Green Homes in Pueblo

Today there is a ton of Green Marketing blasting you on every media type known. In the housing market it is much the same.  There are plenty of associations, government programs, and product literature to totally overwhelm even the industry insiders as to what is really important.  The concept of marketing a product as "Green" with little or no real Green Benefit is known as Green Washing!  Beware of these products an services.

In my days when I worked as an environmental engineer, we were taught the basics of environmentally sound practices for manufactures across the country.  These same basic principles apply to any industry especially the housing market. They are the THREE R's of being GREEN! Apply them in this order.

First - REDUCE, the idea here is to use less power, use less materials that are more sustainable. Reduce the footprint of your dream home, reduce the environmental footprint you leave on this earth.  If you build a green 6,000 SF Mansion are you really saving the environment?

Second - REUSE, When building a home, if 10% to 15% of the materials used to build it, wind up in the dumpster and eventually the landfill, you could have a green home but did you really do your best at planning material usage?  Think of how many dollars you threw away as well.  Can those crooked 2X4's you used as temporary bracing be cut up and used as blocking instead of thrown away?

Third - Recycle, When you have exhausted the applications of the above two concepts then recycle.  Why last, because recycling often uses a great deal more power and resources such as water to return the product back into a useable and marketable product.

In housing you want homes that first use very little power to heat/cool and operate the home.  This means very efficient building envelopes, first and foremost. It means homes that have natural lighting and homes that are designed specifically for the environment in which they are built. Interior finishes should be durable and not to trendy.  There is a great deal of waist going on just because of things like blue counter tops were all the rave a few years ago but now grey tops are preferred.  So even though the old blue tops were in great shape, they  had to go!  REDUCE!

If you have to replace something that is not worn out find a place to reuse them somewhere else.  Old kitchen cabinets make great garage cabinets or how about using them to finish the basement laundry room?  REUSE!

Not only to builders need to recycle, but home owners can also do a lot. Recycle the stuff in your trash that makes economic sense.  Recycle your grass clippings, old carpet, and the paint that was just not the right color, use it as a primer.  RECYCLE.

There now you can be very green and I didn't suggest you buy anyone specific product.

So here is my commercial pitch. Want some help in finding Southern Colorado  Builders who build this way? Homes in Pueblo and Pueblo West that you can live green in?  Give me call.

                                                       - Kent Shelman