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Companion Companion PowerPoint PowerPoint Presentation for the Presentation for the Introduction to Introduction to HousingHousing textbook textbook

Small HomesSmall Homes

What is a small home?What is a small home?

1,200 to 1,700 square feet1,200 to 1,700 square feet Advantages for young families buying their Advantages for young families buying their

first home, busy career persons, or mature first home, busy career persons, or mature adults wanting to downsizeadults wanting to downsize

Require less cleaning, painting & routine Require less cleaning, painting & routine maintenancemaintenance

More easily negotiated & higher energy More easily negotiated & higher energy efficiencyefficiency

Require fewer resources to buildRequire fewer resources to build

Mies van der Rohe—”less is more”Mies van der Rohe—”less is more” Question—How do you either create or Question—How do you either create or

recreate qualitative space which is limited recreate qualitative space which is limited in square footage (reality) but looks larger in square footage (reality) but looks larger than it actually is (illusion)?than it actually is (illusion)?

Do it through craftsmanship (best that can Do it through craftsmanship (best that can be afforded), materials (high quality) & be afforded), materials (high quality) & designdesign

Hans Hollein (Pritzker Prize winner)—Hans Hollein (Pritzker Prize winner)—combines the costly with everyday combines the costly with everyday materialsmaterials

Key is to create illusionary space—space Key is to create illusionary space—space which appears to be more extensive & which appears to be more extensive & desirable that what actually existsdesirable that what actually exists

Some possibilities:Some possibilities:

glass & skylightsglass & skylights

mirrorsmirrors

curvescurves

wall-to-wall floor coveringswall-to-wall floor coverings

multi-purpose, small scale furnishingsmulti-purpose, small scale furnishings

Interior-exterior connectionInterior-exterior connection

roof overhangsroof overhangs

porch & deckporch & deck

courtyardcourtyard

Smooth transition from & exterior to interiorSmooth transition from & exterior to interior

glass doorsglass doors

lots of windowslots of windows

interior plants interior plants

Sustainable DesignSustainable Design

Sustainable design is defined as Sustainable design is defined as design that meets the needs of the design that meets the needs of the present without compromising the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet ability of future generations to meet their own needstheir own needs

The U.S. Green Building Council’s The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design Environmental Design

(LEED) Program (LEED) Program

LEED-Home CriteriaLEED-Home Criteria

Location & linkagesLocation & linkages Sustainable sitesSustainable sites Water efficiencyWater efficiency Indoor environmental qualityIndoor environmental quality Materials & resourcesMaterials & resources Energy & atmosphereEnergy & atmosphere Homeowner awarenessHomeowner awareness Innovation & design processInnovation & design process

Frank Lloyd Wright—houses should grow Frank Lloyd Wright—houses should grow from and work in harmony with their from and work in harmony with their surroundingssurroundings

Emerging goal is to create environmentally Emerging goal is to create environmentally conscious homes that remain functional & conscious homes that remain functional & aesthetically pleasingaesthetically pleasing

Holistic approach that includes:Holistic approach that includes:

solar orientationsolar orientation

daylightingdaylighting

healthy ventilation systems (IAQ)healthy ventilation systems (IAQ)

environmentally friendly components environmentally friendly components such as recycled materials such as recycled materials

energy efficiency energy efficiency

Rug made from Rug made from

recycled plasticrecycled plastic

Bamboo floorBamboo floor

StrategiesStrategies Interior design—taking advantage of Interior design—taking advantage of

natural sunlight for lighting; minimizing natural sunlight for lighting; minimizing interior spaceinterior space

Architecture envelope—adopting climate Architecture envelope—adopting climate responsive designresponsive design

Culture—designing to reflect local cultureCulture—designing to reflect local culture Siting—acknowledging interrelationships Siting—acknowledging interrelationships

between humans & their environmentbetween humans & their environment Alternative building materials—selecting Alternative building materials—selecting

local and/or resource efficient materialslocal and/or resource efficient materials Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency

Why focus on housing?Why focus on housing?

Accounts for a major portion of total energy use Accounts for a major portion of total energy use (20%)(20%)

Heating (38%) is largest consumer in homeHeating (38%) is largest consumer in home Easiest sector to targetEasiest sector to target A great deal (perhaps 50%) of energy is wastedA great deal (perhaps 50%) of energy is wasted Most homes are not adequately built for energy Most homes are not adequately built for energy

efficiency & older homes are typically not efficiency & older homes are typically not efficientefficient

High energy prices can create financial burdens High energy prices can create financial burdens for homeowners and rentersfor homeowners and renters

Energy programs:Energy programs:Built Green (Colorado)Built Green (Colorado)Energy Star (U.S. Environmental Energy Star (U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency)Protection Agency) Many minor modifications can enhance Many minor modifications can enhance

energy efficiency (including appropriate R-energy efficiency (including appropriate R-level & site plan)level & site plan)

Compact Compact fluorescent fluorescent

lightslights Efficient ceiling Efficient ceiling fanfan

Earth-sheltered housingEarth-sheltered housing

Uses the earth as a barrier & as a Uses the earth as a barrier & as a moderator of temperaturemoderator of temperature

Not a new ideaNot a new idea

sod homessod homes

earth bermingearth berming

homes built into hillshomes built into hills

Geodesic domeGeodesic dome

Uses 30% less surface area to enclose the Uses 30% less surface area to enclose the same amount of volume as a box type same amount of volume as a box type structure—less area for heat to escape or structure—less area for heat to escape or outside air to penetrate outside air to penetrate

Spherical shape provides for natural and Spherical shape provides for natural and efficient interior air circulationefficient interior air circulation

Solar housingSolar housing

Active—uses collectors, pumps, & tanks to Active—uses collectors, pumps, & tanks to collect & distribute the sun’s heatcollect & distribute the sun’s heat

Passive—where the shell of the house & Passive—where the shell of the house & living space collect & distribute the sun’s living space collect & distribute the sun’s heatheat

Photovoltaic cells—convert sunlight Photovoltaic cells—convert sunlight directly into electricitydirectly into electricity

Components of a passive solar house:Components of a passive solar house: Direct gain—sunshine enters south-facing Direct gain—sunshine enters south-facing

windows; absorbed within living space; windows; absorbed within living space; stored in mass within homestored in mass within home

Indirect gain—energy from sun collected Indirect gain—energy from sun collected at one place, such as a solar greenhouseat one place, such as a solar greenhouse

Wind-powered housingWind-powered housing Wind power is the world’s fastest growing Wind power is the world’s fastest growing

energy sourceenergy source US wind turbines produce over 3 billion US wind turbines produce over 3 billion

kilowatt hours of electricitykilowatt hours of electricity Wind turbine generators harness the Wind turbine generators harness the

energy of moving air to generate electrical energy of moving air to generate electrical powerpower