It's What? A Pale Green House?

Milhaus

I've been doing a lot of research about building 'green' homes, and trying to figure out what the best techniques to employ are. So I thought I'd ask around...there are so many different expectations, or better yet, explanations of what green building is.

For me, as the idealist, it's building with energy efficient materials, that come from the most energy efficient companies, that minimize THEIR impact on the world as well.

Whether on the front end of their processes with raw material usage, or on the tail end with shipping practices, I want to work with companies that operate the way I want to build.

Do they use recycled materials? (and/or recycle themselves)?

do they apply FSC standards in their use of wood?

use petroleum based products?

Minimize the distance their raw materials travel to their facility?

Pick one....

Foundation?

Structure?
Lumber?
Sheathing?
Subfloor?
Roof system?

Insulation?
Attic?
Walls?

Windows and Doors?

Siding?

Exterior trim?

Roofing materials?

Carpet?

interior trim?

Appliances?


Mark

Tmrrptr

I've been asked to use low voc paint.
We used the Harmony line from SW and it was fine... and almost no odor.
The client DID rave about that.

They installed natural fiber padding and carpet.
Installer was freaked because it had no stain protection, at all.
But they were old people, basically with a minimalist lifestyle.

And you are correct to point out the freight... the carpet was trucked clear cross country from two opposite locations because it was last available of a particular run.

Client may have thought themselves green, but their carbon footprint was of no concern when they got what THEY wanted.
r

Milhaus

Good point. I think many people will approach it the exact same way. There are a lot of walls to climb with this type of thinking, because it IS more than just a building technique. It's a frame of mind for both us in the field and the customer.

I worked with a lady a couple jobs back that was the perfect customer for me. She had just had geothermal installed, was very aware of the reuse/recycling options that exist today in the construction field, and very aware of her 'footprint' in the world. If I could find another 40 customers like her, I'd be a happy man. It gave me some hope that my customers are out there. Just have to reach them. May be a needle in a haystack for now, but they are out there.

Mark

Milhaus

I found a spray foam company called Biobased. Soybean based foam, open and closed cell with a Rep about 150 miles from here. I haven't contacted the rep directly yet to find out real world statistics on how its working in our area. But, from the website the product sounds comparable to other spray foams.