Green Log Home
The Mystic of the log home provokes a desire to have a home that harkens back to the days of fine craftsmanship. A connection to a heritage of the pioneering sprit of our fore fathers that crafted a home out of the raw materials of the frontier which is inherently sustainable and in today’s terms a green choice. The needs of a modern home and these qualities that create the romantic appeal of a log home are combined in this green log home. Green is a holistic design approach to create an inspired healthy living environment for the family to enjoy those special times together that become warm memories. This home offers all the modern qualities required for today’s family living while striving to make a legacy contribution to good earth stewardship.

The one of kind hand handcrafted elements are interwoven into the green strategies to create an exterior envelope that provides opportunities for “Human Needs” driven spaces.

This design and prototype has been the result of a collaborative effort with the owner builder Clearance and Janice Jenkins. They have brought an invaluable combination of open minded consideration to the green strategies and a vision for the total quality of the completed home environment. Their attention to detail and exploration during the design and construction process has resulted in an example of how the modern log home can provide the adored heirloom quality of a log home while making a legacy contribution to a better the world for their children and grand children

A holistic approach to design that is based in Human Needs principles dedicated to low impact on the site and reduction of the carbon foot print of construction as well as the life of the home. The homes enclosing envelope, interior finish, and design provide an opportunity to create a home that reduces the impact on the earth while providing a collection of spaces that provide a healthy environment for your family experience low impact inspired life.

There are technologies and strategies that can be implemented that are not a premium for initial construction cost and provide long or short term life cycle cost advantages while providing a long term investment potential soon to be cherished by the family.

Design Process
BIM (Building Information Model) or 3D model based design.
• Allows for Digital content that communicates the design in a visual language a digital content that communicates on a level beyond traditional drawing content.
• Simulation of the home in the context of the site.
• Confirmation that building elements are composed to meet the unique climate and physical land structures of the site to provide the best indoor and outdoor spatial environment for the human condition.

Passive Solar
This is a basic design concept which has impact on each design consideration from the placement and connection of spaces to the construction elements that make up the homes envelope that creates the interior environment. The qualities that are best suited for the betterment of the human condition.
• Orientation on the site with regard to solar compass
• Prevailing weather patterns
• Views of the site that inspire
• Interior/ exterior connection spaces and elements. Buffers and wind breaks
• Physical element of the structure that provide shade for summer sun but allow winter sun to penetrate the space
• Existing site vegetation opportunities to integrate inherent weather related balance.
• Opportunities for natural ventilation chimney effect ventilation principles
• Thermal Lag properties of construction elements

Building Envelope
The enclosing envelope is packed with many options for protecting family health while reducing carbon foot print during construction and beyond.
• Foundation
o ICF Integrated Concrete Forms
o Pre-manufactured Foundation Wall Systems
 Less Concrete
 No waste on forms
 Quality insulation values
 Good thermal lag properties
 Less transportation impact
 Low impact to site
 Less on site construction time
 Slag concrete use possible

• Exterior wall and roof structure
o SIP Structural Insulated Panels
 Fast growth lumber use
 High quality of thickness to insulation value ratio
 Conditioned attic great interior space and mechanical system location
 Low transportation impact
 Less cavity wall thermal and moisture concerns.
 Less on site construction

• Floor frame construction
o TJI Truss Joist “I” floor framing created of engineered lumber components
o Selected areas of the second floor system are timber framed joist and structural decking which creates floor above and ceiling below

• Interior frame construction
o Engineered lumber studs fast growth lumber engineered for consistent quality
o Headers and beams LVL engineered structural lumber high strength use of fast growth lumber
• Exterior openings
o Low “E” insulated glass glazing systems southern type located on southern exposure openings
o Flashing details in these openings receive new quality attention to detail reducing moisture intrusion as well as increased energy efficiency
o Frame and door panels composed of composite materials and engineering to provide thermal break designs and reduce weather related concerns for fit for reduction of air infiltration and conduction heat losses.
• Exterior finishes
o Air infiltration barrier application to prevent air infiltration and moisture vapor movement through exterior wall structures.
o Cement based siding and cornice products provide a quality alternative with high recycled content and a good product life with limited maintenance.
o Log siding offers better use of harvested tree without the need for adjustments required for a solid log wall condition.
o SIP panel walls allows for application of various interior finishes including log siding to continue the log beauty.
o Man made stone provides the quality look and flexibility not possible with natural stone with less carbon foot print.

• Roof materials
o Metal roof with high reflective paint coating and recycled metal content and long life with minimal maintenance
o Fiberglass shingles with light color and high reflective value to reduce solar heart gain

Mechanical
• Ground Source or high efficiency heat pumps with
• Water heat connected to ground source loop
• Zoned mechanical equipment located in a climate controlled space.
• Conditioned attic space
• Humidity control system
• Programmable thermostats with remote access controls
• Pre fabricated chimney and fireplace allows for careful control of combustion air and reduction in heat loss through flue opening.
• Energy Star equipment

Electrical

 Motion control switches for bathrooms and closets
 Compact florescent lamps in interior fixtures less heat production better power usage and longer lamp time before replacement is required.

Indoor air quality
• Air to air heat exchanger for control of fresh air changes with less energy loss
• Quality exhaust fan systems with timer switches
• Low VOC finishes and reduce site applied finishes
• Formaldehyde free substrates and cabinets and other wood based products
• Mold resistant interior wall structures and sheathing products
• Metal duct work with exterior insulation
• Area rug chosen over wall to wall carpet installation provides better control over particulate air concerns
• Low VOC sealants and adhesives
• Reduction of PVC based products
• Tight controls on duct work openings during the construction process
• High volume of air filter control air changes in the weeks of the final finish of the home to remove finished process related pollutants

Water Saving
• Low flow plumbing fixtures
• Rain water harvest for irrigation of landscape or water garden
• Tank less water heater for restroom lavatories
• Low flush water closets

Carbon Foot Print Reduction
• Use of local materials manufactured and harvested with 500 mile radius which results in impact caused by transportation impact and provide local product that better suite the local climate conditions.
• Manufactures of products that have an understanding and strive for reduction of world impact
• Certified Wood products manufactures that practice sustainable practices in regard to harvest of raw materials
• Recycled content present in new materials
• Fast growth renewable products IE bamboo flooring or cork flooring
• Salvaged and reclaimed lumber and floor finishes help add to the mystic of the home while providing yet another green resource.
• Reduction in power source used for operation of the home through envelope and mechanical systems.
• Energy star appliances
View the design and constrcution progress content on line
Green Design Log Home
http://www.owensarchitects.com/greenloghome.htm

Design Digital Content
http://www.owensarchitects.com/greenlogdesign.htm