Green Core Basics

Most eco-friendly and sustainable building programs and experts agree that a green building encompasses every part of construction. This includes the home, the outdoor environment, the indoor environment and the occupants. At Harding Construction & Sustainable Solutions, we believe six basic elements comprise the heart of every green project.

	Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of any green building project. A well designed and green-built home consumes as little energy as possible and uses renewable sources of energy whenever possible. Lower energy use not only saves the occupants money, but has broader societal benefits, including better air quality and reduced impact on the environment.
	Resource and material efficiency is the use of rapidly renewable, sustainably harvested, and recycled materials. Recycled materials not only encompass which materials are manufactured with post and pre-consumer waste, but also what is demolished prior to and what is left over after a construction project.
	Water efficiency is critical within a home not only because California is in a drought, but because electric and gas consumption are greatly affected by the use of water. Homes built and landscaped to use water wisely combined with low-flow fixtures protect our shared resources.
	Indoor air quality is an important part of green building because there are many potential airborne threats to the occupant's health such as mold, toxic byproducts of combustions and VOCs including formaldehyde, pesticides and Radon. Indoor air pollution is one of the top four environmental health risks identified by the EPA.
	Site planning and decisions made early in the design process have an enormous impact on how the house will perform over its lifetime. Not to mention, how much energy will be required to operate the home and how comfortable it will be to live in. Natural conditions such as vegetation, prevailing winds for natural ventilation and solar orientation for passive heating are always taken into consideration when building a home.
	Occupant education is the understanding of your energy use and how you can affect the comfort and health within your home. Keeping up to date on proper maintenance within a home ensures mechanical systems are operating effectively, natural resources are not being wasted and the indoor air quality remains healthy.