[MoonMama78]

I am on a mission to build / buy the greenest home that we can afford and would love your opinions. Have you come across a a small house that you thought might fit the bill as the greenest home? I need something that will accommodate a family of five, one mama and four little ones. We are minimalists so belongings are an extreme minimum. We live in an area that experiences all four seasons. I'd love to see some pictures or links. I'm a big fan of Jay Shafer and the Tumbleweed company.

Cheers,

Moonmama

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[Jojo F.]

Hmm, it *really* depends on the site/climate but, the things I can think of are a cob built house first and foremost, LEED Certification, Solar, rooftop systern, rain barrels, composting toilet, gardens-growing your own veggies/herbs, family cloth/cloth diapers, no VOC paint, bamboo floors, metal framed, window treatments, recycled materials, green roof, regional plants in garden/yard(ie. NOT having the greenest yard or any at all- water conservation), clothes line, car port, permiable pavers, locally made/sourced furniture, green cleaners- sahmpoo(no poo with baking soda/vinegar) dishwashing, etc.
OK, that's all I can think of right now but, I'm sure there is more., "they" are always coming out with more.

 

[SleeplessMommy]

I would suggest Energy Star over LEED - Energy Star focuses specifically on lowering the future energy use of the home. LEED is more complicated than that and could make things expensive. (May require finding a "local" source of insulation, shingles, flooring, etc)

If you are really ambitious, look at Passive **** or other strategies to make a "near net zero" home - very close to no utility bills ever!

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Link: http://www.100khouse.com/2008/04/10/...icient-design/