So6ixMay2010
So6ixSoEnvironmental
By: Bryan Kim Turner bryan@redrockok.com As it seems with all things, housing is becoming greener. And as with so many things in our land of commerce, it is becoming more difficult to sort what really is green, and what would like you to think it’s green. The term is ‘green washing,’ and as a homebuilder, I am approached weekly by vendors offering the latest in green labeled goods. But is it really green? It’s a good and tough question with several answers, so let’s take a look at what really matters to green homes. Sustainable, durable, and healthy are the three horsemen of green homebuilding. Is the home built in a sustainable mindset? Does it have a focus on recycling? Has it made some use of sustainable materials or renewable resources? Think about durability: a home built to last hundreds of years, as opposed to one with a life of 50 years, is most certainly the kindest act to our environment. After all, not only do you eliminate the need for materials to build a new home, but you also take away all of the energy required to manufacture, transport materials, and construct a new home. Further, think of all the waste created from removing an obsolete home and the waste created to built another overloading our landfills. Lastly, is the home healthy? Studies from many sectors of science have recently begun to understand the large role our homes play into our overall health. If a home is unhealthy and affects the quality of life of its occupants, then building it has been a waste of resources. Most often sustainability, durability and healthy aspects work in harmony to highlight what green builders call ‘best practices.’ Best practices are well studied and well planned techniques to develop an all-encompassing, or complete, approach to finding the greenest path to building a home. Planning on the future, as well as accounting for the present. Take brick, for example: it is a renewable resource.
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Durable nature allows for longevity and reduced maintenance. If installed properly, brick can avoid moisture problems that might create a health issue within the home (mold). This is only one of dozens of examples of sustainability, durability and healthy aspects working together to ensure the smallest environmental impact within the course of building a home. Building green is an evolving science, and it is a science that the homebuilding industry is just beginning to embrace. If you have a desire to build a new green home, find a builder who shares your sentiment, and work together to build a home that reflects your environmental awareness. And don’t be afraid to ask the tough question: “Is it really green?” Bryan Kim Turner and his wife Katie are builders in central Oklahoma. They have over 50 years of combined experience, and both are designated by the National Association of Homebuilders as Certified Green Professionals. Their firm, Red Rock Builders specializes in high performance, low energy homes. Currently they are building five certified green homes in Edmond and Oklahoma City.
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