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Green
Building
Its
easy being green.
Making
environmentally friendly choices is not as difficult
as it may seem. There are many ways to build or remodel
while making choices that are earth friendly and resource
efficient. In general terms it is best to look for natural
products, products made from recycled materials, products
with longevity, and products that help conserve energy
and preserve resources.
Examples
of Green in this project designed and built by Creative
Contracting, Inc. of North Wales.
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·
Oriented Strand Board or OSB is a structural panel
which is often used instead of plywood. OSB mixes
wood strands made from fast-growing trees with
wax and a binder to form mats. These mats are
layered across from each other for strength then
pressed into panels for construction. They are
both a time and energy efficient construction
material.
· Windows: Window manufacturers are doing
their part in providing a green product. Loewen,
is a company certified by the Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) for responsible use of Douglas Fir
wood, a renewable resource. Loewens environmental
stewardship is evident in both their product and
manufacturing processes. They even heat their
own plant with recycled sawdust and sell the remainder
to local farms for animal bedding. Loewen windows
are shown to be among the industrys best
in terms of thermal performance.
· Ceramic Tile: Ceramic Tile is a beautiful,
inert material used as a durable finish for floors,
countertops, and walls. While somewhat energy
intensive to produce, the environmental impacts
are offset by ceramic tiles longevity. Recycled-content
ceramic tile provides additional environmental
benefits.
· Cambria solid surface material is created
from pure natural quartz an extremely hard stone
crystal mined directly
from the earth. It is twice a strong as granite
and maintenance free with a limited 10-year warranty.
· Radiant Heat: Since no air is pushed
around, radiant heat offers a dust-free alternative
for clients with allergies or asthma. It will
not dry out the air and is virtually noise and
maintenance free.

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