Go Green

Environmentally sustainable renovation can be a goal for any project.

The idea of environmentally sustainable construction and renovation is catching on with a wide range of people. Lets look at three aspects of "thinking green" that every project should take into account.

One tenet of green construction is to repair instead of replace. Sounds thrify, doesn't? This cuts down on the amount of materials that are used and discarded, and can be much less expensive. The conservation solutions company Conservation Technology puts it perfectly:

There are many reasons to repair wood windows and doors instead of replacing them. Wood used in older windows and doors was milled from select mature trees and is more resistant to decay and warping than currently available domestic woods. It is usually less expensive to repair windows and door than it is to replace them, especially when the woodwork is large or complex. Repairing is also preferable for reasons of historic preservation and environmental conservation.

A flipside to this is that when materials must be discarded, it is imperative to seek opportunities for others to reuse the materials. We seek to divert as much reusable material away from the landfill and to such outlets as Habitat for Humanity ReStores, which "help the environment by rechanneling good, usable materials into use."

Another feature of green construction is actively seeking opportunities to reduce building energy consumption. Combining reuse of materials and proactive work towards greater energy efficiency, we offer weatherization to seal the drafty doors and windows of older homes.

A third piece of green construction is use of materials which were themselves fabricated with care for their impact on the environment. An example of this is properly cultivated Brazilian ipê. This strong and dense wood naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold without the use of toxic chemicals used in other decking products. Ipê does take more of an initial investment, but given the 25+ year rating given for its use, the durability results in savings over the long run.