Energy Efficient Construction
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Energy Efficient Construction
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Environmental Design Consulting
Green Building and Development Techniques
Sustainable Construction
Home construction has a significant impact on the environment both from the construction phase as well as through day to day operations. Building construction consumes a great amount of raw materials and energy as well as waste such that each new structure should be carefully considered during the design phase. In fact buildings consume 40% of the raw materials used globally each year (over 3 billion tons), 40% of the energy consumed in the world, 60% of the world's electrical consumption and 25% of virgin wood. Buildings also emit about 50% of global C02 through construction and operation.
When possible, building materials should be selected locally to minimize their carbon footprint, be durable and protected from the elements to last longer, require minimal maintenance in order to minimize replacement and repairs and be selected to provide minimum off gassing of volatile organic chemicals for a healthier living environment. Structures should also be designed to maximize space usage as well as designed, oriented and landscaped to take advantage of the earths’ natural heating and cooling and minimize required energy needs. Renewable energies such as solar photovoltaic, wind power, water heating and passive whole house heating and cooling should also be taken advantage of when possible. Of course there are some situations where this is not feasible and other construction methods should be considered. Either way, sustainable, ecologically responsible construction provide healthier more productive living environments, substantially lower operating and maintenance costs as well as having long term environmental benefits.
Building materials , natural resources and energy are becoming more scarce by the day and we must immediately begin to minimize our environmental impact and begin utilizing the natural processes of heating, cooling and lighting of our homes, construct more durable structures, build homes that require less raw materials and require less maintenance as well as reduce energy and water consumption in order to sustain future generations. Durability is a major consideration these days and there are homes all over the world that have been standing hundreds of years, but many of the homes and structures being built today have a life expectancy of less than 100 years. It is an economic and environmental waste when we raze these structures, send the debris to the landfill and consume more raw materials and energy to reconstruct it. Proper design and materials as well as correctly refurbishing old structures can create new structures that are protected from the elements such that they will endure for generations to come.
Let us put our experience to work for you to create the ultimate sustainable living environment.
When possible, building materials should be selected locally to minimize their carbon footprint, be durable and protected from the elements to last longer, require minimal maintenance in order to minimize replacement and repairs and be selected to provide minimum off gassing of volatile organic chemicals for a healthier living environment. Structures should also be designed to maximize space usage as well as designed, oriented and landscaped to take advantage of the earths’ natural heating and cooling and minimize required energy needs. Renewable energies such as solar photovoltaic, wind power, water heating and passive whole house heating and cooling should also be taken advantage of when possible. Of course there are some situations where this is not feasible and other construction methods should be considered. Either way, sustainable, ecologically responsible construction provide healthier more productive living environments, substantially lower operating and maintenance costs as well as having long term environmental benefits.
Building materials , natural resources and energy are becoming more scarce by the day and we must immediately begin to minimize our environmental impact and begin utilizing the natural processes of heating, cooling and lighting of our homes, construct more durable structures, build homes that require less raw materials and require less maintenance as well as reduce energy and water consumption in order to sustain future generations. Durability is a major consideration these days and there are homes all over the world that have been standing hundreds of years, but many of the homes and structures being built today have a life expectancy of less than 100 years. It is an economic and environmental waste when we raze these structures, send the debris to the landfill and consume more raw materials and energy to reconstruct it. Proper design and materials as well as correctly refurbishing old structures can create new structures that are protected from the elements such that they will endure for generations to come.
Let us put our experience to work for you to create the ultimate sustainable living environment.
