Guidelines for Sustainable Living

Between 30-50 degrees latitude, 11-92

Guiding Principles

            - Sequester toxins.

            - Maintain or improve the quality of essential resources (air, water and soil).

            - Use resources equitably and efficiently.

Site Selection and Planning

- Pick a location close to employment, schools, housing, arable land and desired services.

- Pick a site with good solar access and water supply out of the flood plain.

- Minimize building coverage and soil compaction. Consider sod roofs and green pavers.

Building Design

            - Build small and efficiently. (Every square foot of building has an environmental cost.)

- Minimize exterior surface area to maximize the efficient use of energy and building materials.

- Maximize south facing solar collection area. South facing glass should be 7% to 10% of                the floor area. It should be fully shaded from the summer sun and fully exposed to the winter sun.

- Provide 10 to 40 square feet of south facing solar thermal collector area per person for domestic hot water and 10% of the floor area for south facing collectors for radiant space heating.

- Provide room for 1 kW of PV per person or 1 kW / 1000 ft.² of floor area, whichever is greater.

            - Minimize north facing glazing to reduce heat loss.

            - Minimize west facing glazing to prevent afternoon overheating.

            - Allow 4% to 6% of the floor area to be east facing glazing for morning warm up.

- Insulation should be as seamless as possible and have equal or higher value than the code suggests, and should extend below grade in cold climates.

- Include structural mass inside the insulating envelope in creating links to the Earths constant temperature to moderate internal temperatures.

            - Use the prevailing wind and operable windows to provide ventilation.

            - Incorporate day lighting to reduce the need for electric lighting.

- Use energy efficient lights and appliances.

Building Materials and Construction

- Use materials with low embodied energy. (Use local materials to reduce energy spent in       transportation and use materials that require minimal energy in their manufacture.)

            - Use non-toxic materials.

            - Use recycled or sustainably harvested materials.

            - Use durable materials.

Water and Waste

            - Conserve water. (Install low flush or compost toilets and low-flow showerheads.)

            - Catch roof runoff to augment water supply and reduce erosion.

            - Create wetlands for waste water treatment and use gray water on non-edible plants.

            - Recycle and compost.

Permaculture

            - Plant an edible landscape that can thrive with minimal care and watering.

            - Encourage non-invasive diversity of flora and fauna.

- Plant deciduous vegetation to shade west facing windows