The EcoBlog

When talking about green building, the good news is that using insulation itself is planet-friendly because it improves the energy efficiency in your home by reducing heat and cooling losses and gains, reducing the energy needed to heat and cool your house. Recently, there has been an influx of new and innovative insulation products on the market made of materials that significantly lessen the impact on the planet.

Author: Jill Williams - Last month, the Northwest Ecobuilding Guild hosted a community forum to address local strategies to optimize incentives, provide resources for home retrofits, and discuss the impacts the Inflation Reduction Act will have on the Pacific Northwest's green building and energy efficiency. 

by Collin Cox, Radiant Heating, Inc. All hydronic (water) radiant heating systems work by first heating water in a boiler, then circulating the heated water through a heat transfer device,…

by the Stone People, Todd & Kari Harris Just one inch of rainwater on a 2000 sq ft roof can generate 1,250 gallons of water. Every living thing needs water,…

by Bob Margulis, Ravenworks Joinery Congratulations, you have decided that your green remodel will include a new kitchen! This article is designed to help you understand what that means and…

by Jennifer Griffin, Architechtronics You might think that integrating technology into a home would be the exact opposite of green. With advances in home control systems, it gets easier for…

If you have picked up the NW EcoBuilding Guild’s Green Pages, then you should probably go and get your own copy of The Northwest Green Home Primer, by the Guild’s very own Kathleen O’Brien (first elected Board of Directors 1993) and her co-author, Kathleen Smith. Both Kathleens, of Bainbridge Island, WA, offer their own personal green building stories, along with dozens of other green building case studies from new construction, and remodeling, to affordable housing. All the case studies are local and offer practical tips for any Northwest project.

The vast majority of today’s green homes are visually indistinguishable from conventional homes. The difference is in the details. Green homes feature healthier indoor air quality, optimize energy and water efficiency, help promote a cleaner environment, and reduce our ecological footprint. Today, green homes include new construction, remodels, or even traditional homes. The vast majority of green homes are traditional stick-built homes, however, options also exist for natural building such as strawbale, rammed earth, super adobe, bamboo, insulated concrete forms, clay/straw wall systems, and structural insulated panel systems. However, some of these building styles are more prevalent in other geographic regions.

Green building certification processes like Built Green™ and LEED™ reward projects that recycle large quantities of waste during demolition and construction. If proper arrangements are made, onsite recycling can be an easy task. Quantifying recycled waste can be even easier as it is determined almost entirely by the weight of material diverted. Since up to 95% of a structure may be recycled, that tonnage can add up quickly.

Exceptional living is the dream of new homeowners pursuing green building and remodeling. They want good indoor air quality, super energy efficiency, and finishes made from renewable, sustainable sources. Few, however, pay attention to what happens to the old structure. Whether it's an entire house, or a portion to be remodeled, your old building materials deserve a second look. Ignore the poor lighting, the leaks, the inefficient floor plan, and other qualities that fall short of ideal green building and consider the possibilities.

A professional energy audit is your first step to saving 25% or more on your utility bills and doing your part for the planet. An energy audit evaluates your space’s energy efficiency performance. It can pay for itself by helping you focus on the most cost-effective energy upgrades and weatherization improvements.