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An Easy, Three-Fold Approach to Incorporating Green Building
 The increasing demand for green building makes one thing perfectly clear — green building is more than a passing trend.
As consumers become more aware of the environmental effects of the decisions they make in their day-to-day lives, the demand for healthier, more efficient homes will continue to grow. As leaders in the remodeling industry, we all can prepare to meet this demand head-on.
If you find the concept of green building intimidating, rest assured you are not alone. The good news is that incorporating green building practices into your existing projects is not difficult. In fact, you probably already are.
During the past 25 years, our company has been building responsibly and I would like to share our approach with you so you can integrate some of our ideas into your company’s business practices.
The approach we take to green building is three-fold. First, we consider energy efficiency. We then examine how to ensure good indoor air quality. Finally, we look for the healthiest, most durable materials.
If you consider these simple ideas when making decisions on your remodeling projects, you will undoubtedly produce homes that are healthier for the residents and the planet.
Greater Energy Efficiency
Since 1988, we have used structural insulated panels (SIPs) and they have significantly enhanced our ability to be environmentally responsible.
SIPs are both energy-efficient and cost-effective. They are generally comparable in price to wood frame construction, but using the panels can reduce energy consumption by up to 60%. Because SIPs offer a tight building envelope, there is less energy transfer, which allows for savings on both heating and cooling costs.
Indoor Air Quality
In a SIPs home, the air entering and exiting the house is controlled. In addition, we use an air-to-air exchanger to pre-heat the air coming into the house. By controlling where the air enters and exits the house, indoor air quality is improved. The homes we build are also completely ventilated, which ensures superior indoor air quality.
Healthy Materials
It is important to determine that the air is not being further polluted by building materials that create gases and can make home owners sick. If our clients insist on having carpet installed as part of their remodel, we encourage wool carpet since wool does not emit dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or organic gases. And if you are using hardwood flooring in a project, we suggest that you use hardwoods that are farmed and have a factory-installed finish.
Currently, there are numerous products on the market that use recycled materials, as well as those that do not emit organic gases. High quality paints that are low in VOCs are also widely available.
Finally, we also look at a product’s durability. The most environmentally friendly thing you can do is to not replace a product once it’s been installed.
We are committed to incorporating green products and practices into all of our projects and we work diligently to remain true to our goal. The resulting buildings are healthier, energy-efficient, lower-maintenance and built to last.
By incorporating the green building practices I have mentioned above, your company will be prepared for the next generation of remodeling. An added bonus is the reward of knowing that you have had a positive impact on the lives of your clients by helping create healthy, comfortable spaces in which their families can live and thrive.
Donna Bade Shirey, CGR, CAPS, is the president of Shirey Contracting, Inc., an award-winning remodeler and custom builder based in Issaquah, Wash. Shirey Contracting specializes in the use of SIPs and Built Green technology and is committed to using energy-efficient and sustainable methods whenever possible. For more information, visit the Shirey Contracting, Inc. Web site at www.shireycontracting.com, e-mail Shirey, or call her at 425-427-1300.
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