Building a Greener Home, doesn’t have to cost any more than building a regular home.
KR Construction makes thoughtful decisions throughout the building process to achieve environmentally friendly homes that are also cost effective.
Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment.
The Benefits of a Green Home
A Healthier Home
Green homes' use of toxin-free building materials helps combat indoor air pollution, which can be much worse than outdoor pollution.
Natural ventilation in green homes, as well as use of mechanical ventilation systems to filter and bring fresh air inside and vent stale air outside, keep residents breathing easy.
A Cost-Efficient Home
The net cost of owning a green home is comparable to – or even cheaper than – owning a standard home.
Month to month, people who live in green homes save money by consuming less energy and less water than standard homes.
A green home is often more durable than most standard homes because of its high-quality building materials and construction processes, requiring fewer repairs.
The value of a green home is often higher than that of a comparable standard home, and the market demand for green homes continues to rise.
Local, state and federal governments are increasingly offering tax breaks and other incentives for building green homes or adding green features to your home.
An Environmentally Friendly Home
Some green homes further reduce our dependence on conventional energy sources as they generate some or all of their energy needs through alternative energy sources like the sun, wind, geothermal energy and biomass.
Efficient plumbing and bathing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping and water-conserving irrigation systems help green homes use less water than standard homes.
Far fewer natural resources are used in the construction of a green home. Many green building materials have significant recycled content. Green homes use materials made from rapidly renewable materials, like bamboo, hemp, agrifibers and soybean-based products. And the use of certified wood helps promote socially and environmentally beneficial forestry practices.
Green Tips:
Use energy saving fluorescent light bulbs. They fit into fixtures designed for regular incandescent bulbs but actually use half as much energy.
Buy bathroom fixtures that use less water. New low-flush toilet fixtures use only a fraction of the water a regular toilet uses and low-flow shower heads use half as much heated water as regular shower heads.
Look for energy saving appliances for your home. Read the tags on new appliances to find the energy efficiency information and select the appliances that have the best ratings.
Consider a programmable thermostat. They can be set to automatically reduce the temperature when you are away or asleep and return the temperature to a comfortable level when you're at home.
For additional information please visit the Envirosmart section of the Hayward Lumber website.
Why Build Green?
In the United States, buildings account for:
39% of total energy use
12% of the total water consumption
68% of total electricity consumption
38% of the carbon dioxide emissions
The built environment has a vast impact on the natural environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance.
Green construction methods can be integrated into buildings at any stage, from design and construction, to renovation and deconstruction. However, the most significant benefits can be obtained if the design and construction team takes an integrated approach from the earliest stages of a building project. Potential benefits of green building can include:
Environmental Benefits
Enhance and protect biodiversity and ecosystems
Improve air and water quality
Reduce waste streams
Conserve and restore natural resources
Economic Benefits
Reduce operating costs
Create, expand, and shape markets for green product and services
Improve occupant productivity
Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Social Benefits
Enhance occupant comfort and health
Heighten aesthetic qualities
Minimize strain on local infrastructure
Improve overall quality of life