There’s a notion, among folks I’ve met, that all green dwellings are weird, kooky, or minimal (read boring) but that’s not true at all. I actually do like the unique green dwellings, but many green homes are being built nowadays in contemporary styles, modern styles, and basic styles. You can’t even tell that some green homes are green from looking at them, so if you’re interested in green homes, but not in extreme green homes, you do have plenty of options.

Image via Lifecycle Building Challenge

Here are some various ends of the green home spectrum. Starting with, yes, the unique. This to-die for home seen above is fresh from the Lifecycle Building Challenge – something that the ever green Jetson Green covered in depth. This particular home, the Loblolly House: Unbolt, Detach, Reassemble was one of the challenge winners and it’s easy to see why. This beautiful beyond belief, prefab, energy conserving, waste reducing home is simply awesome.

Image via Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

If small and sweet is your dream then Tumbleweed homes are perfect for you (see above). Space saving, resource saving, and green to the max.

Image via A Low Impact Woodland Home

One of my favorite green homes is the amazing Woodland House. This home is not only unique but greener than green with so many eco-feature you can’t believe it. Learn more.

See a slide show of TEN amazing green homes – from cob to prefab to green remodels and more. There’s a green home styled just for you in this slide show.

From time to time I’ll share some other cool green homes here – stay tuned.

Post from: Blisstree

Luscious Green Houses

One of my favorite structures of Blip’s is a remodel, the queen anne house. The home is in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle and takes advantage of the views to the east, and is Built-Green certified. The front is simply sparklingly. There’s a great website dedicated to the house – check it out.

Unique and bright, this home, in spite of it’s original coloring, merges right in with the environment surrounding it. I love it. If you really want to see what Blip is capable of, check out this capitol hill house remodel.

Here’s the before shot of this home…

And after Blip got their hands on it…

Very different, no? Blip added a new penthouse and roof deck, opened the stairs, and added multiple green features; solar hot water collectors, wastewater heat-recovery, rainwater harvesting, hydronic radiant floor heat, super-insulated envelope, and rain-screen siding. Plus this home won a 2005 Built Green Design Award. You really should check out the back view, it’s very nice.

See all of Blip Design’s work at their website.

[images via Blip Design]

Post from: Blisstree

Blip Design

According to the Leger Wanaselja Architecture website, the once open office space was divided into zones of sorts, to allow for a feeling of space division, but the plan looks really nice and open, welcoming, even split, I think. The room elements are made of salvaged, low toxic or resource efficient materials.

For the sign in area the architects actually designed both a desk and wall with Powerguard panels – photovoltaic roofing product. Very cool and innovative, right? The office is a showcase for the company’s product which is just clever beyond words.

Look at the cool conference room up close:

Lovely. I think I want this office.

To learn more about the design aspects and see more pictures of the Powerlight office space go right here. It’s a cool read. To see more great structure designs, visit Leger Wanaselja Architecture. They have many neat projects, but if I were you, I’d start with the elia/jones house – it’s a stunning home remodel.

[photos via Leger Wanaselja Architecture]

Post from: Blisstree

The Powerlight Office Space

West Coast Green, the largest residential green building conference in America recently released it’s full line-up of presenters and exhibits for this year’s show taking place on September 20-22, 2007. The show, which will be held in San Francisco, has two days worth of educational programs for builders and designers in the industry and then allows homeowners in on the final day (wish I could go).

Sadly, I cannot go and I’m guessing this won’t fit into most of your schedules either. So I’m hoping that up until the show, I can bring some of what will be going on to Offbeat readers.

Starting with the mkLotus; designed by Michelle Kauffmann architect of the Sunset Breezehouse and built by XtremeHomes. The mkLotus is said to “feature the most advanced green technology and sustainable materials available on the market.”

I am not a fan of modular homes and I think this one is stunning. I love the colors and the raise on the roof. According to Kauffman’s site some components of the new very green design include:

• “Green “Living” Roof
• Solar Power: This Home Uses 100% Solar Generated Power
• Rain and Groundwater Catchment System: Collected Water is Used for Irrigation
• Gray Water System: Collected Water from Sinks and Shower is Recirculated to Toilets
• Exterior Siding: Low-maintenance, Long-lasting Integral Color Cement Board by Cembonit and FSC Certified Woood.
• High Performance, Energy Efficient Spray-in Open Cell Foam Insulation
• On-demand Water Heater
• Energy Efficient HVAC System”
  

Included green interior components include:

• Sustainable Layout for Maximum Cross Ventilation and Natural Lighting
• Rapidly Renewable Bamboo Flooring
• No-VOC Paint by Yolo throughout
• LED Lighting throughout
• Interior Sliding Door Panels by 3form: EcoResin comprised of 40% Post-Industrial Reclaimed Material

I don’t love the interior as much as the exterior; but I think I’m basing this on the white couch — obviously you’d bring your own furniture in.
One amazing point about this home is that the “Off Site Modular Technology” resulted in 50-70% less waste than if you build a home traditionally on site. Plus the neighbors don’t get mad with all the noise. (home building is very loud).

I love it. If you are going, you’ll get to see this home in person. West Coast Green, Extreme Green Homes, and Sunset Magazine are going to construct one of these high-performance green homes in front of City Hall and the Bill Graham Civic Center where West Coast Green is held.

Additionally, if you’re going, take a camera and send me some shots. Or maybe we should just organize a road trip. I’ll rent a pop-up and a truck and pick you all up along the way. But you’d have to live somewhere between Washington and California. Let’s see I think that leaves what, Oregon. Go Pacific NW!; sorry East Coasties.

For more information and extra photos of this beautiful home visit Michelle Kauffmann designs.

Post from: Blisstree

West Coast Green: The mkLotus