Reduce unnecessary strains on your HVAC....................................
Until now, many people haven’t considered just how much landscaping — or
the lack thereof — can impact heating and cooling costs. The energy from heat
islands — places where sunlight pours onto dark, non-reflective surfaces —
transfers to building interiors, which in turn requires cooling systems to work
that much harder. Covering west- and south-facing building walls with green
screens (metal lattices planted with vines or climbing flowers) can substan-
tially reduce this effect. Mature trees, too, can do the same by shading park-
ing areas, roads, building walls, and roofs on low-rise buildings, roads, and
parking areas. Finally, green roofs landscaped with drought-tolerant grasses
and plants can also reduce the heat island effect.
Exploit the advantages of technology .............................................
Taking advantage of technology has always been a great way to get ahead. If
you want to conserve energy, and sometimes even generate it, your company
can install individual climate controls and motion-sensitive lighting sensors.
Highly efficient HVAC systems are now on the market, too. These heating and
cooling units don’t deplete the ozone or require more energy than green (for
example, chlorine free) refrigerants because they don’t use refrigerants that
are based on chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or halon.
Command the water...........................................................................
Conservative irrigation systems, waterless urinals (believe it or not, these are
more sanitary than standard urinals), and drought-tolerant landscape foliage
(native plants preferred) that are just as happy with recycled or nonpotable
water. These are just a few ideas to help make you master of your “hydro-
verse.” Water conservation should be a top item on your green building
agenda.
Use green and recycled building materials .....................................
Building materials that are both sustainable and nontoxic can now be had on
the cheap, including low and zero-VOC paints, strawboard made from wheat
(as opposed to formaldehyde-laced particle board), and linoleum flooring
made from jute and linseed oil (as opposed to toxin-packed standard vinyl).
Not only are these materials comparable to or less than standard materials
in price, but also they create a more positive impact on the environment.
Other green materials include 100 percent recycled carpeting and heavy
steel, acoustic ceiling tiles and furniture with significant recycled content,
and soybean-based insulation.
194 Part III: Going Green
