Why Build Green?

Many of you may be wondering why we decided to go with a green builder.  Why not just go with a conventionally built home?  And just what is "green building" anyway?  Well, Brian and I originally just wanted a more efficient home - one that wouldn't cost us an arm and a leg to heat and cool.  However, after we had our daughter, I began doing a lot of research on different topics related to healthy eating, healthy home cleaners and general home health.  It is unbelievable the amount of chemicals in our food that are toxic and proven to cause cancer!  (And even more unbelievable that the FDA doesn't do more to regulate and eliminate the chemicals in our food - but that's for another post). 

But it was more eye opening for me to learn about the chemicals in things like carpet, cabinetry, furniture, paint, sheet rock and many other things you use to build a home.   Chemicals like formaldehyde and VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) are found in just about every building material you can think of.  Not to mention the chemicals in treated wood.  These all "off gas" in your home and can cause respiratory problems like asthma, a decreased immune system , allergies and worse.  We just felt it made sense to eliminate as many hazardous substances from our new home as possible to make it a safer environment for our family.

There are a lots of great resources online with information about green building and what it means.  One of my favorite websites to visit is The Daily Green.  It has lots of information about the many technologies out there as well as other ways to "green" our homes and our lives. In addition, the National Green Building Program has information on how to "go green" as a homebuyer.  Want more information?  Just google "green building" or "green construction" and you will find a wealth of information on the topic!