Building Green - Getting Started Part I
Building green is a creative process that involves taking a new and fresh approach to building design. Whether you're a new home constructor, renovator or re-modeller, green building techniques can be implemented in a variety of ways. At the end of this post, there will be links to some helpful resources.
When designing, we must consider the goals of sustainable construction, which include:
- using building materials made from more sustainable sources;
- creating ways to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, and/or ways for buildings to use less energy;
- minimize the impact of construction waste, toxins and other impurities on the environment
Sustainable sources often means renewable sources, or sources that can "grow back" quickly. The building materials that use these sources may include:
- lumber for,
- wood framing, flooring, furniture, trim and cabinetry;
- sheathing for,
- exterior walls, roofing and flooring;
- structural steel for
- framing, flooring and roofing;
- masonry materials (brick, stone, blocks, concrete etc.) for
- foundation, walls, exterior finish and landscape;
- roofing materials
- doors and windows
- insulation
- paints, caulks and adhesives
In addition to using sustainable sources, we must consider using materials that are bio-degradable; this means that the earth is able to easily "digest" the materials, once we dispose of them.
Sometimes, it is possible to substitute a material that is commonly used for a purpose, for another material with the same integrity, yet is sustainable. For example, framing members are commonly made from lumber. Conventional lumber sources, such as mature forests, are not a sustainable source. However, steel or aluminum framing members can be used for the same purpose, and are a renewable and recyclable resource.
Lumber
The conventional sources of lumber for construction are an issue that involves major aspects of wildlife and environmental degradation. A highly renewable alternative is bamboo. Bamboo can be used for most of the purposes of conventional lumber. Bamboo is highly renewable because it grows back very quickly. Bamboo can be used for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, decorative purposes and structural purposes.
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| Bamboo Flooring and Cabinetry |
Also, consider using reclaimed wood or underwater lumber for decorative purposes, cabinetry and furniture. Reclaimed wood is wood that has been re-used; this wood comes mostly from old buildings. Underwater lumber is lumber that has been recovered from sunken logs.
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| Reclaimed Wood Coffee Table |
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| Rustic - Style Coffee Table Made From Underwater Lumber |
Using sustainable sources of lumber has a major impact on the "green-ness" of a building and in many cases, sustainable lumber looks better, cleaner, and can give a unique character to a building that other sources cannot.
Also, remember to look for lumber products that are certified under an organization that gathers lumber from responsibly managed forests. Responsibly managed forests means forests that are not hap-haphazardly clear-cut. These forests' managers respect wildlife, biodiversity, species at risk, water and land quality, and ensure they do not cut down too much at a time.
The Forest Stewardship Council has a great certification system; their stamp looks like this:
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| FSC Certification Stamp |
When a lumber product has this stamp, it is certified under the Forest Stewardship Council, and has been gathered from well managed forests.
When you consider the above ways to improve the sustainability of the lumber you use, you will be heading on a great and rewarding path to building green!
Links To Some Helpful Resources
Here is a site for Ontario builders. This site helps you find green building products and services that are available in Ontario.
Here is a site for Eastern Canada residents. This site is about The Healthiest Home, a green building supplier, and the products they offer.
To learn more about the Forest Stewardship Council,
Thank you for reading, I hope you learned something new. Stay posted for more information and helpful resources on the Belac Construction Green and Sustainable Building Blog.
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| "Mom... did you know.... your fur is as soft as mine?" |
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