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Building Net Zero Energy Homes 

A new pilot project of 35 Net Zero Energy Ready homes built in 2020 located near Montreal, Quebec, with the option to add solar PV for Net Zero certification, leads the way in affordable green lifestyles in a cold climate zone. 

How to build Net Zero Energy ready homes? Follow our example!

  A high efficiency building envelope is the best place to start.  From 2 bedroom homes at 1500 sq.ft. to 4 bedroom homes at 2400 sq.ft., this pilot project involves combining Net Zero Energy homes with electric vehicles for a zero-energy balance over one year for these outstanding high-performance houses. That's not an easy feat for family homes in this very cold climate, which shows that it is possible to build this type of homes affordably virtually anywhere in North America.

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Discover prefab homes for sale, what exactly are net zero energy homes.

This pilot project, which is located 20 kilometers (or about 12 miles) north of Montreal in the suburb of Mascouche, is also close to the train station and major highways (highways 640 and 25) for easy and sustainable commuting by electric vehicle. There is a Net Zero Energy show home open to visitors that will only consume $2.50 CAD of energy per day for heating, lighting and charging an EV for transportation. Choosing this type of outstanding family home could save its owners around $1,500 a year!

This community stands out for its mass of green spaces, landscaped paths and natural areas. A primary school will be built at the center of the neighborhood, which is slated to open at the start of the school year in 2021. There is also a secondary school nearby. For those of us with tiny humans, we know having a school close by is a big consideration and even better for the environment if it's within walking distance. 

There is a preconception among new home buyers that a Net Zero Energy home is going to cost considerably more than a code-built home, but these models have been carefully specified and built to be financially more accessible than might be thought possible. Helped in part by various grants and financial aids, regardless of which areas new home seekers are looking in, it is definitely worth checking for incentives and new home developments that are built to Net Zero Energy standards as they are certain to attract a premium price in the years ahead. 

So what exactly is a Net Zero home? It’s pretty simple; these are houses that produce as much energy as they consume. It’s expected that in Canada, all new construction will need to be Net Zero by the year 2030.

The goal of a Net Zero home is to design and build in a way that there will be zero energy consumed when factored over an entire calendar year. Energy will still be consumed of course for electrical needs and heating, but it would be compensated for by homeowner generation systems such as photovoltaic solar panels.

Solar electricity production can be injected into the Hydro Quebec network through net-metering, or into personal home battery power storage. Even if it’s the first option that’s the most popular, homeowners are looking more and more for autonomy, and therefore, it goes without saying… more savings.  

Net Zero Energy homes - this project

What does a Net Zero Energy home look like?

An energy efficient home: Thanks to careful design, which is optimized for passive solar gain, Zero Energy homes consume much less energy because they have a high standard of insulation, weather-proofing and airtightness. They are also designed with high efficiency windows and efficient mechanical systems and heating.

Photovoltaic solar panels for electricity

To enable the house to produce energy on-site , solar panels are installed on the roof. This enables a home to benefit from 'free' electricity. The thing with solar panels, is that the amount of electricity produced completely depends on the surface area of the solar panels and the insolation (or amount of sun they get), among other things - which is something to bear in mind.

An electric vehicle - transport never looked better

Charging an electric car at home in Quebec is already 'clean' , as most electricity here is renewable already. However, the idea of these Net Zero Energy Homes with photovoltaic solar panels is to stay below the 40kWh net use of grid electricity mark to access Hydro Quebec's cheapest electricity rates, so the solar array is calculated to charge the car.

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Imagine living in a net zero energy home .

In the green neighborhood of Les Jardins du Coteau, the Trema Group of Quebec are building these affordable yet top quality housing units. We believe quality of construction and energy-efficiency are the two most important criteria when buying a new property, of course after location, location and location.

So, it's good news for everyone when we say that these are the main qualities of these Net Zero Energy homes. These modern style houses are both Novoclimat Select certified, which is a Quebec specific new green home certification, and they also aim for LEED V4 certification.

These beautiful sustainable homes have also been designed specifically to provide greater durability, substantial energy savings, increased comfort, better indoor air quality, and greater resale value, which is an important consideration given that our homes are our biggest investment.

Discover more about net zero energy homes

More about electric vehicles

Following on from our last point, owning a Net Zero Energy ready home would be amazing with many advantages, but we thought it through a little further… pairing a Zero Energy home with an electric car is even better. 

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly more common, and most of us have likely had a conversation about one at some point or another. And rightly so, the savings can be awesome. Compared to a typical home and a gasoline car, the savings that could be made with a home with an Energuide* rating of 87 and an electric car amount to around $1,596 annually! 

In our opinion, it’s worth reinvesting the money you save on heating your home into an electric car (and electric fast-charger). 

Is an electric car for everyone?

That's hard to say, but to use Quebec residents as an example, they travel by car for an average of 39km per day (NrCan, 2008). Electric cars on this project will allow travelling a distance that meets the daily needs of Quebec motorists and more. EVs cost between $25,000 and $125,000, and with government incentives and legislation they are likely to be the most popular commuting vehicles in a few short years. 

It’s also important to note that buyers of electric vehicles in certain areas can benefit from significant subsidies. The new subsidies on electric vehicles in California come to mind.

*EnerGuide is the official mark of the Government of Canada associated with the labeling and energy rating program of key consumer goods - homes, light vehicles and certain energy-using products.

Interested in discovering more?

Discover which electric vehicles are best

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Discover which electric car chargers are the best

Calling all home builders, there’s never been a better time to build net zero energy ready homes… .

With an increasingly demanding clientele, and in the age of climate change, builders must always push the quality of their homes to greater durability and efficiency. With demand rising sharply and the rise of ecological certifications such as Novoclimat, LEED, Passive House, Net Zero Energy, building sustainable homes is a surefire way to stand out from the competition.

In addition to this, choosing to invest in better housing always pay off. Many grants and financial incentives are available across North America, and with this exceptional housing project, the majority of Quebecers have shown they want high-quality and energy-efficient homes. Most say that they are willing to pay a little more for a sustainable home too as discerning home-buyers are starting to recognize that they make for a better investment.

Discover more about high performance home building:

• The Ecohome green building guides
• View other sustainable home projects

Benefits for local government 

Become sustainable neighborhood pioneers.

For residents of Quebec where Les Jardins du Coteau are located, the quality of construction, energy efficiency and investment potential are among the most important criteria when buying a new property. It is also worth noting, that in many parts of Canada it is expected that all new construction will need to be Net Zero by the year 2030. So being an early-adopter and choosing a Net Zero Energy home now is an invaluable investment for the future.

Attracting owners to towns and areas by standing out with new building standards and regulations that require more durable, efficient, comfortable, and high-quality constructions is a very smart move to encourage growth. Likewise, being among the first cities to achieve climate goals in terms of reducing related GHG emissions by facilitating the shift to electric vehicles and efficient homes for residents is likely to attract a more dynamic community. 

For more information on how to build Net Zero Energy ready homes, contact us!

Edelweiss Ecohome - Canada's first LEED v4 Platinum Home

Discover Canada's first Net Zero Energy Home

Net Zero Energy Homes and their energy systems

What are net zero energy homes  watch our free webinar here:.

This Net Zero Energy home construction project is by:

Écohabitation Project Managers

Groupe TRÉMÄ Construction Company

Owen's Corning Canada Insulation & airtightness experts

Partially Funded by Natural Ressources Canada

Financé partiellement par Ressources naturelles Canada

Discover more!

Become a free member of the ecohome network, and be one of the first to find out all the latest news for building net zero energy ready homes here .

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4 Indian homes that spotlight sustainable design practices 

By AD Staff

A Kerala Home Inspired by Laurie Baker

A jackfruit tree and need for privacy formed the basis of architect Vinu Daniel’s design philosophy when he was approached by a client to build a family home for eight near Ernakulam in Kerala. “We decide to take up a project only when the client has the same vision for the house they want to live in as we do,” says Daniel, founder of The Wallmakers, whose work is deeply influenced by Laurie Baker, pioneer of sustainable, cost-effective, and context-driven architecture in India.

The tree in question held court over one corner of the site. “This gave form to the idea of a compound wall that revolves around the tree and twists upwards to join the ferro-cement shell roof of the house seamlessly,” he explains. “This in turn created a small intimate space, landscaped like a Japanese zen garden,” he adds. Though located near the entrance of the home, the courtyard has plenty of shade and privacy for family gatherings, and is also easily accessible from the kitchen.

The Kerala home is deliberately spartan to allow the material palette to be the star of the show. Photographs courtesy of Anand Jaju and Syam Sreesylam/The Wallmakers

The 2,750-square-feet home is spread across two storeys. The first floor accommodates an open living and dining area, three bedrooms, kitchen, and an outdoor barbecue. A fourth bedroom and reading area populate the second floor, alongside an adjoining balcony and terrace. Adhering to the firm’s sustainable design philosophy, the house has been constructed from compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEB) and rammed earth walls. “These walls take the load of the ferro-cement roof which is made from 1.5-centimetre thick, precast steel-reinforced arched shells. They effectively reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30 percent and are at par with reinforced concrete slabs in all other aspects, including strength,” says Daniel.

A spiral staircase, designed to appear like draped fabric, connects the two floors. Made from cement over a skeleton of discarded pipes, it mirrors the curve of the compound wall and roof. “The staircase was a tricky one. We found out that whatever we did in 3D, didn't come up exactly. We had to think on our feet,” says Daniel. Brick walls cast a warm glow in the bedrooms—also furnished in wood—making the space cozy, despite the use of a very basic material palette.

By Nuriyah Johar

By Ashna Lulla

By Kriti Saraswat-Satpathy

A staircase made from cement and discarded pipes connects the two floors of the house

At first glance, you might think this property (featured image) is a forest lodge tucked away in the hills. While that’s not too far from the truth, you’d be surprised to know that this house—a secondary home for a family of four, spread across 4,128 square feet—is located within the premises of a small food processing unit in Guwahati, Assam. While the location is bang in the middle of an industrial pocket with the sound of men and machines, the home, owing to its inward-looking design, still exudes peace and affords privacy.

This was also achieved by planning a separate entrance away from the other industrial buildings. The brief to the design team—Sustainable Architecture for Earth, represented by lead architect Krittika Agarwal—was simple: the owners wanted to coexist with nature while being allowed to comfortably travel between the indoors and the outdoors.

“The Aangan, as the home is known, is an attempt to acknowledge contemporary living needs while responding to our responsibility towards the environment. The project is a composition of spaces that intertwine the outdoors and indoors. It is a reflection of our Indian culture, where the central courtyard or  aangan is the heart of the house,” says Agarwal about the philosophy behind the home.

Photographs courtesy of Lina Baishya/Sustainable Architecture for Earth

In keeping with this idea, the decor was planned to accommodate local materials and traditional crafts. The sustainable design employs local timbers sourced from within a 100 kilometre radius. Similarly, the art and artefacts that the home is dotted with have been carefully curated to showcase local arts and artisans. “The handmade carpets that embellish the interiors have been sourced from multiple stores in India. The ceiling of the prayer room is adorned with miniature hand paintings by the artisans of Mandawa in Rajasthan. This painted ceiling depicts stories of Lord Krishna and connects the family to their Marwari roots. The decor is further enriched by pieces collected by the family from flea markets during their travels, both in India and abroad. Additionally, the nooks and corners of the house are adorned with oil paintings made by the lady of the house,” says Agarwal.

The homeowners are welcomed with lush greenery around the main entrance, which leads to the staircase. As one ascends, the tropical greens and delicate hanging lamps in the stairwell create an interesting visual impact. The living room is the centre of the home, and this double-height space opens out into a courtyard, blurring the lines between the outdoors and indoors.

View from the living room

A Home in Trivandrum That Funnels in Air and Light

In the heart of Trivandrum, there is a small spot that breathes fresh air. "It was being suffocated by other residential projects from all four sides," says Vinu Daniel, whose firm, The Wallmakers inverted the home 's layout to funnel the interior air flow into a central courtyard.

Airy and luminous as it may be, those are, however, not the only hallmarks that distinguish this curious home from its cookie-cutter surroundings. Its Rat-Trap bond masonry, upcycled decor and grillwork are a nod to the foolproof tradition of sustainable architecture. "Sadly, today, less than 30 percent of the world's population lives in buildings made of earth, although it is a more sustainable and durable material. The blame lies solely on the advent of industrialization and a widespread demand for cement houses. At Wallmakers, we have devoted ourselves to the cause of using mud and waste as chief components to make structures that are both utilitarian and alluring," Daniel says.

A sustainable home inspired by Laurie Baker's design philosophy in Trivandrum. Photographs courtesy of Jino Sam/The Wallmakers

Pirouetting beehive forms, fire engine red bricks and an illusion of undulating, near-constant movement: this is the facade of the Pirouette House. The decision to employ the Rat-Trap bond masonry technique proved fruitful, as the site did not offer the opportunity for soil excavation to make mud blocks. Using the Rat-Trap bond technique, Daniel and his team layered bricks vertically, rather than horizontally, to create wall cavities pointed at increasing thermal efficiency, minimizing total brick volume, and concealing structural members and service ducts. “The idea was further developed to form a series of slanting walls that danced left and right, converging only to support the ferrocement shell roof. We also used MMT ferrocement shells. These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced, arched shells with an effective thickness of 2.5 centimetres. By taking on loads akin to RCC slabs, they reduce the overall cement consumption by 40 percent and steel consumption by 30percent,” he explains.

Brickwork walls create a cocoon in the living room, proving consonant with the wooden scrap pieces that have been polished and panelled over the floor. The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

These wafer-like structures are steel-reinforced

A circular screen—apparently salvaged from waste metal—adds character to the wall, as is echoed in equal spirit by the cement oxide ceiling. Says Daniel of the home's orientation, "The design is inward-facing, aligned in the east-west direction, with all spaces funnelling into the central courtyard. The openings facilitate maximum cross-ventilation."

The cane treatment is of particular note, as it finds expression in the furniture and grillwork, with the latter doubling as a partial screen for privacy.

A Home in Ghaziabad That Works With Nature

Whether you gaze at the Rajasthan 'baolis' that create a cooler microclimate around the monument, Kathiawadi jali lattice work that replaces window frames, or most famously, the Hawa Mahal in Jaipur—North India's long-established historic architecture is known for providing cool indoor climatic conditions to its occupants using passive and natural cooling methods. Architect Sachin Rastogi, the founding director at ZED Lab—a Delhi-based research-driven architecture and interior design studio specializing in net-zero energy buildings—has used said design principles to build the Cantilever House , a standalone home located in Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad.

The house responds to the hot and dry climate of the region through a host of design interventions and passive cooling techniques. By placing the living areas in the north and the east to allow sufficient daylight, and by allocating space for private areas in the west and the south, the house records minimal heat gain throughout the day. The windows on the south are shaded by a pergola to ensure that the south face remains comfortable throughout the year. So, even in peak summer, only the fans are switched on in this home.

The structure employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption. Photograph courtesy of André J Fanthome/ZED Lab

The residence employs a series of mechanisms that minimize resource consumption and reduce the building's environmental impact, while enhancing the residents' thermal comfort. For example, the double-height lobby is flanked by the summer court on the north and the winter court on the south to enable stack ventilation at all times. The night-time spaces are characterized by optimum thermal mass to protect the day-time spaces from the south and west sun. The north face of the house is glazed to admit diffused daylight and avoid heat gain and glare. The facade is fitted with double-glazed units with low e-coating for thermal resistance. Nearly all of the glass surfaces for the day-time spaces are designed to open into the water court, envisioned as a transitional area between the harsh outdoors and the ambient indoors.

Interstitial spaces in the property are reinterpreted by enabling seamless movement from the inside to the outside. For instance, as one walks into the house through the double-height lobby on the east-facing entrance porch, they are pleasantly surprised by the garden's view with a water body. Greenery in the interiors establishes a strong visual connection with the outdoor landscape, while the integration of landscape features with the built envelope ensures a cool microclimate for the residents. The water court on the north serves as a heat sink; the plants and vertical garden also contribute to thermal comfort while purifying the air, trapping dust and pollutants. The front and rear lawns along with the water court also serve as recharge pits for adequate rainwater harvesting. The residents' hot water requirements are met by evacuated tube solar hot water systems installed on the rooftop.

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

Photography by Moriq

By Nolan Lewis

Photography by Isha Shah

By Avantika Shankar

Photography by Studio Noughts and Crosses | Andre J. Fanthome

By Arman Khan

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Sustainable design resources: case studies & sources.

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Case Studies & Projects

  PRINT

• 150 best sustainable home ideas / Francesc Zamora Mola. 2013.
• 21st century sustainable homes / edited by Mark Cleary. 2011.
• 150 best eco house ideas / editor and text, Marta Serrats. 2010.
• Blue houses : sustainable homes / [editor], Cristina Paredes Benítez. 2011.
• Culture-nature : green ethics, habitat, environment / a cura di = edited by Alessandra Coppa, Fortunato D'Amico. 2010. Catalog of an the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale.
• Earthships in Europe / Mischa Hewitt and Kevin Telfer. 2012.
• Eco living / Chris van Uffelen. 2013. 124 international examples of residential architecture, from single-family homes to housing estates, that incorporate exemplary ecological living solutions, all of which take different approaches. Includes architects' index.
• Eco solutions : sustainable approaches for a bioclimatic home / editorial coordinator, Claudia Martinez Alonso; edition and texts, Marta Serrats. 2012.
• The ecological house : sustainable architecture around the world / text, Marco Moro, Beatrice Spirandelli ; preface, Ecosistema Urbano. 2011.
• Ecological living / edited by Manuela Roth ; [texts: Elke Weiler ; translations: Yannick Van Belleghem...[et al.]]. 2009.
• Environmental tectonics : forming climatic change / edited by Steve Hardy. 2008. The projects presented here emphasize multiple aspects of the environment, often addressing issues of aesthetics and pleasure alongside ethics.
• Green architecture / [editing, Chen Liu]. 2010. 42 international award-winning projects detailing award-winning reasons and materials.
• Green is beautiful : the eco-friendly house / [Claudio Santini ; text by Dafna Zilafro]. 2009.
• Green life : building sustainable cities / edited by Maria Berrini and Aldo Colonetti. 2010.
• Green houses : new directions in sustainable architecture / [editor, Josep Maria Minguet ; co-author, Óscar Mira]. 2013. Profiles eleven international projects which illustrate close co-operation between everyone involved - architects, engineers, interior decorators, landscapers and client - in all the project phases.
• Green school primer : lessons in sustainability / edited by LPA, inc. 2009. Eight case studies examining why and how schools should be made "green."
• The hybrid house : designing with sun, wind, water, and earth / Catherine Wanek. 2010.
• Inspired homes : architecture for changing times / Avi Friedman with Emma Greer. 2013.
• Innovative houses : concepts for sustainable living / Avi Friedman. 2013. Discusses and illustrates recent and notable residential trends. Organized into four broad areas of interest: demographic and social trends; design and production methods; energy and resource efficiency; and innovative landscaping.
• New natural home / Dominic Bradbury ; photographs by Richard Powers. 2011.
• Prefabulous + almost off the grid : your path to building an energy-independent home / Sheri Koones ; foreword by Robert Redford. 2012. Profiling thirty-two homes in the United States, this book explains many of the materials, systems, and techniques available to create a more energy-efficient, comfortable, and healthy home.
• Prefabulous + sustainable : building and customizing an affordable, energy-efficient home / Sheri Koones ; foreword by Robert Redford. 2010.
• Prefabulous world : energy-efficient and sustainable homes around the globe / Sheri Koones ; foreword by Robert Redford. 2014.
• Rural Studio at twenty : designing and building in Hale County, Alabama / Andrew Freear and Elena Barthel, with Andrea Oppenheimer Dean ; photography by Timothy Hursley. 2014.
• Small eco houses : living green in style / Cristina Paredes Benítez, Àlex Sánchez Vidiella. 2010.
• The sustainable Asian house / Paul McGillick ; photography by Masano Kawana. 2013.
• Sustainable design II : towards a new ethics for architecture and the city / Marie-Hélène Contal, Jana Revedin ; with the kind participation of Benno Albrecht and Elisa Brusegan. 2011. Presents the 2009 and 2010 winners of the "Global Award for Sustainable Architecture."
• Sustainable homes / [Pilar Chueca]. 2009. A sampling of highly innovative sustainable designs in the United States including upscale residences, posh cabins, and a geodesic dome.
• Geng xin Zhongguo : wei le yi ge ke chi xue de wei lai = Updating China : projects for a sustainable future = Nachhaltiges Planen und Bauen in China / curated by Li Xiangning ; edited by Li Xiangning, Christian Dubrau. 2010. Highlights 40 projects in China. Text in Chinese, German, and English.
• XS : small structures, green architecture / Phyllis Richardson. 2007.

FILMS - In-library viewing at the Media Resources Center in Moffitt Library

• Design e² [videorecording] : the economies of being environmentally conscious / director, Tad Fettig ; series producer, Elizabeth Westrate ; narration writers, Mark Decena, John Kenney ; produced by kontentreal, LLC. [Alexandria, Va.] : PBS Home Video, c2006. Watch additional episodes online .

ONLINE RESOURCES

History: Groundbreaking Books and Historic Sources

• Architecture and the urban environment : a vision for the new age / Derek Thomas. 2002.
• Big & green : toward sustainable architecture in the 21st / edited by David Gissen. 2002.
• Building cities: towards a civil society and sustainable environment / edited by Norman Crowe, Richard Economakis and Michael Lykoudis; with Mark Gage, et al. 1999.
• Cradle to cradle: remaking the way we make things / William McDonough & Michael Braungart. 1st ed. 2002. Focuses on the nature of sustainability and the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design.
• Culture, architecture and nature : an ecological design retrospective / Sim Van der Ryn ; edited by Richard Olsen. 2014.
• Design outlaws on the ecological frontier / Chris Zelov, executive editor; Phil Cousineau, co-editor. Philadelphia, Penn.: Knossus Publishing, 2000 ed. Companion book to Ecological design [videorecording] : inventing the future . (director, Brian Danitz ; produced by Brian Danitz and Tzelovanikov ; writer, Phil Cousineau. 1994.)
• Design with nature / Ian L. McHarg. 1st ed. 1969. (Classic) Helped to define the fields of landscape architecture, urban and regional planning, and ecological design. Discussion of mankind's place in nature and nature's place in mankind within the physical sciences and humanities. Offers a blueprint for a new, healthier relationship between the built environment and nature. see also -- To heal the earth: selected writings of Ian L. McHarg / edited by Ian L. McHarg and Frederick R. Steiner; foreword by Robert D. Yaro. 1998. A retrospective collection of essays by Ian McHarg, written while he was at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Designing with nature: the ecological basis for architectural design / Ken Yeang. 1995.
• Environmental literature: an encyclopedia of works, authors, and themes / compiled by Patricia D. Netzley. 1999. Very good for historical references, includes important people, authors, events that have "advanced knowledge and changed the perception of the environment."
• The environmental tradition: studies in the architecture of environment / Dean Hawkes. 1996.
• From Bauhaus to ecohouse [electronic resource] : a history of ecological design / Peder Anker. 2010. Also available in print .
• From eco-cities to living machines: principles of ecological design / Nancy Jack Todd and John Todd. 1994.
• Gray world, green heart: technology, nature, and the sustainable landscape / Robert L. Thayer, Jr. 1994.
• Green shift: changing attitudes in architecture to the natural world / John Farmer; edited by Kenneth Richardson ; with supplementary text by Judith Farren Bradley, et al. . 2nd ed.1999.
• The greening of architecture : a critical history and survey of contemporary sustainable architecture and urban design / Phillip James Tabb and A. Senem Deviren. 2013.
• The nature of order: an essay on the art of building and the nature of the universe / Christopher Alexander. 2002. (classic) Center for Environmental Structure series; v. 9. Alexander develops a comprehensive theory of how matter comes together to form coherent structures.
• Planning for sustainability : creating livable, equitable, and ecological communities / Stephen M. Wheeler. 2004.
• A primer on sustainable building / Rocky Mountain Institute, Green Development Services; Dianna Lopez Barnett with William D. Browning. 2004. Topics include site and habitat restoration, transportation integration, edible landscapes, energy-efficient design, indoor air quality.
• Something new under the sun: an environmental history of the twentieth-century world / J.R. McNeill. 2000.
• The sustainable urban development reader / edited by Stephen M. Wheeler and Timothy Beatley. 2nd ed. 2009.
• Sustainable architecture and urbanism : concepts, technologies, examples / Dominique Gauzin-Müller ; with contributions by Nicolas Favet. 2002.
• Sustainable architecture white papers / edited by David E. Brown, Mindy Fox, Mary Rickel Pelletier.1st ed. 2000. selected essays by architects, designers on the current state of sustainable architecture and its many facets.
• Sustainable architectures : cultures and natures in Europe and North America / edited by Simon Guy and Steven Moore. 2005.
• Taking shape: a new contract between architecture and nature / Susannah Hagan. 2001.
• The timeless way of building / Christopher Alexander. 1979. (Classic). The Timeless Way of Building is the first volume of a three-volume set; Alexander presents a different perceptual framework for conceiving of, and creating architecture. In the second volume of the series, A pattern language , he discusses his own exploration of architecture within this perceptual framework and the two hundred fifty-three patterns that he has intuited. In the third volume, The oregon experiment , he explains how this "language" of two hundred fifty-three patterns was used in practice to design a building complex at the University of Oregon.
• Understanding sustainable architecture / Terry Williamson, Anthony Radford, and Helen Bennetts. 2003.
• Urban design: green dimensions / Cliff Moughtin with Peter Shirley. 2nd ed. 2005. Shows how sustainable urban design can be implemented on every scale. Second edition includes the Urban Park and Bio-diversity.

Sustainable Design should be beautiful

(Source: Fincube © 2010 )

A Case for Why Sustainable Design Must be Beautiful : Architect Lance Hosey argues that the way toward green design is through aesthetics rooted in nature.

• DIDI : Design Idea Dictionary / compilation, DAMDI Publishing Co. ; editor in chief, Pyo Mi Young. 2013. 10 volumes : color illustrations and color plans - not strictly a dictionary, more akin to a design sourcebook.
• Dictionary of architectural and building technology / Henry J. Cowan and Peter R. Smith ; with contributions by W.K. Chow et al.. 4th ed. 2004. Includes illustrations, definitions, modern terms, environmental definitions such as wind scoops, natural ventilation.
• A dictionary of environment and conservation [electronic resource] / Chris Park. 2007. Also available in print .
• A dictionary of architecture / James Stevens Curl. 2nd ed. 2006.
• Dictionary of architecture & construction / edited by Cyril M. Harris. 4th ed. 2006. Also available in print.
• Dictionary of ecodesign : an illustrated reference / Ken Yeang and Lillian Woo. 2010.
• Dictionary of environment and sustainable development / Alan Gilpin. 1996.
• The elements of architecture : principles of environmental performance in buildings / Scott Drake ; illustrations by Adam Brown and Tristan Wong. 2009.
• Elsevier's dictionary of environment in English, French, Spanish and Arabic / compiled by M. Bakr. 1998.
• The environment dictionary / David D. Kemp. 1998. Entry includes definition, illustrations and further reading list.
• The environmental regulatory dictionary / compiled by James J. King. 2005.
• Environmental encyclopedia / William P. Cunningham, et al., editors. 2nd ed. 1998. Includes definitions, cultural movements, biographies, regional events, community actions and a short bibliography for each entry.
• The Facts On File guide to research / Jeff Lenburg. 2005. Facts on File library of language and literature. Includes a chapter on "Ecology and the Environment".
• Green Building A to Z: understanding the language of green building / Jerry Yudelson. 2007. Offers the basics of green building and shows how it relates to key issues such as, water conservation, healthy buildings, use of recycled materials, reduction of carbon dioxide, and environmental site planning.
• Green cities: an A-to-Z guide / Nevin Cohen, general editor. 2010. UCB Only.
• Illustrated dictionary of architecture / Ernest Burden. 2012.
• Sustainable built environments / Vivian Loftness and Dagmar Haase (eds.). 2013. Selected entries from the Encyclopedia of sustainability science and technology.

Handbooks, Guides, and Other Selected Reference

• Adapting buildings and cities for climate change : a 21st century survival guide / Sue Roaf, David Crichton and Fergus Nicol. 2009.
• Aesthetics of sustainable architecture / edited by Sang Lee ; foreword by Kees Doevendans ; with contributions by Nezar AlSayyad ... [et al.]. 2011. Essays by leading architectural designers, theorists, and scholars.
• The Ahwahnee principles for smart economic development: an implementation guidebook / Rick Cole, et al. ; editing by Paul Zykofsky, Brad Norton and Dave Davis. 1998. Written for local policymakers, communities, regional development ideas.
• Architecture 3.0 : the disruptive design practice handbook / Cliff Moser. 2014. Focusing on the concept of disruption, the book provides a set of ideas and tools in order to create a new sustainable practice.
• Architecture in a climate of change : a guide to sustainable design / Peter F. Smith. 2005.
• The barefoot architect : a handbook for green building / Johan van Lengen. 2008.
• Be a successful green builder / R. Dodge Woodson. 2009.
• Building to suit the climate : a handbook / Gerhard Hausladen, Petra Liedl, Mike de Saldanha. 2012. A manual for integrated planning in the international context -- offers a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between climate, the building structure and the building envelope.
• Cities going green : a handbook of best practices / edited by Roger L. Kemp and Carl J. Stephani. 2011.
• Closing the loop : benchmarks for sustainable buildings / Susan Roaf, with Andrew Horsley and Rajat Gupta. 2004.
• Cohousing cultures : handbuch für selbstorganisiertes, gemeinschaftliches und nachhaltiges Wohnen = Cohousing cultures : handbook for self-organized, community-oriented and sustainable housing / ID22, Institute for Creative Sustainability, Experimentcity. 2012.
• Ecological design handbook: sustainable strategies for architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and planning / Fred A. Stitt, editor. 1999.
• The economy of sustainable construction / edited by Ilka & Andreas Ruby and Nathalie Janson. 2014. Contained within its 400 pages are essays, reports, and case studies that examine the relationship between commercial and sustainable values, and explore the paths that construction will take in the 21st century. Packed with info-graphics.
• Environmental planning for site development: a manual for sustainable local planning and design / Anne R. Beer and Catherine Higgins. 2nd ed. 2000.
• The environmental resource handbook. / 2013/14. Directory of associations, awards, research, green city rankings. Includes statistics for brownfields, air quality, children's health, drinking water, noise pollution.
• A green vitruvius : principles and practice of sustainable architectural design / Vivienne Brophy and J. Owen Lewis. 2011.
• Going green : a handbook of sustainable housing practices in developing countries / [principal author, Emma-Liisa Hannula]. 2012.
• Green building : a professional's guide to concepts, codes and innovation : includes IgCC provisions / Anthony C. Floyd and Allan Bilka. 2012.
• Green building : project planning & cost estimating : a practical guide for constructing sustainable buildings : cost data for green materials, components & systems; special project requirements; financial analysis & incentives. / 2002.
• Green building and LEED core concepts guide / U.S. Green Building Council, 2011.
• Green neighborhood development : LEED reference guide for neighborhood development / U.S. Green Building Council, 2009.
• The green studio handbook : environmental strategies for schematic design / Alison G. Kwok and Walter T. Grondzik. 2011.
• Green town USA : the handbook for America's sustainable future / Thomas J. Fox ; introduction by Daniel Wallach. 2013.
• A green Vitruvius: principles and practice of sustainable architectural design / Vivienne Brophy and J. Owen Lewis. 2011.
• Handbook of sustainable refurbishment : housing / Simon Burton. 2011.
• The HOK guidebook to sustainable design / Sandra Mendler, William Odell, Mary Ann Lazarus. 2nd ed. 2006. Shows how to integrate sustainable design strategies into projects. Includes case studies, glossary, top 10 internet resources, bibliography.
• Homes reference guide / U.S. Green Building Council. 2008.
• Home work : handbuilt shelter / Lloyd Kahn. 2004.
• How to design and build a green office building : a complete guide to making your new or existing building environmentally healthy / Jackie Bondanza. 2011.
• Modern sustainable residential design : a guide for design professionals / William J. Carpenter. 2009.
• The natural building companion : a comprehensive guide to integrative design and construction / Jacob Deva Racusin and Ace McArleton. 2012.
• Rough guide to sustainability : a design primer / Brian Edwards. 2010.
• Sustainable and resilient communities : a comprehensive action plan for towns, cities, and regions / edited by Stephen Coyle ; foreword by Andrés Duany. 2011.
• The sustainable building bible : an insider's guide to eco-renovation & newbuilding / Tim Pullen. 2011. Rev. ed. of: Simply sustainable homes. 2008.
• Sustainable building sourcebook : supplement to the Green Building Program / Austin Energy. 2000. The general sections of the Sourcebook are Water, Energy, Building Materials, and Solid Waste. Each resource section and the appendix are hyperlinked for quick location.
• The sustainable design handbook : China : high environmental quality cities and buildings / Serge Salat, editor in chief. 2006.
• Sustainable healthcare architecture, 2nd edition / Robin Guenther, Gail Vittori. 2013. Also available as an electronic resource .
• Sustainable school architecture : design for primary and secondary schools / Lisa Gelfand, with Eric Corey Freed. 2010.
• The whole building handbook : how to design healthy, efficient and sustainable buildings / Varis Bokalders and Maria Block. 2010. Originally published in Swedish in 2004.
• Sustainability Hub – Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
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Case Study: Eco House by Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Danish-born architect Vibeke Lichten wears many hats. Trained as an architect, she went on to study real estate development at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Vibeke runs the New York-based architecture practice Atelier Vibeke Lichten, and her husband, Joel Assouline, oversees their development company, A2 Investment Group. In addition to her design work, Vibeke heads up construction at the development arm, and much of her work is design-build.

Then there’s the role of budget chief. Fiscal discipline is one of the guiding forces of her companies, she says. “I’m accustomed to building things that make sense financially, trying to make something design-wise that corresponds to a budget, high or modest. I think my clients come to me because of that. They trust they won’t be taken too far out on a limb. I try to warn people—this is not the same as that. Even on big commercial projects, it’s easy to go over budget.”

The couple’s house on Shelter Island was an opportunity to step into an alternative world where she could work with subcontractors in a deeper way. It was a chance to explore the intersection between control and speed, prosaic and polished. In a realm where many of her buildings take several years to complete, she was determined to build for agility as well as durability and low maintenance. To that end, one of the key decisions here was to use poured-in-place concrete instead of traditional framing, which allowed the 2,015-square-foot house and a 1,380-square-foot pool/guest house to be occupied less than a year after construction began.  

The concrete shell took two weeks to frame up, and “once you take off the form, the house is there,” Vibeke says. “All the walls are poured in place; bearing walls are heavier than non-bearing walls. Then roof beams are supported on those walls. The only wood is the laminated wood beams on the roof.”

Perched on the north side of the island above Crescent Beach, the site’s greatest asset is its tranquil view of the Peconic River. The house occupies the middle of a trapezoidal 1-acre lot surrounded by forest. It sits at the hill’s highest point, 138 feet, which puts it well above the flood plain. “We build for the future, not something that’s going to be raised another 6 feet for the next generation,” she says.  

This deliberate act seems obvious, but the slow pace of ecologically minded design in the U.S. frustrates her. “In Denmark there are windmills all over the place; they’re very beautifully designed with the intention that they’re going to be everywhere,” she says. “It’s part of the way you think about things, to be frugal and responsible with materials. On this house, all of this came together as a package where you don’t necessarily compromise on beauty. You can design modern, easy-living spaces that don’t have to cost an arm and a leg if you use the money wisely, and that are also good to the environment and future generations. It’s something I believe in very deeply. This is what I came up with.”

View Through

Vibeke and Joel have two grown daughters who live in New York City and often join them on weekends, and the couple likes to entertain. The north-south oriented plan is optimized for guests with a central living space that divides the master suite on the south from two guest rooms and en-suite baths on the north. It opens to long, covered porches on the east and west. To the west, looking toward the river, is a saltwater pool and connecting piazza.  

“We’ve had 70 or 80 people there and couldn’t even feel it because of the openness of the whole place,” Vibeke says. “It’s a big part of the way I intended the house to be used, to make up for the lack of space in the city; it’s meant to be easy.”  

Outside the master suite, a spiral exterior stair leads to the flat roof with a mahogany deck, vegetable garden, and solar panels that supply all of the house’s electricity and send it back to the grid when no one is there. In fact, the need for day-long sun on the panels dictated the house’s orientation on this odd-shaped lot. The panels are angled up toward the south, and to avoid making screw or nail holes in the flat roof, they are fastened down only by a ballast system that withstands 120-mile-per-hour winds—as does the entire house.  

Across the piazza, the pool house is a stop along the driveway that runs up behind it. Set into the natural slope, it contains a living room and kitchenette, full bath, and sauna on the pool level, and two bedrooms and two baths on the cantilevered second floor. At ground level is a two-car garage with electric car charger and backup battery storage for the solar panels. Thinking ahead about aging in place, Vibeke positioned another parking court and electric car charger on the main house level. Interior and exterior stairs at the pool house connect the garage to the lounge and pool area, and a small vineyard forms a buffer zone between the pool and the road below.

Every angle counted on this challenging site. Shoehorning the program components, Vibeke set the pool on the 30-foot setback line and rotated the pool house slightly to open the view from the main house. Recessing the pool house’s first floor also preserved the water view from the main house’s guest room. The upper portion of the pool house is clad in horizontal cedar boards in varying heights and depths—a salute to local building vernacular.

No Surprises

This was Vibeke’s first foray into building a finished-concrete project, and there was a learning curve. “What I discovered was that I wanted to articulate the façade in such a manner that thought was brought into it,” she says. “I had to work with the foreman to see if he could do what I wanted without making it more expensive.”

The main house’s entry bumps out to announce itself, piercing through the 12-foot-deep porch canopy. The canopy’s steel plates are embedded in the wall structure “so that the whole house acts as a counterbalance for these little wings on both sides of the house,” Vibeke says. Their textured, 1/4-inch wire glass shades the terrace and interiors. Conversely, when the sun’s low angle warmed the 8-inch-thick concrete floors last winter, the interior temperature stayed around 65 degrees without turning on the heat, she says.

A minimal material palette aligns with the house’s goals: marble or glass tile in the kitchen and baths because “it’s a soft look and they are environmentally friendly,” thick white lacquered matte kitchen cabinets with integrated pulls, and a honed flamed-granite kitchen counter that “feels like travertine,” she says. “We wanted the kitchen to be almost like a piece of furniture viewed from the living room.” The focal point of this space is a striking concrete wall that holds three Vibeke-designed vitrines displaying a collection of turned wood pieces. “When you pull on the glass pendulums, the cases go down to let you access the pieces,” she says.  

Every move, however rough or finely wrought, contributes to the overall impression of control. “It was important to me that whatever the end result, it wouldn’t surprise me,” Vibeke says. “I had to say what is acceptable and how I would achieve it—not what could work but would take three or four more steps and was not what the job was bid on.” For example, the metal ties that left an indented cone shape on the concrete panels were simply sealed with 5,000 plugs to prevent rusting metal from streaking the façade.  

“The East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington is a good example of pristine concrete,” she says. “This doesn’t look like the museum, but it doesn’t look like a basement, either. That control was always a challenge. Once I let go, I know my crew is going to do whatever they can to the best of their ability. You have to weigh who you are working with and what is their capacity to be precise.”

Vibeke sometimes escapes the city to work in the pool house. However, “last year was the first summer it was occupied, and I realized I’d designed the house for everyone other than myself,” she says. “I just submitted a design for an addition that will be a dedicated office. We need a setup of things that we refer to often or that make us creative, and it’s not a space you can necessarily share with other people for a long time.” Thanks to careful planning, though, come hell or high water, this property is something she can share far into the future.

Additional Photography

Plans and Drawings

Project Credits

Long Island, New York

ARCHITECT: Vibeke Lichten, Atelier Vibeke Lichten, New York

BUILDER: A2 Investment Group GC

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Vibeke Lichten

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Keystone Structural Group

CIVIL ENGINEER: Matt Sherman

PROJECT SIZE: 2,015 square feet (main house), 1,380 (pool house)

SITE SIZE: 1 acre

CONSTRUCTION COST: Withheld

PHOTOGRAPHER: Evan Joseph

Key Products

ELECTRIC CAR CHARGERS: Tesla

FAUCETS: Grohe

FIREPLACE: Fire Orb

GARAGE DOORS: Better Door

HARDWARE: Rixson

HOME THEATER: Sonos

HVAC: Daiken

KITCHEN APPLIANCES: Miele

KITCHEN CABINETS: Berloni

LIGHTING: Lutron

MEDICINE CABINETS: Kohler

PHOTOVOLTAICS: LG

RADIANT HEATING: Thermosoft

SAUNA: Steamist

SINKS: Elkay

TOILETS: TOTO

TOWEL HEATERS: Runtal

TUB: Duravit

VANITIES: Berloni

WASHER/DRYER: Miele

WINDOWS: Arcadia

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Sustainability case study: Dalkeith House

The form of the Dalkeith House is articulated to allow wind to penetrate deep into the house.

Image: Peter Bennetts

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Dalkeith is an old suburb of Perth, surrounded on three sides by the Swan River and home to some of the city’s finest old mansions. This residence shares a street with hundred-year-old bungalows and questionable modern-day interpretations of past and international styles of architecture. Our project challenges this context and the contemporary desire to exhibit power and status through architecture. Mostly concealed behind an existing street wall, the project quietly addresses the street while unfolding a controlled sequence of spaces that engage with a hidden garden.

The scheme uses every part of the property, dismissing the idea of a front and back garden.

We explored the relationship between house and garden by adopting a set of elements developed in a past desert community centre project – a platform, pavilions and parasols. We also introduced a new element – parasites. These four interact to configure the site flexibly, using every part of the property and dismissing the traditional notion of a front and back garden. Site organization is the beginning of a collection of low-tech, cost-effective environmental devices that are bound by the architectural intent, generally concealed from view and denying the contemporary and popular image of a sustainable house.

Perth is the third windiest city in the world and the pavilions are articulated to allow wind to penetrate deep into the house. The wind is cooled by shallow ponds adjacent to the low-level windows, while hot air is drawn out the top of them. The articulated form increases the roof area and potential for water catchment; all roof water is stored in a sub-surface concrete tank under the front garden and supplies both the pool and the house. Water is heated by a solar hot water system with back-up gas instantaneous heater and sun-heated pipes mounted on the roof. Water consumption is minimized through low-flow fittings and the entire house is set up with grey water recycling.

A double-height outdoor room mediates the temperature of both the upper and lower levels, with automatic blinds shading the house.

A double-height outdoor room has been created, which mediates the temperature of both the lower and upper levels. Automatic blinds temper sun penetration. The blinds double as a projection screen, transforming the outdoor living room into a theatre under the stars. Roof-mounted photovoltaic cells provide power, while consumption is minimized with compact and T5 fluorescent light fittings and low-energy fixtures. The PV cells, parasol roof and hot-water system shade the roof to reduce heat build-up. Winter heating is provided by the direct-sun thermal heat gain of the concrete platform, supplemented with ethanol fireplaces and sub-surface, in-floor heating.

The house is constructed from plantation pine and the cantilevers from plantation plywood. Use of steel and other high-embodied-energy materials has been minimized. The house is clad in a composite, fire-rated panel with sheet steel exterior and an acid-free recyclable core, providing superior thermal performance and minimal material waste. Materials are mostly screw-fixed rather than nailed to increase the capacity for future reuse.

Read a discussion on sustainable site strategies here .

Products and materials

Published online: 21 Feb 2012 Words: Adrian Iredale Images: Peter Bennetts

Houses, December 2011

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A double-height outdoor room mediates the temperature of both the upper and lower levels, with automatic blinds shading the house.

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Sustainable Houses

Principles of sustainable architecture.

• Passive design
• Energy efficiency
• Life cycle carbon footprint
• Reductionism
• Material impact and waste
• Local environment
• Budgeting and affordability
• Health and wellbeing

Renovate or Build from Scratch

• Existing building
• Why renovate
• Why start from scratch

Site Assessment

• Basic properties
• Orientation
• Local streetscape and development

Passive Design

• Passive heating and cooling
• Thermal performance
• Thermal mass
• Thermal bridges and breaks
• Sealing and air tightness
• Ventilation

Building Materials

• Embodied energy/carbon
• Life cycle assessment
• Material honesty
• Recycled materials
• Recyclability/disassembly

Energy and Water

• Operational energy/carbon
• Electricity and renewable energy
• Heating and cooling

Landscaping and Nature

• Aesthetics and amenity
• Water/waste management
• Air quality and microclimates
• Biodiversity, habitat creation and local food production
• Health benefits

Case Studies

Warehouse greenhouse, edgars creek house.

For easy offline reading, you can also download our Guide to Sustainable Houses as a PDF file.

As outlined throughout this guide, at Breathe we want to inspire, engage and support the people and community we serve while upholding an overarching priority toward social, environmental and economic sustainability. But enough talk, here’s what that looks like in practice.

Warehouse Greenhouse is home to a family of gardeners and artisans who care deeply about the environment. They engaged Breathe to create a simple extension and carve a greenhouse garden into the heart of their 1960s warehouse home in Brunswick, Melbourne. Our approach was to keep as much as possible of the existing building to harness its embodied energy and extend its life, and to add only what was necessary to create a well-insulated, comfortable, small-footprint family home.

The structure of the existing building is preserved, and the steel trusses, brick and blockwork walls, concrete slab floor and factory windows are expressed inside and outside. The brick and concrete provide thermal mass, and new insulated walls and double-glazed windows upgrade the thermal envelope. The high-performance windows have been installed inside the existing windows to create three layers of glazing, improving thermal performance and air tightness. (It is exceptionally airtight with only 1.2 air changes per hour.)

The upper-storey extension is clad with corrugated Zincalume, and a section of the roof has been removed to create a new outdoor living space and protected urban garden on the top level of the home. Optimising passive design, this open-air courtyard maximises sun penetration into the interior in winter, while providing shading in the summer and facilitating cross- and stack ventilation.

There is no supplemental heating or cooling. Instead, the building relies on passive heating and cooling, a tight thermal envelope and an energy efficient heat recovery ventilation system. This ensures Warehouse Greenhouse remains comfortable and economical to run year-round. A solar PV array on the roof generates electricity and uses a 100% certified GreenPower grid connection as a backup.

Sustainable materials and features

• Australian FSC-certified strapped plywood internal wall and ceiling lining throughout
• External Zincalume corrugated steel cladding
• E0 yellow tongue flooring with oiled finish
• Recycled hardwood timber stair treads, salvaged and remilled from the existing roof purlins on site
• Recycled timber benchtop, salvaged and remilled from existing roof purlins on site
• Existing internal brick walls
• High-performance, timber-framed, double-glazed doors and tilt-and-turn windows by Binq
• Raw brass tapware
• Raw brass door furniture
• Acoustic wall lining by Woven Image in entry area
• Victorian plantation Formply kitchen joinery door and drawer fronts
• Stainless steel benchtop in kitchen
• Mild steel splashback, handrails and details throughout
• Bathroom lining from strapped FC sheeting with zero VOC epoxy coating (instead of ceramic tiles)
• 5000L water tank on ground floor, plumbed to toilet and irrigation on ground floor
• Energy efficient induction cooktop
• LED spot and track lighting throughout

Partners and collaborators

• Builder: Never Stop Group
• Structural Engineer: Keith Long & Associates
• ESD Consultant: Nick Bishop ESD
• Building Surveyor: Metro Building Surveying
• Land Surveyor: Webster Survey Group

Edgars Creek House is designed to recede into the landscape and provide the homeowners with a peaceful bushland retreat. The clients engaged Breathe to create a sustainable home with a strong passive design and a material palette that is healthy for the occupants and the environment. We took a reductionist approach to ensure everything is functional, purposeful and robust, and that the building could be disassembled at the end of its life for reuse.

The U-shaped house comprises three pavilions — for sleeping, bathing and living — that frame a central courtyard. The comprehensive site assessment determined the best orientation of the building to capture views, connect to the landscape and optimise passive solar design. The building is appropriately sized to meet the clients’ needs and minimise the impact on the environment, and the window-to-wall ratio creates an efficient thermal envelope with a 7.2 stars NatHERS rating.

There is no adornment in this house; rather the beauty of the raw, natural materials — rammed earth walls and ironbark cladding and decking — is revealed throughout, and blends with the surrounding sandstone cliffs and ironbark trees. The rammed earth provides thermal mass for passive heating and cooling, and an insulated double skinned wall for a solid thermal envelope. The stone floor in the sunken living room provides additional thermal mass near the fireplace, and a brise soleil along the edge of the central pavilion opens, shades and ventilates the house, and filters sunlight through the timber screen.

There are no tiles or ceramic finishes, and all tapware is raw brass and custom bent copper pipe with simple brass hose cocks assembled by the builder on site. Nearly all of the building is held together without adhesives, which will enable the components to be disassembled and reused, rather than put into landfill, at the end of the building’s life.

An energy efficient, modern heat pump system provides all domestic hot water needs and powers a hydronic heating system to keep the house cosy on colder days without burning wood in the fireplace. We worked with the client to move away from gas and instead commit to an all-electric building (connected to 100% accredited GreenPower) that makes it future-proof with net-zero emissions. Two 5,000 litre underground rainwater tanks capture rainwater for use in all plumbing fixtures, including showers and basins.

• Australian Grey Ironbark and Spotted Gum decking and battens
• Recycled Victorian Ash joinery
• Recycled Tasmanian Oak flooring by Urban Salvage
• Natural rammed earth walls by Earth Structures Peninsula
• Endicott Filetti stone flooring by Eco Outdoor
• Timber doors and windows by Binq
• Recycled Messmate benchtops
• Raw brass tapware by Brodware and Par
• Raw copper kitchen sink
• Concrete bathtub
• Dulux envirO2 paint
• Black Mild Steel staircase
• Surface-mounted downlights, outdoor spike lights, outdoor wall lighting, all by Ambience Lighting
• Appliances by Fisher & Paykel
• Building Surveyor: Grimbos Building Surveyor
• Geotechnical (Erosion Management): Coffey
• Land Surveyor: Geof Hosie Land Surveyors

The text (but not the images) of our guides are licensed under CC BY 4.0 . You are free to copy, share and build upon our guides, but you must clearly attribute Breathe and include a link to this website when used online.

Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. Breathe acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which Breathe stands . We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

Sustainable Home Design Meets Stanford Climate Scientist

From BONE Structure

What kind of a new home would be fitting for a leading climate scientist who has dedicated his scientific career to proving the world can quickly transition off fossil fuel?

In alignment with his life’s work, when professor Mark Z. Jacobson decided to build his house in Stanford, he pursued an energy-efficient design that generates all its own energy from renewable sources.

Professor of civil & environmental engineering and director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University, Jacobson may be best known for his work as a founder of The Solutions Project. The mission of the Solutions Project is to show, with scientific research, the plausibility of transitioning every state in America to 100 percent renewable energy. (Jacobson’s backers include Leonardo Decaprio and Mark Ruffalo.)

To make his vision for the net zero energy home a reality, Jacobson worked with luxury custom homebuilder BONE Structure®.

BONE Structure designed and assembled Jacobson’s newly completed home using an ultra-low energy thermal shell. It features solar panels coupled with Tesla Powerwall battery packs, which meet all the energy needs for the occupants–heating, cooling, plug loads, and transportation.

While Jacobson is all about the pursuit of a combustion-free life, there’s more to the sustainability story than the emission-free operation of the home, he says. It starts with the materials and the approach to design that uses fewer natural resources and creates less waste.

“I chose the BONE Structure technology because it offered prefabricated benefits (reduced waste on the job-site, decreased dust, and minimalized disruption to neighbors) while providing more flexibility for the shape of the house and making the most of my odd-shaped lot. The net energy efficiency, once the envelope is leak-proof, is due not only to the structure but also to energy sources and appliances. I have no gas going onto the property; instead, all energy comes from electricity. I will use electric cars, heat pumps for air and water heating, and an electric induction stove. The house will be powered by solar panels on the rooftop and energy will be stored using Tesla batteries in the garage.”

Since Jacobson moved into the home last summer, he has been continually monitoring the performance of his home. He’s found that not only does the home generate all its own electricity, it generates extra on some days. In fact, he has been able to sell 67% of the clean electricity his home generates back to the utility.

As Jacobson gathers more data from monitoring the operation of his home, he will compile a science-based case study. The case study should be of interest to everyone from researchers to policy makers. Above all, Homeowners and the design and construction industry can look to this carefully documented project as a model to help them achieve the sustainable future he Jacobson is promoting.

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Home > Books > Sustainable Housing

Introductory Chapter: Sustainable Housing – Introduction to the Thematic Area

Published: 23 February 2022

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.101968

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Sustainable Housing

Edited by Amjad Almusaed and Asaad Almssad

To purchase hard copies of this book, please contact the representative in India: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. www.cbspd.com | [email protected]

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Author Information

Amjad almusaed *.

• Department of Construction Engineering and Lighting Science, Jonkoping University, Sweden

Asaad Almssad

• Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad University, Sweden

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

One of the most critical phenomena in the real estate sector to reduce the environmental impact and climate change is sustainable houses. “All nature strives for self-preservation,” said the philosopher Cicero. And residents of megalopolises, too, increasingly began to think about the future of cities and how to improve the environmental background around their place of residence. One of the most innovative urban developments in the twenty-first century is the design of buildings and entire neighborhoods in sustainable architecture. Ebenezer Howard, whose 1902 book was entitled Garden City of Tomorrow and whose political and social agenda has recently made a comeback [ 1 ]. The idea of sustainability involves enhancing the quality of life, thus allowing people to live in a healthy environment with improved social, economic, and environmental conditions [ 2 ]. In addition, this type of building facilitates the most respected lifestyle with the territory, reducing the ecological footprint.

Sustainability is an essential subject in the housing research area, and it is a challenging theme for city inhabitants, builders, and architects around the world. And it is a complex theme for city inhabitants, builders, and architects around the world. In general, a sustainable building is environmentally friendly high-tech architecture. It strives to minimize the negative impact on the environment through the efficient and thoughtful use of materials, energy, space, and the ecosystem. Sustainable housing design focuses on energy conservation, environmental protection, and many other supporting factors. Sustainable housing aims to provide affordable, sustainable housing for all city inhabitants. Therefore, sustainable housing provides and discusses sustainable housing in the context of affordability. Housing costs include initial construction costs and building operation and maintenance costs. Therefore, low-cost housing based on the entire life cycle is the real low-cost housing; high-quality housing means that the housing needs to have good building quality and focus on providing users with high-quality living conditions. In the final analysis, the house is for the occupants [ 3 ]. A healthy and livable indoor and outdoor environment is more conducive to the physical and mental health of the occupants.

A sustainable house is not just a fashion trend or a trend from the West. In today’s world, rising energy prices and the finite nature of these resources raise the acute problem of the operating costs of housing. The development of energy-efficient buildings is now being actively pursued in Europe, where government programs have been developed to bring all facilities to a low level of energy consumption. The sustainable house has ecological materials, uses recyclable systems, and is supplied by clean energy. Sustainability is a broad and complex concept, which has become one of the significant issues in housing buildings. In the process of developing ideas in the field of sustainable housing design, dozens of specialists, such as architects, urban planners, ecologists, sociologists, and others, calculate how houses will interact with the surrounding architectural environment, for example, whether a building will cast a shadow on nearby buildings. In the present day, sustainable homes are invariably linked to making buildings as comfortable and convenient as possible worldwide. The building sector is increasing by investing 30–40% of total global essential resources [ 4 ]. Buildings and users consume energy and resources that create waste on a large scale, and we are tied to the current construction methods about resource and energy consumption, waste emissions, and environmental damage. The primary objective of sustainable design and construction is to minimize buildings’ negative ecological, social, and economic impacts. Fast development in many countries across the globe has made significant incontrollable construction waste, thus creating considerable adverse effects on the environment such as increased soil, water, and air pollution, which contribute to climate change, health hazards, and ecological imbalance [ 5 ]. The concept refers to buildings planned with a sustainable development concept, including building materials. Buildings, the size of urban areas, etc., to the functional, economic, social, cultural, and ecological factors related to these. When our housing is poorly designed, it leaves a legacy with adverse social, economic, and environmental side effects for the next generation. The complex and challenging plan of sustainability requires a fundamental change in our understanding of nature, the purpose of the buildings, the architects and the builder’s role, and the users of the facilities. Users’ habits, behavior, and lifestyle in everyday practice are topics for discussion due to the environmental challenges facing the world. It becomes at once our own culture that is the focal point of the debate. If our own culture can change because of environmental problems, it will sooner or later influence the architectural design to reflect inhabitants’ cultural and social values. One of the most critical phenomena in the housing sector to reduce the impact on the environment and climate change is the sustainable housing concept: houses that use ecological materials, use a recycling system and are supplied with clean energy.

Additionally, these housing types promote the environment and the most respected lifestyles, reducing their ecological footprint. The house is a living space, home, room, or apartment in which one or more people permanently live [ 6 ]. A house usually contains areas for cooking, hygiene, and sleep. In addition, often spaces for socializing, family life, and solemn occasions. The house not only fills the requirements, but it is also a pleasure. From the child’s stacking of bricks to learning how to master the heavens and space to self-expression, construction is something that concerns us all deeply [ 7 ].

A residential building is usually defined as a house where at least half of the area is intended as a living space. Housing can be defined as an “industry of protection and comfort.” In the first place, it protects humans from various aggressions against which they feel the need to defend themselves. In a history of societies that have made human settlements (unequally) safer, the essential requirement of shelter is outweighed by comfort and well-being. During the 1980s, the assumption that development and the environment were incompatible was increasingly questioned [ 8 ]. Views that a future growth based on sustainable utilization of natural resources was an option gradually emerged. Therefore, it was decided in 1983 at the UN that a World Commission on Environment and Development should be set up. Since the Rio Declaration, which is also the origin of the Environmental Summit, the term sustainable has referred to economic activities that consider the global environment [ 9 ]. Sustainable housing is a long-lived housing that is easy to live in and will be passed down to the next human generation.

2. Sustainable housing concept and designs

Housing is a shelter that provides primary living conditions such as safe housing, drinking water, and healthy food for humans [ 10 ]. Even in developed countries, low-income families often have no housing for economic reasons or face health and safety problems caused by poor housing quality [ 11 ]. Sustainable architecture is mainly embodied in the overall planning of ecological, economic, and social and cultural sustainability. Sustainable housing is guided by the concept of sustainable development, carries out reasonable planning and design, effectively utilizes resources in the process of construction and use, minimizes the impact on the environment, and provides residents with health and comfort. A safe space, a living carrier that enables people to be satisfied in an elegant environment [ 12 ].

The new housing design concerns the thoughtful activity of the actor who creates the artifact providing man with the place of his protection and comfort. This acceptation of the term conception, thus understood as cognitive activity, can admit another, broader one, making it possible to also understand this cognitive activity within a framework of thought specific to a given period. We will approach the design of housing by examining how it went from the self-design of its inhabitant to a complex elaboration, both in terms of the resources it calls on, the knowledge and techniques it uses, and the skills cooperation it uses. Sustainable housing has an important role to play in ensuring an adequate quality of human life [ 13 ]. The positive impact of housing can be enhanced by applying conservation principles, economic efficiency, social inclusion, and public participation, and adequacy in terms of culture. Sustainable housing development in the EU region faces many challenges, driven primarily by globalization, demographic change, climate change, and the economic crisis. The challenges are that sustainable public housing is typically different from ordinary construction. Sustainable construction can be different in heating, venting, technologies used, etc. [ 14 ]. This implies that these houses are too different regarding the necessary knowledge and handling of the operational conditions. Without using petroleum energy, which causes global warming, we will create homes that use natural clean energy such as solar heat and wind power. In addition, because it is a residence that considers the cycle of tree growth and regeneration, it also leads to the effective use of recycled materials such as dismantled old folk houses [ 15 ]. In addition to making the house last longer, sustainable housing is also characterized by consideration for building a house that can reduce waste when dismantled and reuse building materials. Sustainable housing where people can live comfortably forever. In future home building, the idea of sustainable housing will be strongly required. In sustainable housing, it is considered to create a house that is friendly to people and the earth everywhere, such as the structure, floor plan, equipment, and building materials used. By being conscious of building a house where you can live for a long time, you will not only have the advantage of not damaging the environment, but you will also be able to build a house that is kind to the residents [ 16 ]. This time let us think about sustainable housing that is kind to both people and the earth. To talk about sustainable houses, it is required to build using sustainable materials. It should also be able to generate its own energy and use its own resources. One of the main features of sustainable energy is the use of solar generators. Solar panels allow you to use solar energy. Sustainable houses are those that, being respectful of the environment, take advantage of all available resources to reduce energy consumption and, therefore, help save on household bills, something that is always appreciated [ 17 ]. These types of houses are integrated into nature and are in such a way that they make the most of their environment: light, water. Another aspect of sustainable housing is the reuse of rainwater. You can also build a generator that can store energy from the wind. But it’s not very pretty. There are several problems with sustainable rates. Perhaps the most important is the price of the material. And this price is much higher than that of traditional materials. Even so, the cost is not always high. Some architects and designers have recycled materials, so they do not cost too much. It should also be considered that sustainable housing begins to reduce supply costs. Energy efficiency is essential when building this type of house [ 18 ]. It is also important to include the use of renewable resources. Construction and materials used must be completely ecological. Water must be managed intelligently. It is important to achieve comfort in both ventilation and air conditioning in a sustainable house. Recent environmental issues have attracted worldwide attention. This has stimulated a response in many countries, which has led to a more in-depth review of energy conservation strategies for traditional fossil fuels. One way to reduce the energy consumption of buildings is to design buildings that are more economical in their use of energy for heating, cooling, ventilating, and lighting [ 19 ]. Comfortable lighting conditions can be achieved, and the highest level of sound insulation can be achieved without the use of many consumables. That is why a sustainable house must account for energy efficiency and savings in supply and construction costs over its entire service life. After obtaining the first building materials, a house can have many years of service life and maintenance until it is reused. In addition to all of this, it is essential to enjoy a sustainable home based on its architecture. At the heart of maintaining sustainable homes are the three R’s of sustainability: reduce, recycle, and reuse. Resource utility and technical efficiency must be maximized. However, it’s not all that beautiful. Sustainable rates have several problems. Perhaps the most important is the price of the materials. And this is because the price is much higher than that of traditional materials. The costs should not always be higher. There are some architects and designers who have managed to recycle materials so that the expenses are not too high. In addition, it must also be considered that sustainable homes start saving supply costs the principle compared with a traditional home. In the long run, this is a big saving economically and environmentally [ 20 ]. To create a competitive advantage using environment-friendly construction practices, the whole life cycle of buildings should, therefore, be the context under which these practices are carried out.

3. Sustainable housing under EU platform

The principles and strategies for standard urban policies in the EU countries, including guidelines for affordable and sustainable housing and social housing, are set out in the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities [ 21 ]. As part of the EU Housing Agenda Partnership on Housing, EU countries and cities work with the European Commission and other stakeholders to promote good quality, affordable housing. Among the measures proposed are those in public housing support, funding opportunities, and general housing policies and knowledge. To talk about sustainable houses, it is required to build using sustainable materials. It should also generate its energy and use its resources. One of the main features of sustainable energy is the use of solar generators. Solar panels allow you to use solar energy. Sustainable houses are those that, being respectful of the environment, take advantage of all available resources to reduce energy consumption and, therefore, help save on household bills, something that is always appreciated. These types of houses are integrated into nature and are in such a way that they make the most of their environment: light, water. Another aspect of sustainable housing is the reuse of rainwater. You can also build a generator that can store energy from the wind. But it’s not very pretty.

4. Conclusion

This chapter, directly or indirectly, deals with the problem of housing and sustainable housing requirements. Several priorities have been identified among the wide range of specific tasks, conditions, and means of implementing Sustainable Development. These include promoting the sustainable development of human settlements (solving the housing problem). There are several problems with sustainable rates. Perhaps the most important is the price of the material. And this price is much higher than that of traditional materials. Even so, the cost is not always high. Some architects and designers have recycled materials, so they do not cost too much. It should also be considered that sustainable housing begins to reduce supply costs. Principles compared with traditional assumptions. This is a great long-term economically and environmentally friendly savings. For sustainable housing to be attractive to the public, the cost factor is very important. The consumer knows that he will recover the investment in a certain number of years, so he can bear higher construction costs. It should reflect the amount of electricity and water bills that will be saved over time.

Despite all the points discussed, the economic aspect is paramount. Here an excellent architectural and design management comes into play so that the cost may not be very high. In addition, it is interesting that the design of the house is quite attractive. Creating such an optimal building concept with minimal energy consumption and environmental impact represents a complex optimization task of elaborate planning, where partial aspects are pushed to the background in favor of the overall performance of the building or used in the whole context correctly: such integrated planning, resp. The design offers a real chance to reduce material costs and mainly operating costs because, e.g., the planning of the technical equipment of buildings does not begin with the planning of the building but with the planning of its external space. Therefore, it becomes essential to select technologies that can be used to create sustainable housing by an objective process. This applies not only to individual houses but also to settlements of any scale. Living in such houses and settlements will create the preconditions for the formation of ecological consciousness and give an additional chance for a sustainable healthy life of our civilization.

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• 3. Sodagar B, Fieldson R, Gilroy-Scott B. Design for sustainable architecture and environments. The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic, and Social Sustainability: Annual Review. 2008; 4 (4):73-84. DOI: 10.18848/1832-2077/CGP/v04i04/54505
• 4. Kaushik ACG. Renewable energy technologies for sustainable development of energy efficient building. Alexandria Engineering Journal. 2018; 57 (2):655-669. DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2017.02.027
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• 6. Almusaed A, Almssad A. Introductory chapter: Housing policy matters. In: Housing. UK: IntechOpen; 2018. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.81622. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/64126
• 7. Gyurkovich J. Living space in a city—selected problems of shaping modern housing complexes in cracow—a multiple case studies: Part 1—the case study of urban villas. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering. 2019; 471 :092015
• 8. Asefi-Najafabady S, Villegas-Ortiz L, Morgan J. The failure of Integrated Assessment Models as a response to ‘climate emergency’ and ecological breakdown: The emperor has no clothes. Globalizations. 2021; 18 (7):1178-1188
• 9. Clémençon R. From Rio 1992 to Rio 2012 and beyond: Revisiting the role of trade rules and financial transfers for sustainable development. Journal of Environment & Development. 2012; 21 (1):5-14. DOI: 10.1177/1070496512436890
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• 12. Moghayedi A, Awuzie B, Omotayo T, Le Jeune K, Massyn M, Ekpo CO, et al. A critical success factor framework for implementing sustainable innovative and affordable housing: A systematic review and bibliometric analysis. Buildings. 2021; 11 (8):317. DOI: 10.3390/buildings11080317
• 13. Almusaed A, Almssad A. Building materials in eco-energy houses from Iraq and Iran. Case Studies in Construction Materials. 2015; 2 :42-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2015.02.001
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• 15. Almusaed A. Biophilic and Bioclimatic Architecture, Analytical Therapy for the Next, Generation of Passive Sustainable Architecture. England, London: Springer-Verlag Limited; 2011. p. 341. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-84996-534-7
• 16. White K, Habib R, Hardisty DJ. How to shift consumer behaviors to be more sustainable: A literature review and guiding framework. Journal of Marketing. 2019; 83 (3):22-49. DOI: 10.1177/0022242919825649
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• 18. Mohammad SA, Krarti M. Energy efficiency of residential buildings in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Review of status and future roadmap. Journal of Building Engineering. 2021; 36 :102143
• 19. Omer AM. Built environment: Relating the benefits of renewable energy technologies. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering (IJAME). 2012; 5 :561-575. DOI: 10.15282/ijame.5.2012.3.0044
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• 21. Eltges M. Leipzig charter on sustainable european cites—a work in progress. European Spatial Research and Policy. 2010; 16 (2):63-78. DOI: 10.2478/v10105-009-0013-5

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Case Study: A Sustainable Home

This sustainable home is designed to suit the specific contours of the site with minimal impacts to surrounding ecosystems. Built into the saddle of the hillside, a below grade living space allows for transition from a whole family environment to a single floor habitation for aging in place. The building shell is utilized as a passive control for indoor environmental comfort which has resulted in a 85% reduction in overall utility costs*. The house served as a case study for testing sustainable materials for functionality, durability and experimenting with passive structural methods. Sustainable solutions included: Geothermal HVAC and bio-based insulation products. Passive solar design: employing roof soffit sun-shading and fenestration for control of thermal comfort and lighting. Subterranean living spaces maximize the insulating effects of the earth. Awning windows oriented over stone dry beds maximize on natural air convection for passive interior cooling. Exterior finishes include post consumer recycled steel, and reclaimed medina stone road curbing hardscapes. Building and finish materials and a whole house ERV system support healthy indoor air quality. Reclaimed, recycled and rapidly renewable materials finish the interior. Site harvested forest deadfall reused for interior accents supporting sense of place and meaning.

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Case Studies | Sustainable Housing

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• Achieving Lead Safe Housing in Cleveland
• Healthy Beginnings at Home Explores a Novel Approach to Reducing Infant Mortality in Columbus, Ohio
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Community Development

• San Francisco: Repurposing Maritime Parcels as Affordable Housing
• Transforming an Abandoned Car Dealership Into Affordable Housing in Boston

Healthy Housing

• BRIGHT Study Finds Improved Health at Boston Housing Authority’s Old Colony Homes
• Southwest Alaska: Improving the Respiratory Health of Alaska Native Children

Senior Housing

• A Transit Accessible Senior Housing Development in Thornton, Colorado
• Lake Anne House Revitalizes Historic Senior Housing in Reston, Virginia

Supportive Housing

• Yakima, Washington: An Adaptive Reuse Project Provides Supportive Housing for Formerly Homeless Veterans
• Village on Mercy Provides Supportive Housing in Orlando, Florida

Sustainable Housing

• Greenville, Mississippi: Reserves at Gray Park Adds Affordable, Energy-Efficient Housing on Underutilized City Land
• Norfolk, Virginia: Building Sustainable Affordable Housing

Zoning for Affordable Housing

• San Francisco, California: Inclusionary Zoning Expands the Below-Market-Rate Housing Stock
• Addressing Homelessness with a Tiny-Home Village in Olympia, Washington

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Home > Case Studies > Sustainable Housing

• Greenville, Mississippi: Reserves at Gray Park Adds Affordable, Energy-Efficient Housing on Underutilized City Land  
• Norfolk, Virginia: Building Sustainable Affordable Housing  
• Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan: A Sustainable Mixed-Income Housing Development Brings Housing Downtown  
• Ventura, California: Affordable Farmworker Housing Designed for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency  
• San Juan, Puerto Rico: Mixed-Income Housing Transforms the Commonwealth’s Affordable Housing  
• Woodland, California: Affordable Housing for Agricultural Workers Builds Community Leaders  
• Santa Monica, California: The Arroyo Provides Affordable and Sustainable Housing  
• Columbus, Ohio: Fairwood Commons Uses Energy-Efficient Design To Enhance the Affordability of Aging in Place  
• Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico: Cedar Hills Development Adds Affordable Housing, Sustains the Environment and Tribal Culture  
• Portland, Maine: 409 Cumberland Avenue Apartments Add Affordable Housing and Promote Sustainable Food and Healthy Living  
• Minneapolis, Minnesota: A Revitalized Gateway to the Philips Neighborhood  
• BRIGHT Study Finds Improved Health at Boston Housing Authority’s Old Colony Homes  
• Improving the Respiratory Health of Alaska Native Children  
• Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana: Expanding Housing Opportunities on Tribal Lands  
• Preserving Retail and Increasing Affordable Housing in Downtown Brattleboro, Vermont  
• Sacramento, California: Smart Growth in Historic Alkali Flat  
• Boulder, Colorado: Infill Workforce Housing  
• El Paso, Texas: Net-Zero Energy Housing for Seniors  
• Elkton, Maryland: Preserving Rural Housing  
• Chicago, Illinois: Historic Green Rehabilitation at Harvest Commons  
• Tampa, Florida: Addressing the Housing and Transportation Cost Burden  
• Richmond, Virginia: Supporting Mixed-Income Neighborhoods  
• Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico: Tribal-Led Cultural Preservation  
• Dallas, Texas: Congo Street Green Initiative Provides Important Lessons in Community Revitalization  
• Bronx, New York: Innovative Design of Via Verde's Affordable Housing Development  
• East Greenwich, Rhode Island: Cottages on Greene’s Innovative Approach to Infill  
• Seattle’s High Point Redevelopment Project  
• St. Louis, Missouri: Crown Square Historic Rehabilitation in Old North St. Louis  
• Lancaster, California: Affordable Artist Housing Leads Smart Growth Transformation  

The contents of this article are the views of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. Government.

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Our Case Study Library is the ‘go-to’ resource for certified best practice case studies in the built environment, showcasing some of the world’s most cutting-edge sustainable buildings.

Each case study demonstrates outstanding performance of an operational building that complies with at least one of WorldGBC’s three strategic impact areas: Climate Action ; Health , Equity & Resilience ; and Resources & Circularity .  

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Whether it be health benefits, regeneration of nature, or achieving net zero carbon, WorldGBC recognises these case studies as global leaders for sustainable built environments. Each case study has been validated by established certification schemes, rating tools or other third-party verification.

Our Case Study Library is continually evolving to highlight the ‘best in class’ buildings that excel in key areas of sustainability, and to recognise the growing market demand for low-carbon, healthy, equitable and circular buildings. 

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1) Net zero carbon case studies of new developments, major renovations, existing buildings or spaces, that demonstrate either the following achievement:

— Net Zero Operational Carbon

For existing buildings or spaces, the case study should demonstrate how net zero operational carbon emissions have been achieved. The building should demonstrate the highest levels of energy efficiency with the use of either renewables generated onsite or renewable energy procured offsite.

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For new developments and major renovations, the case study should have achieved both net zero upfront embodied carbon and net zero operational carbon. The case study should demonstrate maximised reduction of embodied carbon emissions during the design and construction phase, and optimised for maxmised reductions across the building lifecycle, according to local/regional/international benchmarks or targets. Any remaining residual upfront carbon emissions (A1 – A5) must then be compensated (offset) at the point of practical completion of the project.

The building should have its life cycle assessments (LCA) and whole life carbon data verified and certified under Green Building Council or other third-party certification schemes related to LCA/net zero embodied carbon/net zero whole life carbon. Verification of the compensation for residual emissions at the point of practical completion should also be provided. 

Note: Case studies that have achieved reductions in embodied carbon, but have not compensated (offset) for any remaining residual upfront embodied carbon emissions (A1 – A5) at point of practical completion, should submit under the ‘Resources and Circularity’ category, as well as case studies that have only achieved net zero upfront embodied carbon but not net zero operational carbon.

Find out more about net zero carbon buildings through our Advancing Net Zero programme.

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The case study must demonstrate that outstanding performance in these elements can be done through a holistic green building certification scheme, or through achieving specific health or social-based certification or validation. Outstanding performance can also be demonstrated using verified performance data, such as Post-Occupancy Evaluations. 

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What is the Case Study Library?

WorldGBC’s Case Study Library is an online tool showcasing buildings globally that are elevating their response to the climate emergency through leading certification schemes. This will enable us to fulfil our mission of communicating and educating on industry best practice, specifically in relation to healthy, circular, and net zero carbon buildings.

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When submitting your project via the form , there is a section called “Performance Area” where you will see the categories presented. Here, you can select the categories that your project falls under and you can fill in the required fields for each category. 

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Following a review by WorldGBC, the submitter will receive an email confirming if the submission has been accepted or not. In some cases, we will contact you to clarify information if unclear and to avoid the submission being rejected. 

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We recognise that not all high performance buildings are certified, for many reasons. The “special pleading” option allows the inclusion of world class case studies that have not pursued a traditional rating tool path, but have externally verified performance as a sustainable building and meet the same performance criteria (and in operation at time of submission).

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My project is "net zero ready", can this be submitted?

In cases where a building operates at an equivalent high performance standard, but for reasons beyond the control of the project team cannot achieve verified net zero carbon status due to legal, energy procurement or other restrictions, these are encouraged to be submitted as “special pleading” projects for consideration.

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Find out more about the criteria required for acceptance into the Case Study Library.

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For any queries, please contact the respective programme leads:  

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Energy Sustainable House: A Case study and validation through Revit

Arjun Malik 1 , Ravinder Kumar 2 , Rhythm Gupta 1 , Varun Vikal 1 , Minhan 1 and Ujjwal Bhardwaj 1,1

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd Journal of Physics: Conference Series , Volume 2178 , International Symposium on Fluids and Thermal Engineering (FLUTE 2021) 22 July 2021, Uttar Pradesh, India Citation Arjun Malik et al 2022 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 2178 012025 DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/2178/1/012025

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Author affiliations.

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India-201303.

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India-201303.

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Reducing carbon footprints and adopting green energy sources is the need of modern time. Green sources of energy need to find preference over traditional sources. Unconventional sources of energy like solar, wind are alternatives of traditional energy sources. Lack of awareness, high initial investment and lack of government incentive are few challenges in adoption of green sources of energy in housing sector, especially in developing economies. Construction, design and aesthetics of traditional residential building have a significant effect on energy consumption and environment. Town planners, private housing developers and individual house owners have to become aware and adopt the non-traditional sources of energy like solar energy for meeting their daily need of energy. An energy sustainable house has minimum dependency on traditional sources of energy like coal based thermal power plants. For moving a step closer to energy sustainable building, in this research paper authors have studied the design, energy consumption and transformation of energy dependencies on roof top solar plant of a residential building by situation actor process & learning action performance (SAP-LAP) methodology. Further authors tried to validate the observations and findings of study by energy balance analysis of the same residential building by Autodesk Revit software. Studying the economical aspect of current case authors observed that the case house got 60% saving in monthly electricity bill after installing rooftop solar power plant and payback period of total investment on solar power plant is 6.5 to 7 years only.

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Final Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3

• 42 U.S.C. §7401 - 7671q
• 40 CFR Parts 86, 1036, 1037, 1039, 1054, 1065
• EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985

On this page:

Rule summary, rule history, additional resources.

• Regulations for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Commercial Trucks & Buses
• Regulations for Smog, Soot, and Other Air Pollution from Commercial Trucks & Buses

Para información en español, haga clic aquí .

On March 29, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” that sets stronger standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) vehicles beginning in model year (MY) 2027. The new standards will be applicable to HD vocational vehicles (such as delivery trucks, refuse haulers, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, school buses, etc.) and tractors (such as day cabs and sleeper cabs on tractor-trailer trucks).

The final “Phase 3” standards build on EPA’s Heavy-Duty Phase 2 program from 2016 and maintain that program’s flexible structure, which is designed to reflect the diverse nature of the heavy-duty vehicle industry. The standards are technology-neutral and performance-based, allowing each manufacturer to choose what set of emissions control technologies is best suited for them and the needs of their customers.

• Final Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles -Phase 3 (pdf) (8.5 MB, pre-publication, signed March 2024)
• Proposed Rule: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3
• Fact Sheet: Final Standards to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Heavy-Duty Vehicles for Model Year 2027 and Beyond (pdf) (185.2 KB, March 2024, EPA-420-F-24-018)
• Fact sheet in Spanish: Normas finales para reducir las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero de los vehículos pesados modelos del año 2027 y posteriores (pdf) (191.6 KB, March 2024, EPA-420-F-24-019)
• Regulatory Impact Analysis: Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards Regulatory Impact Analysis (pdf) (14.2 MB, March 2024, EPA-420-R-24-006)
• Response to Comments: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Phase 3 (pdf) (16 MB, March 2024, EPA-420-R-24-007)
• Redline Version of EPA’s Final Regulation for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Phase 3 (pdf) (6.5 MB, April 2024)
• Regulations for Emissions from Vehicles and Engines Home
• Greenhouse Gas