Demystifying Green Building

By Lenore Weiss Baigelman, AIA, LEED-AP

Sustainable – Eco – Green, oh my! What do all these terms mean, and why does it make a difference? Especially in today’s economy when every penny counts, why bother considering anything that seems superfluous to home improvement or building projects? Additionally, when we think of green building, what comes to mind for some people is some kind of futuristic “Jetson-like” structure, or conversely, something a step above a yurt-like hut. The truth of the matter is that the green building movement is not necessarily about building styles, as much as it is about increasing the comfort, reducing energy costs and creating healthier indoor environments. How is this accomplished? By adopting a sustainable mindset towards building – and making smart choices about how you build as well as the products you choose. Whether you have an older home that you want to maintain or remodel, or a new dream home that you’d like to build from the foundation up, a green approach is easily attainable.

Waste Not, Want Not
If you are considering an addition or remodeling project, plan new spaces that salvage as much of the existing structure as is reasonable. Obviously, there needs to be good functionality and flow between the old and new, but a project can be planned in ways to make good use of what is already there, even if it means salvaging old materials to be re-used in new spaces. This can be something as simple as re-using solid doors that are still in good condition, which not only saves on waste, but also saves money by not having to purchase additional doors.

In terms of space, the idea of “repurposing” outdated or under-utilized existing rooms is always a good option. Perhaps a formal living room in a home is never used, but a family craves more informal gathering space. Instead of adding onto an already inefficient home, the homeowner can use some or all of the existing empty space for the desired informal living. Another option is to create rooms that do “double-duty.” An extra bedroom can serve as a home office as well as an occasional guest room with flexible furnishings, rather than build out two separate rooms.

Durability is Chic and Cheap
Choose finishes and fixtures that have longer life cycles. Get out of the disposable consumer mindset, and think about getting the most out of long term purchases. When selecting materials, consider more than simply the initial cost. Although less expensive at first, some materials will have to be replaced much sooner and will occupy a landfill a lot sooner. Because of its durability, wood’s replacement cost can be deferred much longer, actually making it a much better financial investment. In other words, the initially cheaper choice may turn out to be more expensive in the long run. The point is to make thoughtful choices for the right reasons.

Reconsider Limited Resources
Living so close to Lake Michigan, it’s hard to believe that only 1% of the earth’s water is available for drinking and that much of the world actually faces drought and debilitating water pollution. With 60% of our bodies being made up of water, it’s clear that water is life itself, and this essential resource must not be wasted. Did you know that a dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day? And that a leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in a month? Obviously keeping your existing plumbing fixtures well-maintained is the easiest and cheapest way to start saving water. However, if you’re in the market for new fixtures, low volume, or low flow fixtures can save a significant amount of water and money.

More well-known resources requiring conservation are those around energy. The goal here is to design a home that uses as little energy as possible. In the building world, we talk about implementing a “Whole-House Systems Approach”. This means considering the interaction between you, your home’s site, our climate, and other components such as appliances and electronics, insulation and air sealing, natural and electrical lighting systems, heating and cooling, as well as the location, quality and operability of windows, doors and skylights. The benefits of taking this approach are both tangible and intangible, and include: reduced utility and maintenance costs, increased comfort, reduced noise, healthier and safer indoor environment and improved house durability.

Although the best approach is really considering all the systems together, each of us can take small, individual steps to make a difference in our energy load. Some very easy ideas with big returns include using more efficient light bulbs, sealing drafty cracks around doors and windows, or using a programmable thermostat. A very good resource for more ideas is the U.S. Department of Energy’s website: www.energysavers.gov.

Take a Deep Breath
Considering we spend about 90% of our time indoors, the quality of the air we breathe is also an important green concern. In addition to choosing HVAC equipment that is not only energy efficient but also provides healthy air movement, choose building materials with formaldehyde-free finishes, products with minimum off-gassing, and those that are easy to keep clean.

With all the benefits listed above, it’s clear why building or remodeling with a sustainable approach has gained so much popularity. Saving money, adding comfort and wellness to building projects is truly a win-win-win combination that any homeowner can achieve.

Lenore Weiss Baigelman, AIA, LEED-AP specializes in transforming built environments into custom spaces that meet the functional needs and personal style requirements of individuals and groups. A founding partner of Full Circle Architects, LLC, Lenore can be reached at Lenore@FullCircleArchitects.com or 847-564-0884.

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Join us this weekend for the Old House New House® Home Show
at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL.
February 10 - 11 - 12,  2012
Friday - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.