Most folks would say there are two components that produce green construction . The two items people will agree upon that produce a home "green construction" are the design and process and the finishing or "features" of the home.
A large portion of these people are unaware of is that although these homes are green based on conventional building methods the truth of the matter is that the majority of these homes could be significantly greener than what they are.
Here is what most people consider is green.
FSC (Forest Steward Certified) Lumber - This is timber that is provided from responsibly managed forests. Environmentally responsible paints Energy efficient appliances (Energy Star Rated) Energy efficient heating and air with programmable thermostats (Energy Star Rated) Tankless water heaters 2 x 6 exterior walls which allow for more insulation installation. Re-use of rain and gray water. Low flow or dual flush toilets Solar power Renewable resources such as bamboo flooring, blinds Solar tubes Awnings to protect windows and entries from extreme sun exposure Energy efficient windows and doors.
Here are the ways that the architect and general contractor design and build a home to be thought of as green.
The actual design of the structure to minimize waste of contruction materials. The design of the dwelling to take advantage of space for energy efficiency. Positioning of the house on the property on an east/west axis. Materials used i.e. renewable, green, recycled, improve energy efficiency. Methods of construction that will minimize impact of the land. Methods of building to reduce waste of resources such as power, gas, water, material, and man power. Methods used to reduce waste ending up in the dump such as donating unused construction materials to Habitat For Humanity stores, recycling metal and plastic and recycling wood to mulch operations or bio energy plants.
While these methods of green construction are green they are missing two major areas in the home construction. The framing and the insulation are two areas that are being totally ignored. The framing and insulation are the two areas that are responsible for up to 80% of the homes heat transfer.
There is a simple solution to this big flaw. The first step would be to replace wood framing with steel framing. Next you would replace cavity stud and blown insulation with a radian barrier sheathing. Finally, with a continuous ridged exterior insulation you are creating an air tight envelope around the home to prevent air infiltration. By combining these three things together you are creating a truly green construction home that saves as much as 60% on utility bills.
A large portion of these people are unaware of is that although these homes are green based on conventional building methods the truth of the matter is that the majority of these homes could be significantly greener than what they are.
Here is what most people consider is green.
FSC (Forest Steward Certified) Lumber - This is timber that is provided from responsibly managed forests. Environmentally responsible paints Energy efficient appliances (Energy Star Rated) Energy efficient heating and air with programmable thermostats (Energy Star Rated) Tankless water heaters 2 x 6 exterior walls which allow for more insulation installation. Re-use of rain and gray water. Low flow or dual flush toilets Solar power Renewable resources such as bamboo flooring, blinds Solar tubes Awnings to protect windows and entries from extreme sun exposure Energy efficient windows and doors.
Here are the ways that the architect and general contractor design and build a home to be thought of as green.
The actual design of the structure to minimize waste of contruction materials. The design of the dwelling to take advantage of space for energy efficiency. Positioning of the house on the property on an east/west axis. Materials used i.e. renewable, green, recycled, improve energy efficiency. Methods of construction that will minimize impact of the land. Methods of building to reduce waste of resources such as power, gas, water, material, and man power. Methods used to reduce waste ending up in the dump such as donating unused construction materials to Habitat For Humanity stores, recycling metal and plastic and recycling wood to mulch operations or bio energy plants.
While these methods of green construction are green they are missing two major areas in the home construction. The framing and the insulation are two areas that are being totally ignored. The framing and insulation are the two areas that are responsible for up to 80% of the homes heat transfer.
There is a simple solution to this big flaw. The first step would be to replace wood framing with steel framing. Next you would replace cavity stud and blown insulation with a radian barrier sheathing. Finally, with a continuous ridged exterior insulation you are creating an air tight envelope around the home to prevent air infiltration. By combining these three things together you are creating a truly green construction home that saves as much as 60% on utility bills.
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Some rather large claims were made in this article make sure to you will want to check out our big Energy Efficient Construction Resour bigces to see the data that backs up our big claims of creating the ultimate in Energy Efficient Home Construction.
