Green News-What is Green Building
GREEN NEWS What is Green Building? by Leia Sims—- S/S 2007
Green building has become popular over the last few years. Green, i.e., sustainable, environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient, healthy and other catchphrases, are widely used, yet the actual practice of this type of building is vastly underutilized.
A green building would use fewer resources, eliminate toxic materials and incorporate the surrounding environment and community while minimizing its impact on the occupants and environment.
Building Green involves techniques that result in an added element of comfort due to the reduction of pollutants used during construction, and the mitigation of their ability to infiltrate over the building’s life
A variety of green building alternatives exist, suiting your needs and budget, from simply using compact fluorescent lightbulbs and ceiling fans, to installing cork flooring, geothermal heating and straw bale construction.
Green building uses a comprehensive approach encompassing systems both inside and outside the living space. This means, that when deciding on the type and size of heating unit installed, for example, the insulation, windows, shading, building materials and the surrounding environment are taken into consideration. During the design process, additional thought and research will drastically enhance the end product. Acknowledging that most of your time and resources are spent at home, the added value will be priceless.
Why green building?
Energy used by the building sector has great impact on our current energy crisis and concerns about global warming.
Buildings have the largest impact on energy usage and waste worldwide. The US Energy Information Administration says that buildings are the largest current user of energy. They will also be making the largest demand on future energy and be the reason for the construction of the majority of new power plants.
By modifying our building techniques, the amount of wasted building materials going to landfills can be cut. The EPA estimates that nearly 40% of the total weight disposed at landfills in the US comes from construction and demolition waste.
The benefits associated with green building are huge. Green building techniques applied to a living space result in improved indoor air quality, a healthier living environment, a more comfortable home, reduced utility bills, increased value of the building and reduced impact on the earth.
Eliminating chemicals or volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) found in standard paint, carpeting, adhesives, cabinets, etc., improves indoor air quality. These materials continue to off-gas for quite some time. Many paints off-gas 50% of their toxins in the first year after installation. Some of the toxic smells are quite noticeable while others are not. These poisons can fill your home and subsequently enter your lungs.
Green building will make you money.
In addition to saving you money each month on your utility bills, the value of your home will increase. When appraising and selling your home, the benefits of green building will have a positive impact. The many benefits of green building are easily definable and real estate professionals can convey this value to a prospective buyer.
Green Build Recommendations:
Don’t overbuild- Building to meet the needs of you and your family will reduce the cost of building and reduce the cost to operate and maintain your home. This will greatly reduce the impact on your finances and the environment.
Design with minimal waste- Most building materials are manufactured in two-foot increments, so using value engineering will reduce the amount of material waste. Producing less waste on-site will result in lower disposal costs. A simple and effective framing technique developed by the National Assoc. of Home Builders Research Center suggests framing at 24-inches-on-center rather than 16-inches-on-center.
This technique alone will save about 30% of the framing studs, while retaining the optimal two-foot increment. Placing the water heater and HVAC unit centrally in the home will reduce the amount of material needed to carry the heat and water to its destination and will increase efficiency of the units by reducing the amount of energy to get it there.
Make homes efficient Ð Use the maximum amount of insulation recommended for your area. Strategically place windows on the side of the house that will optimize heat gain/loss. Utilize trees to help with seasonal shading. Landscaping your home with plants native to your area can eliminate the need to irrigate. Use water-saving fixtures. Efficiently designed homes reduce utility bills by at least 30%. With utility costs rising 15-30% annually, you can save you thousands over the life of your home.
Use recycled or recyclable materials- Many of the materials used to build are also available from recycled material. Fewer raw materials are required to produce them resulting in lower impact on the earth. Many products found at a moving sale or re-use store are in excellent condition and will drastically reduce the cost of furnishing your home.
Recycle and compost all waste- Exchanging your large garbage cans for smaller ones can easily create a recycling center at home. Designate a bin to glass, bottles, and cans, one for paper, one for trash and another for compost will make recycling easy. This will reduce your impact on landfills.
Use renewable resources, especially energy- Incorporating a renewable energy system into the design of your new home can result in a zero-energy home. By using solar, wind and/or geothermal power in conjunction with your energy-conserving home you can easily offset 100% of your utility bills. Situating this equipment strategically will maximize the efficiency and value of your renewable energy system.
Create safe, healthy living spaces- Building your home with materials that do not off-gas will make your living experience more comfortable and reduce the risk of sickness. Properly sealing your home will help reduce the pollutants entering your home. Incorporating natural daylighting will generate the best light and help elevate the spirit. Building a home that is free of pollutants will improve your well-being.
Who will help me? Finding and utilizing the resources of a green building professional will make your experience a positive one. Here are some resources: The New Ecological Home, A Complete Guide to Green Building Options, by Daniel D. Chiras is a valuable book. www.energystar.gov or try www.eere.energy.gov/consumer
What’s stopping you from being green?
Fuel Saving Tips: * SLOW DOWN driving at 10 miles an hour above the 65mph limit increases fuel consumption by 15% * inflating tires properly cuts gasoline use by 2% * keeping engines idle while in line wastes millions of gallons.
Leia Sims is certified with the Building Performance Institute and owner of Bright Alternatives, a green building consulting firm. She can be reached at 732-996-0179. Email questions to: leia@bized.com
