Green Page

A Green home or office renovation can save money through lower operating costs & long term health benefits.  Green building’s are better for the environment, healthier places to live in and can have enhanced indoor air quality.  Costs do not need to be any higher than a typical renovation or new project, depending on the depth of scope and possible finishes or accessories selected.  It is sometimes simply a matter of awareness of what those healthier or more sustainable choices are, what is available locally & perhaps phasing your implementation over a few years. And – a Green building may also cost a little more due to unforeseen variables, more choices to work with (some of which can be more expensive) and/or more time may be needed in working with natural finishes – which can occur in any renovation or new construction project.  We can assist in empowering you to match your dreams and more ethical choices with your budget.

Five basic principles in selecting Green, Healthy & Sustainable materials are;

  1. Renewable.  Materials selected regenerate quickly & outlast the length of time it   takes to renew them. E.g. Bamboo, a grass, matures in 3 years (growing 3 - 4'/day) without the need for replanting vs. wood taking 10 - 25 years to regenerate.
  2. Lowest Embodied Energy.  What is the total energy cost used to extract, process, refine and deliver the selected building material to the building site?
  3. Low carbon footprint.  Measured in units of carbon dioxide, we can calculate how all of our buying & consuming decisions & activities have an impact on the environment in terms of how much green house gases are produced.
  4. Energy efficient.  How can we maximize our buildings so that they can passively hold in the heat during the winter, keep it out in the summer and become self-sufficient in creating & managing our own source of heating, cooling & electrical power?
  5. Non-toxic & healthy.  Healthy for you AND for the local ecology of the earth.  Select materials that do not poison, such as no off-gassing formaldehyde or contains '0' or lowest possible VOC's (volatile organic compounds)

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