Why Build "Green"?

There are many good reasons, but the most basic is to end Global Warming by reducing the greenhouse gases that we pump into our atmosphere every day with the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gas, and wood. It has been shown that this country’s buildings (and the people in them) currently account for 30% of the green house gas emissions of the WORLD, not just the US. But even if you don’t believe in the climate crisis, it’s still obvious that our environment could stand some cleaning-up, and our homes and businesses are responsible for generating more than 65% of total US waste.

Another reason can be found when we look at our rapidly shrinking resources. Did you know that more than 16% of our water usage takes place at home? In fact, we use five billion gallons of water each day just to flush our toilets, let alone what we waste as we wait for hot water! Current US housing also consumes about 25% of the trees harvested worldwide, with one whole acre of forest being clear-cut to build an average American home. No wonder more than 20% of the world’s forests have disappeared since 1700, mostly in America. Remember, trees are the best hedge against the buildup of CO₂, a major greenhouse gas.

Additional resources becoming scarce (and consequently more expensive) are some of the very fossil fuels that are causing our climate problems, such as oil and gas. These are used to generate electricity or heat our homes in about the same amounts as to fuel our cars. As these petroleum products become scarcer and harder to obtain, not only will their prices go up, but entire national governments could destabilize as their needs increase. We now have to drill for oil so far below the oceans that we risk massive oil spills such as the recent one in the Gulf. Meanwhile, coal mining is becoming so difficult and risky that we are seeing public protests to end it. But with our buildings consuming about 70% of the electricity in the US, and 40% of our energy in general, the need for power is only increasing. By improving our buildings’ energy efficiency we can easily cut this need by at least half, reducing our utility costs at the same time.

And this is where we start to see the personal advantages of Green Building. Naturally, if we can reduce our need for energy, water and other resources, we can save money on utilities. But this is only the beginning.

Homes that are built Green are inherently healthier, safer and more comfortable than their traditionally-built counterparts. Many of the materials being used in normal home construction, such as carpet and paint, are notorious for emitting volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s - that “new home” smell can actually be harmful to your heath! Newer, Green materials are made with more natural ingredients, releasing fewer or no VOC’s into the air. Also, most Green building materials are designed to be safer by reducing the chances of fire, flood, mold and even earthquake threats. And a Greener, more energy efficient home is more comfortable because it is easier to heat and cool, maintaining a more comfortable temperature and humidity level all year round.

With all these benefits, paying a little more for a Green home only makes sense. The extra investment will quickly return with lower utilities, and the family will be safer, healthier and happier in a more comfortable home. Sounds logical, right?

Unfortunately, too many people still don’t consider building Green, just because of the anticipated up-front cost – they’d rather pay higher utilities over many years for a lower-quality home, than the initial expense to build Green. But the fact is, THEY DON’T HAVE TO!

Some of the best Green building methods and materials can actually cost less than normal construction! In fact, many Green homes being built now are only more expensive because of the “extras” that we all want to add to our “perfect” home. Think about it: if you’re having the best home built that you can afford, won’t you add all the bells and whistles you’ve always wanted? The house itself doesn’t cost more, but the add-ons can make it more expensive! Feature for feature, Green homes can cost less than you think.

No matter what your feelings are about Global Warming or the Climate Crisis, it only makes sense to build or remodel Green. It's not just the RIGHT thing to do, it's also the SMARTEST!

What is a “High-Performance Home”?

High-Performance Construction has all the advantages of Green Building, but goes a few steps further. Think of it as Green Building on steroids, providing a structure that is more rugged, requires less maintenance, is even more comfortable and quiet, and will hold up better against fire, high wind, pest infestation, moisture, and even earthquakes, while improving on its energy efficiency, safety and comfort, as well as incorporating other features such as:

Renewable Energy

Adding the use of non-combustion energy sources to an already super-efficient building envelope reduces our carbon footprint to practically nothing. Geothermal energy, wind turbines, and photovoltaic solar panels are some of the most important technologies included in High-Performance construction, but they need to be included in the earliest planning stages.

Universal Design

Universal Design, also known as "Transgenerational Design" and “Aging-In-Place”, is the planning of a structure in preparation for the occupants' changing needs as they have children or become older or disabled. Examples would include easy-to-reach switches, faucets and cabinets, ADA-approved tubs, showers and toilets; and handicapped-accessible doors, hallways and stairs or elevators. The idea was coined by several people, like James J. Pirkl, founder of Transgenerational Design Matters.

Space Efficiency

Using the ideas of “Better, Not Bigger” and “Doing More with Less”, this concept has been made popular by such authors as Sarah Susanka in her book, The Not-So-Big House. It involves designing a home to serve multiple needs in a small space, thereby keeping construction, maintenance, and utility costs at a minimum.

The High-Performance Building Concept

By planning ahead and using “Green” construction methods and materials that are also High-Performance, we can build our homes and workplaces to not only help the environment, but also construct them to last longer, save us money, and improve the quality of our lives. High-Performance homes could theoretically use no energy whatsoever, or even create a surplus, and emit no carbon into the atmosphere, making it the most efficient and logical way to build.