Green Building
Green Building & Remodeling Practices
The home building industry coined the phrase green building in the late 1980s, turning a niche movement of resource-efficient homes into a quiet revolution – one that is increasingly becoming a preferred way to build and remodel.
Green building means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. It’s a practical response to a variety of issues that affect all of us – like increasing energy prices, waning water resources, and changing weather patterns. It means making intentional decisions about:
- Energy efficiency improvements such as high levels of insulation, efficient HVAC systems, high-performance windows and energy-efficient appliances and lighting
- Water conservation measures such as water-efficient appliances and fixtures, filtration systems, and drought resistant or low-maintenance landscaping
- Resource conservation using materials and techniques such as engineered wood and wood alternatives, recycled building materials, sustainably harvested lumber, and more durable products
- Indoor environmental quality considerations such as effective HVAC equipment, formaldehyde-free finishes, low-allergens materials, and products with minimum off-gassing or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Site design planning such as minimizing disruption and preserving open space.
Green Product Use
- Energy-efficient windows
- Energy-efficient appliances
- High-efficiency HVAC systems
- Enhanced insulation package
- Air sealing package to reduce air infiltration
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Low-flow shower heads and faucets
- Low-or no-VOC paints/sealants
- Moisture-management products and methods
- Advanced framing techniques
- Products with recycled contents
- Drought-tolerant landscaping
- Products with low off-gassing of indoor pollutants
- Low-flow toilets
Many of the same techniques and products can be used in a remodel project to increase energy efficiency, conserve water and improve indoor air quality.