Low-cost green design measures

Listed below are several simple, easy-to-integrate zero- or low-cost measures to green your new construction or remodel project.

Integrated Design

Increase Energy Efficiency | Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Waste Reduction

Resource Conservation

Sustainable Sites

Recommended Green Building Checklist

Simple Steps You Can Take Today

Integrated design

1.  Use an integrated design approach, also known as whole systems thinking. Many facets of your project are inter-connected and impact other areas of the overall design. For example, tree placement can affect summer cooling needs. Building size impacts energy efficiency, equipment sizing, maintenance and materials usage. A tighter building envelope can require a smaller heating system, and increased ventilation. A rainscreen system on the building exterior wall helps with indoor air quality and mold mitigation. A balcony can do double-duty when it works as a shading device for a lower floor.

2.  Assemble the members of your design team early in the process and collaborate together. For example, a landscape designer may have ideas for integrating passive cooling and stormwater management. Your contractor may have ideas of how to maximize your energy efficiency in the design of the building envelope.

3.  Design with reduced square footage in mind. Create flexible spaces with many uses, that can change along with a company's or family's evolving needs.

4.  Select light-colored roofing, or Energy Star certified roofing to reflect solar rays thus reducing heat gain in your building.

Increase energy efficiency | reduce your carbon footprint

1.  Explore the available commercial and residential energy efficiency incentives offered.

-Cash incentives: Energy Trust of Oregon http://www.energytrust.org/

-State tax credits: Oregon Dept of Energy http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/Incentives.shtml

-Federal tax credits: Tax Incentives Assistance Project http://www.energytaxincentives.org/

-Low-interest loans and grants: Portland Development Commission (PDC) (City of Portland only): http://www.pdc.us/

2. Incorporate solar tubes into your lighting plan. These reduce the need for lights and the duration they are turned on.

3.  Install timers on vent fans to mitigate mold and moisture issues.

4.  Install occupancy/motion sensor/photocells on lights to regulate use.

5.  Purchase green power options from your local gas and electric companies for a few extra dollars a month on your utility bills. These support the development of renewable energy sources.

6.  Fully weatherizing and sealing your building has many benefits for a low up-front cost. A smaller HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) system may be needed to keep your space comfortable. Your heating or cooling system will not need to work as hard for as long. Employ this strategy with adequate ventilation.

7.  If you have a ducted heating system, run the ducts in a conditioned space (i.e. heated basement).  Additionally, for an un-conditioned space, sealing and insulating ducts in is an energy efficient strategy.

Waste reduction

1.  Use salvaged materials where possible. Examples are doors, items with historic character, cabinetry, lumber and light fixtures.

2.  Reuse existing materials where possible, either for their intended use or give them a new life. An example is doors remade into office workstations and partitions.

3.  Employ advanced framing techniques which reduce construction site waste, require less lumber and allow for ease of wall insulation.

Resource conservation

1.  Use recycled-content materials. Many have no cost premium such as some types of roofing, gypsum wallboard, cementitious underlayment board, ceramic tile, and carpet.

2.  Many green products are available at no cost premium. These include low-or no-VOC paint, and Energy Star appliances, home products and light fixtures.

3.  Design your project with resource conservation in mind. For example, when using plywood use the full 4'x8' sheet of plywood or gypsum wallboard, in lieu of smaller pieces, creating waste. Tell suppliers to reduce their packaging.

4.  Support local and regional manufacturers and companies, and save on cross-country transportation charges. Regional green directories include NW EcoBuilding Guild's Green Pages, the ReDirect Guide and the NW Green Directory.

5.  Design using durable, long-lasting materials, with ease of maintenance in mind.

6.  Choose from a wide selection of certified green products, many costing the same as their conventionial counterparts. Look for Energy Star, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Green Seal, Green Guard and the Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) Green Label logos.

Sustainable sites

1.  For a new construction project, design the building with site orientation in mind. Ample access to daylight reduces the need for lights on during the day.

2.  Install permeable pavers in lieu of concrete or asphalt in your hardscape.

3.  Reduce the area of lawn in your landscape. Plant drought-tolerant or native plants that will be self-sufficient after becoming established. Consider decorative gravel and boulders, or bioswales in place of lawn or beds.

Recommended green building checklist

Click here for a list including numerous zero- and low-cost measures.

Simple steps you can take today

Click here for Co-op America's Simple Home Energy Efficiency Steps and take action today.

Back to top of page