http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/houston-gets-greener-with-itsy-bitsy-energy-efficient-homes.php
While a not-so-whopping 881-square-feet might sound too tiny to some, we at Naturally Savvy think it's the perfect sized home for singles, a young couple or a small family. The two-bedroom homes from U.S. national developer KB Home feature an open-concept kitchen/living/dining room on the main floor, with the bedrooms, a laundry room and a full bath on the upper level. There's also a two-bay tandem garage to park your hybrid or electric car.
A small home automatically requires less heating and cooling, so you're already saving energy and the environment by opting for a smaller space. Other eco-friendly features that makes these homes Energy Star qualified include:
-Low-e windows (the "e" stands for emittance or emissivity) feature a metallic oxide coating that doesn't let heat or UV-rays pass through, which will keep warm air in during the winter and prevent heat from the blazing summer sun from turning your home into a sauna in the summer.-Energy Star certified air conditioners. Cooling systems are almost a necessity in Houston, so these small spaces are equipped with 14-SEER air conditioners. (SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which basically rates the efficiency of cooling systems; the higher the number, the more efficient the system.) A 14-SEER system is the cutoff for Energy Star heating and cooling systems, which are the 25 percent most efficient units.-Water-saving Moen faucets and low-flow toilets that aid in conserving H20.-low-VOC paint by Sherwin-Williams and KB Home (an exclusive co-branded product) is used throughout the home.-Energy-efficient appliances are standard and extra-energy-efficient models are optional.-Eco-friendly carpet that meets the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus low-VOC standard, and that contains post-consumer recycled content--diverting old carpeting from landfills.-Programmable thermostats helps home-owners keep their energy usage in check (so long as they keep the house a little warmer in the summer and a little cooler in the winter months).-Upgraded insulation prevents heat and cool loss.
Tankless Water Heaters, Bamboo Flooring, and more!
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3 comments:
Smaller homes requires a little energy than with the big ones. SO with this, you're now saving energy. But is is also good to intsall HAVC systems for heating and cooling air condition to have more comfort in your homes.
Having smaller homes could only consume a smaller cost on energy but it would also be best to use energy saver appliances to be more efficient.
http://sustain.ca/
I guess in the old days these things were called "trailer homes."
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