Model homes by valles

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Doron Bracha Apr 29, 2014 12:13 Member 1 \| Share via:	Interesting proposal, yet keep in mind that there already are multiple green building rating systems, standards and even building codes. Some are local, others are international. Architecture schools do teach and encourage sustainable design, and it's becoming the mainstream. I would add that green building rating systems should also consider the most important thing, which is reducing consumption. Compact buildings (that are designed to function effectively) cost less to build, consume less resources and have a smaller environmental footprint. Less is more... For example, highrise condominiums that house hundreds of families in small apartments, near public transit (like in Hong Kong for example), should be recognized as much greener than extra-large condos or homes with multiple bathrooms, built in the suburbs of the US, even if those are LEED certified and have many 'green bells and whistles'. Promoting international standards makes sense in many ways, but it can be challenging, due to big differences in cultures, economics, social conventions etc. You may want to consider that and elaborate on bridging such gaps. Cheers !..
Chad Knutsen May 17, 2014 08:58 Member 2 \| Share via:	I think your project and ours could be related. https://www.climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans/-/plans/contestId/1300403/planId/1305704
Mark Johnson Jun 17, 2014 09:58 Member 3 \| Share via:	I was just about to recommend contacting Chad on his Hempcrete project. Certainly there is synergy between your projects. Chad is an SME in this area. Doron is once again super on target. A "critical policy analysis" construct: Aligning high population counts with mass transit and embracing "smaller is better" building codes, as often housing projects have fairly large minimum square footage requirements. There are so many modular home builders now, who craft high quality modules which show up on semi-trucks and are erected at a record pace. "Green Engineering Standards" would be built into each module and "engineering changes" would improve energy savings over time as technologies and best practices mature. Delivered modules would have high consistency in form, fit and function. A flurry of subcontractor niches would surface, e.g., geothermal, rain water capture, engineering structural R-factor optimization, etc. Have a Great Day! Mark
Maryette Haggerty Perrault Jun 17, 2014 10:26 Member 4 \| Share via:	Hi valles, thanks for sharing your idea! I'm curious as to whether you are proposing these modular green building components as a retrofit opportunity or if you are targeting the new construction market. Could you also explain what in particular the international standard you propose would regulate within these "modular green rooms" - is it just products (appliances, lighting, insulation, carpets, etc) or is it more (energy consumption after install)? While LEED certification for buildings is a well recognized symbol green buildings, they are not a international standard - perhaps the International Business Code would be a better suited partner to enact change in building design on the global scale. Best of luck and thank you!
Maryette Haggerty Perrault Jun 20, 2014 03:33 Member 5 \| Share via:	Just noticed auto-correct got me above! I of course meant the International Building Code from the International Code Council (ICC) http://www.iccsafe.org/
Climate Colab Aug 5, 2014 08:37 Member 6 \| Share via:	The idea of stimulating innovation in modular housing for lower-income people is a great one. However, it is not clear that the proposal would achieve this aim. It also does not address the main theme of 'empower the public...to build awareness and demand for green buildings'. Interesting idea that combines knowledge and coaboration and the traget of modular and affordable housing market. The idea isn't new and needs more work to identfy what behavioural change this website/publication would result in.

Doron Bracha Apr 29, 2014 12:13 Member 1 \| Share via:	Interesting proposal, yet keep in mind that there already are multiple green building rating systems, standards and even building codes. Some are local, others are international. Architecture schools do teach and encourage sustainable design, and it's becoming the mainstream. I would add that green building rating systems should also consider the most important thing, which is reducing consumption. Compact buildings (that are designed to function effectively) cost less to build, consume less resources and have a smaller environmental footprint. Less is more... For example, highrise condominiums that house hundreds of families in small apartments, near public transit (like in Hong Kong for example), should be recognized as much greener than extra-large condos or homes with multiple bathrooms, built in the suburbs of the US, even if those are LEED certified and have many 'green bells and whistles'. Promoting international standards makes sense in many ways, but it can be challenging, due to big differences in cultures, economics, social conventions etc. You may want to consider that and elaborate on bridging such gaps. Cheers !..
Chad Knutsen May 17, 2014 08:58 Member 2 \| Share via:	I think your project and ours could be related. https://www.climatecolab.org/web/guest/plans/-/plans/contestId/1300403/planId/1305704
Mark Johnson Jun 17, 2014 09:58 Member 3 \| Share via:	I was just about to recommend contacting Chad on his Hempcrete project. Certainly there is synergy between your projects. Chad is an SME in this area. Doron is once again super on target. A "critical policy analysis" construct: Aligning high population counts with mass transit and embracing "smaller is better" building codes, as often housing projects have fairly large minimum square footage requirements. There are so many modular home builders now, who craft high quality modules which show up on semi-trucks and are erected at a record pace. "Green Engineering Standards" would be built into each module and "engineering changes" would improve energy savings over time as technologies and best practices mature. Delivered modules would have high consistency in form, fit and function. A flurry of subcontractor niches would surface, e.g., geothermal, rain water capture, engineering structural R-factor optimization, etc. Have a Great Day! Mark
Maryette Haggerty Perrault Jun 17, 2014 10:26 Member 4 \| Share via:	Hi valles, thanks for sharing your idea! I'm curious as to whether you are proposing these modular green building components as a retrofit opportunity or if you are targeting the new construction market. Could you also explain what in particular the international standard you propose would regulate within these "modular green rooms" - is it just products (appliances, lighting, insulation, carpets, etc) or is it more (energy consumption after install)? While LEED certification for buildings is a well recognized symbol green buildings, they are not a international standard - perhaps the International Business Code would be a better suited partner to enact change in building design on the global scale. Best of luck and thank you!
Maryette Haggerty Perrault Jun 20, 2014 03:33 Member 5 \| Share via:	Just noticed auto-correct got me above! I of course meant the International Building Code from the International Code Council (ICC) http://www.iccsafe.org/
Climate Colab Aug 5, 2014 08:37 Member 6 \| Share via:	The idea of stimulating innovation in modular housing for lower-income people is a great one. However, it is not clear that the proposal would achieve this aim. It also does not address the main theme of 'empower the public...to build awareness and demand for green buildings'. Interesting idea that combines knowledge and coaboration and the traget of modular and affordable housing market. The idea isn't new and needs more work to identfy what behavioural change this website/publication would result in.