Green Building:
5 Tips for Getting It Right
If you're interested in making "green building" part of remodeling your home, it's important, of course, to work with eco-friendly materials and construction techniques. But once your home remodeling project is finished, you want it to continue being eco-friendly – and that's why the long-term sustainability of your home is something that needs to be part of the thinking, planning and design before building ever begins.
Here is a quick overview of 5 issues to consider as together we look at ways of helping you "go green" – building and sustaining a wonderful home that's friendly to you, your budget and the environment.
1. How can we reduce construction waste? This means looking ahead to ways to reuse elements. For example, instead of throwing away materials torn out as part of demolition, we might be able to repurpose framing, floorboards and other elements from your existing home so they can play a role in the new plans. There's less waste to the landfill and less new material to buy.
2. How can we conserve natural resources? This means being very thoughtful about the types of materials used in your project. From renewable resources such as bamboo flooring or recycled glass counters, green building materials can be good for the planet – and great for design! If you're building new or adding on, you also want to think through where the foundation will be built and how it will affect the lot (whether trees will have to be cut down, for example). Also, if a driveway is part of your project, would materials that are more porous than concrete or asphalt help prevent rainwater runoff?
  3. How can we make your home healthy? You may want to avoid paints, carpets, wallboard and other home building materials that can emit VOCs, formaldehyde, and other unhealthy gases into your indoor environment. Good ventilation and humidity control are also critical, so the heating and cooling system needs to be considered as part of the sustainability solution.
4. Saving energy and water. Sustaining a low environmental impact means building in green solutions that can range from energy-efficient windows, siding, appliances and lighting fixtures, to insulation, tankless water heaters and solar power systems.
5. Supporting local companies. Green building means looking for ways to work not just with local artisans and trades people, but with local suppliers of building materials, fixtures, appliances and more. This not only supports the local economy, it also reduces the carbon footprint of your project.
How can "green building" and sustainability be built into your remodeling plans? Give us a call and let's take a look at building an eco-friendly future for your family.
Maintenance Tip: Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
In the winter, the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning increases dramatically. Install carbon monoxide detectors with an audible alarm in your home and garage and follow these tips to help keep your family safe.
- Make sure your fuel-burning appliances (oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves) are installed properly.
- Never use an oven, gas range or outdoor grill to heat your home if the power goes out.
- Never leave your car idling in a closed attached garage to "warm up" in cold weather. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and enter the living area of your home.
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Mike Winn |
