Green construction has to be neither cost prohibitive or complicated, according to experts at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference. According to these experts, building homes that are green and energy efficient does not have to be rocket science at all, but rather you can build a very efficient home at a very low cost. The following is a collection of building practices that are attainable and sustainable that can help you make your building projects greener without requiring a lot of money.
Energy Efficiency -
In most green building certification programs, energy efficiency plays a very large role. Consumers want homes that offer reduced costs of operation. Begin by building the home to require less air conditioning in the first place, and make sure that the air conditioning unit is charged properly otherwise the system's SEER may drop out. When installing insulation, make sure to use the thermal bypass checklist by Energy Star, which shows common insulation installation mistakes and how they can be avoided. The most cost effective features for saving energy tend to vary based on the climate for your local, for example tankless water heaters are excellent for climates like San Diego where you do not need much heat or air conditioning.
Durability -
Install backer board that is resistant to moisture, such as DensShield Tile Backer by Georgia Pacific, because standard gypsum board is an excellent breeding ground for mold, which needs to be avoided. Concentrating on the initial design is the best way to provide the biggest bang for the amount of money that you are spending. Another thing worth implementing is to avoid roof pitches that intersect with vertical wall planes, because this can cause problems relating to moisture management. Remember the basics when it comes to durability, most of all. One tip that was recommended was to avoid reverse shingling house wrap, which can cause enormous problems in the long run.
Water Efficiency -
Aim to install high efficiency fixtures and appliances, as high efficiency dishwashers can use only 5 to 7 gallons of water per load rather than 12 gallons for example. Other high efficiency fixtures are also useful, such as toilets, showers, washing machines and faucets, many of which can provide savings of up to 50%. You should also work to install water conserving landscaping, avoiding invasive species and only using low flow irrigation systems, drip and bubbler systems along with smart irrigation controllers for the best results.
Resource Conservation -
You should avoid using plants in your landscaping that require a lot of shearing, because green waste like this can take up a lot of space in local landfills. Instead, include a built in recycling center so that recycling can be made easier for homeowners.
There are many building practices that can create greener homes without requiring much more money in the process.
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Originally posted 2009-02-04 05:50:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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