Going green

Simple upgrades to your existing structure can impact the environment in a powerful way:

• Using compact fluorescents instead of incandescent light bulbs is a great start for conservation.
• If you’re upgrading, opt for products that have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which give off that new car or new office smell. They are extremely hazardous to your health – that smell means the toxic off-gassing of materials. Instead, choose VOC-free carpets, wall coverings, paint, furniture, ceiling materials and wood products.
• Use materials made with recycled content that are manufactured locally with natural and renewable materials. For example, when bamboo is chopped down (for flooring), it will grow back in a year–as opposed to chopping down an oak tree, which can take up to 100 years to re-grow.
• Add insulation to your roof to keep heat out during the summer and in during the winter (a great tip for residential and commercial buildings).
• Incorporating solar panels, energy efficient mechanical systems and radiant heat floors (heating from within the floor) save energy and money and also provide a more comfortable environment.
• If you shade your windows from direct sun in the summer, you’ll help keep out unwanted heat gain. But curtains won’t do—the shading device has to be outside the building, so try using overhangs, a trellis or big, leafy trees.
• Consider replacing your hot water tank with an “on-demand” instant water heater. This conserves energy by only heating the water you need when you need it, as opposed to keeping a large amount of water hot all the time. This will save on operating costs: for an extra few hundred dollars, you’ll save money every month on your gas bill for the life of the structure.
• Use your building to your advantage by upgrading windows. In the summer months, open windows at night and let the cool air in, then, in the morning, close them to take advantage of the diurnal temperature swings. Install programmable thermostats and set them to shut off when you’re not present.