building system components (like insula- tion, walls, heating, cooling, and ventila- tion) to ensure the building operates with minimal expense and bother. Design fea- tures, as much as possible, should include passive lighting, passive ventilation, re- silient design, modularity (flexibility to change or repurpose a space), and the prod- ucts you’ll use.
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Products: They define the style and your imprint on the space. They also influence critical features including health, safety, en- ergy savings, and environmental integrity. From caulks to cabinets, lights to window fashions, these are the tangibles that make a difference. From room- to‐room, work out everything you’ll install before starting the work, to make sure you’re getting the right look and that last- minute substitutions can be avoided.
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Craftsmanship/implementation: the quali- ty of work performed and adherence to Am- icus Green Building Center specifications ensure quality work. If it’s not well built, you won’t meet your goals, it won’t operate well, won’t last, and won’t be “green.”
2. Watch out for greenwashing, where an item claims to be green but it really falls short. You
can also call it fake green. If it sounds fishy, it probably is.
3. Think long term. 70% of the average project’s costs come after it’s built. Paying now to save everyday and amortizing it over a 30 year mortgage—and be more comfortable and healthier, too—that’s a great investment.
4. You get what you pay for. No, green does not have to cost more than other products and projects of comparable quality. But green is about quality. Keep this in mind when making comparisons.
5. Experience counts and saves money, time, and hassle. Working with professionals who have strong green building experience and com- mitment has been shown to save a project up to 20% compared to non-green projects.
6. So many options! There are so many great green products now with different colors, pat- terns, and textures to suit any style.
With the right mindset and goals, we can all enjoy fabulous spaces that will protect our homes, fami- lies, wallet, and planet for the long haul.
Amicus Green Building Center’s staff has over 45 years of collective experience with green building, sustainability, and helping projects improve performance and style.
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