Green building is conventional building with increased efficiency. Increased efficiencies mean that Green building practices are not necessarily more expensive or more time-consuming than conventional building practices.
Careful, prudent use of energy, water, and materials reduces negative impacts on human health and the environment. Being conscious of the impacts of your building project leads to better design, efficient construction and operations, proper maintenance, improved indoor air quality, and fewer wasted resources.
In short, we approach all remodels with the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Here are a few simple examples of green building practices:
- Reduce the amount of waste by reusing materials where appropriate, recycling materials and donating used materials to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.
- Design room additions and remodeling projects with standard material lengths in mind. For example, dimensional lumber and trim materials come in lengths of 8', 10', 12', 14', and 16'. You automatically reduce the amount of wasted materials when you design spaces so that the overall dimensions match standard sizes.
- Purchase materials locally to avoid long haul transportation, decreasing fuel consumption and emissions from trucks.
- Avoid the use of products that contain formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds that lead to poor indoor air quality.
- Seal all openings such as electrical, heating, and plumbing penetrations in the building process to reduce air infiltration. Ensure that your space is well insulated.
Whether you want a Green Built certified remodel, or you're just interested in energy conservation and sustainable practices, Westring Construction has the knowledge and the commitment to do the job right.
Links:
Green Built Home
Green Advantage
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