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House Size Matters by Michael Horowitz This paper, written by BSR member Michael Horowitz, is a response to the LEED for Homes Pilot program and the article “Small is Beautiful: U.S. House Size, Resource Use, and the Environment” by Alex Wilson and Jessica Boehland ©2005 MIT and Yale University. There are unresolved issues and questions regarding house size in relation to the construction of green homes and the certification systems that attempt to quantify the environmental features of those homes. Although there are other considerations regarding green ratings, such as site considerations, health and indoor air quality, durability, and occupant education, this paper focuses on the importance of house size considerations and the omission of occupant load ratios, design efficiency, and their connection to resource use within green home ratings. A corrective house size formula, created by the author in collaboration with Vermont Builds Greener (VBG) is offered as one solution to the problem of score weighting for size Ratcheting Residential Codes up to Energy Star by Richard Faesy Recommended ReadingArchitectural Graphic Standards, 10 th Ed, Ramsey/Sleeper, 2000, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Builders Guide for Cold Climates, Joseph Lstiburek, PhD., 1999, Shelter Source, Canada Construction-Principles, Materials, and Methods, 7th Edition, Simmons/Olin, 2001, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Healthy House Building, A Design & Construction Guide, John Bower, 1993, The Health House Institute Insulate and Weatherize: Expert Advice from Start To Finish, Bruce Harley, 2002, The Taunton Press The Not So Big House, Susan Susanka, 1998, The Taunton Press Tiny Houses, Lester Walker, 1987, The Overlook Press American Shelter, An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Home, Lester Walker, 1981, The Overlook Press Redesigning the American Lawn, A Search for Environmental Harmony, Borman, Balmori, Geballe, 1993, Yale University Press Unbuilding, Falk, Bob and Brad Guy, Random House |
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