Construction is by nature, very consumptive and has a huge potential for environmental degradation. My fundamental philosophy is that the best way to minimize these two aspects of building is through Comprehensive design and quality of workmanship. I believe in using high quality, long lasting materials and the highest quality of workmanship out of respect for these precious resources.
Some of the standard "Green" elements in our projects:
-Recycled Lumber: I started using recycled lumber as a source for dry timbers in the 80's. As I sourced more material I became involved in "Building Deconstruction." I built a sawmill and dry kiln to process these materials. My last building deconstruction was a public/private partnership with a local non-profit employing a "Welfare back to work" crew.
Today I am not as heavily involved in building deconstruction but continue to use recycled lumber products in most projects and maintain a large inventory of recycled lumber.
-Recycled Building Materials: The recycled content in our building projects is not limited to lumber. We recently re-used steel I-beams, metal roofing, architectural elements, wood windows, plumbing and lighting fixtures in our projects.
-Recycling: We attempt to recycle or reuse as much of the waste from our projects as possible. This is never the least expensive option for us but a matter of principal.
-Solar: I became very excited about solar in the late 70's and early 80's. Today I employ passive solar space heating, solar domestic water, and photo-voltaic systems where applicable in my projects.
-High Efficiency Heat Sources/Hydronic Heating: Heating systems and their components are a rapidly evolving field. I have installed hydronic heating systems for 20+ years. I monitor my old systems and research new products in an effort to stay current and provide clients with the most appropriate system possible. I have installed hydronic systems using exposed concrete floors, warmboard systems, radiant baseboard, fan convectors, and combined systems with solar domestic water.
-Insulation and Weatherproofing: This is still the first step and critical to lowering the energy consumption of a building. On our projects we use many different techniques and products to maximize efficiency based on the building design. A few of these products are: Blown cellulose insulation, Recycled cotton batt insulation, S.I.P.S. foam panels, and many high quality weatherstripping and sealing products.
-Paints and Finishes- We use low V.O.H.C. paints to minimize off-gassing. We use citrus based Linseed oil products for timber finishes, and other low toxicity wood finishes.
-Local Lumber Products- Sourcing good quality lumber that is harvested using sound Timber Harvest practices is a constant challenge. Between our own sawmill capacities, our inventory of recycled lumber, and our network of small local sawmill operators and recycled lumber suppliers, we are able to source very unique and high quality wood products.