Mutually Beneficial :
Building Green in Michigan

A new doctrine is being accepted around the country that offers hope in sustaining our lifestyles, the environment, and our communities. Informed citizens are realizing the health advantages, environmental benefits, and cost savings of building green. Many builders and homeowners alike are learning that building “green” means they are making a real difference, demonstrated through lower energy bills, improved living quality, and minimized waste production.

Six years ago a handful of visionaries in Traverse City got together to start one of the first voluntary Green Building programs in the state of Michigan. Likewise, Grand Rapids quickly developed a Green Builder program. Now there is a growing interest to transform these two groups into a statewide green builder network. Efforts are underway create an organization that promotes, educates, and certifies buildings to the newly released National Association of Home Builders’ Model Green Home Building Guideline. The guiding principles of this program are as follows:

“The process of green building is to incorporate environmental consideration into every phase of the home building process. That means that during the design, construction, and operation of a home; energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor air quality, homeowner maintenance, and the home’s overall impact on the environment are all taken into account.”

That the building industry and residential homes account for most of our energy use, water consumption, and waste in this country is not new news to many of us in the industry, nor is the negative impact of all of the toxic chemicals now used in standard homes. The Grand Traverse Area Home Builders Association is one industry group that is now offering training to its members in green building principles. Also, Northwestern Michigan College’s M-Tec facility is offering a wide variety of hands-on training classes to help create better homes and offices with the latest in technology and renewable energy systems.

Green Building has already gained momentum around the country and offers us a chance to solve many of the issues facing our communities here in Northern Michigan. As Jared Diamond, author of Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed explains, the most serious environmental problems facing past and present societies consist of destruction or losses of natural resources (wild habitats, wild food, wild species), ceilings of natural resources (soils, fresh water, and energy sources), the harmful things we produce and move around (toxic chemicals, alien species, and atmospheric gases), and population issues (world population growth and increased consumption of the population).

The building industry affects all of these areas and that’s why green building is seen as such an important movement. Like any new industry paradigm, there are plenty of opportunities for new businesses, innovative products, and new services to support these efforts. For example, buying locally is one of the green building principles. It reduces transportation fuel costs, traffic, and pollution while helping our local economy and local families.

Sustainable building results from applying building science principles with natural non-toxic systems and materials designed to last for a long time. In Cedar, MI for example a green home features “mass-effect” thermal walls and floors for energy storage, uses solar hot water collectors for hot water use and heating, has recycled building materials, earthen wall plasters, non-toxic oils and stains – to name a few.

Green building techniques can be used in new construction as well as remodeling projects. Making efficient use of resources, reducing the use of carbon-based fuels, and reducing waste are some of the primary attributes of these sustainable buildings. In particular, builders and designers should understand the significance of moisture management systems and proper venting which are critical to well built green homes.

According to USA Today, “the federal government, 15 states, and 46 cities require new public buildings to meet [green standards]” Noticing the substantial benefits, the recently constructed BATA bus transfer station in Traverse City used green building standards in their design and construction efforts.

Those planning an addition or building a new home should talk to their builder, designer, and material suppliers about products and systems that will help create a green project. With federal and state tax credits now available for renewable energy systems and improvements to home energy efficiency, initial investments in ecological building strategies yield speedy returns.

Establishing standards and guidelines for green building is a new approach for the mainstream construction industry, however many environmentally friendly non-toxic structures have existed for centuries. The most sustainable types of buildings use the advantages of natural systems such as the wind, sun, shade, and terrain to help protect and enhance the livability of the home. Additionally, close proximity to where you play and work builds better communities.

Undertaking a green building project may require a little research and education, but you will find – as others have – that creating habitation with a minimal, or even beneficial, ecological impact serves to return us to the broader community of life.

Lawrence P. Kinney is co-owner and president of Harmony Home Construction, a green building company located in Traverse City

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