What is Green Home Building?
Cedar screened in porch built by Mark Waller
Green building minimizes the impact on the environment when building a home. It is part of a global response to increasing awareness of the role of human activity in causing global climate change.
The first principle of green building was stated by American architect William McDonough and German chemist Dr. Michael Braungart: “Insist on the rights of humanity and nature to coexist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition.” Green building is one way to follow this principle.
Or put simply: It’s a realistic, budget-friendly way to do our part to help the environment. It’s not as complicated as you might think. Building green is also the socially responsible thing to do. And for a win/win, it is also just good business.
The term “green” has no exact definition. What is generally agreed upon is that a green building is one that is built considering the following five factors. You and Mark, the owner of Bowtie Construction, can pick and choose those that are appropriate for your project’s budget and goals, although not necessarily incorporating all of the following measures:
· Sustainable site planning
· Safeguarding water and water efficiency
· Energy efficiency and renewable energy
· Conservation of materials and resources
· Indoor environmental quality
Typically, green buildings are measured against code buildings - structures that qualify for a building permit but do not exceed the minimum requirements of the building code for health and safety. In Southwest Virginia, to qualify for a certification, or a rating as “green”, your green home must score a minimum number of points above the “standard building” performance thresholds.
Bowtie Construction specializes in customizing a home that takes into account your budget and lifestyle. We recognize that the bottom line is just that-what you can afford and no more. With that budget in mind, Mark can help design and builds a home that incorporates techniques that reduce impact on the environment. During the process of building your green home Bowtie Construction will take numerous considerations into account simultaneously and consciously incorporate environmental issues into all decisions. Building green with Bowtie Construction will allow you to decide what is most important to you and your family in building a home that you can be happy with for a life-time to come.
Tags: Green Home Building
