Green Design and Construction

Green Design means different things to different people, but my feeling is that it should include not only the materials themselves but the way they are incorporated.  Green design should be lifetime design, using or reusing materials to produce a dwelling that will serve your needs throughout your life.  It's not just for the young, rugged "back-to-the-landers" who can work from sun up to sun down and don't mind "roughing it", it's also for urban or suburban folks who want to make choices that are better for their family and for the planet.

The "Green" section is divided into the following pages:

Accessibility/Universal Design * Central Vacuum * Water Conservation * Cistern and Rainwater Collection * Decking

Earth Sheltered and Earth Bermed Homes * Feng Shui * Flooring * Root Cellar * Cabinetry, Closets and Woodwork

Our house is Wisconsin Green Built certified.  The Green Built Home checklist includes sections on the following:

A)  Siting and Land Use

B)  Landscape Conservation and Stormwater Management

C)  Energy Efficiency

D)  Materials Selection

E)  Indoor Air Quality

F)  Plumbing and Water Conservation

G)  Waste Reduction, Recycling and Disposal

H)  Builder Operations

The checklist provides a starting point for green design ideas (it impossible for them to address every consideration) and the WI Green Built organization offers a way for building professionals and homeowners to connect with each other.  It's a good program, and I hope more people will become involved with it.

Links

Energy for Everyone - MREA Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair -June 15-17, 2007 - The Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair is the world’s largest renewable energy educational event of its kind. The Fair features hundreds of workshops, speakers and exhibits all emphasizing clean energy & sustainable living and is fun for the whole family. All activities and parking are FREE with paid admission. Mass transit and/or rideshare to the Fair is available.
 

GREEN BUILDING 101: Materials & Resources, Part II by inhabitat - A good overview of green building materials, including links to materials suppliers and explanations of why you should use them.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage - Interested in hardcore environmentalism?  Visit Dancing Rabbit.  I am too soft for this level of dedication to the cause, and I freely admit it, but these folks are doing their best to live the good green life.

US Green Building Council - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 7,500 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.
 

Wisconsin Green Building Alliance's (WGBA) - The Wisconsin Green Building Alliance's (WGBA) mission is to facilitate and promote the development and use of ecologically sustainable materials and practices within Wisconsin's Built environment.