Sustainable Designs

- A compact envelope allows for very little surface area to be exposed to the external environment.  Thus, providing the structure more economical when it comes to heating and cooling.

- The use of a buffer zone between the core (living space) of a building and its exterior walls, such as the design of a hallway or a laundry room, helps maintain comfortable conditions internally and saves energy.

- Wall types are also important.  When wind hits a wall it produces a back flow at the base, which if not sealed properly or if there was a designed opening, filtration into the building will occur.  This will cause much energy loss and a draft inside.

- Using trees in the landscape is a great way to buffer the strong north winds in the winter.  Also, a tree placed on the southern corner of a house allows for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.

- Numerous wall types are designed to be energy efficient throughout the year.  Some examples of walls are the Trombe wall and water wall, which absorb heat in the winter.

- Passive solar heating is the use of glazed walls in proper locations to allow sunlight to penetrate in the winter and to be blocked in the summer.  This process, if done properly, will allow heating and cooling to occur during the relative seasons.

- Solar panels, another use of solar energy, is an enhanced product that exploits sunlight to heat and produce clean energy.  Once a mainstream product in the 1970’s, solar panel use is minimal because of their  high cost compared to the price of fossil fuel.  However, in the long run, solar panels more than pay for themselves.

- Earth rammed homes (a house whose walls are backfilled with earth) are of great benefit for the serious economically aware owner.  These types of homes use the natural heating and cooling of the earth to maintain the internal temperature of the house.  Though it may be more costly to dig out and back fill, the electric and heating bill will be very minute compared to the cost to heat and cool an average home (Achard 1993, p.54).
 

(Hibshmann,1983, p27)
                      Interior and Exterior View of a Sustainable Home

Water Collection

     Flood water collection, and the pooling of greywater (from sink and bath) would supply a sufficient amount of water for irrigation purposes.  Connecting residential greywater and storm water run-off to a centralized underground storage basin would reduce the need for clean city water.  Collected water would help to irrigate residential gardens and green spaces.  Gardens and green spaces cut down on neighborhood pollution and save residents money on certain products such as vegetables. (Steele 1983, p151)  This would be especially useful in Emerson Park, East St. Louis because it is an area which receives a good amount of rain and it is at a lower elevation than the surrounding neighborhoods thus water collection into a basin would not be a problem.  This system however would be a costly one to install, just as the light rail station was, but like the rail station I feel in the next ten to fifteen years the city will relize its benefits.  For this pooling of water to be beneficial residents would need to develop green spaces which would require greywater only.  Areas such as flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and mini parks are some examples of things which could use greywater.  Also by creating these attractive landscapes residents could save money on products they would normally buy at the store by growing vegetables such as tomatos, apples, and watermellon.

    Example of one method of greywater irrigation.
                         (Steele 1983, 153)