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BUILT GREEN program that saves money, energy and the environmentDecember 15, 2010 -- by James Schmidt-- |
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I have taken many courses geared to help one with the building industry. The one course that really stood out and intrigued me was the BULT GREEN course. Initially, before I took the course, I thought they would cover re-using material and using recycled materials and that would be it for the course. This is only partly true. There is a lot more such as how do we build or renovate a house so that it becomes more energy efficient. Energy EfficiencyWhen we design or build a Green renovation we need to consider how energy efficient we want to make it. Our slab made of cement, not only attracts water but also attracts the cold so we will need a Styrofoam insulation then the poly to keep out the water from the outer edges of the cement as well as underneath. This will help to keep the heat in. Energy Star rated windows and doors are another consideration to make our home more energy efficient. Windows facing the sun will have a different UV rating than the windows facing the shade. Double and triple paned windows filled with low weight gases to reduce heat loss as well as a certain amount of space between the panes of glass to further reduce heat loss is part of the energy efficiency program. There are many types of insulation that can be used in the home as well. I will name a few:
These are just a few examples to help reduce heat loss and create energy efficiency.
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Indoor Air QualityWhen a contractor installs his vapour barrier inside the house the standard is to wrap it up to the joists or rafters above and then it would stop. With Green build technology we wrap the whole inside of the home and use special poly boots taped to the poly. These boots will be on the outside of the electrical plug in and switches to keep the air out. There is also a way to keep the cold out without using Poly at all. Because it’s new, many contractors and inspectors don’t know about this procedure. It’s called the ADA approach. It has many advantages.
There is a special procedure to install this drywall. Renov8 The West Contracting LTD is a contracting company that has the expertise to do this. Heating and HRV systems that are more energy efficient are just one of the other practices of a Green Home Build/renovation as well. Indoor air quality is another factor in building for renovating a BUILT GREEN house. In the eighties, houses were built with carpets that gave off gases for many years after. The glues using Formaldehyde to adhere plastics and laminates were cancer causing. Then you must consider people breathing in and out year after year in a closed space with not much ventilation can cause one to become sick especially with dust and pollen and other airborne particles floating around. To make better air quality in the home, a continuous air barrier needs to be constructed to keep out all contaminants from the outside such as vehicle exhaust, pollen and dust.
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Resource Use (including Waste Management)Using materials locally helps to create jobs for Canadians and also cuts down in transportation costs causing less-emissions helping to save our environment. The resources we use can be re-used such as brick, steel and wood helping to cause less pollution and saving our trees. Using the hot shower water going down the drain to heat cold water in the pipes before it reaches the hot water tank is another way to save fuel. Europeans have been using this idea for years. The waste that goes down our drains as sewage has a certain amount of heat. The Europeans have been using this heat from their sewage for years to help heat up their houses. These are just some ways to cut down on our waste while relying on our resources as little as possible. Overall Environmental ImpactThe overall environmental impact of building self sustainable Built Green Houses will not only save our environment but pave the way for our future generations. By taking small steps, Built Green technology will be here in Vancouver by 2020. Be a part of the Built Green technology.
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