12/7/2009 10:56:56 AM
There is much marketing and discussion about “green” building in today’s construction. Although most consumers instinctively think green is the right direction for a project, there is little cohesiveness of thought of what that means.
There are three main components to consider in building or remodeling green.
First, the component of the environment is considered in green building. Using recycled or renewable materials and cutting back on landfill use are some obvious strategies to protect the environment.
The environmentalist movement has had a major presence in the forces that led to the green building focus we see today. The Energy Star program was started by the DOE (Department of Energy) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 1992.
Secondly, the building itself is a major component of the green trend. Selecting appliances, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures and faucets, and building envelope materials to help conserve water and energy are key to the green aspect.
A third component which will come more into play in the future will be the insurance aspect. When a “green” structure needs repairs, will the contractor understand the dynamics of what was done before and how will it impact the repair process? Insurance policies are now being offered by several major insurance companies to specifically allow for a green measure upgrade in repairs, just as many existing policies allow for code upgrade coverage.
Many new materials are being used in a broad spectrum of applications, and it typically takes years of “field testing” to know how new materials will perform over time. We can remember previous failures of building materials that did not live up to the claims made about them. It is possible that some of the green products being used now will have failures with the passing of time.
Click here to download the full article on "Going Green - what does it mean?"