The construction of a green building is a lot like cooking. It requires the right ingredients, passionate professionals, and a holistic perspective of the impacts of a building on its life cycle. The materials used have an impact, and it is important to understand the difference between the good and the least bad. Natural resources such as wood or cork are good products that store carbon, while synthetic insulation can have side effects such as increased toxicity and moisture-related assembly failure.
Efficiency traps can lead to an increase in construction costs, sick building syndrome (SBS), and a built environment that continues to generate more than 40% of carbon emissions. To change this pattern, it is essential to explore the products used in-depth and consider the structural violence embedded in them. Land use, multi-unit structures, wooden structures, smaller residences, and insulation are all important factors to consider when constructing a green building. Additionally, indoor air quality (IAQ) is a fundamental component of building green homes and buildings.
The EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program and Green Chemistry program are also important resources for green builders. Ultimately, it is important to understand why professionals in the green building sector continue to use bad or less bad materials in order to build truly green homes that are off or nearly off the grid in terms of energy independence.
