The Green Cottage - A Fully Sustainable Home

The conventional way of building is proving a poor way of building. So this firm of architects sought out more efficient sustainable building products. The video below tells their story of how 90 percent of energy is provided by the building using solar energy and the management of energy within the home.

Sustainable refers to building a building that will last as long as it possibly can by being self sustaining.

Video: The Green Cottage

Design, development and construction of green buildings and homes includes utilizing renewable products, energy efficient systems and sustainable design.

"The Green Cottage" is an example sustainable building design and the quality of construction that is possible in a real building.

• Building Shell - is constructed of Expanded Polystyrene panels providing super insulated thermal barrier from outside weather conditions.
• Roofing - is synthetic slate composed of recycled rubber and plastic. This is designed to last around 50 years, compared to 20-30 years for other conventional roofing
• Siding - Certified Atlantic White Cedar perfection shingles.
• Decking - Certified IPE wood planking.
• Exterior trim - primed finger joint wood moulding.
• Interior trim - primed MDF materials. * The pergola is reclaimed timbers *
• Windows - vinyl high performance glazing units, utilizing recycled vinyl for non-structural components of the window. Hurricane resistance to 120 mph. Windows - by MQ Windows in Canada are high wind tolerant
• Heat-recovery-ventilation system - provides low energy fresh air
• Electrical - electrically powered by net metering photo-voltaic generating system.

Sustainable design is about respect for the past whilst solving contemporary needs in a responsible, sensible design.

Good green architecture also reduces waste, of energy, water and materials. Well-designed buildings help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants by providing onsite solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going to landfills.

Next: Carbon Neutral Homes

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