 EnviroCitizen.org believes that building a green home is definitely a worthwhile project to undertake. It creates a home that is not only better for conserving resources, but it also creates a better quality home as well as a healthier one. It is no surprise then that so many people want to make sure their homes are green. Building a green home is something that you can do with the right help. It takes a little research and consultation from the right green experts, but it well worth the effort.
Choosing products is an important part of the process. Some green building products have measurable benefits for homeowners, such as using less electricity or not off-gassing volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Others have attributes that likely reduce their impact on the environment, such as recycled content or being locally manufactured. Selecting products with multiple benefits and attributes is the best approach.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Environmental Resource Guide includes complete information about building products that allows you to compare products. You can find this guide online, easily accessible to anyone looking to build green.
The Good to Be Green directory lets you search for green building products, sustainable building materials and green building service providers for residential buildings, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals and other structures.
ENERGY STAR lists products, manufacturers and store locations for energy-efficient appliances, heating and cooling products, home electronics, lighting, windows, doors, and more. Considering visiting ENERGY STAR's website to review these product lists during your project.
Certified forest products come from sustainably managed forests and can be tracked all the way to the supplier, a process called chain of custody. Search for FSC-certified products and companies at www.ra-smartwood.org. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has several programs on higher performance building supplies. Their Water Sense program lists several water conserving products as well as services. This can be a great resource when building green.
You can also check out your local directory to see if there are any green building specialty stores in your area. If not, you can often find some products at major chain stores, such as Home Depot. You can even refer to websites such as EnviroCitizen.org, which provides a directory of green professionals of all types nationwide. Choosing the right green professionals for your project can be incredibly helpful when it comes to purchasing the right green materials.
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