Utilization of Existing Infrastructure
The home is located on fallow farmland that was becoming overgrown with an invasive species of tree called the Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum). The site is considered to be in a flood zone with no utility services available.

Preservation and Protection of Sensitive Areas
Originally, the area around the home site was wetlands that had been converted to farmland. Natural vegetation will to be allowed to passively return while non-native plant species will be actively removed. The land to the south of the house is bottomland hardwood forest that floods during heavy rains. It is a sanctuary for native animals and has been left undisturbed. Additionally, a pond was constructed that is 40' x 160' x 8' in depth. The pond has created a habitat for bird and aquatic life as well as for fire protection. The soil extracted in the construction of the pond was used to establish the home pad.

Consolidation of Utilities
The home has no utilities, including no municipal water. The homeowner does not plan to drill a well. Harvested rainwater sufficiently provides for 100 percent of household water needs. The home is not connected to the electric grid.

Preservation of Trees and Existing Vegetation
Neither native trees nor endangered vegetation were removed from the site.

Minimal Impact on Site Topography
The impact of heavy equipment use and resulting soil compaction was limited to the home foundation and driveway. Because the area is a flood zone, the house was built off the ground and is supported by recycled drill pipe that only lightly touches the ground.

Modest Size Design
The house is of a modest size with a conditioned area of 1,160 square feet and a 10' x 12' loft. There is a 19'X 16' utility room under the home.

Orientation for Use of Renewable Energy
To minimize summer heat gain and take advantage of the natural prevailing breezes, the home is oriented with its long axis running east to west.

Orientation and design for daylighting
Indirect natural light is maximized by seven clerestory awning windows located below the roofline on the north side of the cathedral ceiling, as well as nineteen combination casement/awning windows. Two large primarily glass, French entrance doors further add to the abundance of indirect natural light in the home. During the late spring, summer and early fall, the windows, doors, and walls of the home are protected from direct sunlight by a porch on all four sides of the house.

Window Sizing, Location and Shading
All rooms have at least two large windows. The Casement windows are 36" x 36"and sit directly over the awning windows, which are 36" wide x 20" in height. All windows open to the interior of the home to maximize usable porch space. Additionally, all windows are protected from direct solar gain during the hottest parts of the year.

Subcontractor Involvement in Resource Efficiency Plan
Few subcontractors were employed as the builder and homeowner performed 90% of the construction. The homeowner & builder supervised subcontractor activities at all times to prevent poor quality construction, wasteful practices, or the use of toxic materials. Architect Eddie Cazayoux, AIA was the driving force behind the design working closely with the client to fulfill their needs. The progressive, independent builders Kip Cormier and Stuart Green, of Breaux Bridge Louisiana, have constructed new, environmentally conscious projects as well as renovated historic structures. Cormier and Stuart have worked with the architect on a number of past projects.

Other
A Double Air Space Roofing System was specially designed for the home to minimize solar heat gain and eliminate the need for mechanized cooling. (See Innovations Section for detail.) More detail on this system is available here.

Foundation
Due to the soft Louisiana clay, the house pad was built using compacted pond spoil to an elevation of 4 feet. Fifteen concrete pilings extend 10 feet below grade and 2 feet above grade. The pilings are 12 inches in diameter. The concrete in the pilings was placed in recycled steel oilfield casing rather than sonotube. Four jack bolts extend vertically through the exposed end of each piling. Recycled steel flanges are welded to the jack bolts. These flanges received vertical 3" diameter from the salvaged oilfield drill pipe. On top of the drill pipe are boxes fabricated from salvaged 5/8" steel plate. The home sill rests inside these boxes and is secured with bolts. The conditioned area of the home is 11' above grade, 15' above undisturbed soil.

Structural Framing
The exterior walls are 2" by 6" at 24 inches on center and filled with insulation. The house is stick built with 10' rafters on the north side and 12' rafters on the south side. The rafters are deeper than structurally required so that insulation, two ventilated air spaces, and a radiant barrier could be incorporated in the cathedral ceiling. The 8' wrap-around porch uses a decking material called Rumber. Rumber is manufactured from recycled car tires and plastic milk jugs and is odorless, easily cleaned, arsenic free, and extremely durable.

Sub-Floor
The sub-floor is 1 1/8" plywood center matched. Timbor borate was applied prior to installing finished floor.

Windows
Windows were custom built with insulated safety glass. Low-E glass was not utilized as the home is not mechanically heated or cooled.

Doors
Exterior doors were custom manufactured to allow for natural indirect light in the hot months and passive solar heating in the colder months.

Exterior Wall Finishes
Approximately half of the house siding is salvaged, old growth cypress. The other half is hurricane downed, salvaged slash pine trees that were milled by the homeowner. No toxic finishes or oils were utilized to finish the walls.

Roof
The roof is a 26-gauge commercial grade galvanized-aluminum material with 30% deeper valleys and peaks than commonly used commercial steel roofing. This type of roof allows for better heat dissipation than traditional steel roofing and allows for ventilation.

Finish Floor
Hurricane Lili struck the area in September 2002. The homeowners purchased a portable sawmill and milled downed oak and pecan trees from the disaster for flooring. The 8' planks were stick stacked and air dried, then processed to 1" tongue and groove flooring. Most of the floor planks finished at 7" in width and some at 5". The flooring was later completed with a polyurethane satin finish.

Cabinetry and Trim
The home utilizes open shelves. There are no cabinets or closets as the homeowners felt these invite clutter, pests, and areas of stagnant air. All door frames, nearly half of the ceilings, and nearly all of the trim is oak and green ash milled from salvaged, downed logs after Hurricane Lili and processed on-site. Interior solid cypress and fir doors were salvaged from a demolished local university building. Railing for the loft and along the catwalk was constructed from salvaged, untreated fir from the local electrical utility.

Other
Bricks under and behind the wood burning stoves were salvaged from a home built in 1871. There are open spaces in the brick wall behind the wood stoves to collect the warm air. At a later date a plenum could be installed to circulate the warm air if the homeowners decide to exercise this option.

For sewerage the home includes an NSF certified SunMar Centrex 3000NE central composting unit toilet with a Sealand one-pint flush toilet. Records from the state health department indicate this is the first state licensed composting sewerage system in Louisiana.

Efficient Use of Materials
The exterior wall is 2x6 studs at 24 on center, allowing for more insulation to be placed in the envelope. Salvaged steel conduits form the uprights of the loft guardrail.

Employee Waste Reduction Training
The builders and homeowner were very efficient in material use. Building plans were reviewed prior to ordering materials to maximize efficient use. Cooperation between the architect, builder, homeowner, and subcontractors minimized errors and collaboration between the trades allowed for reuse of materials when appropriate.

Inventory and Housekeeping Procedures
Scrap material was picked up daily for recycling or use elsewhere. Materials were delivered as needed, as there was not a lot of room for excess storage.

Post Spill Cleanup Procedures
No spills of toxic or dangerous substances occurred.

Packaging Return and Reduction
Many aspects of the house were constructed from salvaged materials and therefore did not contain packaging.

Waste Reduction through Process Modification
There was very little scrap. One strategy for waste reduction was to use rejected boards milled by the homeowners for bracing material and stakes. Much of the hardwood drop off was salvaged by the builder, subcontractors, and homeowner for other uses (such as cutting boards, small tables, etc.)

Deconstruction
A large amount of recycled matter was used on the house. See the other categories where this issue has already been addressed.

Weather Protection for Stored Materials
The first structure built was a shed to store and protect materials from weather.

Alternatives to Burying or Burning Construction Waste
To avoid burying or burning construction waste, as many excess materials as possible were salvaged for other uses. Wood scrap was saved for winter heating in wood burning stoves.

Products with Minimal Off-Gas
No carpeting or manufactured products that off-gas formaldehyde were utilized. There is excellent ventilation throughout the home.

Water-Based Finishes
All interior paint was low-VOC latex.

Sealed Combustion or Power Vented Appliances
The home uses a salvaged powered stove vent. All rooms boast at least two large windows for ventilation.

Reduction of Textiles, Maximized Hard Floor Surfaces
No textiles (e.g. wallpaper or carpeting) were used in the home.

Bathroom and Kitchen Fans and Dryer Vented to Outside; Tested
There are no bathroom fans. The kitchen fan and dryer are ventilated to the outside.

Separation of Uninhabited Areas
The uninhabited shed is located over 25 feet from the inhabited area and is detached.

Ventilation Design (related to climate conditions)
Great effort went into designing the home from the ground up to maximize natural ventilation and minimizing heat gain using techniques developed over hundreds of years specifically for the climate and topography. The entire design of the home is first and foremost geared towards the local climate. Utilizing age old, time-tested techniques with modern materials and attention to detail during construction has resulted in a structure that cooperates with the natural environment.

The awning windows in the living area are hinged from the top and open inward from the bottom to allow maximal breeze exposure to the occupants. The north side cathedral ceiling awning windows are high and open outward for daylighting and ventilation (or suckulation as the architect calls the correct way to design for air movement). Shading and ventilation are critical for comfort in the hot and humid climate of Louisiana. More detail on this system is available here.

Water Management for Foundation, Attic and Walls
The land was shaped to drain water from the structure. The pond was constructed on the north side of the home to minimize increased humidity from the prevailing breezes from the south. There is extensive use of air barriers around the insulated envelope. Additionally, there are no moisture barriers as these are contraindicated in this climate (moisture barriers are known to lead to mold problems).

Detached Garage (or attached with "advanced sealing")
Vehicles may be parked under the home. This area is open on 3 sides and the prevailing breezes insure hazardous fumes are not drawn into the home.

Duct and Furnace Cleaning Prior to Occupancy
The home is heated by EPA approved wood burning stoves. There is no ductwork or furnace.

Harmful Gas Monitoring and Control
Carbon monoxide monitors and smoke detectors are installed.

Building Envelope
All windows are shaded by a wrap-around porch overhang during late spring, summer, and early autumn. The overhang dimensions of the roof were designed for the location to allow maximum window, wall, and door shading in the hotter months and passive solar gain in the cooler months. Exterior walls are insulated with Icynene. The rafters are insulated with high-density fiberglass bat insulation sprinkled with Timbor, a powdered borate. The roof has a radiant barrier, air spaces, and air barrier. Ceiling and walls with an air barrier are stapled and caulked to wall studs or rafters.

Mechanical Systems
Except for very efficient ceiling fans there is no mechanical heating or cooling. The house is designed for maximum ventilation.

Water Heating
Water is warmed by a Solar batch heater that is mounted on the roof with an on-demand propane water heater for backup. The solar water heater is primarily constructed from salvaged materials.

Appliances
All electrical appliances are from Sears and are EnergyStar rated. Prior to the purchase of appliances priority was given to energy efficiency as well as the best records for longevity. Consumer Reports magazine, EnergyStar website, and internet newsgroups were the primary sources for this information.

Lighting
There is an abundance of indirect, natural light. When lighting is required in the home office a fluorescent grow (full spectrum) light also provides lighting for starting plants for the vegetable gardens.

Report performance data if available
None are needed. The home is kept comfortable in the hot, humid summer by minimizing heat gain and natural ventilation. In the winter passive solar heating is combined with burning readily available hardwoods scraps available from the homeowners sawmill.

Other
A 1.9 KW Photovoltaic system with a supplemental 50 volt DC home built wind generator supplies all electricity. The 12 PVs are Kyocera, the inverter and AC and DC disconnects are from Xantrex, and the charge controller is an Outback MX60. 24 Rolls-Surrette SA530 batteries are wired for 24 volts. The PVs are wired in series for 75 volts.

Erosion and Debris Control Plan (including maintenance of control devices)
Locally grown hay is used to decrease erosion. The hay was not treated with pesticides or herbicides. Raised gardens are terraced to further decrease erosion. Rain runoff from the roofs is piped to cisterns for all household and garden use. Cistern overflow is directed towards drainage ditches with natural vegetation encouraged to prevent erosion.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Stormwater
Most of the storm water is directed to the pond. The roof runoff is directed to the cisterns to be filtered and purified for home and garden use.

Greywater Collection and Reuse
Greywater reuse is prohibited by state regulation. Therefore, very efficient appliances and low flow fixtures are used to decrease greywater production. Greywater is put into a leaching field to percolate back into the soil.

Rainwater collection and reuse
The home uses rainwater for all water needs. The roof is washed prior to diverting to cisterns and the water is filtered prior to entering cisterns. Before entering the home plumbing, the water is triple filtered (30 microns, 20 microns, 5 microns) and exposed to UV light for disinfection. Two of the three cisterns were built in the 1930's from concrete salvaged from a nearby town.

Wellhead Protection
N/A

Vehicle and Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance
Biodegradable soaps are used for cleaning. Detergents are not necessary because of rainwater harvesting.

Water Efficient Appliances, Equipment and Fixtures
Front loading clothes washer, low flow showerheads, and very efficient dishwashers minimize water use.

Landscape Design
There are very few decorative plants on the property. Most plants are either natural vegetation or plants that provide food. Naturally insect and disease resistant species are given preference, as well as heirloom varieties.

Phased Construction (reducing disturbed areas)
N/A (you build when you can in this environment)

Single Stabilized Construction Entrance (established and maintained)
There is only one entrance to the site and the drive was shaped for rain runoff, covered with a landscape cloth, and covered with recycled asphalt road salvage.

Site Covered and Stabilized at Construction Completion
The site was covered and stabilized all throughout and after construction.

Access to community support services
The house is located six miles from local hospitals, medical centers, grocery stores, and library. A university and airport are within 30 miles.

Safety and security
Twelve dogs and a single entrance driveway that is 6,250 feet long (visible at all times) keep the house safe and secure.

Exterior access
The home entrance is sheltered. Stair railings, built out of salvaged steel pipe, are custom fabricated for strength, comfort, and safety. Stairs are sturdy enough to accept wheelchair lift device.

General living space
The shower, bathtub and doors of the major open floor are wheelchair accessible.

Kitchen
The kitchen boasts wood flooring and a lever handled faucet. It has an open design with abundant natural light as well as compact fluorescent lighting. The kitchen counter is made from a piece of drop-off granite that was bulldozed for safety. Windows over the sink provide natural lighting, ventilation, and a view of the nearby woods.

Bathroom
The shower and bathtub are separated. The shower has an anti-scald fixture. There is a laundry chute to the utility room below. The shower, bathtub, and toilet are all wheelchair accessible.