In today's green movement there are many new building products made from recycled materials, as well as products that help a home conserve energy. Taking advantage of these products when you build a home can save you money in the long run as well as help the environment.

The building sector has a tremendous impact on the environment. Buildings in the United States consume more than 30% of our total energy and 60% of our electricity annually. They consume 5 billion gallons of potable water per day to flush toilets. A typical North American commercial construction project generates up to 2.5 pounds of solid waste per square foot of floor space. The industry appropriates land from other uses such as natural habitats and agriculture. These are just a few examples of the environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of buildings.

Green building practices can be described as practices that reduce the use of materials and energy in construction, lower occupants' consumption of energy and water, and minimize waste disposal in remodeling or demolition. This, of course, begs the question, In comparison to what? Standard methods are often wasteful and inefficient, and these methods are the starting point for making improvements--many of which have been labeled "green building".

A new or remodeled green building will maximize the use of all construction materials and will minimize waste. It will incorporate as few nonrenewable and precious materials as possible. It will have appliances and devices installed that will minimize the use of both water and energy. Such a building will be durable and low-maintenance. It will be comfortable, and the quality of its indoor air will be high.

ALTERNATIVE WOOD

60% of all the trees we log domestically are used to build houses. The average new 2,000 square foot home requires an entire clear cut acre worth of wood to build, that's around 1000 trees! A growing number of consumers, builders, and architects are turning to a variety of more environmentally conscious wood flooring choices rather than choosing recently milled oak or maple. Some look to fast-growing bamboo harvested from Southeast Asia or to tiles of cork, made from the bark of oak trees in the Mediterranean. Another green option is wood that has been cut from forests managed sustainably. This is wood that has been certified by the U.S. Forest Stewardship Council, a Washington-based nonprofit group backed by industry and environmental organizations and affiliated with a similar international organization.

AVOIDING VINYL

Vinyl is less expensive and easier to maintain than most home siding materials, but that comes with an environmental price. The production of vinyl is incredibly toxic and the byproducts of that production often make it into our soil and water. If possible, opt for wood or brick over vinyl.

USE LOWS VOC PAINT

VOC stands for "volatile organic compounds", compounds often found in paint that have been known to cause health issues including cancer. So next time you paint a room in your home, do yourself a favor and ask for low VOC paint.

THE FACTS

The average new 2,000 square foot home requires an entire clear cut acre worth of wood to build, that's around 1000 trees.