[Greenbuilding] Best House

[Stephen Collette]

Hello Gennaro and all,

I would agree with Jason’s post on really exploring natural building, not as a mud hut approach, but in a modern design with vernacular building material, it can be durable, resilient, have a long life, reduce overall energy inputs to build and run, and easily repairable. Reducing the need for fossil fuels is key. Improving community interaction is the next step as Jason laid out. 

Is there a market for intentional community, or co-housing where you are looking? Almost guaranteed. (us green geeks live EVERYWHERE!!! hahaha) It’s a matter of you defining what you want and how far you want to push it, and then to find those folks who get it and are in. Co-housing is a great approach with ideas and strategies well laid out, and can be sold as a different “condo mentality”. 

You know we all have your back and we all want you to do this so we can live vicariously through your efforts, and/or be a part of it in some way shape or form. ;-)

Cheers

Stephen

Stephen Collette 
BBEC, BBNC, LEED AP, CAHP, BSSO
Principal
Your Healthy House 
Indoor Environmental Testing & Building Consulting
http://www.yourhealthyhouse.ca <http://www.yourhealthyhouse.ca/>
stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca <mailto:stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca>
705.652.5159





> On Dec 18, 2017, at 10:47 AM, greenbuilding-request at lists.bioenergylists.org wrote:
> 
> Just a quick mash-up of brainstorm stream-of-thought?.
> 
> 
> 
> Gennaro is right on-point balancing the overall sustainability goals and what the market will adopt. Since there are different markets, first define THIS market. Since the idea is ?cabins? in the hills?remote, rural, Northeast, etc., I?d think an element of rustic is doable, but the new twist would be modern rustic. Modern = comfortable, not so much labor.
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> 
> 
> My first hunch for envelope is straw or cob, or hempcrete or aircrete. Lime and/or clay interior and exterior (good breathability, natural, safe, durable and flexible for changing climatic conditions). If a village, could district heat be viable? If not, is ductless split not a slam dunk?? High-efficiency wood stoves in each unit also high on the list (maybe as an upgrade option and/or Plan B if district heat falls through).
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> 
> 
> Modern water management could get creative?stormwater retention, greywater, etc?should be a given. Plan this into roof designs and orientation of structures and plots. Maybe it feeds community garden/farm? Maybe blackwater treated with common-area biofiltration/wetland segregated from agriculture? Recreation through community natural pool = nifty. Composting toilets I?d think are also leading candidates.
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> Co-op ecovillage-style shared cooking, communal living has a market but I think is long-term shaky (could be trend that taps out). Maybe small kitchens or kitchenettes in each unit with central living space with larger cooking apparatus. And a fire/BBQ pit, naturally! Harken to Native American communities.
> 
> 
> 
> HTH,

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