Constructing and
remodeling durable buildings that save energy, use fewer raw
materials and reduce unnecessary waste.
Green Buildings
are Friendlier to the Earth
by Mark
Fagiano
In 1860, Auguste Mouchout, concerned about the uses and limitations of
coal, endeavored to create a device that used the energy of the sun
for the energy needs of humankind. But it wasn't until the 1980s
that solar power became a serious contender as an alternative to
traditional energy sources. At the same time in the 1860s, Etienne
Lenoir invented the first successful internal combustion engine.
Interestingly, the engine was not powered by gasoline but by the
less toxic illumination gas (hydrogen, methane and ethylene). About
a decade later, gasoline was used to fuel the I.C.E. Now over a
century later, most prominently in the 1990s, environmentally
conscious inventors have made the effort to develop effective,
alternatively fueled automobiles. As we begin the 21st century,
alternative "green" building is becoming the topic of discussion for
consumers, inventors, and builders who, conscious of our
responsibility to future generations, venture to use our resources
responsibly.
Green Building Defined
Green building is an alternative approach to building construction
and remodeling by using fewer raw materials and reducing unnecessary
waste while, at the same time, managing to construct energy
efficient and durable buildings. The term green is used so often
that it is difficult to determine what may be considered "green."
The criteria that follow will attempt to clarify this ambiguous
term.
# 1 Considering the material
The most pressing questions when one determines whether a
construction is green or not: Can the material be recycled? Can it
be reused? Is the material biodegradable?
--Recycled materials are materials that are collected and reused in
a different form. (e.g., a soft drink can into another manufactured
product
--A material is considered reusable when it is salvaged and reused
in its original form. Reusable materials cut costs and reduce
unnecessary use of other materials. --A biodegradable material is a
material that can break down organically back into the earth without
any toxins and/or waste materials.
#2 Is it environmentally friendly?
Simply stated, a dwelling is environmentally friendly if it is
constructed and maintained in such a way that it does not harm the
essential stabilization of life upon the earth. Quite often, an
environmentally friendly dwelling replaces traditional approaches to
construction that cause harm to the environment. A few questions one
can ask to determine how green a building is are: Which and how much
raw materials are used? What sorts of toxins or pollutions are
eliminated by choosing this green material? Is the construction
process detrimental to the health of the builders and/or the future
occupants?
#3 What types of material have a direct negative effect on the
environment?
If one decides to build green, one must eliminate destructive
materials used during or left after the construction of the
dwelling. Here are a few questions one must consider:
--. What is the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) of the building
material? To determine the LCA of a dwelling one can use this
"Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability"
software -- Which materials damage the environment and in what
way are such materials detrimental? Materials to be avoided include,
but are not limited to: persistent organic pollutants (POPs),
persistent bioaccumulative toxics (PBTs), volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)
The ramifications of irresponsible use of our natural resources may
be incalculably disadvantageous to the future of life upon this
planet. Instead of knowledge and technology, convenience and
simplicity may be our greatest enemy. Moreover, in a world where the
use of resources create political instability, it is an
understanding of our weaknesses rather then the application of our
strengths that may prove beneficial. To learn more about green
building technology visit
Real
Estate Triumph.
Mark Fagiano is the president of Arete Apprenticeship. His recent
project is the creation of a information based website for real
estate investing, If you wish to contribute to his site in exchange
for free advertisement visit
Real
Estate Triumph or contact him at triumph@realestatetriumph.com
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