Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building’s lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.
“A green building is one where the qualities of both the indoor and outdoor environments have been considered and protected during its design, construction, maintenance and use.”
Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
Have improved energy efficiency
Conserve water
Have improved indoor air quality
Are more durable and more comfortable, and
Reduce pollution and save natural resources
Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
Two Simple Ways to Help in the Green Movement and to Keep Your Green from Moving out of your checking account.
High performance windows?
Windows, more than any other standard building item, have seen a significant increase in performance resulting from new technologies such as “low-E” glass coatings and gas-filled windows. These improvements make higher costs palatable, or even economic, when the rest of the home’s heating system is adjusted accordingly.
If the windows are a part of an overall energy strategy that greatly reduces the demand on the heating system, the savings gained in going to a smaller furnace can offset the added cost of the windows, and the on-going energy savings will pay back that extra cost more quickly. However, the most frequent selling point for these high-performance windows is the added comfort over a standard window.
Tankless Hot Water Tanks
Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters heat water directly, without the use of a storage tank. They avoid the standby heat losses associated with keeping large amounts of water hot. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit. Either a gas burner or an electric element heats the water. As a result, demand water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. Typically, demand water heaters provide hot water at a rate of two to five gallons per minute. Gas-fired demand water heaters produce higher flow rates than electric ones. Sometimes, however, even the largest gas-fired model cannot supply enough hot water for simultaneous multiple uses in large households.
What materials are used in Green Building and what makes those materials Green?
General consensus is that materials and products as having at least one of the following characteristics: nontoxic; recycled content; resource efficient; long life cycle; or, environmentally conscious. Some materials and products have more of these characteristics than others and are, therefore, considered “greener”. Clean Natural Gas is a major component of the “Green” movement.
Are steel studs considered Green Building?
Yes, steel studs are considered to be a Green Material. Steel in construction has about a 70% recycled content. Its resource efficient because there is very little waste and it won’t rot or be susceptible to termite damage. Steel studs are also available with thermal breaks that allow less heat loss than wood. Also, steel is nontoxic because it will not off-gas and contaminate indoor air quality. Since steel screws together, steel members can be unscrewed and reused when a structure is demolished providing a structure for another residence. Steel structures have many environmental benefits and are considered very green.
Does it cost more to build Green?
There are many green products and materials that cost the same or even less than conventional ones. The true savings come in the forms of efficiency over the life of the home and in some areas Tax incentives are given for “Green Homes”.
Why Green and How?
Green products can not only create a healthier indoor air quality for people, but many products have recycled content that reduces waste and environmental pollution. Energy efficiency is without question is the number one reason people “Go Green”. Green building is “state of the art” construction; the first recommendation would be to hire an architect familiar with green building practices, details, and builders. Last and definitely not least research, research, and research always be looking ahead.
Where is Green Building headed?
I found this answer to be very interesting. The Green item coming to the forefront of the industry is use of intelligent, wireless controls and sensors to stop heating, cooling, and lighting “ghost rooms” i.e. rooms that are not in use. This technology is already in use in large corporations that have large office space
