- Green building... what is it?
- Why would I want to build a green home? Isn't it more expensive?
- Aren't green homes build small to conserve energy?
- Does green building invlove state-of-the-art materials and building methods?
- Why is timber framing a "sustainable building system"?
- It looks like a timber frame uses more wood than a stick frame home. How can it still be a green building?
- How energy efficient is a timber frame house?
- I've heard that an airtight home can have poor indoor-air quality.
- How do I build a green home?
- Is there a "green building code"?
- So... is a timber frame home green?
Green building is building a comfortable home that has the smallest impact on the environment during and after construction. Green building has acquired a stigma of being a tremendously complicated process. Depending on the involved parties, it can be. The easiest way to build green is to build sensible. There are many great ideas for green building out there. You want to pick and choose the ones that will best suit your living style and locale. If you live in a climate where there isn't a long hard winter, how smart is it to install a radiant heat system that takes a day to heat up and to cool down?
In some cases, yes. The trade off is that you will save money in the long run with energy savings. The determining factors involve the materials and methods used in the building of the home.
The relationship between the size of a home and whether or not it's "green" is not determined by the size alone. If the client is single or has a small family, then a green home will typically be small. The larger the family, the larger the home. The premise behind green buildings is that you do not build or live in a home that is larger than what you need.
Yes and no. Power and water savings usually involve relatively new technologies. However, when it comes to the basic construction of your home, green does not always mean state-of-the-art. Timber framing is thousands of years old; yet by today's standards, it is still considered a green building method because it is a sustainable building system.
Timber frames are considered sustainable buildings mostly because of their longevity. A typical stick frame house has roughly a 50 year lifespan before major repairs are needed. Whereas a timber frame will stand for hundreds of years before major repairs are needed... if they are needed. Also according to the LEED scoring system a timber frame would fall under Innovation and Design where part of the plan is to build the most durable house possible. A perfect example would be found in Europe where timber framing was and still is in wide spread use because the buildings last so long.
Looks can be decieving. Timber frames typically use less wood than a conventional stick framed home because the load supporting capabilities of the wood are optimized.
A timber frame is only as energy efficient as the envelope that encloses it. The method that has shown the best energy efficiency is using "SIP's" (Structurally Insulated Panels). These are fixed to the outside of the timber frame and because they do not have thermal breaks in the insulation, they create a solid curtain of insulation. This drastically reduces the amount of heat lost by conduction through the walls and ceilings. Because SIP's interlock during application, they also create a virtually airtight building envelope.
In some cases that is true. How "healthy" the home is can be affected by the building materials used and by how the air circulation is handled. Air quality can be regulated through the use of high efficiency air exchangers. Not only do you introduce fresh outside air while expelling indoor contaminants, your utility dollars are maximized by transferring the energy from the outgoing air.
Building a green home involves planning how the site will be prepared, where the house is located on the site, and how its orientated to the sun. Make choices that minimize resource consumption both during and after the construction phase. Your dream home can be both comfortable and efficient.
At this moment, the NAHB™ (National Association of Home Builders™) has a set of guidelines that many builders follow if they consider themselves green builders. The Green Building Council™ is modifying a set of commercial green building guidelines for residential use. These guidelines were created by LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™).
The answer is yes. If you use reclaimed wood or wood which comes from a managed forest along with SIP's to enclose the frame then you will have achieved some of the elements in building a green home. The longevity of the frame, coupled with the efficiency of the SIP's, and the "Energy Star™" rated mechanicals will make any timber frame structure green. The "Energy Star™" mechanicals also help with the usage efficiency of water, electrical, solar, etc. Put it all together... and your home is green.