Green Home Construction

Designing Green from the bottom up

• Using the Sun
• Southward windows
• Proper Materials
• Stone that absorbs solar heat during day & releases evenly at night
• Renewable materials
• Flooring: Carpeting:
  You can add carpeting to your home without negatively impacting the environment. For example, cotton or wool carpeting provides a natural fiber surface that's free of toxins and ideal for people with chemical sensitivities. Recycled poly carpeting is spun from recycled plastic pop bottles, so it diverts a post-consumer product from the waste stream and has lower levels of off-gassing than traditional carpeting materials.
  
  Solid Wood:
  It's possible to have beautiful, durable, solid wood floors without taxing our natural resources. One way is to use wood that's been recycled or salvaged from building demolitions, lumber mills or "urban forests", which makes no impact on living trees and uses wood that would otherwise go to waste. Another is to choose flooring materials harvested from sustainable, well-managed forests.
  
• Forest Stewardship Council certification is an independent evaluation of forest management standards. Selecting FSC certified lumber supports responsible forestry.
  
  Bamboo:
  Bamboo is an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional hardwood flooring. Because bamboo is a grass, it can be harvested every 3 to 5 years and replenishes itself naturally without damage to our old growth forests. It's also a beautiful and long-lasting material that's ideal for any climate.
  
  Cork:
  Cork flooring is attractive, durable, easy to maintain and environmentally responsible. Made from the bark of Mediterranean oak trees and harvested every nine years, this versatile material provides thermal and acoustic insulation with little off-gassing. And with proper maintenance, your cork flooring could last more than 50 years, even under high traffic conditions.
  
  Linoleum:
  Linoleum is one of the few products made from primarily natural raw materials. It is made up of linseed oil, rosins and wood flour. It is a tough and attractive floor covering that comes in a variety of styles and colors. Because linoleum is a natural organic product that hardens throughout its life, its performance is enhanced by time. After its long life, it is completely biologically degradable.
  
  Framing:
• Salvage: Builders can use resawn lumber with excellent results. As clear, tight-grain wood prices climb, salvage wood is an economically and environmentally smart alternative.
• Insulated Panels: Foam panels are a core of expanded polystyrene (EPS) between two sheets of composite oriented strandboard (OSB). The panels are stronger than conventional framing and more earthquake-resistant. EPS does not off-gas harmful chemicals nor does it burn or sustain a flame. Because they are pre-cut, waste is reduced and they contain about 75 percent less wood than a framed wall. Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) have higher insulation value, reduce air leakage, and resist moisture and rot. They also act as a sound barrier.
• Concrete Forms: There are several Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) block systems on the market. Most use Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) blocks or panels that are laid up, installed with rebar, and poured with concrete. Other systems use recycled foam and a concrete mix to create the blocks or waste wood that is shredded and combined with a concrete mix to create the blocks. Concrete-filled ICF block walls are very strong and earthquake-resistant. They also have high insulation values and are airtight and moisture resistant.
• Steel Framing: Steel is often a recycled material, and as framing it is strong, lightweight and can go up fast. Steel is rot- and insect-proof and resists moisture damage. Exterior finishes and interior drywall can be attached with screws. Steel framing is fastened together, so it can be disassembled and reused. Steel members can degrade insulation R-values, however, so manufacturers have developed a variety of ways to reduce heat loss, such as cladding outside walls with foam board insulation.
• Advanced Framing: Advanced Framing helps maximize the use of materials while reducing costs. For example: -- Use 2x6 at 24-inch framing, instead of 16-inch, and space floor joists at 19.2 inches or 24 inches. -- Use single-lumber top plates and two-stud corner framing. Use doubled 2x4s, 2x6s and 2x8s over smaller door and window openings, instead of doubled 2x10s. --Design with 2-foot modules. Most panel products are even-incremented such as 4x8.
• Rooftop garden
  
  Passive Solar energy: there are a number of ways to build a home in which to use passive solar energy. View the page on Solar for more info.
  
  
  
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  Adam Pascu is the founder & organizer of GreenHousingSD.com - please visit his san diego green homes website if you live or plan to move to San Diego and are interested in purchasing a Green Home.