Recently, there has been much conversation about the values and types of Insulation. At Sustainable Design, we are not locked in with any one type of insulation, however, there are certain more desirable types we would recommend over another.
This brings up the issue of exactly what a sustainable residence is all about, which we will cover later at more depth. For the time being let us just focus on insulation and building performance.

Sustainable Design's Outdoor Solar Lighting
It used to be that when you wanted to install outdoor path or accent lighting, you had a substantial job on your hands. First you’d have to dig a trench to run electrical wire from the house to the light fixtures. You’d then have to lay wire and connect the lights. When that was done, you’d have to drill a hole in the wall and run the electrical wire to the main service panel (breaker box) or connect to a nearby circuit.

According to McGraw Hill, more than one third of architects, engineers and contractors in the U.S. say they have “green” jobs. That’s 661,000 jobs, a number that is expected to climb to more than 900,000 jobs in the next three years.

That’s in line with the $71 billion American green building market, which represented 25% of all new U.S. construction activity in 2010. The value of that activity is on track to reach $145 billion in 2015.

Say what? I thought that green jobs weren’t real?

While challenging in some areas of the country, the thought of a sustainable home is gaining traction and acceptance in America's heartland. Through the help of local volunteer organizations and various community groups, Sustainable Design has partnered up with numerous groups in the Joplin area to build the most affordable close to "net zero" homes available. While using mostly volunteer labor

What is Green Affordable housing?

Green Affordable Housing is designed to meet multiple goals. First, it must be affordable. Systems design leads to high performance at the lowest first cost. Energy efficiency is also important so that low operating costs make houses more affordable over their lifetime. Housing cannot be made more efficient at the expense of occupant's health. Indoor air quality can be improved through ventilation design, construction systems, and material selection.

The misconception that the costs of green design, construction, and certification are prohibitive stands as one of the greatest barriers to the adoption of sustainable design. However, numerous studies and reports now demonstrate that green buildings actually cost less than conventional construction.

Direct-gain passive solar systems rely on south-facing windows to bring solar energy directly into a house. That sunlight is absorbed by materials in the house (the floor, walls, furniture, etc.), which warm up, store some of that heat, and re-radiate it back into the room, warming the space.

The city of Phoenix is using a new green construction code, making it one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement such a code.

The voluntary codes took effect July 1

In a joint effort to help the families impacted by the recent May 2011 Tornado in Joplin, Mo., Sustainable Design, Inc. has entered into a strategic agreement with associate Capital Specs, LLC out of Marlboro, MD.

In a recent campaign to bring attention to the needs of Sustainable Design, we have successfully launched an outreach effort to help those impacted by the recent Tornado of May 2011 that directly changed the lives 1000's of families and businesses in Joplin, Mo.