Taperman articles

Why are so many people now building green? Every day, were becoming more and more aware of the effect human beings have on our environment-- and on our entire planet. Most of us dont like to think that our homes and lifestyles do significant damage. After all, were just trying to raise our families and live our lives, right?

But they do. Which is why its so encouraging to see sustainable design (or "building green") become increasingly mainstream the world over.

"Building green" features the design and construction of buildings that have a comparatively low environmental impact. This requires green builders to use resources efficiently, utilizing less harmful processes and materials than in "normal" building. How well does green building work? Data from USGBC suggests that green buildings require 35% less energy, use far less non-renewable materials, and send less waste to rot in landfills. As a bonus, building green makes our homes and offices safer, healthier places.

What are Sustainable Designers Main Concerns when Building Green?

The goal of building green is to maintain quality of life while lessening a buildings impact on the environment. Sustainable designers generally consider the following design features when building green:

Efficient Energy Use. This is one of the main ones. As theyre being built, green buildings should use processes and products which require less energy. A green building should also have a high energy efficiency in the long term, integrating design features like comprehensive insulation and "passive solar design," which supplies thermal protection to a home.

When building green, many designers also include a renewable independent energy source to power (or partially power) the home. A renewable energy source (like solar power) can make a significant difference in a homes impact on the environment

General Design. The size, site, and shape of a home have a large effect on its energy efficiency. Simpler shapes (such as a traditional box shape) are often used when building green.

Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) is also a common building green technique. This framing method reduces the quantity of wood used to build a home, and it also leaves more room inside the walls for insulation.

Materials with Lower Environmental Impact. Building green means using non-toxic materials which are recycled or sustainably produced. These materials should need less energy to process than traditional building materials.

Quality of Materials. Quality building materials will need to be replaced less frequently. Using quality materials reduces landfill waste and reduces the need for producing replacements, which has a significant impact on the environment.

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