Once you have decided to build a smaller home, the next step is to design it to be very environmentally friendly. This can be accomplished in several ways:

designing for sustainability

Before we even get to the following fine points on sustainable design, let's consider some general principles. As we've said, a home's size makes the single greatest environmental impact, and the smaller the better; consistent with the size of your family. Next comes reducing your use of resources. Setting up a gray water system is fine, but not wasting water in the first place is even better. Recycling is great, but using less plastic, paper, glass and aluminum is even better. We need to become more aware of our old consumption habits.

Recycling helps to reduce depletion of our natural resources. But recycled materials are often of lower quality than their forebears. To remedy this loss, recycled plastics are often mixed with other plastics to produce a hybrid, though of lower quality. However, some materials can be designed from the beginning to be recycled, or even "up cycled," achieving a material with improved, rather than degraded, quality.

Passive solar design is surprisingly simple and extremely effective. There are no moving parts or bells and whistles. It's all about orienting the home correctly, having the right amount of south glass along with some thermal mass to store the heat and also good insulation to keep the indoor temperature more stable. Active solar uses machinery to convert the sun's power into heat or electricity. Active solar water heaters also are economical and efficient. There are other active systems that are worth considering too.

Gray water, rain water catchments + compost systems can be very cost effective and environmentally sound. Depending on where you live, you'll find more or less acceptance of these systems within your building department. Composting toilets are not yet realistic for the general population because of peoples' perceptions of them and the small amount of work that's necessary to maintain them, but composting kitchen scraps and garden waste is an excellent way to improve your soil.

Recycled or re-purposed building materials can often be found locally. In addition to an online search, check your local home builders association for information, salvage yards and your phone book under Building Materials-Used. When purchasing new materials, check the contents for recycled materials in manufacture. See our Resources page for more information.

Reducing your use of lumber is another way to preserve resources. Sunlight homes are built with structural insulated panels, SIPs, that use no studs yet are much stronger and better insulated than frame construction. Engineered wood products are made from recycled wood that is laminated or finger-jointed. These products are stronger and more dimensionally accurate than standard studs.

Wood that is FSC certified is harvested using responsible forestry practices. Ask your local lumber yard to carry FSC certified wood and specify it whenever feasible. It's a worthwhile place to spend a little extra money.

Choose products that were responsibly made when you make a major purchase. Check with organizations like ResponsibleShopper.org to learn more about the business practices of the company supplying the product. Support fair trade and fair labor practices.

Choose healthy products. Many products contain toxic materials and/or release toxic fumes. Fortunately, there are healthy alternatives. Check our Resources page for directories of healthy products.

Support your local economy and reduce transportation costs by buying local whenever possible.

Many states offer substantial incentives for purchasing energy saving products such as active solar panels and low flush toilets. Being a responsible, health conscious consumer takes more time and sometimes costs more, but is well worth the effort. Be aware of your options and the consequences of your purchases as best you can, and commit to a path of continual improvement. Your decisions will have far reaching effects!

Before you get very far down the path of designing your new sustainable home, learn how to question your current assumptions by following the link below.