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Have you lived in several homes in your lifetime, either renting or paying a mortgage? Have any of these dwellings been what you consider your dream home? Have you been driven to remodel or move every 7-10 years to keep up with having the latest trend or fad? Can you drive through neighborhoods and tell when those houses were built based on former trends in design. Have you felt like you should be a better steward of the earth, our fragile island home? Are you ready to build using sustainable/renewable materials and integrating renewable energy systems to reduce your carbon footprint, by honestly reducing your impact on the environment? Have you had the misfortune of owning a house that seems like a money pit with replacing elements like windows, doors, siding and roofing which has robbed you of the expected equity you thought you would earn in being a homeowner? Perhaps you feel you are ready to design and build your last house or the last house for a long time. Maybe you are looking to design and build the house that meets the best requirements to raise a family. Maybe you have raised your children and now you are ready to design and build the house that will best serve you in your golden years. If you answered yes to any of these questions, perhaps you know what you want and need by now and are ready to build your dream home, but you are asking yourself where do I start and how daunting is this path? I am guessing you have looked at 100’s of stock floor plans and have a sense by now of the spaces you want, but nothing is quite right to meet your taste and specific needs or wants. What I would propose is you need a well-seasoned designer to work alongside you to navigate this exciting journey from design, construction and completion. When setting out to design your custom home you should have a seasoned designer who has seen what has come and gone in fashion and can guide you to make your own hallmarks in design with both interior and exterior features that prove to be timeless and can appeal to future generations. If you think you are ready to design and build your own custom home, then you need to work with a professional that not only helps you stay in budget, but more importantly understands lifetime cost in repairs and energy costs. Eco-Sustainable Home Designs has a rare combination of skills and experience to help guide you in designing your own custom home. We have more than 30 years’ experience in a diverse background of a hands-on approach to designing and resolving problems in old and new construction. Our master designer and master builder has worked at the drawing board and in the field implementing his construction. He has a background in historical restoration bringing grand old houses back to their original glory while yet suiting them with modern features and amenities to serve the needs of many generations to come. He also has a background in repairing and remodeling modern houses that have failed due to poor design and workmanship. His role in remedial construction has been to find permanent solutions for his clients’ homes whether it be fundamental issues like faulty foundations or roofs that fail and cause very costly repairs to the structure of the house or replacing rotten windowsills using advanced non deteriorating materials. At heart he is a problem solver and has used his experience and skills to design and build custom homes that overcome the typical issues he has addressed in old to modern structures. From his experience he has seen what does and does not work and designs houses to be low cost to maintain, highly energy efficient and to withstand natural disasters that can be expected in various regions and to design and build houses that can reliably serve the needs of many generations. Unlike most architectural design firms he has more than 3 decades experience in the field, training crews and working alongside them to make sure his creations are put together the way he has intended. He is also a master craftsman in carpentry, cabinet and furniture making, tile and stone design and stucco as well as all masonry construction. He has worked in all the crafts related to constructing a structure from plumbing, electrical and heating and air. He is a design/build expert in the following forms of construction: 1. Framed construction both in wood and light gauge steel and favors light gauge steel over wood, because of the environmental impact of stripping our forests for wood framing demand and because steel framing provides the opportunity for an optimal thermal mass structure by integrating solid insulation which makes for a healthier home and reduces your energy costs. 2. Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction which is super strong and has a high thermal mass. It can withstand high winds, floods and even earthquakes while saving you a bundle in energy costs especially as compared to stick frame construction. 3. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) which has the highest thermal efficiency being at least 2-3 times that of conventional framed construction. It is super strong, fireproof, insect proof and can withstand high winds, wildfires, earthquakes and floods while saving you over 60-75% in energy costs over conventional construction. It has proven itself to be durable, reliable and completely renewable and sustainable material over a 100 years in use. 4. Earth bermed construction which utilizes the thermal properties of the earth to significantly reduce energy costs while also being super strong and can withstand the worse conditions when properly designed and built and utilizes the heating qualities of the sun through passive solar gain. 5. Rammed Earth construction, which is suitable for some regions. It is a modernized approach to an ancient form of construction which is seen in adobe block construction. This approach to construction is a house built with the

Want to construct or remodel your new house? The house architecture design company you choose for a realistic plan is everything. Architectural design for a house can change everything, from its arrangement and practicality, to its style and feeling. The list below is made up of 10 of the world’s house architecture design companies for creating your home. Green Sustainable House Designs Since climate change and environmental sustainability have been at the forefront of public consciousness, most homeowners want to construct eco-friendly dream homes. Eco Sustainable Home Designs is dedicated to designing green sustainable residential buildings. Their plans focus on using alternative renewable sustainable materials and conditioned using alternative totally renewable energy systems.  They recognize their plans should be designed to be suitable to the region where they are to be built.  Global climate changes with extreme natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires, sustainable designs demand planning and specifying construction plans to be able to resist and survive such disasters. This imperative calls for primary focus on durability, reliability and low maintenance over fads in designs.  Such houses for sustainability should aim for thoughtful features that should be able to serve the shelter needs for many generations. These are just a few of the considerations this company focuses upon in their comprehensive construction plans. While they have a portfolio of stock plans to choose from, they encourage and aim to customizing their plans to best work upon your lot.  They also provide custom designs for their clients from selecting a lot to orienting the plan to the lot and integrating the natural resources towards a synergistic relationship to the environmental setting. These eco-friendly features they usually include: Solar thermal and photovoltaic collectors’ systems Water recycling systems Energy efficient HVAC -Always. Triple glazed windows Structural insulated panels (SIPs) FSC certified and reclaimed forests Proper light and airflow. Earth bermed houses Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Plans Insulated Concrete Forms Plans Steel Framed Construction Plans for prefabricated steel structures for barndomeniums Water source heating and cooling systems Convection air flow earth tubes for heating and cooling systems Passive and active solar energy systems Geothermal HVAC Covered porches for outdoor living space   Thanks to using such technologies, their homes score highly and exceed on sustainability standards such as LEED and EnergyStar. The result is a homeowner with less carbon footprint and lower utility bills and long-term low maintenance costs; while also living in a unique and beautiful and well laid out home. Apart from the sustainability aspects, Eco Sustainable Home Designs builds homes according to local climate and placed to optimize natural light and airflow. They want to design housing that is synergistic to the places they are set. To learn more about them and their collection of beautiful sustainable houses, head over to their website. Gensler Gensler is a good choice if you want to do something bold with your house. It uses shapes, angles, materials, lighting, etc. to create unusual and beautiful dwellings. They make the most of the current technology and add functional amenities such as automated shading and temperature control. Their houses, in turn, are sustainable via energy and water-saving features. So, homeowners have the aesthetic appeal and functionality of a home without damaging the environment. You can see some of their most innovative residential work here at Gensler.com. HDR HDR provides a full architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services for housing projects. They aren’t purely residential, but they draw on their many different strengths for sustainable home construction. These residential services they offer, for example: Architectural design Structural engineering Mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers. Sustainability consulting Construction management Interior design Landscape architecture This convergent approach allows them to offer thoughtfully engineered residences designed for ease, ease of use, and cost savings. They are also technically proficient in engineering to handle intricate residential construction projects on hillsides, coastlines, or other special terrains. The complete name of this house architecture design company is for “high-performance delivered.” They are clear on performance, sustainability, and design throughout their residential offerings. To learn more about their residential design, visit HDRinc.com. Nikken Sekkei This Japanese house architecture design company has a pretty good record of residential designs in Asia. They embody a highly Japanese design style in their house design, emphasizing minimalism, natural materials and indoor-outdoor harmony. Nikken Sekkei, established in 1900, offers a blend of avant-garde design and decades of expertise. They are current with fashion and technology, while inspired by traditional Japanese architecture. They have minimalist forms, abundant sunlight, and entanglement with the outdoors via garden courtyards and covered terraces. Materials such as wood and stone appear a prominent. Nikken Sekkei participated in numerous architectural design competitions and received many awards for the creative residential buildings. See their collection of stylish Japanese residential design on Nikken Sekkei’s website. Sweco Sweco, is an engineering and house architecture design company in Europe providing innovative and ecological homes. Located all over Northern Europe, they tailor their designs to each climate, geography and culture. Sweco’s headquarters are in Sweden but it employs more than 16,000 architects, engineers and other experts across Europe. This breadth of skill has allowed them to come up with house designs that fit different environments and places in various countries. For Sweco, sustainability is our main consideration. They use energy modelling, life cycle analyses, and the latest building technologies to make homes that are beautiful, functional and environmentally responsible. For a glimpse of their locally relevant sustainable housing designs, visit Sweco’s portfolio website. HKS HKS Architecture Dallas is an international house architecture design company with a strong experience in residential design. They have private clients including single families, condominium developers, and multifamily operators. Among their most recent notable residential builds are: HKS is renowned for their material creativity and craftsmanship. Their dwellings are brought to life by elements such as brickwork that creates unusual shadows, special perforated metal screens and innovative lighting installations. It prioritizes sustainability via passive solar design, climate-sensitive landscaping and community infrastructure. Automation of the home,

For the past 30 years I have concentrated on developing home energy systems that complement our highly energy efficient houses through building high thermal mass structures that reduce the energy consumption to heat and cool the home.  My aim has always been to install energy systems that are powered with energy sources that are as renewable and sustainable as possible for the latest generation of technology.  I have worked with many mechanical engineers over the years developing appropriate concept designs for the site our houses are built on and sized to our high thermal mass structures to minimize energy consumption. I have found myself often exasperated with mechanical engineers for their resistance to plan and work outside the box by implementing systems that are not like all the other systems they do every day for standard wood stick framing houses.  They often calculate heating and cooling loads for R-13 walls and R-19 roofs when our homes were R-32 walls and roofs. I have never understood why highly educated people who after getting their certification, fall into doing the same thing over and over throughout their career and show little interest in keeping up with the latest technology or even analyzing whether such technologies are of significant enough substance to merit changing from what they know. Having been in both remedial and new construction for over 35 years and I have seen enough of building material products fail to live up to the manufacturer’s hype and promises, so I lean into being suspicious and skeptical of new products with high promises.  For me they must hold up to my assiduous scrutiny before I stake my reputation upon using them. So, I understand the reluctance of other professionals to use new products, but I am less empathic with those who refuse to utilize systems that are rooted in well-tried science such as natural convection air flow, solar thermal collectors for water source heating and for desiccant cooling or even to utilize high energy efficient heat pump water heaters. When Jimmy Carter was president of the United States, we became aware of our energy crisis that was a threat to national security, due to our high dependence on foreign oil to supply our high consumption of energy highly dependent upon fossil fuels.  The worse part of this equation was our dependence upon oil from oil producing nations of the Middle East, most of which we had less than a stellar relationship. As far as anyone can remember there has been conflict in the region.  Our western ways and lifestyle have been a source of resentment.  The formation of OPEC in 1960 became a way that the largest oil producing nations could leverage the control of this commodity in price and supply to nations addicted to this source of energy. President Carter launched initiatives to research and develop new forms of renewable and sustainable energy with a twofold objective of reaching energy independence and reducing our deadly impact upon our environment by reducing emissions that destroy our ozone layer and other airborne pollution that increases greenhouse gas emissions. There were at least three main initiatives that President Carter wanted to promote: Major development of biofuel using our enormous surplus of grains that go to waste every year, to the point that we subsidize farmers not to grow crops or to grow other alternatives. Out of this research and development arose two major products: Ethanol and bio diesel fuel.  Under the Carter administration there was a move to incentivize auto manufacturers to switch over to production of diesel-powered engines for automobiles.  Diesel cars put out much less caustic emissions than gasoline engines. Diesel emissions are mostly carbon which falls quickly to the ground whereas gasoline engines put out carbon monoxide which is a clear gas that destroys the earth’s outside layer of ozone and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which we now know have contributed to global warming.  It was believed that diesel powered cars through advancing technology could become zero emission vehicles. Regular diesel fuel is much easier to produce than gasoline and requires less energy to produce.  Transition over to diesel powered cars did not go so well in the United States, in a large part because of a flaw in judgment made by General Motors Corporation who tried to convert regular gasoline internal combustion engines into diesel engines. Diesel works much differently than gas engines.  Diesel engine combustion is produced by high pressure to combust the fuel so therefore a diesel engine must have a block that can hold up to this pressure, which generally means the block and cylinders must have much heavier iron to hold up to this demand than gas powered cars. There were even attempts to use aluminum blocks and cylinders. This attempt to convert gas engines to diesel proved to be a disastrous choice since these engines failed.   This experience tainted Americans from switching over to diesel cars.  The Europeans successfully did switch over to diesel and now have achieved nearly zero emissions. Another initiative was to convert internal combustion engines over to alternative fuels. The one route that took root and has continued is ethanol from our surplus grain.  It was first called Gasohol, and which contained a larger percentage of ethanol to gas than now. The goal of this research was to transition from gasoline to alternative renewable sustainable fuels to be used in internal combustion engines.  The intent was to transition by measure in order that auto manufacturers and energy companies could gradually adjust in tooling and growing technology.  That transition was to move from gasoline to ethanol and from ethanol to liquid petroleum (propane) and finally over to being powered by natural gas, which we have in abundance.  All of these measures towards energy independence are great, but they still would not fuel cars and trucks with zero environmental impact or total zero emissions.  Each of these measures still requires a great deal of energy to produce and to transport. I must

So, what are the rare earth metals that are used in Lithium- Ion batteries and where can they be found. Lithium is mainly found and extracted from mainly salt flats and underground brine reservoirs. Extracting lithium from salt flats and brine reservoirs is through evaporation and then by using large amounts of precious ground water to process it. These areas where it is being mined are arid regions where water is already rare and in the process of extracting lithium a great deal of this ground water for drinking and farming is lost. On top of this issue is that the remaining liquid left over from extraction of this metal is highly toxic including radioactive elements, which make these once salt flats a permanent waste area for centuries. The largest producer of Lithium as well as the largest manufacturer of Lithium-Ion batteries is China. The other major producers of lithium are Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Cobalt is another major rare earth metal for EV and PV batteries as well as all our favorite electronics like computers and cell phones. Cobalt is extracted as a byproduct of copper and nickel mining but can be mined directly from deposits close to copper and nickel.  Cobalt is probably the metal most used in batteries that has the highest environmental and social threat. These mines produce toxic residues that leach into the ground water making it toxic and having a serious health impact to surrounding communities. Smelting cobalt ore produces caustic fumes of high concentrations of sulfur oxide and other air pollutants. Besides the environmental impact of mining cobalt, is the human working environment factor. This mining is mostly done in poor communities and little thought is given to safety, or training and equipment to mitigate the conditions that are hazardous for these underpaid miners who often suffer injury or death. The enormous environmental impact from mining and processing this metal, highly effects surrounding communities with health issues that causes the residents to suffer chronic disease and early death This mining and processing of cobalt is mostly in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Australia. Another metal used in Lithium-Ion batteries is Manganese. Manganese is the fifth most abundant metal on earth and often found alongside iron ore. This metal is mostly mined in open pits and use and affect large tracts of land having a large impact on the environment. These pit mines are mainly in dry arid regions and consequently in the process of mining they produce lots of toxic dust that spreads into the local towns nearby. Besides the toxic air pollution, it affects surface and grown water. The biggest producers are: South Africa, Australia, China, India, Ukraine and Brazil. These metals are mostly mined in impoverished regions with workers who receive low wages and lack the training and safety equipment they need leading to injury and death. The pollutants have a big impact on the villages they live in which results in chronic illnesses and early death. Besides our growing dependance on foreign sources for these rare earth metals for our EV, and PV batteries and all our other electronic devices we are complicit in social and environmental inequity. The single largest producers of Lithium-Ion batteries is China in which our trade and political relationship is tenuous at best. Furthermore, the mining and production of these batteries uses an enormous amount of energy that derives from fossil fuels. I ask you is this really the way we want to go toward energy independence, and lowering our environmental impact? I propose that our research and development and implementation of green, renewable and sustainable energy be the development and production of hydrogen fuel cells. As I have mentioned above this technology is not new and we already lag behind in its production and use to countries like Germany, Japan and China who already have hydrogen systems that supply power to towns and manufacturing facilities and probably in automobiles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.  The United States has clearly had 50 years to develop alternative, renewable and sustainable energy systems with an emphasis on clean renewable energy in hydrogen technology and lead the world in green energy production. Instead, we have been content to rely upon our energy being sourced by fossil fuels and we have lost our opportunity to lead the world in green energy production as well as developing and training workers for new jobs in green energy technology. I would like to point out some companies I have learned about that are involved in hydrogen fuel cell science and development. Ballard Power Systems has been working in this technology since 1979 when geophysicist Geoffrey Ballard, Keith Prater and Paul Howard established Ballard Research Inc. Their first initiative was research and development on high energy lithium batteries. In 1989 they switched over to renewable hydrogen fuel cell energy systems with a focus on providing such knowledge to auto, truck, bus and train manufacturers. The first auto manufacturer to buy this technology is Daimler/Chrysler. Kohler and Toyota of North America are collaborating in developing hydrogen fuel cells to power large scale electric generators. They are presently working on hydrogen powered generators for Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, Washington, USA.  This project is projected to be complete by the end of 2024. Caterpillar is working on hydrogen generation using chemical catalysis to produce hydrogen for fuel cells for large scale generators and fuel cells for heavy equipment. Panasonic, Oska, Japan is also working on large scale generators for commercial and industrial application using hydrogen produced from chemical catalysis reaction. General Motors Corporation is working on large mobile electric generators fueled by hydrogen fuel cells for commercial application. I just recently learned of a new start up company whose interest align with my specific interest in designing and building with alternative building materials and construction technics that are genuinely renewable and sustainable and powered by alternative renewable sustainable and clean energy. This company is Blue Water Resolute (BWR) and Oncore Energy. Their

For the past 30 years I have concentrated on developing home energy systems that complement our highly energy efficient houses through building high thermal mass structures that reduce the energy consumption to heat and cool the home. My aim has always been to install energy systems that are powered with energy sources that are as renewable and sustainable as possible for the latest generation of technology. I have worked with many mechanical engineers over the years developing appropriate concept designs for the site our houses are built on and sized to our high thermal mass structures to minimize energy consumption. I have found myself often exasperated with mechanical engineers for their resistance to plan and work outside the box by implementing systems that are not like all the other systems they do every day for standard wood stick framing houses. They often calculate heating and cooling loads for R-13 walls and R-19 roofs when our homes were R-32 walls and roofs. I have never understood why highly educated people who after getting their certification, fall into doing the same thing over and over throughout their career and show little interest in keeping up with the latest technology or even analyzing whether such technologies are of significant enough substance to merit changing from what they know. Having been in both remedial and new construction for over 35 years and I have seen enough of building material products fail to live up to the manufacturer’s hype and promises, so I lean into being suspicious and skeptical of new products with high promises.  For me they must hold up to my assiduous scrutiny before I stake my reputation upon using them. So, I understand the reluctance of other professionals to use new products, but I am less empathic with those who refuse to utilize systems that are rooted in well-tried science such as natural convection air flow, solar thermal collectors for water source heating and for desiccant cooling or even to utilize high energy efficient heat pump water heaters. When Jimmy Carter was president of the United States, we became aware of our energy crisis that was a threat to national security, due to our high dependence on foreign oil to supply our high consumption of energy highly dependent upon fossil fuels. The worse part of this equation was our dependence upon oil from oil producing nations of the Middle East, most of which we had less than a stellar relationship. As far as anyone can remember there has been conflict in the region. Our western ways and lifestyle have been a source of resentment. The formation of OPEC in 1960 became a way that the largest oil producing nations could leverage the control of this commodity in price and supply to nations addicted to this source of energy. President Carter launched initiatives to research and develop new forms of renewable and sustainable energy with a twofold objective of reaching energy independence and reducing our deadly impact upon our environment by reducing emissions that destroy our ozone layer and other airborne pollution that increases greenhouse gas emissions. There were at least three main initiatives that President Carter wanted to promote: Major development of biofuel using our enormous surplus of grains that go to waste every year, to the point that we subsidize farmers not to grow crops or to grow other alternatives. Out of this research and development arose two major products: Ethanol and bio diesel fuel.  Under the Carter administration there was a move to incentivize auto manufacturers to switch over to production of diesel-powered engines for automobiles.  Diesel cars put out much less caustic emissions than gasoline engines. Diesel emissions are mostly carbon which falls quickly to the ground whereas gasoline engines put out carbon monoxide which is a clear gas that destroys the earth’s outside layer of ozone and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which we now know have contributed to global warming.  It was believed that diesel powered cars through advancing technology could become zero emission vehicles. Regular diesel fuel is much easier to produce than gasoline and requires less energy to produce. Transition over to diesel powered cars did not go so well in the United States, in a large part because of a flaw in judgment made by General Motors Corporation who tried to convert regular gasoline internal combustion engines into diesel engines. Diesel works much differently than gas engines. Diesel engine combustion is produced by high pressure to combust the fuel so therefore a diesel engine must have a block that can hold up to this pressure, which generally means the block and cylinders must have much heavier iron to hold up to this demand than gas powered cars. There were even attempts to use aluminum blocks and cylinders. This attempt to convert gas engines to diesel proved to be a disastrous choice since these engines failed.  This experience tainted Americans from switching over to diesel cars.  The Europeans successfully did switch over to diesel and now have achieved nearly zero emissions. Another initiative was to convert internal combustion engines over to alternative fuels. The one route that took root and has continued is ethanol from our surplus grain. It was first called Gasohol, and which contained a larger percentage of ethanol to gas than now. The goal of this research was to transition from gasoline to alternative renewable sustainable fuels to be used in internal combustion engines. The intent was to transition by measure in order that auto manufacturers and energy companies could gradually adjust in tooling and growing technology. That transition was to move from gasoline to ethanol and from ethanol to liquid petroleum (propane) and finally over to being powered by natural gas, which we have in abundance.  All of these measures towards energy independence are great, but they still would not fuel cars and trucks with zero environmental impact or total zero emissions.  Each of these measures still requires a great deal of energy to produce and to transport. I must

This pressurized hydrogen is used to run a internal combustion engine which turns an electric generator.  This hydrogen powered generator is very quiet and puts off zero emissions. More importantly this system provides electric energy 24 hours a day all year long without the need for batteries to store energy. In moderate climates the most efficient use of this thermal heat is in direct heating water as the vaporized liquid. This provides direct heat for domestic hot water and for water source heating for the home either through radiators or in radiant coils inside the air handler. In climates especially that have a high gradient temperature between day and night or climes which have many days without sun or temperatures below freezing, then a liquid like glycol is the absorbent liquid. The vaporized liquid rises to the condenser and the heat manifold and turns back to liquid and falls back to the solar exposed space. In such a system there is a built-in storage tank that maintains this cycle with natural thermal convection. In most closed loop systems, the heated fluid circulates through a water heater and through a system of radiant tubes either in direct radiant heat or through coils in the air handler and returns to the ETSC using a circulating pump to supply domestic hot water and for water source heating for the home. We recommend a dedicated low wattage circulating pump supplied by a photo-voltaic generator. Since the heat absorption tubes are protected within the evacuated tubes that prevent the loss of thermal energy and maintain the maximum heat absorption and because the evacuated clear tubes are cylindrical this system works effectively from sunrise to sunset and even on overcast days. Furthermore, the vacuum seal makes the system impervious to energy loss on cold days or the flow of air around the tubes. This system using cylindrical tubes optimizes the total thermal surface area for collecting thermal energy. The vacuum seal also prevents corrosion from the effects of the environment or from collection of condensation. This translates into continuous production of thermal energy every day, every season for a lifetime. This means this system saves you in energy costs consistently for many years directly using the free thermal energy of the sun. Now with solar thermal collectors surrounded by a clear cylindrical vacuum tube consistently provides heat for heating water for domestic hot water and for heating the home is a no brainer for this purpose, but it can also be utilized for a cooling system through desiccant cooling as well. A desiccant cooling system uses a material that removes moisture from the air with resulting cooling of the space where the relative humidity is extracted. A common readily accessible and inexpensive desiccant could be silica gel. Here is how a desiccant cooling system would work in conjunction with Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors. The ETSC provides consistent heat through the heated liquid medium which is produced by direct thermal energy of the sun. This heat is transferred to a desiccant wheel or rotor. The desiccant wheel rotates between the air flow and the heated fluid, which allows the desiccant material to absorb the moisture from the air. As the desiccant absorbs the moisture from the air it releases latent heat, which cools the air passing over it. The cooled dehumidified air provides effective cooling for your living space. In all our eco-sustainable plans we integrate the use of Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors as an integrated part of our heating and cooling system because it captures the direct thermal energy of the sun as a highly consistent, energy efficient and inexpensive heating and cooling systems for a lifetime. Furthermore, Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors are designed to last a lifetime because of their low maintenance.  If a tube gets broken or the thermal seal breaks it is just a matter of unscrewing the affected tube and screwing in a new one and you are back in business. Even though this system has not gained much public attention or been used as frequently as Solar Photovoltaic systems it requires less surface area than PV” s for the equivalent output and the cost of panels and installation are still less than half that of Solar Photovoltaic systems. It has now been nearly 50 years since President Jimmy Carter was president of the United States and whose administration shown a light upon our looming energy crisis.  He pointed out that our demand for fossil fuels exceeds what we could produce in this country, and this created a crisis of dependency.  His administration mandated an initiative to produce clean, sustainable and renewable forms of energy to rid us of dependence on other nations to supply our energy and to lead the way away from energy produced by fossil fuels to alternatives clean energy which would reduce air pollution and to lead the world in green energy technology. I ask you what grade would you give us on our progress toward energy independence and leading the world in green energy technology? It is my humble opinion that we surely should have been shed of Fossil Fuel by now to meet our energy demands long before now. We can point fingers and cast blame as much as we want, but it comes down to you and me shedding our ignorance about what fuel sources we should promote and applying public pressure upon our legislators to pass bills concerning green renewable energy technology. In 2009 I was contacted through my company website by Dr. Andrew Searcy.  Dr. Searcy had a PhD in hydrogen science.  He worked for Conoco Philips for nearly 30 years.  He told me that he had developed a protype automobile powered by hydrogen in 1984 and that Conoco Philips had secured the patent for this automobile, and they sold the patent to General Motors Corporation. So, I ask why have we not seen this automobile when we so much need zero emissions, totally renewable, sustainable and energy independent

Nobody wants spiders scurrying in corners; ants climbing in millimeter sized columns across your bench tops. Not exactly ideal houseguests. But the good news is that you don’t have to be the best, most neat, and well-organized person in the world. There are so many simple, practical ways to make your space insect-unfriendly. Here’s how to make a start on your new insect-free life. Seal Up Any Sneaky Bug Entry Points Bugs are world-class at hiding, often finding their way into the smallest crevices of your home. Take a look around inside and outside for any entry points they might use to get in. These are the places to focus on: Windows Doors Utility pipes Vents Places where walls meet ceilings or floors Any cracks or gaps in your home’s outer walls Seal up any sneaky bug access routes with caulk, weather-stripping or expanding foam. Feel for drafts? Air can get in – insects can get in, too! If you can slide a piece of paper into a jam or a crack, expect bugs to be able to slide their bodies in there, too. So check thoroughly now, and then keep looking and sealing up anything you find. The tighter your home, the less bugs actually get in! Install Tight Fitting Screens Screens open up a room to fresh air while keeping bugs out. See that yours are in good repair and fit well into the jambs and heads of your windows and doors. Use fiberglass, metal or vinyl screen material Opt for a tight mesh count of 18×16 or smaller For super tiny insects, go for stainless steel mesh around 18×20 count Repair any rips, holes or gaps immediately Well-fitted screens are an excellent line of defense against bug invaders! Weatherstrip Some More! With screens, though, some can slip in through the cracks if you leave the doors and windows open. Use vinyl, rubber, felt or a combined material Apply weather-stripping around the entire perimeter of doors and windows Choose styles that compress and seal tightly when closed Check for gaps and reapply weather-stripping as needed Take the time to do this right – and check weather-stripping regularly for open gaps and bad seals. Cutting off any perimeter cracks keeps bugs outside! Install Door Sweeps Have you ever watched a bug with a flattened body bend itself to get into the tiniest of areas, perhaps an opening of no more than ⅛ of an inch? This is how insects get inside. A door sweep is used to block the crack at the base of a door in which insects can make their way indoors. Choose sweeps with bristles, vinyl fins or dense sealing fabric Make sure they fit snugly from door edge to floor Check garage doors carefully – the sweep needs to accommodate uneven concrete A good sweep embraces frames a door like a door hugger; his bottom edge is pressed against (set tight) the threshold so you can give the door a good shake and the sweep doesn’t budge an inch. Bugs beware: no more Pad Dinhi, no more fleas, no more mosquitoes. Light Up Your Yard Only Where Needed Leaving lights on all night will attract clouds of insects. Switch off outdoor lights except those needed for navigation and safety. Use downward facing or directional bulbs Focus lights only on frequented spaces like entries, decks and patios Try amber or yellow bulbs that draw fewer insects Install motion activated lighting that only turns on when it senses movement Shine light exactly where you need it, and keep the rest of your yard dark. It’s a matter of mathematical proportionality: fewer lights means fewer bugs attracted, by a greater margin, to the door! Make Your Yard Less Bug-Friendly Some plants or lawn areas buzz with insects like an outdoor bug barbecue Don’t become part of the meal by: Keeping flowering plants away from your home’s exterior Trimming back vegetation touching the house Eliminating any standing water – empty birdbaths, fix leaky hoses, etc. Maintaining the lawn – mow, rake leaves, remove debris piles Removing wood stacks, compost bins and any rotting vegetation far from your home A dry, clean place is far less attractive to hungry and sheltered bugs. Store Food in Sealed Containers Like Winnie the Pooh following his nose to sweet honey, bugs go directly to whatever source of food they sniff out. Outsmart them by: Store all flours, cereals, rice, etc in your pantry in plastic or glass – no bags or cardboard! Using airtight lids on all people food, pet food, garbage cans and recycling bins Emptying trash, recyclables, and compost frequently Rinsing food debris from dishes, counters and recycling immediately after use Never leaving out uncovered human or pet foods Prevent bug appetites from pilfering your goodies by storing them in odor-blocking containers. No insect can smell your food. Caulk and Seal Exterior Cracks Inspect where walls meet foundations, fixtures and vents for potential entry gaps Check spaces between siding boards, bricks or construction materials Use caulk or spray foam to completely seal all cracks and crevices you find Inspect sealed areas after freezing weather which can re-open gaps Hunt for those access cracks on the outside edge. Try closing them up completely and the bugs can’t wiggle in. Deploy Smelly Insect Repellent Plants Plants help us protect our gardens with unpleasant smells, oils and textures – so why not create an outdoor stink barrier? Some excellent choices: Lavender Mint Marigolds Basil Chrysanthemums Garlic Catnip Set them about entryways, patios, planting beds and perimeters of your yard. Smelly plants at work! Call In the Pros When Needed Sometimes insect problems just become an issue. Maybe you’ve seen one or two, maybe it’s an allergy issue or there’s been an absolute infestation. No shame in having pest control people coming with the heavy artillery! Some instances when pros are worthwhile: Severe allergies to chemicals or stings Dangerous pests like nests of wasps DIY approaches failed and problem got worse Unsure of infestation

We are so glad that your search has brought you to this blog post or to our web site because we know that you are serious about designing and building your truly ecologically sustainable custom home! Designing and building homes to be low impact environmentally and energy efficient has been our primary guiding principle for 35+ years. Eco Sustainable Home Designs has been dedicated to the sole objective of designing and building the most superior houses that are very low maintenance and highly energy efficient for each of our clients.   We provide: Comprehensive Home Building Plans Custom Plan Designs Recommended Eco-Friendly Home Elements Extensive Detailed Construction Plans with Notes and Clear Cross Sections for You and Your Builder to Understand Your Criteria for Building a Superior Home. Lot Evaluation for Placement and Integrating Your Lot’s Unique Natural Resources so Your Plan is Designed for Your Lot and Your Prime Objectives We have never built speculative houses that are mostly guided by building with the cheapest materials and labor and relying on the latest trends and fads to sell our houses, so subsequently we have never been tempted to compromise on structure to provide the latest finish materials. The building structure and energy efficient operating systems are the most important. These are the elements that make your home durable, dependable and sustainable and save you thousands of dollars on maintenance and energy over your lifetime. The finishing elements, especially on the interior of your home can be changed or updated when your budget can afford. The planning and building of a superior structure will see you through the wear and tear of the environment and the natural disasters that may come your way. If you read on, then soon you will become confident that you have come to the right place to rely on our expertise to guide you in one of the most important pursuits of your lifetime. Little else is as gratifying as designing and building your own custom home. You have probably lived in other houses and apartments and by now know what you really want in your last house. Some of you have had less than pleasant experiences with your former abodes, especially in costly repairs, maintenance and high energy costs. You also probably have wondered whether there are superior alternatives of construction than what you presently see and since you are here you have a genuine commitment to being a better steward of the earth’s resources and lowering your carbon footprint. I have good news for you! There are affordable alternatives for building that genuinely make a much lower impact on the environment than conventional construction. These alternative building forms of construction use materials that are low maintenance highly energy efficient and are completely sustainable with materials and energy systems that are renewable. Yes, these alternative renewable forms of construction and energy renewable heating and cooling systems are a small percentage more expensive initially to build than standard construction, but beyond that the superiority of these methods have no comparison to standard construction. You must take a long view beyond the initial cost to look at the immeasurable cost savings in upkeep and energy consumption savings over your lifetime. Eco Sustainable Home Designs will collaborate with clients to build the last house they will ever need! Now is time to take your first step on this journey by employing a professional designer who can partner with you in this most key step of developing a comprehensive building plan. So now you are ready to take stock of your financial resources, your individualized ideas for your living space and your commitment to building an eco-sustainable structure. In this process inevitably you must come down to a budget you can afford. Comprehensive Planning Elements  Remember you are building a one-of-a-kind home with your unique ideas about a floor plan that fits your needs and your individual taste.   Consultation Provided You will be building on your unique lot, so you are responsible to thoroughly evaluate what natural resources are present and how they may be utilized in the construction and renewable sustainable energy systems that control the comfort of the interior. How are you going to plan outdoor living spaces to best connect with nature?   Construction Design vs. Lot There are two questions that I get regularly: Should I pick a lot first and then design a house that best suits the lot? Or should I pick a plan and then search for a lot that is best suited for my house plan? There is no one correct answer. I lean toward the first question, but after all these years of designing and building custom homes for my individual clients I have found in practice that both questions are addressed in the planning process. Often my clients have come to me with floor plans they really like and have a place they really like, so the home must be designed with alterations to best accommodate the lot. Either approach is going to require modifications of your original plans. Eco Sustainable Home Designs is here to help!   Of course, choosing a place you would really like to live is of paramount importance to you! However, for example you may know you want a single-story house on a monolithic slab, then choosing a lot that has a gentle slope to flat terrain is essential, because having to build a basement or crawl space is a significant expense that will take a big bite out of your budget. If your lot requires a basement or crawl space, then make sure you evaluate how you are going to use that space in your overall square footage and living space.   Detailed Plans = Efficient Construction   Nobody has ever built your house on your lot, so they do not know what it will cost to build it. Our detailed building plans provide builders with drawings with cross sections and easily understandable notes on how to build the structure and

Designing or remodeling a home in Miami isn’t just about style—it’s about mastering heat, humidity, hurricanes, and rising energy costs. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan Energy Efficient Home Designs Miami FL homeowners can actually build and pass permitting, while keeping bills low and comfort high. Miami’s climate & codes: what they mean for your design Hot-humid climate (Zone 1A). Miami sits in one of the hottest, most humid U.S. climate zones, which changes how you insulate, shade, ventilate, and condition a home. Expect long cooling seasons, high dew points, and frequent storms. Energy Codes Florida Building Code (Energy). New construction and major remodels must meet Florida’s energy conservation requirements, which are based on IECC climate zones. That framework drives envelope performance (air sealing, insulation, ducts) and equipment efficiency. ICC Digital Codes+1 Hurricane & impact requirements. In Miami-Dade’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), windows/doors and many assemblies need Miami-Dade Product Control approvals (a.k.a. “NOAs”). Choosing impact-rated, energy-efficient fenestration is non-negotiable. Miami-Dade County+1 Cool roof rules (City of Miami). Low-slope roofs on new buildings must use high-reflectance roofing to reduce heat island impacts—great news for comfort and energy bills. miami-fl.elaws.us Flood & freeboard. Many Miami properties fall in flood zones; local rules often require elevating finished floors above Base Flood Elevation (with freeboard). Plan your mechanicals and insulation details accordingly. Miami Beach – Rising AboveFlorida Building Code Bottom line: Energy Efficient Home Designs Miami FL must balance hot-humid building science, hurricane strength, and local ordinances from day one. The Miami-optimized building envelope 1) Roof & attic (your biggest heat gain): Pair reflective/cool roofing (meeting local reflectance requirements where applicable) with proper attic ventilation and robust insulation. Unvented, spray-foamed attics can work well for hurricane resilience and duct placement when detailed correctly. miami-fl.elaws.us Keep ductwork inside conditioned space whenever possible to slash losses and humidity problems; this approach aligns with ENERGY STAR guidance. ENERGY STAR 2) Walls & air sealing: In a hot-humid climate, air sealing is as important as R-value. Aim for tight construction verified by a blower door test; manage bulk water and vapor at the exterior. DOE’s code resources highlight why stopping uncontrolled air flow matters for efficiency and durability. continuousinsulation.org Use continuous exterior insulation or advanced wall systems to limit thermal bridging and help control interior moisture. 3) Windows & doors: Choose low-SHGC, impact-rated glazing to reduce solar heat gain while meeting HVHZ approvals (look up NOAs in the county product database). Add fixed exterior shading (deep overhangs, awnings) on east/west exposures. Miami-Dade County Read Also:-Steel Frame House Design Plans Miami FL — The Complete 2025 Guide Cooling, dehumidification & healthy air Right-sized, variable-speed heat pumps. Miami homes benefit from high-efficiency, variable-capacity heat pumps (ducted or ductless) with proper Manual J/S/D design. Keep supply/return ducts sealed and, ideally, within the conditioned envelope; where ducts run in unconditioned spaces, meet or exceed R-values per best-practice checklists. ENERGY STAR Dedicated dehumidification or smart ventilation. In hot-humid homes, comfort and IAQ often hinge on moisture control, not just temperature. Energy recovery ventilation (ERV) is typically preferred over HRV in humid climates, and balanced, controlled ventilation helps limit latent loads. southface.org Filtration & fresh air. Use MERV 11–13 filters, sealed returns, and measured airflow. Keep mechanical rooms inside conditioned space above flood elevations where feasible. Pro tip: Design for sensible + latent load control. That’s the secret sauce behind truly Energy Efficient Home Designs Miami FL residents love to live in. Solar, storage & grid programs in Miami Net metering with FPL. Florida Power & Light offers net metering for approved residential solar systems; systems must meet interconnection guidelines (e.g., size limits tied to usage). Check specifics before design. FPL+1 Local rebates & utility programs. FPL runs ongoing efficiency programs and limited rebates (e.g., A/C rebates, insulation offers, BuildSmart® certification for new homes). These can meaningfully reduce first cost. FPL+1 Federal incentives. Homeowners may qualify for the 30% federal tax credit for solar and certain efficiency upgrades; DOE also outlines credits for insulation and air sealing. The Department of Energy’s Energy.gov Florida Energy Rebates (IRA HOMES & HEEHRA). Florida’s statewide rebate rollout is in progress; the state expects broader access later in 2025—plan ahead to capture them as they launch. Florida Department of Agriculture+1 Financing options that fit Miami. PACE financing (in eligible areas) can fund solar, impact windows, efficient HVAC, and more—repaid via your property tax bill. SELF (Solar & Energy Loan Fund) offers accessible loans for energy/water resilience upgrades in Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade County+1 Water-smart, storm-smart landscape design Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL). Use native or adapted plants, design smarter irrigation, add mulch, and manage runoff. Miami-Dade encourages these principles and requires rain/soil-moisture shutoffs for irrigation on new builds—great for efficiency and water quality. Miami-Dade Countyffl.ifas.ufl.edusfyl.ifas.ufl.edu Site planning for resilience. Grade to drain away from the structure, elevate equipment above flood risk, and use permeable hardscapes and rain gardens to reduce runoff. Certifications that matter in Florida FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition). A Florida-specific, points-based certification tuned to the state’s climate and resilience needs; it’s a strong fit for Energy Efficient Home Designs Miami FL projects. Pair with ENERGY STAR for mechanical and envelope quality assurance. floridagreenbuilding.org A model spec for Energy Efficient Home Designs Miami FL Use this as a conversation starter with your architect, builder, and rater: Orientation & shading: Optimize glazing on north/south; control east/west sun with overhangs and vertical fins. Roof/attic: High-reflectance roof (where required), sealed unvented attic with spray foam or vented attic with radiant barrier + robust insulation; ducts inside. miami-fl.elaws.usENERGY STAR Walls: Tight envelope (< target ACH50 verified), continuous exterior insulation where feasible, robust water management layers. continuousinsulation.org Windows/doors: Impact-rated, low-SHGC glazing; verify NOAs in Miami-Dade Product Control. Miami-Dade County HVAC: Variable-speed heat pump (high SEER2/EER2), Manual J/S/D sizing, dedicated whole-home dehumidifier or ERV. southface.org Controls: Smart thermostat, zoned control, and humidity setpoints. Water heating: Heat pump water heater in semi-conditioned space with proper condensate management. Solar & storage: PV sized to usage and interconnection guidelines; consider battery for backup +

Have you ever felt frustrated with the direction your city is going? Like the people in charge are taking things in a way that doesn’t match what you and your neighbors really want? I’ve been there too. But the good news is, you have more power than you realize over the future of your community. There’s this important thing called the Comprehensive Building Plans that lays out the vision for how and where your city will grow over the next couple decades. The problem is, most people don’t really understand what the comprehensive plan is or how to influence it. But that’s about to change. Because if you learn how to get involved at the right time in the process, you can truly help steer your community toward the future you want to see. What are Comprehensive Building Plans? A comprehensive plan goes by other names too – some places call it the general plan or master plan. But whatever you call it, this document is basically the playbook for the future of your city. It covers big topics like: Land Use – What kinds of development will go where? How dense or spread out will things be? Housing – What types of housing are needed now and down the road as demographics change? Transportation – How will people get around by car, public transit, biking and walking? What investments are needed? Economic Development – How will the city support local jobs, businesses, and the tax base? Parks, Trails and Open Space – What kind of recreation opportunities are needed and where should they be located? Community Facilities – How should essential public assets like schools, libraries, hospitals and civic buildings serve residents? Resilience and Sustainability – How will the city adapt to changes like climate change and steward natural resources? And More – Infrastructure, historic preservation, arts and culture, code enforcement, etc. As you can see, the comprehensive plan covers a ton of ground. It sets the basic policy direction on all these issues to guide future growth and community investments. City staff and leaders use the plan to shape important steps like: Updating zoning rules and development regulations Making budget and funding decisions Planning transportation improvements Siting public facilities like parks and schools Setting priorities for programs and initiatives Because it influences so many things, the comp plan is an incredibly important tool for shaping the future of your city! Fresh Approach to Planning In the past, many Comprehensive Building Plans were created in a pretty old-school way. The city planning staff and consultants would go off in isolation to write this big report. They’d come back with a “finished” plan and hold a few public meetings mainly just to present it. Residents could give some feedback, but the vision was already baked in. As you can imagine, that process didn’t always result in a plan that truly reflected what everyday community members wanted and valued. Luckily, times are changing when it comes to city planning. People today want to live in walkable neighborhoods that give easy access to shops, transit, and amenities. Urban living is becoming more popular, especially among younger generations who are seeking out cities first instead of just looking for suburban homes and commuting to jobs. Homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for neighborhoods where they can get around by foot, bike or transit – not just cars. A recent study found buyers will pay 35% more, and renters a whopping 41% more, to have transportation options beyond just driving. What does this mean for the comprehensive plan? For one thing, cities need to focus more on creating compact, mixed-use places people actually want to live and work in. They have to move beyond the old ways of strictly separating land uses through single-use zoning. The comp plan can’t just be about managing growth way out on the suburban fringe anymore. Most importantly, a successful comprehensive plan reflects the true desires and values of the whole community – not just affluent homeowners or special interests. For that to happen, planners have to reach out early to groups that have been left out of past planning like renters, immigrants, shift workers, young people and communities of color. Their voices and priorities need to help shape the vision too. Read Also:-Modify Existing House Layout A Complete Guide 6 Ways You Can Help Influence the Process So how can you actually have an impact when your city creates its next comprehensive plan? Here are 6 tips: Learn the Key Players Start by getting to know who the important decision-makers and stakeholders are in your city’s planning. Which elected officials and city staff will be involved? What boards or commissions have a role? Are there influential community groups or business interests that will want input? Understanding the players will help you strategize how to effectively engage in the process. Who can you build partnerships and alignment with? Who are potential obstacles you may need to convince? This insight will be invaluable. Meet People Where They Are One big shift in planning is finding new ways to actually engage everyday residents – not just expect people to come to meetings. Set up booths to involve folks at popular community events, parks and markets. Recruit a diverse team of community ambassadors to tap into their own networks and get more people involved. Make engagement super convenient through tools like online surveys or text-based input. Provide stipends for lower-income residents or youth to participate. Find out when and where different groups already gather and see if you can show up, listen and get input. Go to faith congregations, jobs centers, college campuses and neighborhood hangouts. The goal is removing as many barriers as possible to participation so you hear from all segments of the community. Get Up to Speed on Trends Impacting Cities Before you dive into giving input, learn about forces that will shape future planning – things like driverless cars, the shift to remote work, climate change