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Three Tiers for Green Renovations

Posted by Carbon Design on Mon, Feb 02, 2015

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Home and business renovations feel like a fresh, healthy start - until you stop to consider the environmental impact of newly harvested or wasted materials. A well planned green renovation can help you take advantage of the newest products and materials that have a smaller footprint on our environment. Read on to learn more about the The Three Tiers of Your Eco-Friendly Remodel.

TIER ONE - Business Operations – Conserving and Reducing

Operations

  • Purchasing supplies – evaluate which supplies can be purchased with recycled content
  • Printing - Provide policies to try and reduce in-office printing
  • Promoting alternative means of transportation - Car Pools; Mass Transportation; Fuel efficient vehicles; Bicycling
  • Institute a recycling program
  • Provide a designated smoking area away from building openings and/or institute a smoking policy that provides assistance in reducing smoking.
  • Institute a cleaning program with low or no VOC cleaning agents

Energy

  • Lamps – change incandescent to fluorescent
  • Implement a policy to turn lights off when not in use

Water

  • Low-flow aerators

Materials

  • Any new finishes to have recycled content and/or low or no VOC’s (ex. Paint)

Environment

  • Provide access to temperature controls with a policy for how to regulate control, especially while there are no occupants in the space

TIER TWO - Facility Upgrades – (all the pertinent above mentioned strategies plus those outlined below)

Energy

  • Upgrade lighting fixtures
  • Purchase green power credits
  • Provide occupancy sensors to regulate lights

Water

  • Implement upgraded fixtures for those that do not meet current code
  • Alternatively, upgrade all plumbing fixtures to low-flow

Materials

  • Any new finishes instituted to have recycled content and/or low or no VOC’s (ex. Paint).

Environment

  • Provide programmable temperature controls based on occupancy of space

TIER THREE - Major Renovation – (all the above mentioned strategies plus those outlined below)

Operations

  • Re-landscape with drought tolerant and native species for minimal irrigation use
  • Increase landscaped areas
  • Introduce building commissioning
  • Provide a designated recycling center
  • Provide detailed construction waste management and waste diversion plans

Energy

  • Upgrade roofi  to highly reflective material
  • Upgrade exterior lighting – timers/ light sensors
  • Upgrade HVAC equipment
  • Implement renewable energy technologies
  • Upgrade building envelope – Windows, doors and insulation
  • Reuse as much of building as possible

Water

  • Replace all fixtures to ultra low-flow
  • Evaluate use of reclaimed or cistern water

Materials

  • Any new finishes to have recycled content and/or low or no VOC’s (ex. Paint)
  • Use rapidly renewable materials in renovation where possible
  • Use regional materials in renovation where possible
  • Use certified products where possible

Environment

  • Increased ventilation – fresh air
  • Use only low emitting or no emitting VOC materials, adhesives, paints, carpets, composite woods
  • Provide lighting control
  • Provide temperature control
  • Provide programmable temperature control based on occupancy of space
  • Provide natural day-lighting and views for regularly occupied spaces
green renovation
   

Topics: renovation, sustainability

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