If you want a carbon neutral or zero energy home, follow these rules of thumb. Going from the simple to the complex. Plant a garden and compost. If you think about it plants are the most efficient solar energy collectors and saves you money and trips to the store.
Passive Solar Design-solar gain, thermal mass and shading are the very first things to address in designing a home.
Do the two step of conservation- Step One, Design a "Not So Big House." Putting in flexiablity and custom design and taking out space you don't use. Step Two, insulate and seal the envelope.
Your heating and cooling system should be the most efficient as possible. Here in the NW a good woodstove can heat the entire home with wood. Use your electric wall heater only for back up. Remember the more efficient the woodstove the cleaner burn it is. Swamp coolers provide execellent proformance in dry regions.
Use Energy Star appliances-front load washers are great. Consider a tankless water heater or a solar hot water heater.
PV solar panels this is what most people think being green is. But if you have and efficient home to start off with the less you will demand from your array.
Some of this seems backwards to conventional thinking. So go ahead be un-conventional.
Have a sunny day.
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