Building Green - What Constitutes a Green-Friendly Construction?

By Fred Mark Edwin

Many architects and builders have received recognition in building green - however, questions are always being addressed what signals a truly green building. Is it the products that suggest a building is green or the way the products are used in the construction application? As we evolve with respect to any type of building green, the answer to the questions will eventually come to us. It is a continual work-in-progress. For now, however building green can fall under six criteria, each can be dissected as much as reasonably possible. The broad-brush criteria however is listed below with regard to building green.

Areas where you will be building green include:

1. Using products comprised of salvaged, recycled and agricultural waste;
2. Using products in construction made from our natural resources;
3. Using products that provide toxic wastes in manufacture;
4. Using products that substantially reduce the impact on the environment during the construction phase; renovation of existing buildings or during demolition.
5. Installing products that substantially save water or energy; and,
6. Products that making living inside more healthy.

When it comes down to building green standards it becomes a matter of determining the proper extraction of a natural resource as well as reviewing the impact of production on the environment.

Builders and architects who make a practice of building green understand substitution of a green product for one that is not considered environmentally friendly is part of the green-friendly process. For example, a green product with respect to wood comes in the form of recycled plastic lumber. This product is considered acceptable green material because it possess the components of a product made from recycled waste; is highly durable, and there is no need to treat it against pests.

Another example of a product that may be used in building green is straw particleboard. The reason straw particleboard is considered a significant green-inspired product is due to the fact it is free from off gassing with respect to formaldehyde; and it is manufactured out of agri-waste.

Products you can reuse generally qualify as more green than recyclable raw materials. Examples of reusable items include plumbing hardware, mill work, framing, and bricks. All of these items may be classified as salvage.

Also post-recycle consumer products are considered more green significant than pre-consumer products since they can be directed away from landfills. Also recyclable products that fall into a closed-loop category are greenest since in this respect you are manufacturing lower grades of an item.

Although not as significant as post-recyclable consumer products the following pre-consumer products may be considered building green friendly: iron-ore slag which is used for mineral wood insulation; PVC scrap used in shingles, and fly ash which ends up in concrete. Within the Agri category of building green products, straw seems to be the leader.

Products that are considered building green friendly due to the fact they require less frequency as to replacement include: fiber-cement siding, windows that are fiberglass, and slate shingles. In other words, if the product is built to last for a relatively longer period of time it may be classified many times as green-friendly.
Wood that is stamped with the Forest Stewardship Council designation is sure to be considered a green product. The FSC stamp assures the consumer that the wood found within his or her construction came from a well-managed forest.

Products that are not subjected to harmful chemicals in their production are other forms of green-friendly materials.

In summary, products that offer the least impact as to harming the environment during production as well as within the construction generally are considered green-friendly.

The author recommends http://www.buygreen.com where one can find eco friendly clothing, including bamboo clothing, green home environmental products including natural organic products, eco friendly furniture for work, energy saving products and solar powered lights, just to name a few.

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