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March 21, 2010  |  Login
Bringing Your Home to Life: Designers, Landscape Architects and Green Consultants
By Eric Corey Freed
 
If you have a large yard or property, a landscape architect can transform a pile of weeds into a beautiful outdoor “room.” A landscape architect doesn’t just select plants; she can design a trellis to shade you from the sun, as well as planter beds to form activity areas and decks perfect for watching the sunset. Think of a landscape architect as an architect for the outside. (More on landscaping )


Mechanical Engineers

You may never need a mechanical engineer for your new home. But if you’re planning a large home, a mechanical engineer can design and select the heating and cooling systems. Mechanical engineers are trained in passive solar design, finding ways to heat and cool the building using only the sun.
 
Tip: Your architect and contractor can help you determine whether a mechanical engineer is needed and where to find one. And if you use a mechanical engineer, be sure to explain the energy-efficiency goals to your mechanical engineer so he can select the proper systems for your home.


Green Building Consultants

If you already have an architect and contractor you enjoy working with, but they don’t have any green building experience, a green building consultant can help. This growing field now offers experienced experts who can evaluate your plans and create a list of recommendations to improve the energy efficiency and health of your home. A green consultant can source materials, provide design advice, and even perform an energy analysis to calculate how much money you can save.

Tip: Fees for green building consultants vary wildly, so be specific in your requests.

 
 

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