Jarret TT Camp

Archive for August, 2009

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green building is “the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and deconstruction.”(1)

The EPA goes on to list the seven primary components of green building including energy efficiency and renewable energy; water efficiency; environmentally friendly building materials and specifications; waste reduction; toxics reduction; indoor air quality; and smart growth and sustainable development.

But exactly what makes a building “green?”

The EPA describes a green building as “a structure that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout its life-cycle…Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources; protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity; [and] reducing waste, pollution and environment degradation. For example, green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made from renewable resources); create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions); and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).”(2)

Green building doesn’t start when the hammer hits the first nail. It begins with a comprehensive building plan that takes into account not simply energy reduction, but environmental sustainability and water use as well. For example, approximately four tons of waste are typically thrown into a landfill during the construction of a 2,000 square foot home. That’s substantial when one considers the millions of homes built in the great housing boom during the past decade. A good green building plan accounts for this and diverts the waste away from the landfill, opting to recycle it instead. Another example is the use of recycled materials in the home.

In point of fact, the true definition of green building lies in its holistic approach to construction projects that include environmental as well as energy and water conservation. It’s about the entire construction process from inception to completion and beyond.

Though many builders today are beginning to market their new construction projects as “green,” it isn’t just about tossing in a few Low-E windows here and 14-SEER air conditioning units there. It’s about sustainable site design; stormwater management; and the use of recycled materials in the construction process. It’s about total net carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere and overall consumption of fossil fuels during any given project. It’s about diverting construction waste products away from landfills, and using low-VOC materials including paint and carpeting. It’s about reducing interior and exterior water consumption and innovating new ways of conserving energy.

And more poignantly, it’s about reaping a high return on investment in the form of lower utility costs and increasing sales. Learn more about green homes @ www.greenhomeguide.org.

Source Notes:
1) http://www.epa.gov/greenbuildi ng/pubs/about.htm
2) http://www.epa.gov/greenbuildi ng/pubs/faqs.htm

250508_m Learn more about this author, Daniel J. Gansle.