Design & Lifestyle...

Among architects and building enthusiasts there’s been some controversy over what sustainable building means. Do we need LEED? Why? Shouldn’t everyone just build green as a rule? And so on.

Personally I agree with the theory that earth friendly building, or sustainable building should be the rule, but I also know that it’s not.
People make a big scene when something pops up as sustainable – which, in a way is cool, but in many other ways a bummer. If green happened all the time it wouldn’t be such a phenomenon to folks when it happens.

If you’re considering building a sustainable home or trying to find one to live in, there are some basics behind the term, “Sustainable.” In order for a home to be sustainable a house minimizes energy consumption, provides a clean, or non-toxic environment, and ideas for conserve water are used.

An ideal sustainable house takes up just the amount of space it needs. For example, for a family with two adults and two children, living in a six bedroom house is excess – not sustainable living. Some people have managed to take small living to the extreme. You don’t have to live in super tiny spaces, but consider if you really need a three car garage, and two guest rooms.

Recycled and reclaimed materials are often used in the building process, although there are also some sustainable materials that are eco friendly even built new, like up and comer bamboo, which is abundant.
No house can be perfectly green. There are always energy expansions and waste, both with materials and human labor. Still, working under sustainable principals will increase the odds that your home will harm the earth less than a traditionally built home.