CREATING YOUR ECOLOGICAL HOUSE: what you'll need to know

Whether you're remodeling or building a new home, you'll use the ecosystem model to stay on track and make sure that you're not just throwing pieces of an eco house together that don't actually work together–or, work with the environment. Whether you choose to buy an "eco house" from a developer or create your own house by teaming with an architect and contractor [or acting as your own designer or builder], a knowledge of ecological design principles is essential for deciding what to do and how to do it.
You'll also need to learn about ecological houses, of course–their many possible forms and features. The whole point of learning ecological design principles is to apply them–in this case to create your own house. Examples of specific applications such as passive solar designs or gray water systems are given throughout this web site. But again, knowing which applications should be used in your design, and how they should work together, requires knowledge of the underlying principles.
Fortunately, there is a fun, easily understood, graphic approach for applying the concepts of ecosystem energy and material flows to the design of your house. It's explained on the design pages of this site, and expanded upon in my forthcoming book called Creating Your Ecological House.
If learning some basic ecology, ecological design principles and a whole lot of information about how ecological houses are designed and built seems overwhelming, remember that you can–and should–take it one step at a time. Start by exploring this Web site. And remember that everything you do, from simply educating yourself to creating a fully functional eco house is a step in the right direction for you and the planet.