Free Green House Plans

Even though the housing industry is not booming right now, I still receive a number of requests for green house plans from people hoping to build green in the future. Other people call for information on tips for remodeling green.

A while ago, I mentioned Free Green as a limited resource for free green plans. They have now updated their site to include more free and discounted plans, "making green building accessible to all." Click here for some of their free green house plans. Remember to consider smaller house sizes to reduce energy and resource consumption.

Dovetail Partners also lists a number of other resources for free house plans.

Of course the greenest home may be one that just needs a little green renovating. The Minnesota GreenStar Remodeling program can bring your remodeling project up to green certification standards. The REGREEN program offers guidelines for helping keep your renovation green but does not include certification. Both go beyond increasing energy efficiency and also look at aspects of indoor air quality, water and resource consumption, waste management, renewable energy production, and site impacts.

Green Building Workshops in the Lake States Region

Here are a few green building workshops happening in the Lakes States region in October and November.

7 Oct 2009. Appleton, WI: Building Systems: Retro-commissioning

8 Oct 2009. Brainerd, MN: BAELN Event: Green Business is Good Business Tour

10 Oct 2009. White Bear Lake, MN: Solar Energy: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Photovoltaics

12 Oct 2009. online: Building for the Future: Sustainable Home Design ONLINE

12 Oct 2009. Roseville, MN: MN GreenStar Project Registration Workshop

13 Oct 2009. Apple Valley, MN: Protecting Minnesota's Environment and Saving Dollars: The Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment and Apple Valley's Green Initiatives

13 Oct 2009. Pine Valley, MN: Rain Barrel DYI

14 Oct 2009. Madison, WI: Green Building Workshop Series

15 Oct 2009. Bloomington, MN: Green Growth For Business: How and Why it Benefits the Bottom Line

15 Oct 2009. Milwaukee, WI: Green Building Conference

16-17 Oct 2009. Ashland, WI: Upper Midwest Green Schools Conference

19-21 Oct 2009. Bloomington, MN: 9th Annual BioCycle Conference on Renewable Energy From Organics Recycling Conference

24 Oct 2009. White Bear Lake, MN: Solar Energy:Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Solar Water Heating

28 Oct 2009. Lansing, MI: Green Building Workshop Series

5 Nov 2009. Minneapolis, MN: Green Building Workshop Series

5 Nov 2009. online: Green Building Workshop Series

6-8 Nov 2009. Minneapolis, MN: Go Green Expo Minneapolis

17 Nov 2009. Roseville, MN: MN GreenStar Project Registration Workshop

17 Nov 2009. St. Paul, MN: E3 2009: The Midwest's Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference

18 Nov 2009. online: Achieving Better Results through Design Review

18 Nov 2009. St. Paul, MN: Putting Minnesota on the Map: Next Steps for Building a Smart Grid Coalition in Minnesota

Minnesota GreenStar Credits related to Windows

In a previous post, I mentioned how LEED credits relate to windows. If you are installing windows in a new home, replacing windows in an existing home, or manufacturing/selling window products, knowing the Minnesota GreenStar credits that relate to windows might also be helpful.

Minnesota GreenStar is only related to residential projects, not commercial. It has both a Remodeling program and a New Homes program.

The Minnesota GreenStar checklist and manual are extremely detailed, and for a person who has not yet gone through the process, it may seem a bit daunting. I have taken out the credits relating to windows and posted them below. Click to enlarge the photo. If you'd like a larger version, please contact me and I'd be happy to send you a pdf version of the file.

Minnesota GreenStar Remodeling related to windows

Minnesota GreenStar Remodeling checklist
Minnesota GreenStar Remodeling manual

Minnesota GreenStar New Homes as relating to windows

Minnesota GreenStar New Homes checklist
Minnesota GreenStar New Homes manual
Minnesota GreenStar New Homes points thresholds for home size

Just a note about the program - Windows made with FSC-certified materials or local materials can attain points. However, it currently does not state that windows made from environmentally preferable materials, such as rapidly-renewable, recycled-content, or salvaged material-content can attain points. However, if such a product did exist, it would be taken into consideration for point allocation. So if you've got a great idea for this type of window, be sure to let the Minnesota GreenStar people know.