What is a green building?
The term “green building” has many interpretations and can be a source of intense debate. Should the focus be on energy efficiency, materials efficiency, or health? Does green building mean using natural materials or using the latest in technological innovations? Can a 5,000 square foot home for two people be considered green no matter how it is constructed? If there are universal truths in green building, they are few. Everything involves complexity and trade-offs and the best way to start is with education as to impacts of different decisions. For a good list of items to think about and a good reference to a whole-systems approach to residential green building, download and view the City of Scottsdale Green Building Program for their Overview, Guidelines and/or Remodel Guide. You’ll most likely start viewing your home or your remodel project in many different lights.

Why build green?
By virtually all rational and scientific accounts, our planet is experiencing serious environmental degradation, with some destruction being irreversible, some being reversible only over millennia and, luckily, some being reversible fairly quickly due to the resiliency of nature. We’d be happy to suggest some good textbooks that discuss the various issues involved, or come into the store and browse our library.
Building green is one way to reduce the sledgehammer impact that our processes and lifestyle are having on our planet. In construction and remodeling, we can now easily utilize materials that are rapidly-renewable, don’t create toxins as a by-product, reduce fossil energy consumption, and leave a healthier indoor environment for our families. Whether your motivation is health, energy, natural, high-tech, or style, green building holds some ingenious answers for you and for our planet.

Isn’t it greener to not build at all?
Yes. Except in certain cases. For instance, if your air conditioning is old and horribly inefficient, then it is probably better for the planet to replace your unit with a new, efficient one. And you’ll probably be more comfortable, too, as will your pocketbook.
In general, however, we will continue to build and remodel... especially in the Valley of the Sun. The goal, then, should be to reuse as many materials as possible, use reclaimed and recycled materials and materials that can be recycled when they are done serving their purpose. For new materials, we should pick the ones that have the least impact on the planet and us (such as the least embodied energy, the fewest toxins, the most rapidly renewable). Nature is the most elegant and complex product designer around, and uses sunlight as it’s energy source, so there is no reason to sacrifice style in order to be responsible.

Learn More and Be Part of the Solution: We understand this whole "Going Green" thing can be a bit overwhelming, complicated and oftentimes seems to raise more questions than answers. We believe that education is key to promoting awareness and implementing change. In this effort, we offer a full line of educational workshops. We look forward to seeing you there.