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Project description
When building, the goal is to improve upon the environment. Not only by creating human habitat, but by improving the land, the plant and animal habitat, the air and water. We hope to promote green building techniques by making information more easily accessible; and by making resources available to homeowners, developers, designers, builders, and any other interested parties. We will also work to ensure that development and construction are done in smart, appropriate, and environmentally responsible ways.
Local resources/contacts
I'll post more once I get permission from everyone
Recommended books and magazines
- Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way we Make Things William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- Green Architecture James Wines
- The Hand-Sculpted House: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Building a Cob Cottage Ianto Evans, Michael G. Smith, and Linda Smiley
- Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises Architecture for Humanity
- The Straw Bale House Athena Swentzell Steen
- ReadyMade: How to Make [Almost] Everything: A Do-It-Yourself Primer Shoshana Berger and Grace Hawthorne
- Dwell
- Natural Home
- E: The Environmental Magazine
- Environmental Design and Construction
Recommended Web sites
- Building Resource Center Asset List
- http://www.renewfairfield.com/CommunityFutures/BuildingResourceCenterAssetList
- Useful Links
- http://www.renewfairfield.com/CommunityFutures/Links
Top 10 Things to Do
- Think about it: decisions that will have the greatest effect on energy efficiency and sustainability are made in the planning stages
- Consider how the building will effect the surrounding land. Are you creating natural habitats or destroying them?
- Build Small. Smaller buildings use fewer materials, less water and energy, and causes less site disturbance.
- Consider the environment you’re creating: don’t use materials that will off-gas or contain harmful chemicals.
- Use materials that are local renewable, recycled, or otherwise sustainable.
- Use local designers, builders, and general labor
