Incorporating “green building” in your floor plan’s improvement project is an investment well-worth considering, with the rising costs of energy and possible changes to the environment that we may be instigating with wasteful ways. The pay-off can be reduced energy and maintenance costs, increased home values and environmental protection, provided that you are prepared to put in a little extra work and pay potentially higher up-front costs than those incurred in traditional building methods.
What is Green Building?
“Green building” means keeping in mind sustainability, longevity, waste management and conservation while you are making changes to your house plans. Instead of using materials that have to be replaced in a relatively short cycle of time and techniques that use a great deal of energy, green building uses more durable, and hopefully recycled materials, renewable products and materials that require less energy to manufacture. Green building also conserves resources during and after construction, avoids toxic materials and engages climate-and site-responsive design.
A good example of a green building project is adding a deck to your home that is made out of recycled plastic. The plastic is more durable and lasts longer than a wooden deck, requires less upkeep, and can be equally attractive. A recycled plastic deck is basically going to last forever, doesn’t involve killing trees, doesn’t require a new coat of pain or finisher every year, and adds more value to your home in the long run for these same reasons.
Know Your Limits
Understanding your own limits and abilities is crucial to taking on the green renovation challenge. You may be Mr. (or Ms.) Fix-It around the house, have you ever been through a serious renovation before? If not, you may have some dreamy ideals about what it’s going to be like that are going to land you knee-deep in a puddle of frustration and possible disappointment. Sure, you know how to tighten up the hinge on a cabinet, but do you know how to tell if a wall is load-bearing or not? If not, tackling the project on your own could literally land you in the front yard when you wake up in the morning! Do you know how to obtain a proper building permit, and do you have a detailed knowledge of tax breaks and deductions for homeowners who succeed in their green building projects?
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Consulting an expert on these topics won’t keep you from getting your hands (and, likely, your house and yard) dirty. To the contrary, you have the opportunity to be involved in every step of the process when you consult with architects and contractors, from design to digging holes. But, at least, with their input comes the opportunity to collaborate with trained professionals, express your wants and needs, and the chance to complete a project feeling great about not only the way the results look, but the impact you made on the world by choosing to build in an environmentally sustainable manner. Even people who aren’t that concerned about the environment can feel good with green building, knowing that they have put a big dent in their future energy bills and given themselves a big tax break into the bargain!