Another category on this list could be
Site:
- good stormwater management solutions decreases runoff pollution to rivers, lakes, and streams
-
use permeable or semi-permeable surfaces instead of impervious
materials for driveways, sidewalks, and patios to reduce stormwater
runoff and naturally let water filter back into the earth
- rain gardens are a good strategy for low areas to deal with stormwater
-
xeriscaping your yard with drought
tolerant native species eliminates the need for watering and
contributes positively to the local ecosystem
- use light colored materials for paving to reduce heat island effect
-
use exterior night lights that point down to reduce light pollution and
ecosystem disruption (and so we can see the stars once again)
HVAC
-
earthtubing is a passive ventilation system that pull air through
underground pipes where it is conditioned by the temperature of the
earth and then pulled through the house using stack affect.
- cooling towers and solar chimneys in arid climates
Foundation
-
a slab on grade is more efficient in many climates where the ground is
a constant comfortable temperature. for instance, in Austin TX, the
ground is always 70 degrees, the slab is warmed underneath during the
winter, and cooled from underneath during the summer, transferring the
desirable temperature directly into the living space. On the contrary,
a crawlspace is simply another 'side' that allows outside air to affect
the inside temperature.
Windows
- north facing windows
allow constant indirect daylighting without direct solar heat gain.
this can eliminate lighting energy use during the day without
drastically increasing the cooling load.
- adding storm windows to
existing single pane windows in the winter time will effectively double
the r-value of the window assembly and reduce air infiltration
Plumbing
- graywater recycling reused for flushing and watering can dramatically reduce water consumption
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