| Building green is becoming more and more important | | | | cost of materials available, and design your budget |
| as our resources dwindle, and we become more | | | | appropriately. Be sure to factor in the increase in sale |
| aware of the sensitivities to toxins that many people | | | | price for green building, and the improvements in |
| have. With the price of oil and natural gas rising, | | | | energy efficiency when you decide what materials |
| saving energy is a big concern. The use of green | | | | are most cost effective. Materials that are more |
| construction in home and business developments has | | | | expensive now will bring savings down the road. Even |
| started really taking off, and many people are | | | | if you're developing the property for resale, buyers |
| interested in making their developments | | | | will be aware of this, and may be willing to offer a |
| environmentally friendly. One survey found that at | | | | higher price. |
| least fifty percent of all builders should be producing | | | | Development often requires the removal of existing |
| at least some green developments by the year 2010. | | | | structures. Standard practice is to demolish these |
| However, once you've decided to build green, it can | | | | structures, with the rubble usually being taken to the |
| be difficult to know where to start. If you're an | | | | local landfill. To make the process of getting rid of |
| investor or developer who's interested in learning | | | | unwanted structures more environmentally friendly, |
| about the process of green building, here are a few | | | | focus on deconstruction rather than demolition. |
| basics to help you get going. | | | | Deconstruction takes longer, but allows the materials |
| Currently, the building industry is centered on those | | | | to be reused or resold, and saves on tipping fees. If |
| practices which are least expensive, and easiest to | | | | the structures in question are older, they may have |
| implement. Unfortunately many of these practices | | | | been built from materials which are no longer |
| aren't all that green. From the use of adhesives and | | | | available, like large dimension old-growth hardwood, |
| materials that can off-gas, to the creation of | | | | which can be reused in other buildings and is superior |
| structures that waste heat and water, a conventional | | | | to softwood dimensional lumber. |
| building makes a big impact on the world around us. | | | | Another place where many modern buildings create |
| You can make buildings greener in a number of | | | | waste is water use. Very few structures are |
| different ways, including using natural and non-toxic | | | | designed to make efficient use of available water |
| materials, improving air quality, reducing waste of | | | | supplies. As more sources of water become polluted, |
| energy and water, employing renewable energy | | | | and aquifiers are emptied, water conservation |
| sources, and reusing materials whenever possible. | | | | becomes a greater concern. Plan on using features |
| For those developing a property, or investing in a | | | | that save water in your new development. These |
| development, building green can be especially difficult. | | | | can include installation of ultra-low flow toilets and |
| Individuals who are building on a small scale can more | | | | showers, faucet aerators and high-efficiency |
| easily exercise control and find green solutions. Larger | | | | showerheads, efficient heating and cooling systems, |
| developments require advance planning, and there | | | | and use of air-cooled equipment instead of |
| isn't currently a standard process for green building. | | | | water-cooled. In addition, it may be wise to designate |
| However, working with experienced professionals can | | | | a water efficiency coordinator for large projects. |
| help a lot. For instance, it's often a good idea to work | | | | The nationally accepted benchmark for green |
| with an energy consultant, who can help you decide | | | | buildings is the LEED (Leadership in Energy and |
| how to implement designs that will allow your | | | | Environmental Design) Standard. LEED certification |
| buildings to conserve energy more effectively. | | | | provides independent, third party verification that |
| Conservation of energy is one of the biggest | | | | your building project is an environmentally responsible |
| concerns related to green building, since most | | | | one. Even if you do not choose to get this |
| buildings do not make efficient use of power. Correct | | | | certification, being familiar with LEED standards can |
| building orientation to make use of passive solar | | | | help you make the right choices when building green. |
| design, efficient heating and cooling systems, and high | | | | While getting started in green building can be |
| grade insulation are just a few of the options you | | | | intimidating at first, familiarity with standards and |
| can put in place to make your developments more | | | | talking to experts in the field can make the process a |
| energy efficient. | | | | lot easier. Energy and water conservation are two of |
| You should also try to work with contractors who | | | | the biggest concerns, with use of recycled or |
| have prior experience with green building. This will help | | | | recyclable, non-toxic materials, and reduction of landfill |
| head off possible problems later on. A contractor | | | | use following. With a sound plan and the correct |
| who has built green structures in the past will have | | | | priorities, making your development a green one |
| better familiarity with the methods and materials that | | | | doesn't have to be hard. Green developments are |
| are used. They'll also be more willing to work with | | | | turning up everywhere, from water-saving |
| you, even if the process required to make the | | | | condominiums built of recyclable materials where |
| building more environmentally friendly means more | | | | decaying industrial buildings used to sit, to schools and |
| work on their end. | | | | businesses designed to make the best use of energy |
| Since building with environmentally friendly and | | | | while providing good air quality. Slowly, green building |
| recyclable materials can be more expensive than | | | | is becoming mainstream, so now's a great time to |
| conventional building, developers should also make | | | | get started. |
| sure they do their research in advance. Look at the | | | | |