trend. However, with fewer people moving or building due to financial concerns, many have chosen to stay put in their favorite area and build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These small independent units, which can be used for offices, studios or in-law space, are the ideal size for energy savings and sustainable construction. As detached or attached rental units, they help cities increase urban density while allowing homeowners to add property value.


6.


building science in the U.S. and abroad have resulted in homes that are so tightly sealed and insulated that furnace-less, ductless homes are now a reality. The increasingly popular “Passive House” standard, for example, calls for insulation in walls and ceiling that is so thick that the home is actually heated by everyday activity of the occupants, from cooking to computer use. Even in ENERGY STAR-certified homes builders are now encouraged to bring all ductwork inside the insulated envelope of the house to eliminate excess heat or cooling loss, and to use only small but efficient furnaces and air conditioners to avoid wasting power. Geothermal heating and cooling, where piping loops are run through the ground to absorb warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer, are another option gaining broader acceptance.


7.


in many areas including the Southwest and Southern California, recycling of grey water—any household wastewater with the exception of toilet water—is gaining traction. Benefits include reduced water use, reduced strain on septic and stormwater systems and groundwater replenishment. Although many cities have been slow to legislate on grey water use, some communities have increased the amount of allowable grey water use for irrigation. Systems can be as simple as a pipe system draining directly into a mulch field or they can incorporate collection tanks and pumps.


8.


Residential grey water use. With water shortages looming


Rethinking residential heating and cooling. Advances in applied


Accessory dwelling units. Last year home “right-sizing” was the


building starts in the U.S. are under 50,000 square feet, but the bulk of current certified commercial buildings tend to be much larger—in part because of numerous “soft” costs including commissioning, energy modeling, project registration and administrative time, all of which can be prohibitively expensive for small building owners and developers. To encourage more small commercial projects to go green, alternative certification programs have sprung up, which have found significant appeal through fully subscribed pilot programs.


9.


to study the effects of building materials over the course of their entire lives, from raw material extraction through disposal and decomposition. Lifecycle analysis examines the impact of materials over their lifetime through the lens of environmental indicators including


10.


Lifecycle Analysis (LCA). The industry has just begun


Small commercial certification. Ninety-five percent of commercial


embodied energy, solid waste, air and water pollution and global warming potential. LCA for building materials will allow architects to determine what products are more sustainable and what combination of products can produce the most environmentally friendly results.


About Earth Advantage Institute: Earth Advantage Institute works with the building and design industry to help implement sustainable building practices. Its nonprofit mission is to create an immediate, practical and cost- effective path to sustainability and carbon reduction in the built environment. The organization achieves its objectives through a range of innovative certification, education and technical services programs. For more information contact Tom Breunig, Earth Advantage Institute at tbreunig@earthadvantage.org or visit www.earthadvantage.org.


*In the case of land trusts, homeowners do not own the land the home is built on.


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