Build & Remodel Green

Green is a philosophy, not a décor. Whatever your taste, there is a lot you can do to soften your impact on the planet.

Fast facts on alternative energy systems...

Wind power is now the world's fastest growing energy source and has also become one of the most rapidly expanding industries. Societies have taken advantage of wind power for thousands of years. With today's technology, wind energy could provide 20% of America's electricity (or about the amount nuclear power provides) with turbines installed on less than 1% of its land area.

Solar power is one of the most promising renewable energy sources in the world. The Earth receives an incredible supply of solar energy. Fortunately, solar technology investment has catapulted from the backburner, so affordability and availability will improve.

Geothermal energy is, according to researchers, the most efficient technology for home cooling and heating. It works by extracting Earth’s energy contained in the ground and heats or cools houses since the ground temperature tends to stay at a constant yearly average. In winter, the ground is warmer than the air, so can be used for heat; in summer the ground is cooler than the air, so can act as an air conditioner. This reduces reliance on other resources, resulting in significant environmental benefits and reduced energy costs.

In addition to whole-house solutions, such as alternative power sources, geothermal heat and careful insulation, keep these ideas in mind when building from scratch.

• Plan smart. Even a big new home can have a small footprint. Your home’s orientation on its lot can change how the sun, wind and weather are felt. And remember that square footage isn’t everything – a thoughtfully designed house, with no wasted space, can live as large as another one twice its size.

  The optimum position for maximum solar benefits is true south, but you can vary the orientation within 20 degrees of that direction with minimal effect. In most parts of the United States, just making the building the right shape, properly placing its windows and pointing it in the right direction can cut the building's total energy use by 30 percent to 40 percent at no extra cost.

• Avoid that “new home” smell. Something’s in the air, and it isn’t just pride of ownership – it’s the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds from common new building materials. Instead, select paints, varnishes, carpets and other materials with low- or no-VOC ratings. You’ll improve your indoor air quality and limit your exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Redirect your waste stream. Consider a custom built-in recycling and composting center in your kitchen or mudroom. Making it easier to recycle will reduce the amount of material entering landfills, while an easy composting routine will ultimately give you high-quality soil that requires less water and fertilizer.
• Rain, rain, come this way. Engineer your gutters to collect rain, then distribute it to an irrigation system or even to your toilets. And when landscaping, remember to group plants according to their water needs – it’s better for both the plants and your water consumption. Collection of rainwater can potentially save 50% of domestic water consumption. Install a grey-water recycling system to reuse the water from your dishwasher, shower or washing machine and you can save even more. Grey-water currently contributes 75% of total wastewater flow to domestic sewers.
• Use your energy wisely. Think about replacing your old appliances with new ones that use the least amount of energy and water. Look for the ENERGY STAR label and carefully compare consumption statistics to find the machines with the least impact. And remember, insulate the attic or crawl space! The Department of Energy has specific guidelines that you will find useful.
• Save the trees. When you’re expanding your home, strive to keep any existing trees. They’ll provide more shade and require less care and attention than fragile new saplings.
• Put on your thermals. Low-e windows, which help block the summer sun and reduce heat loss in winter, are a terrific way to conserve energy. And by reducing the impact from unwanted UV rays, you’ll also keep carpets and upholstery from fading and needing to be replaced.
• Salvage your project. Putting in hardwood floors? Boards pulled from old barns or homes give you more character with no consumption of new materials. Upgrading your kitchen sink or cabinet hardware? Send the old things to an architectural salvage store and let them become someone else’s new treasures.

Resources
• Deconstruction Institute - For education, techniques and interesting facts about the benefits of deconstruction. deconstructioninstitute.com
• Building Material Reuse Association - A non-profit dedicated to building deconstruction and the reuse and recycling of recovered building materials. www.buildingreuse.org
• U.S. Green Building Council – Building industry community committed to sustainable green building; it developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™. www.usgbc.org
• Habitat ReStores - Retail outlets where quality, used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices. Proceeds help raise funds to build additional houses. www.habitat.org/env/restores
• U.S. Dept. of Energy - www1.eere.energy.gov
• Alternative Energy Institute - www.altenergy.org
• Solar Energy International - www.solarenergy.org
• American Wind Energy Assoc. - www.awea.org
• Community Development Society - www.comm-dev.org
• Sustainable Communities Network - www.sustainable.org
• Green Building Alliance - www.gbapgh.org/index2.html