Green building refers to sustainable construction that includes:
- energy efficiency and renewable energy
- water efficiency
- environmentally preferable building materials and specifications
- waste and toxins reduction
- improved indoor air quality
- smart growth and sustainable development
Green buildings provide economic and social benefits and should result in long-term financial savings for homeowners. Improvements that better the home's environment can also benefit human health.
Residential greening tips |
The U.S Green Building Council suggests the following tips to green your home:
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Additional resources |
A few more resources that may be helpful to homeowners looking to green their dwellings include:
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Green retrofit options |
If you are interested in making more large-scale changes to your home, consider some of the features of the archetype sustainable house in Woodbridge, Ontario and/or the cuku net-zero residence in Parkland County. Both buildings are Platinum LEED certified and include:
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Green roofs |
Vegetation and soil on a roof surface can help reduce energy use and decrease water run-off. As designs evolve, they are becoming less expensive and require less maintenance. Their main purpose is:
Green roofs can increase:
They can also help in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Green roofing with solar or wind power generation can maximize the sustainability of the roof's surface and its potential for LEED certification. Check out what NAIT is doing to advance green roof technology. |
Reused and recycled building materials |
If you are planning on building or renovating your home, you may want to consider using recycled or reused materials. The following Edmonton companies offer reused building materials and may purchase reusable items that you might otherwise throw away:
Habitat for Humanity's Restore accepts building material donations that are then sold to the public at affordable prices. For more on greening your construction projects, check out The Environmentally Responsible Construction and Renovation Handbook. |
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