July 29th, 2010
The social and economic climate of the day can, and typically has, had a broad affect on home design throughout time. Our current times are no different; in fact, home design may be more driven by these factors than we have seen in over fifty years. The current economic downturn coupled with peoples’ desire to be more environmentally conscience, has brought about change in our perception of what a home should be. Efficiency is the key word of today, and now more than ever, it is an integral part of designing and building a home. Maximizing the efficiency of resources during construction can cut down home building costs, while quality construction and air-sealing a home can cut down the energy costs over its lifetime.
Here at SWA Architects, we have begun developing a housing design strategy that is built on the motto of efficiency. We have started preliminary designs of homes that are designed to fit narrower suburban and urban lots and range in size from 1,800 to 2,500 square feet. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Energy Efficiency, Green Construction, Gregg Stahr, Residential
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June 25th, 2010
Here we go with our fifth installment of Going Green in which we follow the construction, and green certification process, of the Wheaton Green Home being built by Jason Werr of JAW Builders and designed by SWA Architects. We have just passed the Rough Inspection phase of the green verification process as construction is continuing. As I’ve said in previous posts, the Rough Inspection is done after the insulation is installed, but before drywall starts to go up. This way I, as the verifier, can inspect framing techniques and plumbing and mechanical installation before it is covered up.
The ultimate goal for this home was to reach the Emerald level, the highest level achievable, of the NAHB Green Building Standard. We have reached the point in the process where we can now realistically estimate where the finished product will fall and it appears the Emerald will be just out of reach due to a couple of different factors.
Something we have learned as we have been going through this process with Jason Werr, and other clients, is that there are two kinds of factors that will determine what level you will achieve. There are those factors that are within a builder’s control, such as material selections and recycling of construction waste, and factors that are beyond a builder’s control, such as the orientation of your site to the street and the climate zone your site falls in. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Green Construction, Gregg Stahr, Jaw Builders, Residential
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May 14th, 2010
As challenging as the construction industry has been over the last couple of years I have seen the market expanding of the last few months. In fact I just completed the design of a 5,500 square foot home that will be built for a nice young couple and their two children.
The house will set on a peninsula shape lot on a lovely private lake in Plainfield, Illinois. The three car garage is tucked into the side of the stone and brick exterior. The finished home will be surrounded by an in ground pool, large decks, patios, plush landscaping as well as the finely manicured lake front.
The interior of the home has been arranged on three levels, with the foyer, principle rooms, master and guest suite comprising the main level. The upper level will contain two bedrooms sharing a large “Jack & Jill” bath and an over sized play loft that overlooks both the two story entry hall and the great room. The lower level which is open to both the rear and side yards consists of a large Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Residential, Thomas Fend
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April 1st, 2010
As construction continues on the Green Home in Wheaton, the process of green certification moves into the next phase. To this point, I have not talked much about the process a builder must go through with the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program in order to get a home certified “green”.
When a builder decides to go for certification, there are a number of steps that he/she must take to reach that goal. As I have mentioned in prior posts, a builder really should make this decision before any design of the home is put down on paper. Starting the process like this allows the builder to team with their architect to reach a common goal, while also allowing “green” elements to be integral parts of the home, not just added on after thoughts to an existing design. This also allows the builder and architect to work together to incorporate as many of the National Green Building Standards (NGBS) requirements as they see fit to reach the level of certification they are striving for. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Green Construction, Gregg Stahr, Jaw Builders, Residential
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February 17th, 2010
Without fanfare or articles in the mainstream media, the Energy Efficient Building Act became effective in Illinois on January 29, 2010 for most new residential construction in Illinois. As mentioned in an earlier blog, Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed the new statewide residential energy code into law on August 28th 2009. The delay between signing the law and its effective date has been the necessity to write the administrative rules.
The Energy Efficient Building Act adopts the requirements of the latest edition of the International Energy Code, currently the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The requirements are statewide, with the exemption of a few communities such as the City of Chicago and approximately 30 other municipalities that had adopted the 2006 IECC prior to May 15th, 2009. Apart from the exempted communities, no local municipality has the authority to mandate energy requirements less than or greater than the requirements of the 2009 IECC.
It’s likely that many architects, builders and code officials are not yet aware of the new residential energy code requirements. Although SWA Architects has already been providing upgraded insulation packages for many of the homes we design, the new code will affect some of our details and specifications. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bill Styczynski, Building Code, Energy Efficiency, Legacy Design and Construction, Residential
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