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Green Building
The following information is from G/Rated, a project of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development, Portland, OR, and reprinted from Today's Buyer's Rep - March 2006
The term "green building" refers to a new way of designing and constructing buildings to increase performance and enhance the health and experience for people who work, live and play in these structures. A green building:
saves energy and water
protects the site
maximizes longevity and durability
makes the building healthier
reduces material use
uses low impact materials
minimizes waste
recycles existing buildings |
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Design to maximize natural daylight and passive ventilation: Daylight makes a dramatic difference. in addition to making you feel better, daylighting can cut down on electric bills. Well placed, operable windows circulate fresh air throughout your home.
Choose deconstruction and construction site recycling: The demolition debris from a typical residential kitchen or bathroom remodel equals, by weight, four years of curbside recycling from an average household. Deconstruction is the selective hand-disassembly of building structures to maximize salvage for reuse. Minimize the impact of your project by keeping reusable and recyclable materials out of the landfill, saving costs too.
Weatherize: Adding insulation and new energy efficient windows to an older home not only saves money in fuel costs, it improves comfort year round.
Buy energy-efficient kitchen appliances, furnaces and water heaters: All appliances with an "Energy Star" rating are a good choice. Certain states offer tax credits on some appliances.
Choose water-efficient fixtures: On average, toilet flushing, showers and faucets account for 60 percent of all indoor water use. Installing efficient toilets, faucet aerators, and shower heads can save a typical household up to $200 annually in water and energy bills. Install 1.6-gallons per flush toilets, 1.5-gpm faucets aerators, and 2.0-gpm shower heads with on/off toggles.
Use low-VOCpaint (50 grams/liter or less VOC content): Insist on solvent free or low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. Low and no VOCs will make painting a healthier and more enjoyable experience. If oil paints are being used, relocate during the paint job until your home is free of fumes.
Choose formaldehyde-free products: Many people don't know that formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen, is commonly found in carpet, cabinetry, insulation, and other building products. Consider installing a hard surface floor instead of carpet. If you do install carpeting, install a green rated carpet. (Check out www.carpet-rug.com for more information.) Also make sure you choose formaldehyde-free cabinetry, and look for formaldehyde-free insulation.
Buy used, recycled, certified or regraded wood products: Certified wood products are cut from sustainably-managed forests, and affixed with a seal to help you identify them. They are available at an increasing number of stores.
Harvest your rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing: A well-designed rainwater harvesting system that captures rainwater from rooftops for use in irrigation and toilet flushing can reduce annual water consumption by 50 percent.
Landscape using native and drought-tolerant plants: Native plants are naturally adapted to our environment, so they require minimal care and watering and provide valuable habitat for birds and wildlife. |
