Green Thinking

by Leah Greenstein

"It's not easy being green," may be Kermit the Frog's best-known line, but when it comes to building, being green is easier than you might think. Learning how to build green is just a matter of learning to think green.

Building green means taking into account efficiency and performance as well as values. There are many ways to make a building more green, whether it's using products made from rapidly renewable resources or salvaged materials or those that avoid toxic emissions or carcinogenic chemical compounds. It can also mean using more durable materials, reducing maintenance costs that have both high environmental and economic impacts. Below are just a number of easy, cost-effi cient ways to help you start thinking and building green.

Windows

Spending money on materials that will weatherize your home or commercial building may not be as sexy as using photovoltaic panels on the roof, but the results are immediate. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in heating dominated climates like Tahoe (where you spend more time heating rather than cooling a space), windows account for upwards of 25 percent of a typical home's heating loss. In December, the Department of Energy estimated the cost of heating a home with natural gas would increase by 38 percent, and those that use home heating oil could expect an increase of 21 percent. High-performance windows, those with lower U-factors or higher R-values (which refers to the amount of thermal transfer), can minimize heat loss. Home Depot and Lowe's in Reno both carry Energy Star certified windows.

Insulation

Jeff Bender of Bender Engineering and Commissioning explains that sometimes up to 40 percent of the heat load in a home comes from air leakage—air coming in or out of a house through cracks and holes. Insulation is key to making a home more energy efficient while saving valuable natural resources. There are a number of greener alternatives to traditional fi berglass batt insulation, including blown cellulose, which is made from recycled newspaper. It is both people- and environment-safe, takes less energy to produce than fi berglass batt and is a better defense against heat loss and gain. Because it creates a tighter seal and off ers better protection against air infi ltration, cellulose can, according to Five Star Performance Insulation, which has an offi ce in Truckee, reduce new home energy bills by 50 percent or more.

Another option is BioBase 501, a soybased polyurethane foam. Five Star notes that it's the most environmentally friendly insulation in the industry, and it's cost-eff ective. It emits no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or chlorofl uorocarbons (CFCs), and it gets into the tiniest of spaces, creating an excellent air seal.

Siding

Fiber-cement siding is a cost-effective and environmentally sound way to finish your home. "It has a lower cost than wood," says Andrew Ryan of the new Kings Beach engineering and ecodesign fi rm, Pastore·Ryan, "has a 50-year life span and a 15-year warranty on the fi nish. Unlike wood, every board shows up straight, true and usable." A material like fi ber-cement not only saves money on the initial outlay but also in the long-term. Unlike wood it doesn't need to be power-washed and refi nished every 3 to 5 years. Plus, exterior stains and varnishes are frequently high in VOCs, so the fewer of these products used, the better. Many manufacturers, like CertainTeed WeatherBoards, create fi bercement siding that has the appearance of wood grain—meaning you don't have to sacrifi ce looks to be environmentally friendly. Decks One ubiquitous feature in Tahoe architecture is the deck. A deck's environmental impact includes both the materials it is made from and the varnishes and sealants used to maintain it. Trex is a popular, durable alternative to building a deck out of wood. It's made from recycled plastic grocery bags, reclaimed pallet wrap and waste wood and contains no toxic chemicals or preservatives. You can buy Trex in a variety of wood-like fi nishes to suit your style. The unique blend of wood and plastic makes Trex much less sensitive to water and ultraviolet damage and, because the fi nish is part of the material, there is no need to stain a Trex deck. Trex is available at Tahoe City Lumber and Meeks Lumber in South Lake Tahoe and costs around $2.65 per foot.

Flooring

Undoubtedly, wood floors are beautiful. One way to have your eco-cake and eat it too is to buy sustainably harvested wood, like the kind that is certifi ed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). When contractors buy the wood as part of a lumber package, perhaps to use in framing a house in addition to flooring, the costs are reduced signifi cantly. The cost of FSC wood in this case is only 10 to 15 percent more than non-certifi ed wood. Utilizing reclaimed wood, which creates a rustic look—perfect for the Tahoe home—is another eco-friendly way to use wood products. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable product, looks good and has less of an environmental impact. Take a look at www. plyboo.com.

Consumers can also use linoleum (made from linseed) or take advantage of the advances in radiant heating and use a finished concrete floor with no additional floor covering for an attractive lowmaintenance option.

Driveways

Pervious concrete, essentially concrete less the sand, is an excellent alternative to asphalt for the steep Tahoe driveway. By allowing water to seep through the concrete rather than run off , the material allows the soil to act as a natural filter for pollutants like fertilizers, oil and anti-freeze. Its light color is also reflective, reducing what is known as the "heat island" effect, the atmospheric warming of urban areas generally associated with asphalt. It offers better traction than asphalt—an added bonus for wintertime driving.

Green Guidance

A number of local and regional resources can help you start thinking and building green. The Sierra Green Building Association (SiGBA) was created to advocate for green building practices in the Tahoe area. You can pick up their Green Building Guide at the Truckee Donner Public Utility District or visit www.sigba.org. Build It Green, a Bay Area resource, has an amazing Website (www.builditgreen.org), which includes a materials database, information on green building and an "Ask An Expert" program that allows users to get free customized responses to green building questions.