Green Construction Building Options

Helping an industry that needs to start going green.

 I've seen the construction industry start to head in the right direction over the past few years. This is one area of our society that creates things that are with us for a very long time, so why not make the best of it? Green construction companies are popping up all over the place, as well DIY options are also becoming abundant.

The main reason I became very interested in green construction was mainly because I wanted to see a wood use deduction. Once you start to pay attention to how much of our precious forests are being used, you'd be worried too. I've also done my fair share of reading on sustainable energy to accompany an greener lifestyle.

To better wrap your head around things I like to think about sustainability. We must be thinking about future generations and having resources that will outlast yourself, or be easily used to replace other systems is a key feature.

 I mentioned that our forests are not going to last the way we're treating them, so what else do we have? While steel buildings are quite eco friendly when you come to think about it. Steel itself doesn't regenerate, but it will last you a lifetime and easily be reused in another steel structure in the future.

Power consumption keeps rising at exponential rates and I'm pleased to see a booming alternative energy industry...finally right? It's going to take some time, I imagine decades, before the majority of our power is self generated. If you're in the pre-construction phase then what better time to implement something green?

Starting with baby steps seems to be human nature when it comes to big change, and that's fine. A great example of bringing down power consumption on a property starts outdoors. Let me ask you this. How many outdoor lights do you use? My parents converted 100% of their outdoor lights to solar powered, and they did it cheap! Each light is fitted with its own solar panel and charges even if it's cloudy that day. So now all the garden and wall hung lights are no longer on the grid.

During the construction phases of homes, retail space and warehouses you have to plan for heating. Our lifestyle, in North American at least, has us constantly running on old heating systems. From here on out there shouldn't be a reason why you don't use green insulation and lower energy heating systems. This not only helps the planet, but it keeps more money in your bank account.

I hope this helps you a little and even if you didn't learn anything new, perhaps you won't forget to build green next time. The earth and future generations will thank you. To find contracts, articles and more in depth knowledge I've listed some important resources below.

Green Construction Resources:

US Green Building Council

Steel Buildings Guide

Sustainable Building Alliance

Green Building Forum

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