Environmentally Friendly building
jtruax
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Would anyone have any knowledge of low imact, or environmentally friendly building practices?
I will be doing a project on an island in Ontario, Canada. Consisting of multiple units and would love to learn more of these practices. I am trying to set a president for future developement in sensitive areas.
Replies
Environmentally friendly building does not occur in sensitive areas. You're SOL.
Edited 6/16/2005 3:16 pm ET by Timbo
ALL areas are SENSITIVE!Really without details the question and response are meaningless.
While Timbo, has a point - there are things you can do, not all of which you are likely to find acceptable. Composting toilets, solar collectors, green materials, piers instead of foundations are a beginning. Careful site planning so that you build around existing trees. There's a nice hotel in the Caribbean which won't help you climatewise, but it might give you ideas http://www.maho.org/
TEA
That is exactly the info I am looking for, I am completely new to this concept so thank you for not taking every word literally and giving me a logical answer.
Regards
Truax
OK, to offer a somewhat more helpful suggestion...
Low(er) impact is pretty self-explanatory, change as little as possible. No black and white, shades of gray here. Clearly smaller is better. Clustering works. I live in what our county considers a sensitive area. While they would definitely prefer no one be allowed to live here, we have made little difference to the mountain and its inhabitants. Bear scat in the driveway yesterday, 150' from the house. No lawn mower lives here and the only place to garden is on the roof. Critters we got.
As for environmentally friendly, how green do you want? Yurts? I live in a concrete underground house that never gets hot or cold, passively, requiring nothing from us or the energy grid. Yet on the alternative architecture lists I subscribe to, using concrete is frowned on. Real easy to get into a greener-than-thou situation. I also unabashedly used pvc pipes. I'll trade no maintenance longevity for some substantial manufacturing costs. Others won't.
If you want to pursue that line, there are 2 professional designers who would be happy to take your money. One in Spokane, Wash. and one in Michigan. If you had domes in mind, our own CloudHidden http://www.cloudhidden.org/ would be able to help you out. He's also expressed interest in burying one.
On an island aren't utilities and water (source and waste) major issues?
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
"Bear scat in the driveway yesterday"
What with the grizzlies up here, we always ask, "Was it fresh?" i.e. stinky?
And if yes, then we ask, "Was it still steaming?"David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
No grizzlies here, far as I know. Actually didn't see it until after DW'd already driven over it. Only reason I'm sure it wasn't a visiting dog were the cherry pits, dozens of them. Hey, with a little luck those fertilized cherry pits will sprout some trees here. I have only a few cherry trees. About my favorite lumber.
My deal with the deer hunters who lease rights here is to take all the deer and turkey they want. No bear. Every year they complain after they see a bear. One year there was fresh bear scat in one small area (10'x15') of old logging road every day for a week. Public toilet, or something else going on?
I rarely see a bear but I figure they know where I am. We're careful about leaving anything resembling food out. Love having them around, just not too close.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Here's something you might be interested in:
http://www.EDCMAG.COM Environmental Design + Construction
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time