ADC architects and builders have always incorporated energy efficient design and building methods in their practices. Since 1997, ADC has been teaching classes on Southwest Design in an Energy Efficient Building, Alternative Building Methods and Straw Bale Building.

The energy efficient guidelines listed below were prepared by the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association with the help of an ADC Member Firm & Sustainable Communities, Inc./Zeri
writer Aysha Griffin

Santa Fe Area Green Building Guidelines

“...it has never been more practical and economical for homebuilders
 to use the ancient art of passive solar design.” – Perter van Dresser, The Passive Solar House

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.
– Carl Sagan, 20th century scientist & writer

Since the oil shortages of the 1970’s, homeowners have become interested in ways to reduce heating and cooling costs - from weatherstripping and added insulation to more efficient appliances and mechanical systems, and ever-improving performance of windows and recycled or environmentally-conscious building materials.

In addition to materials selection, energy efficiency can be enhanced by using design principles which consider such aspects as solar orientation and gain, thermal mass, transition zones, increased insulation, natural lighting and landscaping.

BUILDING ENVELOPE

1. Seal all penetrations.
2. Fully weather-strip exterior door edges to prevent air leakage.
3. Use continuous R-5 or better insulation under floors.
This is particularly important under floors with radiant heat. The payback is but a few years.
4. Use blown-in insulation to maximize R-value and minimize heat loss.
Traditional batt insulation is prone to infiltration around the perimeter of each batt. Blown in insulation seals tightly against the perimeter of the space it is filling.
5. Select materials and strategies to achieve an EPA Energy Star rating.
For more on Energy Star, go to http://www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR- YES
6.Use Low-E windows with thermal breaks to achieve R-3 value or better.
Low-E glass also reduces ultraviolet ray damage to furnishings
7. Incorporate workable insulated window coverings or shutter treatments into design.
Coverings can add up to R-11, thus reducing nighttime heat loss.
8. Implement natural day lighting strategies, such as clerestories and skylights.
9. Use airtight electrical receptacle / switch at wall perimeter, or use expandable foam to eliminate air penetration.
10. Use spray-on foam roof insulation.
11. Use ceiling insulation above R-38.
12. Use increased glazing (at least 15%) in the south wall.
13. Glaze less than 15% of the heated wall area on east, west and north walls.
14. Incorporate solar glazing strategies that use a 3:1 ratio of mass to glass
(1 sq. ft. south glass to heat 3 sq. ft. of mass, either floor or wall).
15. Use blower door test to verify whole house air-tightness.
Blower door testing is available in Santa Fe from “El Paisano” a local nonprofit organization providing weatherization assistance to those in need. (505) 983-7743. Blower door testing determines the air infiltration rate of the home and is measured in air changes per hour (ACH). Houses breathe by exchanging outdoor air with indoor air through cracks and penetrations in the envelope. The less air exchange there is, the more energy efficient the home. The blower door test determines how much air the house loses through infiltration. (Below 0.35 ACH requires makeup air or ventilation to provide sufficient fresh air for health).
16. Use pressure testing of ducts.
Duct leakage is a major source of energy loss and a contributor to poor air quality in buildings with forced air &/or air conditioning systems. Testing should be done once while the ducting is still exposed to work on and again prior to occupancy.

BUILDING LANDSCAPE

17. Use arbors for seasonal shading and to form transition zones.
18. Use windbreak shrubs and trees.
19. Use summer shading to create a cooler dwelling.
Shading is particularly important to the west side of the home.

HEATING AND COOLING

20. Use programmable thermostats.
21. Use triple-glazed skylights and windows.
22. Use skylights with insulated curbs.
The insulated curb implies a thermal break, such as plastic placed between the inner and outer parts of a window frame, which reduces the flow of heat or cold, making the skylight more energy efficient.
23. Properly size and seal ductwork with low toxic mastic.
Ducts lose air at each joint like a hole in a bucket. Duct tape dries out in a few years and loses its sealing ability. Mastic stays flexible for much longer, assuring that heat gets to where it is supposed to go. Sealed ducts are also safer, reducing the potential for combustion gasses to enter the living space.
24. Install energy recovery ventilators.
These bring in fresh air and exhaust stale indoor air. While doing so, they cool hotter air and heat cooler air.
25. Install 3-speed, dual-direction ceiling fans.
26. Preinstall wiring and structural capacity for future ceiling fan use.
27. Install a solar water heater.
While initial cost of this system is higher than conventional water heaters, the fuel (sunshine) is free. Homeowners usually see a simple payback in 4 to 8 years. The National Remodelers Association reports that adding a solar water heater to an existing home raises the resale value by the entire cost of the system. Performance varies due to many factors and a conventional back-up system is usually needed. The solar system should be sized to manufacturer’s specs to optimize performance. Check with covenants to find out about any restrictions.
28. Use separate heating zones (relevant to radiant heating systems) in bathrooms, bedrooms and living spaces.
Controlling individual rooms or zones independently can save energy by not keeping the entire house at the same temperature throughout the day, and can add flexibility to individual comfort needs.
29. Use Trombe walls for heating 50% or more of south walls.
An effective passive solar concept, the Trombe wall, now largely supplanted by other techniques, is a simple solar collector comprising a south-facing glass wall with an air space between it and a blackened mass wall.
30. Use radiant in-floor heat.
This provides comfort at a lower air temperature than forced air heat and has air quality benefits of no duct work or blown particulates.
31. Install active solar heating system.
32. Use low-polluting, certified efficient wood stoves that use less wood.
33. Install lighting sensors activated by body heat or movement to turn lights on and off as occupants move in and out of rooms.
34. Use energy-efficient light bulbs throughout the structure.
35. Reduce outdoor lighting waste with timers and sensors.
36. Use high-efficient appliances. (e.g., Energy Star Rated).