The fundamentals of sustainable building and design are explored.
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Sustainable Construction
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Published in Sustainable Construction
Article
Energy
Energy use in our homes is probably the most focused aspect of building green. The main components of the building to consider in terms of energy use are the building envelope (insulation), lighting, heating and cooling systems, and domestic hot water production. When building a green home, we want to reduce energy us...
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Green Material Choices
Material choice is often the first thing people think about when undertaking a green building project. Visions of bamboo flooring and countertops made of recycled material may come to mind. But, to truly build green, consider your design and green goals before going shopping for that green product. The greenest choice...
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Lighting
Lighting technology has come a long way since the invention of the incandescent light bulb, 100 years ago. We could write a thesis on lighting values, colors, temperatures, etc., which is why there are designers and engineers who specialize in lighting. The lighting in a building effects humans physiologically and psy...
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Water Use, Treatment and Conservation Considerations in Construction
Summer is an appropriate time of year to talk about water and water conservation. This is the time of year that we start to experience drought conditions, and our water supplies, during some summers, start to diminish, forcing some communities to regulate water use with the banning of lawn watering and car washing. It...
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Introduction to Sustainable Construction
Sustainable and ‘Green’ are buzzwords used in the marketing of many products today. Some are legitimate claims of sustainability, while others are propaganda of what has become known as ‘green washing.’ In this series of articles I plan to address what sustainability means in the construction process. Whether you are...
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