A Green Building – Is This the Color of Your Next Home?  by Dr. Lisa Romero, Ph.D. 

It doesn’t take much global awareness to know that “green living” is one of the new trends in the 21^st century.  According to the 2006 Residential Green Building Smart Market Report, “green homes” are expected to reach 10% of all new construction by 2010.  While this sounds like a good thing, what exactly does “green building” mean, why is it beneficial, and how does one begin implementing green building philosophies?  These are all questions I had and here are some of the answers I found. 

The philosophy of green building is at its core construction that attempts to protect not only the environment (which is what we tend to think of first), but also human health, which for most of us is in reality more important.  This type of construction or remodeling includes using renewable and non-toxic materials, such as certified woods, as well as choosing energy efficient systems (energy star^® rated appliances, for example).  It also takes into consideration the location, size and design of the building or home.  Although building green can include what many may consider extreme and costly measures, such as installing solar panels, there are also more moderate strategies that can accomplish “green goals”.  Some examples include choosing a location that is within walking distance to public transportation, parks schools and stores; building smaller homes which are naturally more energy-efficient than large ones (and easier to clean!); and  incorporating building designs that optimize placement of windows and doors to take advantage natural lighting and breezes and fresh air, and arrange landscaping that provides shade for exterior walls and includes drought-tolerant plants.   

Many aspects of green building simply involve building well and using quality materials which is cost effective in the long term.  Often this may mean substituting one material for another and may or may not be more costly than basic good quality construction.  Because of this the need for repairs and the cost of maintenance is reduced.  Furthermore, the cost of operating an energy efficient home is lower.  The non-monetary benefit of course, is the feeling that your family is living in an environment that is comfortable and healthy. 

When considering how to start building green there are many websites you can visit and there are currently two national standards you can consult before beginning.  These give details of materials and methods of building green.  One such program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).  You can find out about this program and their guidelines at www.usgbc.org/leed/homes.  The other national standard is from the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB).  Their guidelines can be found at www.nahb.org/gbg.  The good thing is “green building” is not an all or nothing endeavor; there are aspects we can all incorporate into our homes and into our budgets with a little education and planning. 

*A good website that promotes ECO-Friendly products is www.shorelineornamentaliron.com . 

Lisa Romero has a PhD in Biological Sciences.