Buildings

“Green Building”

Q: Lately, I've been hearing references to "green" building. Just what in the world is that?

A: While some people think this refers to how close you are to the golf course, in fact "green" building is the name many people are using to describe construction practices that are more environmentally friendly than conventional practices. Other names include "Sustainable," "Environmentally Responsible," "Resource Efficient," and "Healthy." Some of these names are used interchangeably, some indicate a particular focus. All are efforts to respond to (and/or cash in on) the growing number of people who are concerned about the environmental impacts of their homes and work environments.

Some builders are mostly paying attention to the environment of the house itself. By using non-toxic materials, ventilation and air filtration systems, water filters, sealed combustion or no combustion appliances and equipment, and other techniques, they are reducing indoor air pollution to help create a "healthy" indoor environment.

Others are looking at the issue from a broader perspective. They ask questions such as, "What is the impact of this house on the total environment?" "Which materials are not only safer for me to live with, but are also safer for the construction workers to build with and for the factory workers to manufacture?" "What kinds of waste products will building this house produce, and how will that waste be handled?" "What are the impacts of this house on the local ground water? Landfill? On wildlife? On air quality in the neighborhood?"

Readily available now are products like ceramic tiles made from car windshields, high quality carpet made from recycled soda bottles, steel studs made partially from old cars and washing machines, insulation made from recycled denim, and a wide variety of engineered lumber products made from what was formerly thrown away. I have even seen building panels made from rye straw, shredded dollar bills, and ACC Tournament ticket stubs. (Just kidding on the last one.)

In North Carolina more builders are seriously pursuing green building techniques. One common theme influencing all of them is a recognition that any serious effort to build an environmentally friendly house must focus on energy efficiency, since the energy used to make, distribute, install, and use many materials often constitutes the major environmental impact of the material.

In the house, the largest energy-using systems are also the ones that have the greatest impact on indoor air quality. In general, the single most significant thing you can do to make a house "environmentally friendly" is to make it energy-efficient. And, a bonus! This will also make you more comfortable and reduce your monthly bills.

Some people are concerned that making a house "too tight" will lead to poor indoor air quality. While this is possible, research has shown that "leaky" houses are just as likely to have air quality problems. The key is to reduce or eliminate the sources of pollutants, know how tight the house is, and install a ventilation system that brings in enough fresh air when and where you need it. It's highly unlikely that simply building a conventional leaky house will result in good indoor air quality.