The basics

A modular building is a ground-breaking technique of building structures that involves dividing a building into several different sections, or modules, and manufacturing them in a factory-run setting at the same time as the site of the building is being developed and prepared. The mechanical aspects of the structure including plumbing, electrical and interior facets are completed before the modules are shipped, assembled and attached to the foundation on job site.

Structures built using modular construction methods surpass building codes, safety and occupancy code specifications including local building requirements. Custom designed modular buildings may contain regular building materials such as vinyl siding, bricks, or metal as required in order to meet client’s aesthetic, functional, and green building LEED requirements.

Benefits and Advantages over traditional construction

The following are some of the immediate advantages of modular buildings:

• Speed. This is the main advantage of a modular construction approach, and one of the most significant modular building benefits and advantages over traditional construction. While the modules are being manufactured in a factory-like environment, the site is simultaneously being developed and prepared. Due to this, these buildings can be ready for occupancy weeks or even months ahead of time. In comparison with conventional structures, the modular buildings can provide savings of 30 to 50 percent just by the simultaneous preparation of the modules, and the construction site.

• Innovative designs. Modular buildings are known for their excellence in design. Depending on the client’s needs, a modular construction can be a single story building or a multi-story structure featuring optimal designs and an emphasis on the aesthetic appeal and sustainability.

• Customized Design. Modular builders can work with clients in designing and laying out the structure early on. There is often a collaboration between the parties involved to ensure that the custom building requirements are planned and executed well to assure customer satisfaction.

• High quality. When it comes to modular constructions, the level of quality can exceed expectations because there are strict quality control procedures that are implemented for a more efficient process. Multiple inspections on the modules are normally performed at each stage of the process. The construction components are evaluated and given approval by certain agents of the state.

• Maintenance cost reductions. Modular homes and commercial buildings are designed and build with energy efficient features such as added insulation for energy savings, energy efficient appliances that all work to reduce the utility expenses of a building, and other green building elements for the health and safety of the occupants.

• Multiple uses. These buildings have numerous uses and are likewise flexible and versatile. They can be used permanently or temporarily and have a lifespan of more than 30 years. In fact, modular structures can be used as temporary and permanent classrooms, health care and military facilities in both urban and traditional areas.

Conclusion

Due to their practical characteristics and quick turnaround time from groundbreaking to occupancy, modular structures offer many advantages for the end user vs. traditionally construction. With ease and speed of building and features like customization and flexibility, these buildings are set to become the next generation way of building homes, commercial buildings, educational facilities, hotels, and hospitals.

If sustainability is one of the goals for your building project, then a sober assessment of priorities will help to guide your selection of green building technologies.  Whether your project is a new construction, remodel or renovation, the sustainable identity of your home will only be genuine when its components and elements furnish positive returns on investment.  Unfortunately, the most visible and showy applications may offer the least value for supporting sustainability.  Solar collectors and panels can be exciting and enticing.  Unfortunately for our egos, it is most often the very common (even dull) conservation measures which furnish the biggest bang for the buck.

Conservation

A bit of clever design can find much opportunity for energy savings through conservation methods such as thick insulation, secure air barriers and construction detail which are carefully considered and executed.  Tight high quality windows and doors can reward investment.  Caulking and weather-stripping can be the most boring, but the most effective means of saving energy.  Don’t forget the lighting.  CFL and LED lamps can reduce electrical usage.  These and other basic conservation techniques should be the first considerations.

Passive Solar

The next most effective resource-conserving approach is passive solar architecture.  If your home is located at a site with southern exposure and in a cold climate, then a passive solar orientation can provide significant financial savings with little added expense.  Such application can be as simple as arranging more glass on the south side of the house than on the other sides.  If the sunshine entering these windows lands on masonry surfaces, then energy can be stored by day and slowly released during evening hours.  Modest overhangs will shade the heat gain during winter and allow the sunshine to enter during the winter due to the seasonable changes of the sun’s motion.  The simplicity of such designs is appealing.  Passive solar architecture can be accomplished without moving parts (except for the sun) and is therefore affordable and reliable.

Passive Solar Home Design

Active Solar

Finally, for those who have taken advantage of all of the above opportunities and still wish to venture further into sustainable home design, then active solar collection systems may be appropriate.  These will include photovoltaic power generation and domestic water heating systems.  In locations where water is scarce, rainwater harvesting and grey-water recycling may be employed.   All of these installations however will represent significant investment and financial returns must be carefully examined to determine if they are economically justified in each particular application.  Tax credits and deductions may be available for these systems (as with conservation and passive solar expenses) and these incentives will vary from region to region.  Full financial analysis can be complicated, and solar panel installers can often lend helpful support.

PV Solar Power System

By establishing priorities, your project will follow sound principles that lead to architecture with integrity.  You will be assured that the green building measures employed in your sustainable project truly support your commitment to conserving energy and other resources.

In this guide I am going to present some fairly easy to implement ideas on how to increase your home’s energy efficiency on a budget.

Home Insulation Ideas

If your home was built before 1970s, then it is very likely that it does not have sufficient levels of insulation, which results in unnecessary heat loss. Many states now offer some very attractive home insulation programs, grants and rebates. For instance, the state of Massachusetts, my home state, provides a 75% tax credits rebate on energy efficient insulation up to $2000.00 in year 2011.

There are many similar programs in other states, and taking advantage of similar energy efficient insulation rebate programs will not only put money back in your pocket, and reduce your heating and cooling costs. But it will also increase the saleability of your home, reduce the chance of your heating pipes bursting in the winter, reduce cold air drafts in your home, and make your home a more comfortable place for you and your family.

Attic Insulation

Going back to older homes built before 1970s, if you happen to live in one, chances are that your loft or attic insulation is not sufficiently insulated and ventilated, which is a common reason for ice dams on the roof in the winter and costly roof, walls, and insulation damages that may not necessarily be covered by homeowners insurance. If you plan on having a new roof installed any time soon, then consider replacing your old roof with an energy efficient metal roofing system, which will help reduce your cooling costs in the summer, and help stop ice dams in the winter.

You can better insulate your attic by locating air leaks, and applying a caulk sealant to stop the unwanted air leaks.
You can feel for this air leaks with your hand, or buy a special tool for detecting thermal leaks in your home at your local home improvement store. Another alternative would be having a professional home energy audit performed in your home, which would give you a complete report outlining locations where energy loss due to insufficient insulation and air leaks occurs.

You can then, follow up on recommendations of home energy audit report, and have a contractor insulate and seal poorly insulated, and poorly sealed areas in your house for you, or you could save a bit of money by taking on these inadequacies in your home insulation levels yourself with the help of specialty sealants, and attic insulation bats for your attic.

Having a sufficiently insulated and properly ventilated attic will help prevent ice dams on your roof. Being prepared for cold storms with a properly insulated home can save a ton of money and headaches from having to deal with busted pipes and ice dams damage in the winter. Trust me on this!

Insulating Walls

You can have your walls insulated with a blown in insulation, or you can have more insulation installed if you are planning to install new siding on your house some time in the near future. Obviously, blown insulation is much easier and less costly then, ripping apart your sheet rock to install a cavity wall insulation, but if you are doing a complete remodel of certain rooms in your home, and you are taking off old sheet rock, then you can have your wall cavities insulated during this time. Although, in all honesty ripping off your old sheet rock, or plaster and installing a new one is a messy and expensive way to do it.

Simple way to insulate your windows for the Winter

If you do not quite have the money to replace your old windows with energy efficient ones, then you can install a special film over your old windows, which will help reduce the cold air drafts thereby helping to keep your rooms warmer and saving on money on reduced heating bills.

These are the simple yet effective basic ways to make your home greener and more energy efficient on a budget. If you have already done these and are ready for the next step, then consider replacing your old oil burner with an energy efficient gas heating system. Once again there may be some good rebates available for that when you choose to upgrade your heating system with a 92 to 96% energy efficient gas burner. The cost of gas is less than the cost of oil, and having an energy efficient burner will further reduce your heating costs in the winter. You can also install energy efficient gas-powered hot water burners to reduce the cost of heating water in your home.

More Ideas

You can obtain even more energy efficiency in your home by replacing your lights with energy efficient lighting, and by installing, eco-friendly shower heads in your bathroom.

Heat is lost through almost every part of a building, from the walls to windows, floors and roofs. Increasingly, governments and construction firms around the world are investing in energy efficiency and passing legislation on minimum green requirements for new building projects.

Current green building projects include:

• New York City’s iconic Empire State Building has announced that it is undertaking a $20 million energy drive to cut usage in the world famous structure and will soon be meeting its remaining energy demand entirely through wind power.

• ‘Eco towns’ in the UK are still in the development stage but were conceived to set a new standard in green building with energy efficient houses, shops and transport that would be more than self-sustaining, and would also sell the excess energy back to the national electricity grid. Extensive research also went in to determining the best locations, ensuring every aspect of planning and construction was energy smart.

• An artificial foam, developed with inspiration from the nest of a South American frog, was the winner of the 2010 Earth Awards, an event that brings together investors and cash poor green technology designers. The foam will line the inside of coal-burning power stations and trap harmful carbon dioxide emissions before they can enter the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

On a smaller scale, making windows more energy efficient is a relatively easy way to conserve heat and money, keep out noise and reduce the carbon footprint of a building. Double glazing uses two sheets of glass with a gap between them, which could contain argon, xenon or krypton gases. Triple glazing is also available, but does not necessarily provide greater efficiency.

The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) is the national system for rating the energy efficiency of windows in the UK, in the same way that white goods (fridges, freezers, washing machines) have an efficiency guide signified by A to E ratings.

A frame for every home and every opening:

Energy smart windows need not look identical. For every different frame material there are window panes of all energy ratings.

• The frame most commonly used is called uPVC. They are recyclable and last a very long time.

• Frames made of aluminum or steel are just as durable and are also recyclable.

• Houses in tightly-regulated conservation areas can use wooden frames to preserve the original look of old houses. They demand more upkeep but have a lower environmental impact in their initial manufacture.

• In composite frames, both wood and metal or plastic are used, where the wood is protected by the former more resilient materials, ensuring less need for maintenance.

On roofs, vinyl and aluminum sidings are used to protect buildings from the effects of weather. Although less energy intensive to manufacture, vinyl sidings are harder or often impossible, to recycle. Vinyl (or PVC) is itself flammable and can cause problems for fire fighters with the release of dangerous gases when it burns.

Inside the building, attics and lofts can be also insulated to prevent the otherwise massive amounts of escaping heat. Luckily, anyone with some DIY skills can tackle the problem simply by laying insulation blankets across floorboards, restraint straps and brickwork. However, care must be taken not to restrict all air-flow within a structure as this inevitably leads to humidity and condensation, which can drastically reduce the efficiency of insulation materials. Air exchange systems are thus essential in effective long-term energy conservation.

Next time you have some work done, make sure your builder doesn’t leave the energy efficient windows back in the transit with the van vault. Energy proof your building now, and reap the benefits over the coming years.

A number of different types of materials can be used as siding, with the three main options being wood, vinyl and aluminum siding. As you consider the type of material and siding that you would like to use in your home, there are a number of important factors to consider. You should think about the appearance of the material, its cost, its durability and how easy it will be to maintain.

Size

The first thing you will need to find out before you can buy your siding is the size of the area that will need to be covered. This will determine how much material you will need and the cost of siding your home. If you only need to buy siding for a small area, you may be able to afford a more expensive material than if you have a larger area to be sided. You should measure the area that needs to be covered in square feet since siding material is usually sold in terms of “squares”. Each square of siding refers to an area of 100 feet square.

Materials

The type of material that you choose for your siding will determine its appearance, its practical features and the cost of siding. It is a good idea to spend some time looking at different types of sidings in your neighborhood or in home design magazines in order to help you to decide which type of material will look best on your home. It is also possible to view samples of different types of materials at a home center in your neighborhood, although seeing them on an actual house can make it easier to imagine what the material would look like on your own home.

In addition to considering the practical aspects of different types of siding materials, it is a good idea to consider which material you find most attractive and which materials will look most appropriate on your particular property in your neighborhood. Some styles of homes look better with certain types of siding, and it can also be sensible to match your siding with that of your neighbors in order to create the best aesthetic effect. Vinyl sidings have replaced aluminum as the most popular siding material in many neighborhoods, so if you want your home to look as if it belongs, you may want to think about the types of sidings that have been used on the surrounding houses.

Most people, when they are choosing a siding material, will be making a decision between wood and synthetic materials, but there are a whole range of different siding materials to consider when you are choosing the right option for your home.

Wood and Imitation Wood

Wood siding can produce a more traditional effect than aluminum or vinyl siding, so it can be a good option if you are buying siding for a period home or if your house is located in a more traditional area. It can also be a popular choice for homes in the countryside, or to produce a more rustic effect. Cedar is one of the most popular options for wood siding, due to its attractive appearance and durability. It is naturally resistant to problems such as rot and insect damage. One of the main benefits of wooden siding is that it can be stained or painted in different ways to create the desired effect. Wood is a good insulator that can actually help to reduce energy loss and energy costs in your home. Other types of wood that may be used for siding include pine, redwood and spruce.

Durable House Siding Options

Vinyl siding and fiber cement siding are some of the most durable options as well as the most affordable. These types of siding material are usually designed to simulate wood siding by mimicking the grain of wood. Some of the best vinyl siding can look almost exactly like wooden siding. Vinyl siding can also come in a range of different colors that are resistant to fading, unlike the stains and paints used on wood siding. Vinyl siding can come with a foam backing that helps to make it more durable and also makes it a better insulator. Vinyl is a less environmentally friendly option than a natural material. Fiber cement is manufactured from a mixture of cement, cellulose fibers, sand and other materials. It can be designed to look like wooden shingles or clapboard, and it is resistant to sun damage, water damage, fire and insects. It can be painted in different colors, like wood.

Other Options

Wood and wood-like materials are a popular choice for siding, but it is also possible to choose siding materials that look very different. Stone sidings may be produced either from natural or manufactured stone. They can produce the same traditional look as wooden siding. Stone siding can be very attractive, but it is also one of the more expensive options for siding. Brick can produce a very classic siding look. However, the installation process for brick siding can be intensive. Stone and brick sidings are often used in combination with wood, vinyl or fiber cement sidings, with most of the property being covered in one type of siding and the accents picked out in stone or brick. Stone and brick are usually more expensive than wood, vinyl or fiber cement. Stucco is another form of siding that is ideal for warm climates.

Stone sidings can produce the effect of a stone building at a lower cost than actually constructing one. Granite is a popular choice. Stone is a heavy material for siding, so it will usually require some additional structural support. This increases the cost and difficulty of installation. Manufactured stone is cheaper than natural stone, but it can produce a very similar aesthetic effect. Brick siding comes in a range of colors and textures and it can be installed in different patterns. It can be expensive, due to the high costs of both the materials and installation. Stucco is a plaster on a cement base that is an excellent insulator and is also fire resistant. It can be finished in different patterns and textures, such as a smooth surface, swirls or raked surface. Stucco is usually fairly expensive, although it does not cost as much as stone or brick siding.

Style

Some types of siding, particularly wooden siding, can be installed onto your home either horizontally or vertically, which can alter the aesthetic effect. Siding can also be installed in the form of panels. Siding comes in a number of different forms, such as clapboard, shakes and shingles, each of which will create its own particular appearance. Siding materials such as brick and stucco can also be installed in different patterns and styles.

Colors

If you choose stone, brick, vinyl or aluminum siding, you will not be able to change the color of your house without replacing the siding although you may be able to choose from a selection of different colors of materials. You should therefore make sure that you are happy with the color and appearance of your vinyl or aluminum siding before you commit to buying it. You should also think about the future, and whether you are still likely to appreciate your chosen siding many years from now. If you choose wooden siding, however, you will not need to keep the same color forever. You can stain or paint your wood in any color, and you can then re-stain or repaint it as often as you like, changing the color if your preferences continue to change over time.

Installers Directory

Siding Contractors Directory

Siding Installers

Siding Companies

For most people metal roofing is a high-end remodeling project that provides a beautiful and reliable roofing alternative to conventional asphalt shingles roofing. When homeowners consider getting a new roof for their home, the first thing they focus on is metal roofing prices vs. the cost of installing the conventional roof.

According to the remodeling magazine, a national average price for a new standing-seam metal roof installed on a 30 squares home was around $42,000, while the same roof done with asphalt would cost $22,500. The roofing job included the complete tear-off and the cleanup of the old shingles.

Based on these numbers, metal roofing costs are nearly double of what you would normally pay for the installation of an asphalt shingle roof. Clearly, metal roofs are pricier than their energy inefficient and environmentally unfriendly, petroleum based counterparts. Despite such a drastic difference in roofing costs, metal roofing has been gaining roofing product market share with some very steady momentum, making it one of the fastest growing roofing products in America. So, what is it that makes metal roofing such an attractive option for homeowners?

The answer is in the reliability and longevity that metal roofs have to offer. Modern metal roofs are expected to last for many decades. While an asphalt shingle roof averages less than 20 years of service life, professionally installed metal roofs can last well over 50 years.

Metal roofing has an impeccable track record for longevity and reliability that dates back to the early 19th century when zinc roofs became very popular in Europe. Zinc roofs perform extremely well, lasting in many cases over 100 years. In fact, many zinc metal roofs installed in France in the beginning of the last century are still protecting the rooftops of Paris today.

Metal roofing offers many different styles and material options to the building owners. Starting from a zinc and aluminum coated steel roofing, to zinc and copper roofing. Style-wise, metal roofs can be made available in the traditional profiles such as factory stamped metal shingles, metal shakes, and tiles. Modern profiles, such as standing-seam metal roofing, corrugates steel roofing panels, and custom built metal roofing profiles are also available to building owners.

Metal roofs are fully recyclable when it is time to replace them. Many metal roofing systems available on the market today contain over 30 percent of post consumer recycled metal content. Metal roofs are available in great variety of colors, with many profiles approved and rated by the Energy Star and Cool Roof Rating Council. Cool metal roofing can provide energy savings of up to 35% in the summer.

Metal roofing helps homeowners save money, make their home beautiful and more energy efficient, save money on air conditioning costs, and qualify for green building tax credits from the government. When shopping for a new metal roof make sure that You only hire experienced roofing contractors who can show you their work and provide sound advice about metal roofing benefits and good workmanship.

It would be obvious even to lay persons that rain water catchment would be higher with smoother surfaces. All types of metal roofing materials such as galvanized iron, corrugated steel, aluminum, various alloys, etc. provide not only smooth surfaces but they are also bacteria-resistant. Hence, the harvested rain water is highly potable. Metal roofing for rain water harvesting easily meets the major criteria required for using metals as the roofing materials in catchment of rain water. These criteria and the effectiveness of metal roofing against each criterion are listed below.

Metal roof installation:

Durability

The roofing system should withstand the weight of the water even during heavy rains. It should not be affected by the accumulation of water on its surface and last for a longer period. Metal roofing for rain water harvesting is able to meet these conditions perfectly.

Functional Design

The roofing should be easy to fix and maintain. It should not leak during periods of heavy rain also and remain strong. The roofing should allow the accumulated water to flow to the rain water harvesting tank smoothly and easily. The metal roofing for rain water harvesting is better in this aspect, compared to many other types of roofing materials.

Purity of Water

Since metal roofing for rain water harvesting is resistant to bacteria, the water collected from rain is generally potable straightaway. Still, bugs, dust, dirt, and debris that accumulate on the metal roof are likely to contaminate the water to a certain extent. Hence, the rain water harvesting system should have adequate filters and other water purifying techniques to remove these materials from the rain harvested water. It is advisable to clean the metal roof before rains are expected to minimize these problems.

Aesthetics

Since the metal roofing for rain water harvesting could be made from various materials like galvanized iron, corrugated steel roofing, aluminum, and alloys, they could be manufactured in various designs, patterns, styles and colors. This would boost not only the functionality of the roof as a powerful rain water harvesting medium, but also the aesthetics of the entire building. The variations in aesthetics that could be achieved with metal roofing materials could never be obtained by concrete roofing, the major alternative to metal roofing.

Cost Considerations

Metal roofing for rain water harvesting is among the cheapest roofing materials. In particular, compared to solid concrete roofing, the metal roofing is the most cost-effective solution. Additionally, concrete roofing needs to be reinforced and strengthened with water-proofing chemicals and treatments. This increases the cost of concrete roofs even further. The sturdiness and durability of metal roofing materials result in the lowest maintenance cost over several years. Hence, metal roofs are highly cost effective.

Englert Inc is just one of the many metal roofing manufacturers offering integrated metal roofing and water harvesting systems.

From the above features, it is clear that metal roofing for rain water harvesting is the ideal solution.

Opting to build with environmentally friendly and sustainable materials may prove to be more cost effective in the long term than building with initially cheaper, but less sustainable or environmentally friendly building materials, that never make effective use of natural resources.

Building in a sustainable way involves using materials that are sustainable in their nature, and recyclable or easily replenished if needed be. An example of use of green building materials would be construction of modern buildings using metal for the building envelope. Metal is a sustainable building material that is fully recyclable at the end of its service life. Metal possesses rigidity and durability required to construct buildings that can withstand sun, wind, hail and years of abuse to prevail in harsh environments.

Building with Metal was known to result in a long lasting and durable building a long time ago:

Although, the concept of green building was not prevalent in the 1930s, metal such as steel was in wide use for the construction of great buildings such as Chrysler Building. Completed in 1930, this great building uses a metal frame, and incorporates stainless steel cladding to attain longevity, sustainability and energy efficiency. It is not in the least surprising that this great building is still here, standing the test of time.

Metal coated with solar reflective coatings can reduce energy consumption by drastically reducing the amount of energy required to cool the building, as metal reflects solar heat requiring less energy to cool the building. This also helps mitigate the heat island effect associated with buildings attracting the solar heat, and then releasing the heat into the surrounding environment.

Thus, metal, a green building material, helps in the construction of an energy efficient building that is built to last while being safe for the environment, as well as its occupants is what green building design is all about.

The Environmental protection Agency (EPA) has been assigning energy star ratings to the buildings for many years. The energy star ratings for buildings’ energy efficiency sanctioned by EPA have helped prevent the release of nearly 120 million metric tons of C02 into the atmosphere.

Energy Star buildings typically use 35% less energy and emit 35% less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than average buildings.

The Chrysler building uses 40% less energy, and generates 35% less Co2 than the average building. It underwent some systematic upgrades to replace old systems with green building compliant elevators, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing, fire, electrical, and energy efficient lighting upgrades.

Bamboo – Natural Green building material

While metal is a sustainable, energy efficient and fully recyclable building material, there are other natural green building materials such as bamboo that grow fast and can be easily replenished. For instance bamboo flooring is considered a green building material.

Green Building means Health and Comfort for the building occupants.

Using green building materials offers many advantages over the traditional materials used for building and renovating, as green building materials are environmentally friendly, which leads to better health, while the construction of so called green buildings can be more attractive for perspective buyers. Green buildings are designed to last, providing safe, healthy, and pleasant environment for the building occupants. They emphasize the efficient use of natural resources such as water, and energy. Examples of energy efficient use of resources include: water sinks with auto shut off, automatic doors, automatic lighting, and use of energy efficient and environmentally safe components such as LED lighting.

Another example showcasing the use of metal in modern green building is Cornell University’s new building outfitted with zinc and tin coated steel wall panels designed to provide superior protection against the elements and help make the building more energy efficient. The metal cladding is expected to last well over a 100 years offering durability, and energy efficiency.

Green Building design

Commercial buildings are not the only ones benefiting from green building design. In fact, residential homes, even the ones that are already in place can be outfitted with energy efficient upgrades, such as energy efficient metal roofs, metal wall panels, solar panels, geothermal energy, energy efficient windows, siding, LED lighting, and energy efficient appliances.

Green building is actively promoted by the US Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1993, with the mission to promote the construction of green buildings, by endorsing sustainable building. The US Green Building Counsel is best known for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system (LEED), which is used to certify so called green buildings.

The use of green building materials, and construction of green buildings, represents an important step forward to creating a sustainable environment, for generations to come. Sustainable buildings, use none-polluting building materials that are eco-friendly, and are designed for energy conservation, which in turn leads to less waste and less energy consumption. This is not only cost effective, but also provides a positive boost to lowering the amount of emissions produced, while burning fossil fuels in order to produce energy.

Green building products are becoming more and more common in modern day construction, and are used for for new construction and renovation of the existing homes. With the increase in the usage of green building materials, the cost is rapidly decreasing, making green building products a realistic option even with the immediate budget in mind.

Overall, green building materials and sustainable buildings save money and energy in the long run. Green building practices help preserve the environment. They also create a type of living environment that is healthy, stable and sustainable for future generations. Investing in green building materials is therefore an option that is certainly worth considering for anyone who is in the process of building or renovating their home.

Eco Resources:

Green Building Council

Alternative Energy Directory

Green Architecture

LED Lighting Manufacturers

Green Building Guide

Most homeowners have sloped roofs protecting their homes, but there are some homeowners who have a flat roof on their residences. Many homeowners experience annoying roof leaks and roofing problems every now and then, but those with flat roofs experience major roof leaks and expensive roof replacements far more frequently. It’s unfortunate that flat roofs are more prone to leaks than regular sloped roofs due to their design. Not only are the owners of flat roofs at a disadvantage due to roof design, but they can also become victims of contractors who are not qualified to install flat roofs. This situation often happens when homeowners looking for a bargain, overlook the quality considerations of a new roof in favor of lower roofing costs for a potentially inferior roof / installation quality. When the price becomes a major determining factor, the quality of the actual roof installation is often neglected, and as a result, the actual final product is less than adequate.

Common roofing industry practice shows that flat roofs which require a complete roof replacement due to their age, often get installed improperly. This often happens because the flat roof that requires specialized installation, gets installed by conventional asphalt shingle roofing contractors who rarely get to install a flat roof. This leads to installer errors due to lack of knowledge and inexperience with flat roofing installation. Another problem with flat roofing installation is that EPDM rubber, an inherently energy inefficient flat roofing system, tends to fail prematurely at the seams of the roof. The roof seams are held in place by glue that can fail due to standing water, age, and temperature fluctuations. Thus, EPDM flat roofing system is inherently impermanent and tends to fail rather soon. This is bad from the ecological, economical, and consumer perspective.

PVC based cool flat roofing membrane can provide an ecological, economical, and environmentally friendly long lasting roofing solution. IB roof systems, which stands for industry’s best, is just one of the many PVC flat roofing manufacturers that offer a residential flat roofing solution backed by a lifetime warranty. IB flat roofing membrane reflects 95% of solar radiant heat, which helps reduce energy costs and keeps the building and its occupants cool and comfortable. The cool-roof reduces the air conditioning load, which is especially significant during peak hours, and it helps combat the heat island affect. The seams of IB flat roofing system are hot air welded forming a permanent bond between the seams. The formed bond is so strong that it can never come apart even if there is standing / refreezing water on the roof. An IB flat roofing system carries a lifetime residential warranty provided by the manufacturer. It fully solves the problems associated with premature flat roofing leaks, while providing energy savings, providing a long service life that outperforms any other flat roofing system, and helping to preserve the environment.

Some of these areas are already abandoned or unkempt. For instance, park and recreational areas that were once highly visited have become urban wastelands. In an article from the Salt Lake Tribute, Lindsay Whitehurt discusses how an area that was capped with tennis courts to replace an old reservoir had been empty for some time now. She further explains how the University of Utah received a loan to fill the old reservoir and turn the land into a conservation area.

Much larger metropolitan areas are also playing their role in promoting sustainability by implementing many Green Spaces within the city. In Meg Muckenhoupt’s new book Boston’s Gardens & Green Spaces, she discusses different green space within the city of Boston. With very low cost maintenance fees and little liability, these areas are perfect for protecting our wildlife and the environment. They also attract further tourism; which would in turn generate revenue from ticket/tour sales.

This aligns with the implications of “economic viability” and long term sustainability, posing the questions, “Would substituting golf courses and airports in the short term lead to an abrupt economic downfall? It’s true that this type of architecture provides undoubtedly high revenue. On the other hand, they both come with ridiculously high expenses and maintenance. Incorporating various elements of green architecture implies things like green roofing, which could in turn drive down electrical/gas costs dramatically.

Larger organizations are already taking a step in the right direction in Haiti. Machine behind the CGI (Clinton Global Initiative) Doug Band has been working closely with organizations like AFH (Architecture for Humanity) to discuss potential means of green restoration. Combined with the additional efforts of many large collaborative units like the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), they plain to rebuild Haiti in a greener fashion.

Recent findings have driven people like McMahon and fellow conservationists to investigate further into upgrading and expanding green infrastructure efforts. As earth day 2010 slowly approaches, it’s important that we as individuals follow and support these ventures. It’s equally important that we adapt greener disciplines to support both our planet and our economy.