It seems everyone is talking about “Going Green” yet few people can say exactly what that means. This is especially true when it comes to building and remodeling. Nonetheless we all agree that making an effort to help the environment and is worth the effort. At Haas Builders Supply Inc. we are dedicated to helping you sort through the conflicting and changing information about “green” construction.
Below, and in the articles in this section you will learn that no green product or practice is 100 % environmental impact free. You will see that a green product is one that is simply more efficient or environmentally friendly than similar products. We encourage you to continually visit this page to learn about the advancements and improvements in green building
Green Guidelines:
Principle #1. A product or construction practice is green if it IMPROVES the indoor air quality or reduces chemical exposure with in a home thereby improving the health of the people who live or work on it.
Principle #2. A product or construction practice is green if it lowers the pressure on the environment through use of recycled or recyclable materials or sustainable harvest materials.
Principle #3. A product or construction practice is green if it reduces the use of water throughout the home thereby lowering the demand on freshwater resources and the energy intensive infrastructure required to pipe, store and purify water.
Principle #4. A product or construction practice is green if it reduces pressure on the waste stream by being made from recycled or recyclable materials. Under this concept look for high recycled content ratings either in label statements or statements like, “made from recycled material.
Principle #5. A product or construction practice is green if it reduces the carbon footprint of a home. The carbon footprint is:
- The CO2 emitted by the energy burned to heat or cool the home over its lifetime.
- The CO2 emitted by the energy burned to generate power for the home.
- The CO2 emitted by energy used to manufacture the building components.