Wed, 2010-06-02 05:32 — loghomes77
What is the first step to take towards building a green residence? Does it cost more than traditional buildings? Thanks.
What is the first step to take towards building a green residence? Does it cost more than traditional buildings? Thanks.
Comments
A few words about building green...
First step... Go to your liburary and check out a few of the hundreds of books that talk about building green (don't buy any because that ain't green). And it doesn't need to be more expensive but it can. I am currently looking at a book "50 green project for the evil genius" by Jamil Shariff. Some of this stuff is really wacko ...
In the long run, the most efficient building will be greener than any other, IMHO. Others believe that natural, non-toxic materials, recycling, (composting should be in here some where) conserving, living a sustainable life style is green. You can go nuts with the green thing.
Should you use wool for your insulation. I don't think so unless you have a bunch of sheep and wash it well. We should all use low e glass and at least double pane glass with that funny gas. Log homes are naturally green because of the low processing costs and almost zero waste costs. Rain barrels and grass on your roof are signs that your building green. I just want to have a tight, good looking building that have very low maintenance cost and will last for several hundred years. How that for being green?
Don't count out the sheep...
First step... Go to your liburary and check out a few of the hundreds of books that talk about building green (don't buy any because that ain't green). And it doesn't need to be more expensive but it can. I am currently looking at a book "50 green project for the evil genius" by Jamil Shariff. Some of this stuff is really wacko ...
In the long run, the most efficient building will be greener than any other, IMHO. Others believe that natural, non-toxic materials, recycling, (composting should be in here some where) conserving, living a sustainable life style is green. You can go nuts with the green thing.
Should you use wool for your insulation. I don't think so unless you have a bunch of sheep and wash it well. We should all use low e glass and at least double pane glass with that funny gas. Log homes are naturally green because of the low processing costs and almost zero waste costs. Rain barrels and grass on your roof are signs that your building green. I just want to have a tight, good looking building that have very low maintenance cost and will last for several hundred years. How that for being green?
Rocklock, I'm headed down this path for between log insulation, it is treated to keep critters out in borax.
I agree with Rocklock.
I agree with Rocklock. Building a home which is low maintenance and low energy consumption is far greener than worrying about what the home is built of. (though granted, it's good to concern yourself with that as well) In a nutshell, a truly green home is one that is only big as you truly need it to be. (even if it's vinyl) Anything more is merely wasted energy and resources.
Peter???
> Vegetarian who eats fish.
No such animal. Not unlike a living corpse. <Smile>
being from Iowa,
I am no expert in vegetarians. However, I have run across many ppl in WA that "don't eat red meat" or "only eat fish and eggs". Whatever. I eat meat.
-peter
Vegitarians
I'm a meathead, yes I am! Sorry no music but here are the lyrics:
www.lyricsondemand.com/d/dayooperslyrics/meatheadlyrics.html
If we're not supposed to eat them then why are they made out of meat?
D'you know they even have vegetarian animal crackers??!!!
They're called potato chips...
loghousenut
You are soooo bad. <smile>
See you Friday afternoon.
"green building"
Means different things to different people, kind of like the difference between Militant Vegan and a Vegetarian who eats fish.
do you mean "low carbon footprint"? Low non-renewable materials? Off Grid?
the only non-green materials in a true log home is the cement, steel (roof and rebar), plastic vapor barrier, etc. you can use resused windows (free) and even make your own door, for pretty cheap... However, I have heard lots of questions like this, and one member generally replies with "how big is a ball of string"? This makes a good analogy. You can spend as much as you want, you can spend very little, you can build a "lodge-mahal" or a very simple and small residence, say 400 SF, which would be very "green." If you call reused items "green" even though they are plastic/glass, much of your home can be made from these, and cheap. If you want to buy new triple paned low E wood cased windows, you'll have to pay for them, but double paned vinyl windows can be had for free, and if you aren't picky about size, you can collect lots.
anyway, solar systems will add to cost, wind systems will too, real estate costs vary widely. I got my land in the sticks for 2k/acre, but you could be closer to a metropolitan area and spend 200k/acre. There are many many variables.