Architect Recommends Designing Tips

Sandpoint architect Bruce Millard has preached the gospel of energy-efficient design for more than two decades.

During that time, he’s witnessed improvements in construction materials, appliance efficiency and building codes.

Yet most of the basic tenets of good design are just as valid - and just as ignored - today as they were back in the 1970s.

“Everything’s bigger than it was 25 years ago,” says Millard, “and most designers still don’t know where south is.”

Taking into account a home’s orientation to the sun “doesn’t cost anything,” Millard says, “but it allows you to arrange glass differently and get great bang for the buck.”

Another favorite theme is “thermal massing” - using interior masonry, plaster, concrete or tile to store heat and moderate indoor temperature swings. “Besides saving money, it makes the house more comfortable,” Millard insists.

Here’s what Millard recommends his clients consider when designing a new home: Select a site that’s oriented south, then place house to capture sunshine and summer breezes, and block winter winds.

Put most windows on the south side to maximize winter solar gain. Incorporate overhangs to protect southern windows for intense summer sun. Use skylights and sun courts to bring natural light into northern rooms. Skylights also encourage natural ventilation, decreasing cooling costs.

Think compact. Design spaces to accommodate multiple functions. Enclose house with minimum exterior walls.

Select exterior materials - high-performance windows, extra insulation - that decrease energy costs.

Choose appliances, plumbing fixtures and heating systems that use the least energy and water.

For more information, contact the Northwest EcoBuilding Guild at www.ecobuilding.org; the Green Building Source at www.oikos.com; or the Center for Resourceful Building Technology at www.crbt.org.