Complete Guide to Sustainable Building

Perhaps Kermit the Frog got it wrong: It might be easy to go green – at least when it comes to buildings.

"Green building" and "sustainable development" are currently buzzwords in the construction industry, but what exactly do they mean? According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, green building is "the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition" [source: EPA]. Advocates argue that green building is not only environmentally conscious, but also promotes healthier living and cost savings. So what is sustainable development? The United Nations Environment Program describes it as development that meets our current resource needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet theirs.

For large organizations, schools, and hospitals, "green building" can involve everything from waterless urinals to power generation. However, homeowners looking to go green may not have the financial resources that corporations do. There are numerous factors to consider, and the costs can significantly impact a homeowner's budget. Homeowners can save money by switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, but how sustainable are they and what savings can they bring? And who determines what qualifies as "green"?

In this article, we’ll share tips on making your home more eco-friendly (perhaps you could start by recycling your gray water), while also exploring current environmental laws and how different countries are adopting green practices.

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Green Building Materials

If you're looking to make your home more eco-friendly but aren't ready to build from scratch, here are several ways to make your current home greener (you can also explore new home guidelines at How LEED Certification Works).

Recycled materials

Recycled construction materials can be postindustrial (byproducts of industrial processes) or postconsumer (such as reclaimed wood, metal, and concrete). Almost any building material can be found in a recycled form.

Floors

Bamboo and cork floors are becoming increasingly popular due to their similarity to traditional hardwood floors. The issue with conventional hardwoods like pine, maple, and oak is that their forests take many years to regenerate. Oak, for instance, can take up to 120 years to mature fully [source: Treehugger]. In contrast, bamboo (a type of grass) grows back in about four to six years, and cork plants regenerate in roughly nine years. These materials earn extra eco-points because their installation processes avoid toxic adhesives and produce fewer air-polluting emissions. They're also priced similarly to other wooden floors, though bamboo and cork come in over a thousand varieties, meaning quality, color, and cost can vary significantly. The Consumer Reports 2008 Buying Guide mentioned that bamboo and cork floors can fade with exposure to UV rays, and some types require specific cleaning products [source: Consumer Reports].

Alternative green flooring options include manufactured or engineered wood floors. These are essentially wood veneers made from layers of wood (often recycled) bonded together. They're generally more affordable and easier to install compared to traditional hardwood floors, though they tend to be less durable.

­Tankless water heaters

Tankless water heaters heat water only when it's needed, so they avoid wasting energy in "standby" mode. Water flows directly through the heater on demand, rather than being stored in a tank. These heaters can be powered by electricity or gas (with gas typically providing a higher flow rate) and are available in various sizes. You can choose one for the entire house or just for a single appliance, like the dishwasher. While they are more expensive than traditional water heaters, given that heating water makes up 15 percent of the average home's energy costs, you may recover the initial investment more quickly [source: Alliance to Save Energy].

­­Insulation

Consumer Reports reports that heating and cooling account for 45 percent of the average homeowner's energy bills [source: ­Consumer Reports]. According to the Energy Star website, adding extra insulation can reduce these costs by 15 to 20 percent.

Installing traditional fiberglass insulation requires protective gear like a mask and gloves, raising an important question: If fiberglass is harmful to the point that it can't be touched or inhaled, why are we sealing ourselves into homes with it? Recycled denim and shredded newspaper are emerging as eco-friendly alternatives to insulation. While fiberglass insulation has evolved over time, recycled materials typically have fewer chemicals (and they help reduce landfill waste). Though they tend to be more expensive, recycled materials usually outperform fiberglass in insulation tests.

­On the following page, we’ll explore more ways to make your home greener.­

More Ways to Go Green

Solar panels

Going solar can be expensive, but the cost has dropped dramatically in recent years — by as much as 90 percent in some cases (with certain states offering tax incentives and rebates). Additionally, many states now require utility companies to charge homeowners only for the energy they use beyond what their solar panels produce. Some solar systems even generate enough power for homeowners to sell back to the utility company. The amount of time needed to recoup your investment depends on several factors, including household energy consumption, the number of panels required, your home's orientation to the sun, and how much sunlight the panels receive over time.

Recycled countertops

For the modern kitchen, there are numerous countertop options, from granite and quartz to ceramic tile and laminate. However, if you're looking to build an eco-friendly kitchen, recycled countertops provide an alternative to extracting natural stone. Countertops made from recycled paper, glass, and aluminum come in a wide range of styles and price points. Another green option is concrete countertops, which can be customized with tints and are known for their durability.

Compact fluorescent bulbs

Compact fluorescent bulbs are gaining popularity as the lighting solution of the future. However, they aren't a completely new invention — they are based on the classic fluorescent bulbs that helped reduce energy costs during the oil crisis of the 1970s. Compact fluorescents are designed to fit most standard lamps, with some even housed in traditional bulb casings that counteract the blue hue that many find off-putting in regular fluorescent lights. These bulbs consume only a quarter of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10,000 hours (compared to the 800 to 1,000 hours of standard bulbs). While this sounds appealing, the higher cost of $5 to $10 per bulb can be a deterrent. Home Energy magazine suggests testing a few bulbs in high-use areas, such as the kitchen. If you're happy with the light quality, you can gradually switch out your bulbs, or buy in bulk to reduce the price per bulb.

LEED

Green building is on the rise in the United States, though there is no single, unified federal program for green construction. LEED has emerged as the leading standard for sustainable building practices, but other organizations, such as the Green Building Initiative and the ambitious Architecture 2030 initiative, also promote their own sustainable building methods. The federal government offers incentives for green upgrades, including a $300 credit for replacing old water heaters or air conditioners, as well as a 10 percent tax credit for insulation materials.

States across the U.S. are becoming more involved in the development of green initiatives, though each program differs. California is at the forefront of the green building movement, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signing an executive order requiring all new and renovated state buildings to achieve at least a silver LEED certification.

By October 2007, 22 states and 75 towns and cities had implemented policies that either mandate or promote the use of LEED's green building standards. New York City began its green building efforts with the reconstruction of the World Trade Center. Meanwhile, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Division for Sustainable Development works to foster collaboration among its members to promote sustainable building methods in developing nations.

Buildings in Asia have long been designed with the surrounding environment in mind. A prime example of this is the Miho Museum near Kyoto, Japan, where 80% of the structure, designed by the Chinese architect I.M. Pei, is located underground to preserve the natural landscape.

Green building is also gaining traction in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands, with the European Union leading the charge in terms of regulations. In the mid-1990s, the EU implemented energy usage requirements for all new construction on the continent. In 2005, the European Commission launched a voluntary green building program.

The United States is currently catching up with Europe and Japan, who have already embraced innovations like tankless water heaters. However, with rising energy costs and a dip in the housing market, American homeowners are quickly adopting green practices to save or even profit from their homes.