Small Ideas in Green Building

Small Homes ARE Green Building

No matter how energy efficient its plan or how many green materials are used in its  construction, a large home can never be a green building. The oversized house uses too many resources to be considered "green building."

Architect and author Sarah Susanka is credited with creating the idea of the "not so big house." When planning her own house, she wanted a home to "combine the beauty of the big house with the efficiency of a small one." 

She writes, "Our perspective is broadening. We are looking into the future and are starting to grapple with how we can help maintain our planet in the state of balance that we recognize as home."

Perhaps we can look into our future for the beauty of a small, beautiful, livable, elegant, and green home. We require some small, resource-stingy ideas to start us shrinking and greening.

Small Ideas

Although a high ceiling, larger mirror, and natural light make a modest bathroom feel larger, actually cutting square feet from a home is more difficult than it sounds. Here are a few "small ideas" to make a small green home more functional and attractive.

Add Inches to Height: Instead of eight foot ceilings,  have nine foot ceilings. This keeps small rooms from seeming cramped. 

Eliminate Attics: The usable space under the attic can be used for visual appeal, conditioned storage, and loft space.

Eliminate Halls: Halls take up space that can be used for storage or larger rooms. Traffic patterns can cross rooms. 

Separate Space: Rather than building walls, separate spaces with changes in materials or ceiling height., Furniture, such as a bookcase perpendicular to a wall, also separates space without a wall.

Eliminate Formals: Do you use a parlor or a formal dining room more than a few times a year? Plan a larger kitchen or use two separate sitting areas within one living area. A living-dining area with a small, windowed breakfast nook in (or off) the kitchen adds visual space and usability to both rooms. When not eating, use the breakfast nook for homework or use the dining table for games and extra seating for guests.

Use Space Under Roof Peak: Look for a small second story under the peak of the roof. It costs less than first-story space because it uses far fewer resources to build. 

Think green. Think small with small ideas. Think beautiful. Think green building.

Do you need a green builder/remodeler
 in North Central Texas 
or the Dallas-Fort Worth area? 
Contact Terry Jensen 
972 251-1532 or 817 545-0140