Green Buildings

GREEN HOMES:

Green Building has been evolving for decades as a bona fide solution to the climate crisis and worldwide resource depletion, and is unequivocally the future of construction . Green houses are built to save money , carry a higher lifetime value, are more comfortable , quiet healthy , clean , safe and durable than traditionally built homes and consumers know it.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
Home energy efficiency has become a key feature of green building . Green homes are ideally oriented to take advantage of natural heating and cooling from solar gain, shading and cross-ventilation. The building envelope ( the continuous system of walls, ceilings and unconditioned spaces) must be well -insulated and air-sealed with highly-performing windows. A green home will have appropriately -sized, highly -efficient, heating and cooling , and energy efficient (preferably tank less) water heaters.

HEALTH STARTS AT HOME:
Healthy homes have good natural day lighting , low or non-toxic paints , stains, finishes and building products , and good natural or mechanical ventilation . Many traditional building materials( press wood products , carpeting and surface finishes , for example)
Can outgas chemical toxins for months or years. Avoiding these products in a home will go a long way toward improving the health and well-being of the occupants. Indoor air quality can also be greatly improved by adding air filtration or cleaning devices.

WASTE NOT; RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
Nothing goes farther to reduce resource consumption than buying or building a smaller home near public transit and neighborhood services. Green homes conserve water by integrating drip irrigation and pervious pavers into outdoor spaces. Low-flow showers and faucets and dual flush toilets save water indoors. A green home might also use reclaimed building materials, and follow a recycling plan to keep waste out of landfills during construction.

U.S. Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
Energy STAR
www.energystar.gov

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