roland Halbe. [Architectural model] R128, 2002 Stuttgart, Germany Werner Sobek Ingenieure Werner Sobek, Designer Model constructed 2002. Loan courtesy of Werner Sobek Ingenieure, Stuttgart, Germany Plastic, acrylic, glass and aluminum DESERT Although deserts cover one-fifth of the Earth’s surface, their extraordinary temperatures and lack of natural water provide one of the harshest environments for habitation. Deserts are also the sites of important experiments in green design. The extreme daytime and nighttime temperatures have spurred a robust sustainable architecture, based on passive heating and cooling methods and ingenious solutions for ventilation. Architects and interior designers use a range of strategies to reduce the environmental impact of a desert home: siting to minimize solar impact and maximize cooling by natural breezes, dense building materials to insulate against extreme temperatures, roof overhangs to protect against summer sun while allowing in winter sun, window placement and configuration to protect against glare and heat gain, and water storage and recycling systems to harvest the minimal rainfall.


Tucson Mountain House 2001 Tucson, Arizona Rick Joy Architects Rick Joy, Designer Set on a remote Sonoran desert site, the Tucson Mountain House represents a new spin on time-honored desert building methods: its rammed-earth walls—a mixture of desert soil from the building site and portland cement—endow the structure with the colors and textures of the desert, while providing valuable insulation against weather extremes. Poured into wood casts and tamped down in layers, the material’s rough, porous surfaces blend into the exterior terrain and contrast with elegant minimalist interiors. Environmentally, these earthen walls—up to two-feet thick and sixteen-feet high—make an ideal match for the desert environment by providing passive air conditioning and heating. Their mass absorbs daytime heat, keeping the interior cool; as temperatures plummet at night, the walls gradually release the stored-up heat to warm the interior while absorbing the cold exterior air. Deep eaves shade expansive glass walls facing north and east, offering views of the desert without excessive solar gain. [Image captions] Rick Joy’s Tucson Mountain House is designed to blend into the landscape, both aesthetically and environmentally. On the north side of the house, beneath one wing of the pitched roof, an expansive porch with fireplace, lounge, and views functions as an outdoor room. The front door, a glass panel set between the structure’s two volumes, offers a first glimpse of the house’s stunning desert views. The striated rammed-earth walls supply structure as well as texture, inside and out. In the bathroom, sliding glass doors and mirrored panels create the illusion of an outdoor shower. Photographs courtesy of Undine Pröhl. LoLoma 5 Lofts 2004 Scottsdale, Arizona Will Bruder Architects Will Bruder, Designer Located in Arizona’s Scottsdale Arts District, the LoLoma 5 Lofts project tells the complicated story of sustainability in a region where the sun is both treasured and feared. Responding to the city’s ambitious new sustainability guidelines which expedite approval for green projects, the environmentally responsive elements begin just past the curb: the parking lot is lined with crushed compacted granite rather than concrete or asphalt, helping to keep temperatures down and integrate the building into the landscape. The northern façade features the most glass, while protecting the building and its residents from the scorching sun with perforated metal scrims that cover upper windows. Balconies provide outdoor living environments that can be used as sleeping porches. Inside, the lofts are open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling operable windows on opposite walls, allowing residents to use natural cooling rather than air conditioning for most of the year. [Image captions] The exterior of each unit in Will Bruder’s LoLoma 5 building includes a balcony cantilevered from the façade to grab views of the desert from two directions. Perforated metal screens help control the level of sunlight inside. Parking spaces at the base of the building are accessed via an auto court made with crushed granite instead of asphalt or cement – materials the architect says would have created a heat trap in the desert sun. The windows on the northern side of the building are partially enclosed inside perforated metal screens that help reduce glare and solar gain. Seen from inside, the screens maintain a surprising degree of transparency. Windows deliver thin columns of light into the kitchen and offer expansive views from the bedroom. Roof balconies are tucked away on the southern side of the building and can be used as sleeping porches. Photographs courtesy of Bill Timmerman.


TROPICS The region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, characterized by epic storms and high heat and humidity, prescribes an indoor-outdoor lifestyle while demanding adaptability and self-sufficiency from inhabitants and their homes. The region’s vernacular architecture has provided inspiration for contemporary green architects, who are now interpreting tried-and-true features and inventing new ones to respond to the extraordinarily lush and often destructive tropical conditions: trees harnessed for cool shade and sea breezes for ventilation; siting in relation to natural protective features such as dunes to provide safety against storms; high-pitched roofs to deflect the wind; shutters, covered verandas, and wide eaves to block direct sunlight; and sustainable water, energy, and waste systems that minimize use of natural resources. Casa de Carmen 2001 Baja California Sur, Mexico Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Marsha Maytum and Roberto Sheinberg, Designers The Casa de Carmen is a highly self-sufficient reinterpretation of the traditional Mexican courtyard house, built with local materials and construction techniques. Located on a remote site in Baja California Sur—an area that is geographically tropical but desert in climate—with no public infrastructure for gas, oil, or electricity, the house generates its own power with photovoltaic panels. It also minimizes the need for artificial lighting and mechanical air conditioning with such features as cross-ventilation and ceiling fans to promote cooling breezes, sun shading and thick concrete-block walls infilled with concrete to minimize heat gain. Skylights and clerestory windows increase natural light. Pale roof pavers reflect the sunlight and decrease heat-gain, and a trellis on the ocean wall to provides shade and protect the house during hurricanes. Local tile and slate line garden walls and paths, cantera stone adorns interior floors, and woodwork was built on site using locally available alder wood. [Image captions] Set between a vast track of tropical desert and the shimmering water of the Pacific Ocean, Leddy Maytum Stacy’s Casa de Carmen is designed for both shade and spectacular views. A ‘dry’ garden, composed of cacti and other desert flora collected from around the property, forms the centerpiece of the compound. Wooden slats made from local alder wood form a shady trellis over the patio off the guest room. Deep red stucco, marine blue mosaic tiles, and a jagged, cantilevered staircase provide a vibrant backdrop to the outdoor dining area. Photographs courtesy of Luis Gordoa. [Architectural model] Casa de Carmen, 2001 Baja California Sur, Mexico Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects Marsha Maytum and Roberto Sheinberg, Designers Model by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects with zD Models, San Francisco, California, 2006 Basswood, acrylic, sand, landscape flocking Taylor House 2001 Scotland Cay, Bahamas Frank Harmon Architect Frank Harmon, Designer Perched on a remote coral ridge in the Bahamas, the Taylor House follows key principles of sustainable design: local climate adaptations, harvesting of renewable natural resources, low-tech ventilation technologies, and minimal impact on the native landscape. The island’s lack of fresh water inspired the inverted roof that funnels rainwater down through the house into a cistern at ground level, providing water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. The sprawling eaves also provide shade and circulate cool ocean


breezes through the third-floor living spaces. A series of doors and hatches can be battened down to protect against ferocious winds and rains and then raised in clear weather to function as a low-tech ventilation system. Since construction materials must be shipped on boats, all—with the exception of the steel roof beams—came from within a 20-mile radius. On the interior, coral excavated from the foundation hole is incorporated in kitchen counters and interior and exterior floor surfaces. [Image captions] To protect against the ferocious winds and epic rains that regularly hit the Bahamas, architect Frank Harmon designed a series of doors and hatches for the Taylor house that can be battened down as soon as the clouds roll in. When the skies are clear, the open flaps function as a low-tech ventilation system that keeps the whole house full of cool off-shore breezes. Like nearly all the materials used in the house, the wood cladding on the underside of the roof’s wide eaves was harvested locally. With only 1,500 square feet of interior space, much of the living at the Taylor house happens outdoors, where another 1,500 square feet of deck space, including this covered terrace off the kitchen, provides room for eating, lounging, and admiring the view of the Abaco Sea. Photographs courtesy of James West. [Architectural model] Taylor House, 2001 Scotland Cay, Bahamas Frank Harmon Architect Frank Harmon, Designer Model by Frank Harmon Architect, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2006 Basswood, oil-based paint, acrylic paint, dried grasses, medium density fiberboard (base) Casuarina Beach House 2001 Kingscliff, New South Wales, Australia Lahz Nimmo Architects Annabel Lahz and Andrew Nimmo, Designers A winner in a developer’s speculative “Ultimate Beach House” competition in New South Wales, the Casuarina Beach House served as a prototype for testing the marketability of “Sustainable House Packages.” An array of features allows the house to function self-sufficiently: rooftop photovoltaic panels, cisterns for storage and treatment of sewage and storm water, and a water purifying system that transforms rain into drinking water and wastewater into irrigation and flushing water. A breezeway functions as a thermal chimney that draws in the cool ocean breezes at the bottom and expels hot air out the top, alleviating the need for a mechanical air-conditioning system. A system of shutters and louvers regulates the amount of light and air entering the building, allowing the house to breathe naturally. Cladding and battens are made from native blue gum lumber, which was salvaged from an old railway bridge, while hoop-pine plywood ceiling panels were sourced from plantation timbers. [Image captions] Slatted timber cladding and louvered windows help keep breezes flowing throughout the “sleeping box,” one of two discrete structures that comprise the house. The house’s two discrete sections—living pavilion to the left, sleeping box to the right—are linked by a low-slung breezeway. The covered breezeway joining the two pavilions functions as a thermal chimney, coaxing hot air up and out while drawing in cool air from below. Photographs courtesy of Brett Boardman. Wall systems in Contemporary Residences Gallery Straw bale wall system Exterior finish: Permachink and clay plaster Designer and manufacturer: National Building Museum


The fire-resistance of straw-bale walls is perhaps the most common question asked about this unconventional building technology. However, straw-bale walls are resistant to fire because the straw is tightly compacted and contains little oxygen. Arkin Tilt Architects chose a straw-bale structural system for the Mill Valley Straw-Bale House in part for its virtues of energy efficiency; a typical straw-bale wall is about three times more efficient than conventional framing. Rammed earth wall system Exterior finish: Concrete and sealed rammed earth veneer Designer and manufacturer: National Building Museum To create rammed earth walls, builders compact a soil-cement mixture into a forming system. The forms are then removed, leaving solid earth walls. The technique can also be used to create both unadorned walls, as in Rick Joy’s Tucson Mountain House, and walls with decorative window and door frames. Glass and reflective film wall system Manufacturer: Glasfischer Glastechnik GmbH Gift of the manufacturer The R128 house’s triple-glazed 90-by-53 inch window panels have the energy-efficiency of 4 inches of rockwood insulation and, according to Wener Sobek Ingenieure, had never before been used in residential construction. LenoTec and Kerto wall system Exterior and interior finishes: Kerto plywood and Eco Spec® low-VOC latex paint in color #425 Lime Twist Manufacturer: Finnforest Corporation Gift of Finnforest USA; Paint is a gift of Benjamin Moore & Co. LenoTec and Kerto are good material choices for a prefabricated house, such as the P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Project, because they are lightweight materials and enable the structural shell of a building to be erected typically in just one day. Both are environmentally-friendly laminated veneer lumber made from spruce. For P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E., the factory-built panels were shipped to the warehouse roof top site and assembled before being raised into place. Buzzwords for Contemporary Residences Renewable Energy: Energy derived from sources that do not deplete natural resources. Examples include solar, wind, and geothermal energy from the earth’s core. Geothermal energy: Heat that comes from the earth's interior Radiant Heating: An efficient heating system that warms cold objects, which then radiate heat into the surrounding space evenly. Off-the-Grid: A term used to describe a system that runs on renewable energy sources independent of a conventional public utility grid. Resource Room Gallery 58 Green Materials With the mainstreaming of sustainable design has come a dramatic increase in new green materials and retail outlets. Such green materials create houses that are good for their occupants’ health and bank accounts, as well as the environment. Whether building a new house or apartment or renovating an existing one, green materials are essential. This gallery offers a selection of the range of green materials now on the market. These samples demonstrate the quality and diversity of what’s available and provide ways of assessing these and other products. By building, renovating, and equipping your home with green materials, you can preserve natural resources such as old-growth forests and fresh water systems. Selecting green materials typically


involves an assessment of a product’s environmental impact over its life cycle. This process tracks the raw materials used to make a product; its manufacturing process; its transportation; its performance when it is used; and its disposal, reuse, or recycling options. The materials featured in this gallery were selected because they incorporate one or more of the following characteristics: High levels of:

Renewability Reusability Durability

Low levels of:

Embodied energy, the energy required to extract, process, and transport materials Environmental impact, the negative effects on outdoor and indoor environments

[North materials display labels] Ceiling: Eco Spec® low-VOC flat latex paint

Color: #571 Lotus flower Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: 3-D recycled wallpaper Line: V2 Color: White Manufacturer: MIO Co, LLC Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: DuraPalm mature coconut flooring Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer

Ceiling: ECOresin™ panel Style: Beargrass Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Natural clay plaster Color: Santa Barbara verde Finish: troweled Manufacturer: American Clay Enterprises Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: ‘Green with Envy’ modular carpet Style: Duck in a Row Color: Pond Manufacturer: Shaw Industries, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Ceiling: Eco Spec® low-VOC flat latex paint Color: #1459 Metro Gray Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Recycled fabric wall-covering Color: Salmon river Manufacturer: Sinna Pearson Textiles Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: Bamboo plank flooring Color: Caramel Grain: Vertical Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer


Ceiling: Natural clay plaster Color: Lake Tahoe Finish: Mica Manufacturer: American Clay Enterprises Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Dakota Burl™ agricultural waste composite board Finish: Red stain Manufacturer: Environ Biocomposites™, LLC

Floor: Marmoleum® tile Color: Lava Manufacturer: Forbo Floors Gift of Amicus Green Building Center Ceiling: Recycled agricultural waste composite board

Stain: Rosewood Manufacturer: PrimeBoard, Inc.

Wall: Cork wall covering Pattern: Edipo Color: Azure Manufacturer: Duro-design cork & bamboo Flooring, Inc. Floor: FLOR carpet tile Line: House pet Color: Frog Manufacturer: Interface, Inc. Ceiling: Natural clay plaster Color: Moab Tuscan Gold Blend 2 Manufacturer: American Clay Enterprises Gift of the manufacturer Wall: Textile wall covering Line: Abaca Color: Bisque Manufacturer: Maharam Gift of the manufacturer Floor: EnviroPLANK terrazzo plank flooring Resin color: Pewter Aggregate: Enviroblue size #1 Manufacturer: EnviroGLAS Products, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer [South materials display labels] Ceiling: Cork tile

Pattern: Baltico Color: Emerald Green Manufacturer: Duro-design cork & bamboo Flooring, Inc.

Wall: Eco Spec® low-VOC flat latex paint Color: #310 Popcorn Kernel Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer

Cabinet: Recycled agricultural waste composite Manufacturer: Primeboard, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Counter: IceStone® recycled glass and cement countertop Color: Forest Fern Manufacturer: IceStone Durable Surfaces Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: Recycled aluminum tiles Finishes: Sandblasted, glossy, vibrated Manufacturer: Eco-Friendly Flooring, Inc.


Gift of the manufacturer Ceiling: Natural clay plaster

Color: Dakota red Finish: float Manufacturer: American Clay Enterprises Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: ECOverings ECO-Gres™ tile Color: Tiffany white Material: Porcelain Manufacturer: COVERINGS ETC Gift of Amicus Green Building Center

Cabinet: Dakota Burl™ agricultural waste composite board Stain: Dark grey Manufacturer: Environ Biocomposites™, LLC

Counter: ALKEMI resin and recycled aluminum countertop Color: Natural 10 Manufacturer: Renewed Materials, LLC Color: neutral

Floor: Cork flooring Pattern: Edipo Color: Greige Manufacturer: Duro-design cork & bamboo Flooring, Inc.

Ceiling: Plyboo® bamboo plywood Color: Natural Grain: Vertical Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Plexwood Line: Birch Manufacturer: Plexwood Gift of the manufacturer

Cabinet: Kirei sorghum composite board Manufacturer: Kirei USA Gift of the manufacturer

Counter: ECOresin™ panel Pattern: Thatch Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: Coir and sisal carpet tiles Line: Java Color: Cloud Manufacturer: Merida Meridian, Inc. Gift of sisalcarpet.com

Ceiling: Cork wall tile Pattern: Barriga Color: Marble white Manufacturer: Duro-design cork & bamboo Flooring, Inc.

Wall: Innvironments® Eco-Suede wall covering Color: Hickory Manufacturer: Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Cabinet: Dakota Burl™ agricultural waste composite board Stain: Natural Manufacturer: Environ Biocomposites™, LLC

Counter: Recycled paper composite Color: Grey Manufacturer: PaperStone™


Floor: FLOR carpet tiles Line: Entropy Color: Chameleon Manufacturer: Interface, Inc.

Ceiling: Eco Spec® low-VOC flat latex paint Color: #HC-105 Rockport Gray Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Innvironments® paper-weave six-by-six wall covering Color: Silverweed Manufacturer: Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Cabinet: ECOresin™ panel Line: Strata Color: Agate Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Counter: Richlite® recycled paper-based composite Color: Indigo Manufacturer: Richlite Company Gift of the manufacturer

Floor: ECOpave recycled rubber flooring Color: Slate Manufacturer: Dodge-Regupol, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Ceiling: ECOresin™ panel Color: Pure Silver, matte finish Manufacturer: 3form, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer

Wall: Recycled glass tile Color: Mosaic Ice Blend Manufacturer: Sandhill Industries

Cabinet: Plyboo® bamboo plywood Color: Natural Manufacturer: Smith & Fong Plyboo® Gift of the manufacturer

Counter: Recycled glass tile Color: Mosaic Ice Blend Manufacturer: Sandhill Industries

Floor: ECOverings ECO-Gres™ tile Color: Gardenia Material: Porcelain Manufacturer: COVERINGS ETC Gift of Amicus Green Building Center

Individual Material Samples Table ECOpave recycled rubber flooring Color: Slate Manufacturer: Dodge-Regupol, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Dodge-Regupol recycles automobile tires—Americans dispose of about 245,000,000 per year--to create this outdoor flooring. Originally designed for horse trails, ECOpaver flooring offers foot traffic durability and weather resistance for outdoor use. Innvironments® Eco-Suede wall covering Color: Hickory


Manufacturer: Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Innvironments is a collection of wallcoverings composed of natural, renewable and recyclable materials. Innvironments® paper-weave six-by-six wall covering Color: Silverweed Manufacturer: Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Innvironments is a collection of wallcoverings composed of natural, renewable and recyclable materials. Natural clay plaster Color: Moab Tuscan Gold Blend 2 Manufacturer: American Clay Enterprises Gift of the manufacturer American Clay plaster is a combination of clays, aggregates, and natural pigments that creates walls of different colors and finishes. The product uses only natural, non-toxic materials and helps to control moisture and resist mold. Green with Envy modular carpet tile in style Ducks in a Row Color: Pond Materials: Nylon fiber yarn, 100% PVC-free recyclable backing system with recycled content Manufacturer: Shaw Industries, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company Gift of the manufacturer These modular carpet tiles contain 40% recycled content and both the yarn and backing are 100% recyclable. The carpet can be returned to Shaw at the end of its life for recycling by calling the telephone number on the back of each tile. Recycled glass tile Color: Mosaic Ice Blend Manufacturer: Sandhill Industries Gift of the manufacturer These tiles are made from 100% recycled glass, which would otherwise end up in landfills. According to the manufacturer, each tile takes less than one-half the energy to produce than ceramic tile, and less than one-fourth the energy it takes to produce a cast-glass tile. Fabric swatches with natural fibers and recycled content Manufacturer: Maharam Gift of the manufacturer Maharam seeks to create fabrics that can be used in LEED-certified buildings. These examples have reduced environmental impact and are rated with specific attributes such as fiber content and VOC emissions. Kirei sorghum composite board Manufacturer: Kirei USA Gift of the manufacturer Kirei boards can be used for cabinets; furniture; and wall, floor, and ceiling coverings. The boards are manufactured from the rapidly renewable stalks of sorghum plants, which are grown for food throughout the world. The stalks are the plant’s byproduct after its edible parts have been harvested. Non-toxic adhesives join the stalks, forming the Kirei boards. ALKEMI resin and recycled aluminum countertop with honed finish Color: Natural 10 Manufacturer: Renewed Materials, LLC Gift of the manufacturer Alkemi is a composite surfacing material that is made of at least 60% post-industrial, aluminum waste. It can be cut into different shapes using traditional woodworking tools.


EnviroPLANK terrazzo plank flooring Color: Pewter with ‘Enviroblue’ size #1 aggregate Manufacturer: EnviroGLAS® Products, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer EnviroGlas can be used for floors, countertops, and decorative surfaces. Updating the ancient technique of terrazzo, EnviroGlas embeds recycled, multi-colored glass from discarded bottles, mirrors, and windows in lightweight epoxy resin. Recycled aluminum tiles Finishes: Sandblasted, glossy, vibrated Manufacturer: Eco-Friendly Flooring, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Especially suitable for kitchen and bathroom walls and floors, these tiles are made from 100% recycled aluminum. 3-D ‘V2’ recycled wallpaper Color: White Manufacturer: MIO Co, LLC Gift of the manufacturer These tiles are made of 100% post and pre-consumer waste paper. Homeowners can create an infinite variety of different patterns by rotating the asymmetrically designed tiles. Marmoleum® Color: Lava Manufactured by Forbo Floors Donated by Amicus Green Building Center, LLC Marmoleum is a linoleum product made from renewable materials such as linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments. ECOverings ECO-Gres™ tile Color: Gardenia Material: Porcelain Manufacturer: COVERINGS ETC Gift of the manufacturer and Amicus Green Building Center The Eco-Gres™ line of ECOverings porcelain tiles is lighter than aluminum and harder than granite. It contains between 30-50% post-industrial recycled content. Because it is also flexible, ECOverings tile is suitable for lining curved surfaces, as well as for flooring, walls, cladding, and roofing. Eco Spec® low-VOC flat latex paint Color: #425 Lime Twist Manufacturer: Benjamin Moore & Co. Gift of the manufacturer Paints, varnishes, and stains with low VOCs—or Volatile Organic Compounds—use water-based, not petroleum-based solvents, as carriers of their colorizing pigments. As a result, low-VOC products lower harmful emissions in the home. Concrete roof tiles Manufacturer: MonierLifetile Gift of the Tile Roof Institute Resource Room Wall Systems Light-gauge metal framing wall system with UltraTouch recycled denim insulation Exterior and interior finishes: Tongue-in-groove cedar siding and gypsum board with Maharam Hikari textile wall covering in Umber. Gift of Amicus Green Building Center, LLC; Lafarge North America; Maharam


The major environmental benefits of steel framing include a minimum of 25% recycled content and 100% recyclability. This wall’s insulation is made of post-industrial cotton and denim scraps repurposed from clothing manufacturers. Thick-walled Larsons Truss finger-jointed wood wall system Exterior and interior finishes: Hardi-board cement and gypsum board with low-VOC interior latex paint Gift of the Canfor Corporation; Lafarge North America; Benjamin Moore & Co. Finger-jointed studs are made by bonding shorter sections of lumber, which would otherwise be wasted, into longer lumber using structural, water-resistant adhesives. The use of shorter segments reduces warping and adds strength. Made for vertical use only, these studs can be used interchangeably with unjointed studs. Pilkington Profilit™ transparent thermal wall with Nanogel® Translucent Aerogel insulation Manufacturer: Technical Glass Products Gift of the manufacturer The Pilkington Profilit™ glazing system consists of self-supporting, cast-glass channels and an extruded metal frame. When used with Nanogel translucent insulation, the result is an energy-efficient wall that obscures vision while allowing light to pass through. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) units and coating system Exterior and interior finish: Stucco and acrylic Gift of the International Masonry Institute National Training Center Autoclaved aerated concrete, or AAC, is a lightweight masonry product with excellent insulation characteristics. It is manufactured from a mixture of materials including silica, portland cement, quick lime, water; and a chemical aerating agent such as aluminum powder or paste. The silica reacts with the aluminum to form a chemical reaction that creates the millions of tiny air cells which give AAC its distinctive insulating properties. Cast in large steel molds, the AAC material is cut into precast block units for masonry wall construction. Precast insulated concrete panel with imprinted exterior Manufacturer: Dukane Precast, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer with the Portland Cement Association Precast concrete has environmentally friendly attributes. Plant casting is more resource-efficient in the use of formwork and reduces waste generated at the construction site. Standardized precast elements also can be installed more quickly and efficiently, resulting in faster construction times and less on-site equipment noise and emissions. Smooth finishes, brick patterns, or custom designs can be cast into the precast elements for a variety of appearances. Insulated concrete formwork (ICF) wall system Exterior and interior finishes: Brick and gypsum board with Eco Spec® low-VOC latex paint Manufacturer: Portland Cement Association Gift of the Portland Cement Association; Paint is a gift of Benjamin Moore & Co. Insulating concrete forms, or ICF’s, are stay-in-place forms for casting concrete walls. The foam forms are placed in the shape of the structure and connected with plastic ties. As the forms are placed, reinforcing steel is installed to provide additional support. Concrete is pumped into the forms and allowed to harden. The resulting wall typically has two inches of foam insulation on each side, sandwiching approximately four to six inches of concrete. The interior and exterior of these walls can be clad with many traditional materials. According to the Portland Cement Association and National Association of Home Builders Research Center, concrete homes currently account for over 16 percent of single family construction. Garden Roof® green roof system Materials: Monolithic Membrane 6125-EV® roofing membrane; Hydroflex 30 protection course and Root Stop root barrier; Dow STYROFOAM® (CFC free) insulation; moisture retention mat; Gardendrain and Floradrain drainage layers; Systemfilter filter fabric; synthetic soil and plants. Manufacturer: National Building Museum with American Hydrotech, Inc. Gift of American Hydrotech, Inc. A "green roof" –one composed of layers of plant material, drainage, and waterproofing– offers many environmental and health benefits. Green roofs reduce storm water run off by dissipating rain water


naturally rather than through sewer systems. Green roofs decrease rooftop temperatures, which in turn lower the overall temperatures of urban environments. In the summer, green roofs can slow the transfer of heat into a building and reduce air-conditioning loads, lowering a building's overall energy requirements. In winter, green roofs help to insulate a building. Green roofs on large buildings, often in cities, can be designed as outdoor living spaces with gardens, ponds and waterfalls, picnic tables and benches. Green roofs on single-family homes, to which no access is needed, are less expensive and made of thinner layers of natural materials. Sunslates® Photovoltaic Roofing Slates Materials: Composite, cementatious roof slate, solar cells, low-iron glass laminate Manufacturer: Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc. Gift of the manufacturer Located on a building’s roof, the photovoltaic solar cells in these roofing slates convert sunlight directly into electricity for uses such as lights and air conditioning. Few power-generating technologies have as little impact on the environment as solar-electricity. As it quietly generates power from the sun’s energy, a photovoltaic system produces no air pollution or hazardous waste. It doesn't require liquid or gaseous fuels to be transported or combusted. And because its energy source–sunlight— is free and abundant, photovoltaic systems can guarantee uninterrupted access to electric power. Buzzwords in the Resource Room Renewability: Choose natural materials that are rapidly renewable such as fast-growing trees and agricultural products. Reusability: Seek out products that can be reused or recycled once they are no longer needed or operable. Durability: Select products that are long-lasting and require little maintenance. Embodied energy: Consider how much energy was required to extract, process, package, transport, install, and recycle or dispose of materials that make up your home. Up to 70% of the total energy invested in a building’s construction is embodied in the materials themselves. Environmental impact: Avoid materials that pollute the environmental quality inside your home and damage the outdoor environment and atmosphere. Environmental Ratings and Certifications: International programs that have established sustainablility and efficiency standards for buildings and products. Examples include LEED, Energy Star, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Cradle-to-cradle: A design philosophy based on the idea that products should be designed so that when they are no longer useful, they provide fuel for new products or natural cycles, eliminating waste. The term also refers to a certification system, established by architect William McDonough, which evaluates products by measuring positive impacts on the environment, human health, and social equity. Quick Tips in the Resource Room Buy locally produced products and materials whenever possible to reduce additional energy use and pollution associated with transportation. Eliminate waste by choosing products that are biodegradable or recyclable. Look for reclaimed wood products, salvaged from older structures and certified wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.


True Cost Tags in the Resource Room Q: Does recycling aluminum cans really pay off? A: The energy saved by recycling one can could operate a TV for 3 hours. Nationwide, recycling cans saves the energy equivalent to 16 million barrels of oil annually–enough to keep a million cars on the road for a year. Q: How can low-VOC (non-toxic) paint save time, money, and your health? A: While a gallon of conventional paint requires 8 hours to dry and covers 330 square feet, a gallon of low-VOC paint covers 400 square feet and only takes 2-3 hours to dry. Using low-VOC paints also reduces health risks associated with exposure to toxins. Q: How long will your floor last? A: Made from natural, renewable ingredients, Marmoleum® toughens over time, lasting 10-30 years longer than vinyl floors. This means less replacement flooring and less waste in landfills. Summations gallery This exhibition began with a full-scale Glidehouse™, one of today’s best examples of a green house. Now, we reconsider this house in light of the five principles of sustainability discussed throughout the show. The images on the screens located throughout this gallery remind us of the many ways in which our homes are connected to the natural world. Listen to the designer of the Glidehouse™, Michelle Kaufmann, who offers an on-screen tour of her own Glidehouse™ in Novato, California. [Video text] Live in an Energy Efficient Home I’m Michelle Kaufmann and I’m the architect of the Glidehouse. I designed the Glidehouse because I needed a place to live and I couldn’t fine anything that was affordable that met my needs. I wanted a home that was beautiful, comfortable, affordable, and energy efficient. So, I designed one. I love living in the Glidehouse for so many reasons. One of the great things is it can be customized to meet individual needs, while still maintaining a high level of environmental standards. Tremendous amounts of energy and resources are consumed by our homes and it’s starting to have major repercussions. So I tried to address this in my design. All of the houses utilize sustainably harvested wood. The house has energy efficient features like double-planed windows and insulation that helps keep the temperature inside constant without having to crank up the heat or the air conditioning. Our roof has solar panels that allow us to generate our own electricity. We have zero electric bills. We make use of the sun in other ways too. These wood screen glide across the windows creating shade without blocking natural light. I hardly ever turn on lights during the day. When it’s too bright, these shades can be lowered. We oriented the whole house to take advantage of the sun’s warmth and so the dogs can bask in the sun all year long. The house is laid out so that fresh air can flow right through it. When I open this glass door and the breezes come in it really blurs the boundary between inside and outside. Every meal is like a picnic. I feel good knowing that the cabinetry, the flooring, and the furniture are made from recycled or renewable materials and that all the paint and the upholstery are toxin-free. The plumbing, lighting and heating systems are all energy efficient and contrary to popular belief, even with a low-flow water system I can still enjoy a hot, high-pressure shower.


These high-efficiency systems and appliances save us thousands of dollars in utility bills each year and allows us to feel like we’re doing our best to conserve natural resources. Because the Glidehouse is built in a factory, its cost and resource efficient right from the start, plus quality controlled. The Glidehouse is simply an effort to collaborate with nature. It’s just a tool to help us live more lightly on the land and to live healthier, more comfortable lives. Produced and directed by: Lisa Grossman and Paisley Gregg Editor: Damon Claussen Cinematographer: Dan McCuaig Composer: David Frank Long STATISTICS AND ‘SMART MOVES’ WORKING WITH THE SUN The world’s oil reserves are expected to last about 40 more years. Natural gas reserves may last 67 years. The sun’s energy supply will last billions of years. Join thousands of others in turning to solar energy as a renewable, clean and cost saving alternative to fossil fuels. WISE USE OF LAND Every year sprawling development engulfs one million acres of open space. Vote to conserve wilderness areas and support one of the 240 anti-sprawl initiatives across America. INDOOR AIR QUALITY Indoor air pollution consistently ranks among the top five environmental risks to public health. Improve air quality in your home by increasing ventilation, choosing non-toxic materials, and using air filters to remove up to 95% of airborne pollutants. ENERGY EFFICIENCY According to recent estimates, the United States consumes more energy than any other nation, accounting for 22.8% of the world’s total energy use. Nearly one quarter of that share of that is used to power our homes. By sealing air leaks and using energy-efficient technologies in your home, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption and cut your bills by up to 30%. Wise Use of Resources Less than 20 % of the world’s old growth forests remain today. By choosing wood products certified by the international Forest Stewardship Council, you can help ensure that our ancient forests don’t disappear. Conclusion Your home offers a place to begin the slow hard work of turning today’s dangerous environmental situation around. The Green House demonstrates that homes can be both green and stylish. Thanks to some of the latest innovations, high-quality architecture and interior and product design are compatible with the goals of treading lightly on the earth and healthier living. Now it’s up to us to put these innovations into action—to use our homes as tools for improving the quality of our lives and maintaining the balance of life on Earth, now and in the years to come.


The National Building Museum gratefully acknowledges support from the following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor The Home Depot Foundation Lead Sponsors ASID Foundation of the American Society of Interior Designers Bosch home appliances Portland Cement Association Major Sponsors Benjamin Moore® Paints EPA/Energy Star The Nathan Cummings Foundation U.S. Department of Energy Patrons Band, Inc. James G. Davis Construction Corporation Global Green USA Supporters The American Institute of Architects National Association of Home Builders Smith & Fong Plyboo®

Contributors 3form, Inc. Andersen Corporation Brighton Cabinetry, Inc. Goldman, Sachs & Co. Hardwood Manufacturers Association Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates MBCI Metal Roof and Wall Systems National Association of Realtors National Association of Realtors® Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects The Tower Companies Additional in-kind support provided by: American Clay Enterprises Amicus Green Building Center, LLC Atlantis Energy Systems, Inc. Balcon, an Oldcastle Company Bartley Corp. Bosch water heating Danko Design Initiative Dodge-Regupol, Inc. Dukane Precast, Inc. Eco-Friendly Flooring, Inc. EnviroGLAS® Products, Inc. Finnforest USA Furnature® Glasfischer Glastechnik GmbH Hunt Valley Contractors, Inc. IceStone™ Durable Surfaces Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc.


Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute International Masonry Institute jGoodDesign, LLC Kirei USA Knoll, Inc. Lafarge North America Maharam Material Furniture MIO Co, LLC National Concrete Masonry Association PINCH Design Plexwood® Renewed Materials, LLC Richlite Company Sandhill Industries SCRAPILE Select Mechanical and Design Shaw Industries, Inc. Sina Pearson Textiles Syndesis Inc. Technical Glass Products Terra Green Ceramics, Inc. Thompson Industries Trex Company, Inc. Ultra-Sun Technologies, Inc. Yemm and Hart, Ltd. Media Partner Dwell Acknowledgements Lead Curator: Donald Albrecht Consulting Curators: Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne Coordinating Curator: Reed Haslach Exhibition Designers: Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis (LTL) Architects Graphic Designers: Pure+Applied Educational Multimedia Producers: Tangent Pictures Glidehouse™ Architect: Michelle Kaufmann Designs Glidehouse™ Product Advisors: Ileen Gallagher and Shelley Sonnenberg, Product Design Foundation Head Exhibition Coordinator: Hank Griffith Senior Registrar: Dana Twersky Master Carpenter: Christopher Maclay Installation Team: Shelagh Cole Cecelia Gibson MaryJane Valade

Fabrication Team: Randy Lupen Wes Lupen Donald Maclay James Matthews SurroundArt Wilcox Electric

Special thanks to National Building Museum curatorial staff members: Chrysanthe Broikos Matt Kuhnert Deborah Sorensen


the green house: new directions in sustainable architecture and...

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