This project presented an opportunity to introduce homeowners and the design community to combinations of ideas all aimed at making life better, easier, and more sustainable. Design ideas that embrace sustainability, accessibility, survivability, affordability, and community integration are employed into a series of design solutions that accomplish multiple goals. The goal was to pair diverse design considerations together in an effort to find synergistic opportunities where multiple criteria are satisfied with a single design idea. The outdoor space is not just a place of deck and patios; rather, the outdoor spaces are utilized to fulfill specific programmatic roles. The first platform raised off the sidewalk becomes an outdoor foyer. This buffer space would be great for catching some sun and enjoying a game of dominos or cards with a neighbor. It also acts as a buffer or foyer to the outdoor living room up above. Two large planters frame the space and help with the visual transition between the raised living spaces and the ground plane. The highest outdoor platform, the outdoor living room, features shelves that double as a deck railing. The outdoor living room mirrors the indoor living room and a single TV could be turned around to enable viewing either indoors or in the shaded comfort of the front porch. Gardening is a great hobby but can be backbreaking work. In the front yard the vertical garden includes a series of planter trays that improve the ergonomics of gardening. Potted plants can be dropped into these different sized trays creating a colorful and fragrant wall of flowers or a handy outdoor pantry full of tasty veggies. In the back yard, elevated planting beds raise food crops above contaminated ground plane while also making gardening more comfortable. The great room features a series of ideas that simultaneously save money, generously accommodate a wheelchair and reduce construction waste. Open shelf cabinets allow for easier wheel chair access to counters and an open plan gives space for maximum maneuverability. The kitchen is large enough for preparing a large family meal while also size and budget appropriate for those whose common culinary efforts involve a microwave. The counter to the left of the stove serves as a “flex space” - it could be used as a desk or extra kitchen work surface. Consolidating the microwave, refrigerator, and an open pantry into a single wall makes it is easy to get food out of the refrigerator and into the microwave for a quick, hot meal.

• LEED for Homes Rating System: Guidelines to meet LEED for Homes certification levels of: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. LEED for Homes is a national, voluntary certification system, developed by national experts and experienced builders, that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes and encourages the adoption of sustainable practices by the homebuilding industry. The LEED for Homes Rating System is part of the suite of nationally recognized LEED Green Building Rating Systems administered by USGBC. Like all LEED Rating Systems, it is the market's leadership system, targeting the top 25% of home building practices in terms of environmental responsibility. LEED provides industry resources and tools on how to "green" any new home. With LEED, homebuilders can differentiate their structures as meeting the highest performance measures, and homebuyers can readily identify high quality green homes. LEED provides national consistency in defining the features of a green home, enables builders anywhere in the country to obtain a green rating on their homes, and assures homebuyers of the quality of their purchases, all based on a recognized national brand. Learn more about the LEED® Rating System here.
• Window shading details: External window shading devices are an effective method for reducing heat gains through windows during Summer. In fact, external shading devices can reduce heat gains by up to 80% if sized and built properly. With this in mind, the founders of Green Living, formerly Free Green, created this page to assist home builders in constructing effective window shading devices. The information we provide includes a zoning map of the United States, zoning charts for proper sizing of shading devices and a variety of shading device styles and materials to suite different tastes and different home designs.
• General Notes: Typically one sheet of general notes pertinent to the construction of the home
• Exterior Elevations: A blueprint picture of all four sides showing exterior materials and measurements.
• Foundation Plan: Drawn to 1/4" scale, this page shows all necessary notations and dimensions including support columns, walls and excavated and unexcavated areas. 
• Floor Plan(s): Detailed plans, drawn to 1/4" scale for each level showing room dimensions, wall partitions, windows, etc. as well as the location of electrical outlets and switches.
• Interior Elevations: Detailed drawings of kitchen cabinet elevations and other elements as required.
• Cross Section: A vertical cutaway view of the house from roof to foundation showing details of framing, construction, flooring and roofing.
• Wall sections and other construction details: Detailed drawings showing wall connections, from foundation to the roof. wall connections to foundation, window installation, siding installation, stair details, and more.
• Framing Plans: Drawn to 1/4" scale. The framing layout is intended to be a suggested layout only. Design loads & weather conditions vary by region. As a result the size, spacing & layout of all structural elements in this home design must be approved by a structural engineer and code official based on your specific site location prior to construction.
• Electrical Plan with electrical symbols legend: In general, each house plan set includes an electrical plan which will show the locations of lights, receptacles, switches, etc. Note: Most Green Living plans have an electrical plan, however some do not. Please contact us to verify.