Our Vision is of a future where energy efficiency, resource preservation and environmentally healthy building practices are the norm, rather than the exception.
Our Mission is to be a leading resource for our regional community regarding issues of Green Building. We work to change our built environment through providing resources, support and innovative products to foster a healthier more prosperous future.
If you are planning a new home or major renovation, it is important that your designer knows your desires and preferences early in the design process. Because many aspects of Green Building and Remodeling involve site, building and landscape positioning a design professional may be able to affect the overall plan with a few key design elements.
If you are a Builder, Design Professional, Architect or just plain curious and would like to know more about GreenovateTM, please contact us for more information.
Green Building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials. Also important is reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better site use, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.
GreenovateTM believes that through the use of Green Building technologies and design we can protect our natural world and create positive relationships with our environment. Instead of being a burden on our natural environment, buildings can become healthier, more efficient structures that ultimately cost less to create and operate.
The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity.
In the United States, buildings account for:
Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to designers, builders and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.
Environmental benefits:
Economic benefits:
Health and community benefits:
(data from usgbc.org)
Arguably, the best green action one can take is making an existing home more efficient and healthy. Green remodeling can be done in small ways and doesn't necessarily have to encompass the entire home. It's easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular homeowner. When planning a project, consider the following:
1. Purchase major appliances with an Energy Star rating and use them properly.
2. Repair leaky fixtures and install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
3. Use water-based paints, finishes and sealants. Some milk-based paints are available, also.
4. Look for wall coverings that are made of paper or natural fiber, rather than synthetic materials, and printed with natural inks.
5. Choose carpeting, rugs, window treatments and other textiles made from natural fibers, such as cotton or wool, which are untreated and free of toxins, such as pesticides or chemical cleaners.
6. Ask for flooring products made from rapidly renewable resources, such as bamboo or linoleum.
7. Select solid woods, when possible, for furniture or cabinetry, rather than pressed woods or composites that may contain formaldehyde or other chemicals that may be toxic.
8. Reuse materials, such as brick, stone, glass, tile or metal, in new and interesting ways. Old wood also can be safely treated and used for accents.
9. Consider the “lifecycle” of furnishings and accessories before purchasing: Are they made of materials that can be reused or recycled when the item eventually wears out or is not longer needed?
10. Recycle packing and shipping materials from any newly purchased items, and safely dispose of paint cans and other containers whose contents could potentially contaminate the ground or water supply.
11. Install lights with sensors that turn on when they detect movement and automatically turn off after a few minutes.
12. Do not let the water run when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
13. If every household in the US replaced 1 roll of 1000 sheet bathroom tissues with 100% recyclable rolls, we could save 373,000 trees, 1.48 million cubic feet of landfill space, and 155 million gallons of water.
14. Scrape – don’t rinse! When using a dishwasher, pre-rinsing is no longer necessary with today's technology and detergents. You may be using more water to pre-rinse than the dishwasher uses for a full wash cycle.
15. Check your refrigerator’s seal by closing the door with a lit flashlight inside. If you see light seeping out, the door should be adjusted or the seal replaced to stop energy leaks.
16. Buy locally produced products and materials whenever possible to reduce additional energy use and pollution associated with transportation.
17. Eliminate waste by choosing products that are biodegradable or recyclable.
18. Look for reclaimed wood products salvaged from older structures and certified wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.
19. Hang damp laundry on an outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack instead of using an electric dryer.
20. Use timers, dimmers, thermostats and automatic control devices to Automatically turn on and off electrical devices.
