91. Live in a green house
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June 16, 2007, 4:15 pm
Filed under: Studio Practices
Filed under: Studio Practices
No, not the kind where they grow plants–the kind that uses materials and energy wisely. While the Build Green movement is getting press left and right, you can cut to the chase and buy a pre-manufactured home that incorporates almost every conceivable energy- and material-saving idea. The Glidehouse is designed and built in northern California by Michelle Kaufmann Designs in Oakland–and they say the pricing is comparable or less than conventional energy hog homes. The added bonus: They’re beautiful.
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One question…Does the Glidehouse use incandescent lamps for lighting?
Comment by Lucien Beauley October 15, 2007 @ 12:56 pmHope you have a big wad of “green” to pay for it. One of their average-size designs is 1830 sq ft, and they will charge you $250/sq ft to build it.
Comment by TomsRants October 15, 2007 @ 5:10 pmIn answer to Lucien’s question, the one Glidehouse I’ve seen used a fiber optic system to “pipe” illumination as needed throughout the house. The building is also designed and sited to take advantage of natural light in a way most houses don’t.
Comment by svcseattle October 15, 2007 @ 6:44 pmI have been studying natural bldg., designing bldgs. for various sites, and have built a long beautiful earthen/stone wall as a starter. Next yr. I have a one yr. sabbatical and am going to build a very small bldg. with a tiny tower on a mountainside with a view from the Rockies to Kansas. Materials will mostely be local stone, timber I thinned for fire mitigation, cob (sand, clay and straw), styrecob (recycled polystyrene, clay, and straw). Design is for solar gain, efficient use of space and water, will have a rocket stove and be a thing of beauty integrated into the site with great respect.
Comment by Maya Avina April 10, 2008 @ 1:18 amIf anyone know of grants that might help support this project, please let me know. I will need a couple pieces of equipment and hired help to hoist beams.
I am a woman, 55 yrs. and will be doing most of the bldg. myself.
Thanks. Will post website of progress I hope.
Better yet, buy an existing home or condo to save on the resources to build a new one. New construction, no matter how green it is, still requires an investment of resources…especially one that is built on a newly developed lot or results in the demolition of an existing building.
Comment by Greg Griffith September 24, 2008 @ 2:51 pm