California is the trend setter for when it comes to Green Building. Green Building practices are becoming a regular part of home remodeling and construction. Each year, more Green initiatives are being adopted and incorporated into the uniform building code. Protecting the environment and environmentally sound building practices is now a commonplace. All builders, developers, remodeling professionals and homeowners need get on board and participate even if it is in a small way.
WHY BUILD GREEN AND WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
• Lower electric and water utility costs
• Environmentally effective use of building materials
• Healthier and more productive living
• Long-term economic returns
• Reduced environmental impact
Most of the mandatory measures have little or no impact on construction costs. These practices include conserving water by using low flow fixtures, recycling building materials, avoiding products with high VOC’s (off gassing), proper ventilation, and overall tighter more efficient building.
Other voluntary Green options are photo voltaic solar, cotton or wool insulation and glazing with higher “U” values.
If every homeowner and construction/remodeling professional makes a concerted effort even on a small scale, the global impact can be huge. For more information, log on to www.hcd.ca.gov
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