construction

Great chance to do cob natural building during the summer while living in a cutting edge ecovillage.

It's difficult to make life cycle assessments of buildings since they stand for so long, though new tools are available to help make those measurements.

LEED does not rate only the completed project, but the entire building process: whether the materials are recycled, how much waste is produced, how well the building will save energy in the future, and how much impact the building has on its surrounding environment.

The building material of choice for the 21st century might be bamboo, found every continent except Europe and Antarctica. It's used to build everything from luxury homes to churches, and it is lighter than steel but five times stronger than concrete.

According to the Department of Energy, sheet metal duct work is responsible for up to 20% to 40% of energy loss in homes (and fiberglass is poor alternative due to its carcinigenic nature). KoolDuct is a fiber-free foam-based alternative to sheet metal. Why aren't more people in the United States taking advantage of this?

Its tax time again and 2007 is the last year that you can claim federal tax credits for home energy efficiency upgrades. Check out the list of qualifying upgrades to be sure you don't miss out when filing your taxes this year.

The Home Builders Association of Northern California will cut energy use by 50 percent, compared with 1990 levels, and plans to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with those homes by 30 percent by 2020.

Byreclaiming antique wood from demolition sites, Marc Poirier is the ultimate recycler. Like an archaeologist, Marc delivers the history and stories behind almost every timber in his Berwick, Maine, stock. Look closely and you'll easily see the difference between a 400 year old limb and a newly sawn board from a warehouse store.

A mix of 15 current, in-construction and planned green architectural treasures from around the world. They all have one thing in common: sustainability. If the world wants to do something about global warming then we need to change more than just how we live, we need to change what we live in.

The October 2007 Green Building Research White Paper (AEC Industry Continues to Embrace Green Building But Is It Only a Niche?)by Building Design+Construction revealed that an overwhelming majority of respondents (86%) felt that green buildings cost more.

Yet again we see state legislation on climate change issues before federal. So what was it this time? California is planning to introduce energy neutral homes as the standard for new construction starting by 2020.

From changing light bulbs and using eco-friendly paint to installing solar panels and energy efficient appliances, the trend of building a green home is gaining popularity among Americans nationwide. However, what most Americans don't realize is that even taking small steps toward a greener living space has many advantages. Living in a green home is not only healthier for its residents and the environment, but at the same time it's more cost efficient. Unlike standard construction practices, green construction conserves resources by using recycled materials and cutting back on waste.

Paul Garvison, Director of Business Development, BP Solar North America describes how home builders are implementing solar power in their construction and how other builders can take advantage of solar.

Virginia Tech announces the "Energy Efficiency Partnership for Greater Washington," an initiative to tackle the problem of global warming by retrofitting existing buildings with energy efficiency products designed to decrease energy use and significantly cut carbon emissions.

Some of these alternative housing methods are extremely useful to the earth, as everyday trash can be used to build an entire house, or a natural material can be used, and then recycled when the house is ready to be torn down.