GREEN BLOG

Smaller = Greener + Happier

POSTED AUGUST 09, 2010

 

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted; attributed to Albert Einstein.

Many American homeowners once believed that more square footage equaled a better, more prestigious lifestyle. The reality is that more square footage without a nicely designed home can be more of a burden rather than a pleasure. The home, after all, is a sanctuary of rest from a busy day. Furthermore, since the housing market inflated to a ridiculous high, then dropped lower than it was before the high, the newest generations of homeowners must now put their shelter priorities to the test because they can no longer safely afford to pay for more of a house than what is truly necessary.

I recently interviewed Sarah Susanka, FAIA, Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council, and the author of the nine Not So Big book series, regarding how to make the most of your home's space and why this is one of the greenest building concepts in the market today. Sarah grew up in England and later studied architecture in the U.S. As a practicing architect, she uses her experiences from growing up in England where many homes are designed with elegantly-sized spaces. After practicing commercial architectural design for several years, Susanka realized her true passion was to design homes that exemplify her beliefs about careful design and to educate her clients in the process.

Consequently, the idea to use less material resources and to eliminate wasted space is quite possibly one of the greenest decisions a homeowner can make. Susanka's architectural designs and her books are helping the American public understand that through careful thought and deliberation; homes can rise above the status quo while being approximately 25% smaller because of careful design, no more expensive, with higher-quality finish materials and appliances, and that also have a smaller environmental impact.

• Smaller is a subjective term. A home should be only as large as is meaningful to suit the individual's and family's needs; no more, no less.
• Greener is undoubtedly better. Think about reducing the size of the floor plan first rather than how you can make a larger home more green with fancy eco-systems such as geothermal and photovoltaics.
• Happier is how we find families who live in homes appropriate for their lifestyle.

Ana Escalante, AIA, Principal Architect and Founder of Escalante Architects of Palm Springs, California, designs homes specifically suited to her client's lifestyles and needs. One such home is in Rancho Mirage, California, built for the film director Robert Greenbaum. The home is not much larger than 1,000 square feet, yet it has more than enough elegance to make up for the difference. For example, there is a lap pool in the middle of the house that serves as a respite for Greenbaum as he loves to swim for exercise every morning. The living room of the home has windows that act like portholes through which visitors can watch him and/or others swim. Even though this home is more elaborate yet than many Americans can afford; it serves as an example that unique elegance should be the goal of architectural design, not the status quo.

Escalante says of McMansions:
"They are as deleterious to the American Dream as British Petroleum has been to the Golf of Mexico ecosystem and I have been pretty vocal about it. In fact, every time one of those abominations comes to Architectural Advisory Committee in Palm Springs, where I now serve, I try to convey to the future Owners the impact these homes will have in terms of "life-cycle-costs". In short, owning one of those prototypes may not only harm the environment, but also ruins them financially because they are costly to maintain. Instead of putting families ahead of the food chain, they actually represent a setback in quality of life, meaning they foster segregation among family members instead of nurturing interaction; i.e. the McMansions are found to be a sure recipe for isolation."

Tips from Susanka's Books

In the lists below, Sarah Susanka conveys how homeowners can build and remodel homes so that they have the right-sized spaces. This list comes from the Not So Big Remodeling Book (Taunton Press, 2009). This meant to whet your appetite. Please check out Susanka's Not So Big website and all nine of the Not So Big books in order to understand the bigger picture.

1. One is Better Than None – When undergoing a remodeling project, include as many green upgrades as the budget allows. One
   small step at a time can collectively upgrade the existing housing stock.
2. Waste Not, Want Not – Reuse as many of the original components from the existing house as
   is reasonable. Responsibly recycle items that cannot be reused. There are often
   interesting ways to re-purpose materials, such as reusing wall studs to extend
   the eaves, or grinding up old stucco for the driveway base.
3. Mind Your Materials – Choose paints and varnishes that are free of harmful VOCs (Volatile
   Organic Compounds) and formaldehyde. Look for engineered wood products and
   FSC-certified woods (Forestry Stewardship Council), as well as carpet made from
   natural fibers such as wool.
4. Give Your House a Check Up – Obtain an energy audit from a home energy expert to identify problem
   areas and streamline the process of improving a home’s energy efficiency within
   the specified budget. This strategy alone can save homeowners hundreds of
   dollars a year.
5. Have the existing heating and cooling system checked out by an HVAC (heating,
   ventilation and air conditioning) contractor. Seal major air leaks identified
   by the energy audit, replace defective or substandard ductwork and seal all
   ductwork in unconditioned spaces.
6. Improve Efficiency – Increase efficiency and lower energy bills by choosing or replacing
   existing units with efficient HVAC equipment. Select appliances that are
   EnergyStar rated and install low-flow, dual flush toilets that flush once for
   liquids and twice for solid waste.
7. Increase Insulation – Consider increasing the level of insulation in the house if it is
   below standard. Attics and crawl spaces are common culprits. There are many
   insulation options to choose from today, such as sprayed-in, closed-cell,
   no-VOC foam insulation, that can achieve a high R-value even in a fairly small
   stud or rafter cavity.
8. Use the Roof – Consider hiring a design
   professional, such as an architect, that understands passive solar and active
   solar design strategies to help identify ways to use overhangs appropriate for
   your region. Passive solar strategies includes roof overhangs while active
   systems include solar hot water heaters and photovoltaic arrays.

--Writing about architectural concepts, Stephanie Aurora Lewis, NCARB Registered Architect, LEED AP draws upon her studies in architectural history and theory from Sarah Lawrence College and her master’s degree in architecture from The Ohio State University. Providing copy for publications and marketing work for the construction industry, Lewis works as an independent freelancer from Columbus, Ohio. Her greatest architectural experience was the realization that the finest architecture cannot be fully understood through photography; it needs eloquent representation. http://greengaloredesigner.blogspot.com/

 

POST A COMMENT