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Going Green While Saving Green Carrie Ferrence, Second Use Building Materials |
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Whether it's a fresh coat of paint or a complete makeover, remodeling projects can transform the visual appeal and experience of a room, in ways that represent our personal style and respond to our functional needs. Increasingly, remodeling projects have also come to reflect our environmental concerns and values. As green remodeling and green design continue to grow in popularity, so does the need for affordable and responsible options. Salvage, reuse, and deconstruction offer ways to cut costs in remodeling projects and pursue a greener alternative to traditional construction. Salvage & Reuse Remodeling projects create a lot of waste. A whole lot. Our landfills are packed tight with building materials from new construction, remodeling, and demolition projects – many of which still have value. Lumber, lighting, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, and hardware can often be removed and reused, either on the same project or in someone else's home. Reuse reverses the flow to the landfill and preserves the natural resources used to create a new product. The benefits of salvaging and reusing building materials don’t stop with the environment. Salvage also supports local business; promotes our region's architectural heritage; and saves you money. The result is a more creative, sustainable, and affordable project. So, as you get ready to start your remodel or new construction, make sure to research more than just your architect, designer, and contractor. Research your salvage and reuse opportunities as well. Deconstruction & Green Demolition In its most traditional form, demolition results in large quantities of landfilled debris, much of which could otherwise be diverted more responsibly through reuse or recycling. However, deconstruction and green demolition ensure that 'best-use' options are employed at each step, to help the homeowner reduce the environmental footprint of their project. Instead of simply crunching the whole structure into a dumpster, we may dismantle structural members, interior fixtures, and wood siding for reuse, and remove roofing, foundation, and walls for recycling. This process means that 60-95% of the structure can find more sustainable end markets and avoid the fate of the landfill. While deconstruction has been available in the region for several years, Second Use's green demolition approach delivers more flexible and affordable options than the labor-intensive manual deconstruction. We work closely with our clients to choose an approach that meets their budgetary needs, as well as their environmental imperatives. If you want to hear more from Carrie, make sure to check out her seminar on Sunday January 24th at 2:30 PM at the 2010 Bellevue Home Show. She will be on a panel with Ryan Ceurvorst of Ecohaus to talk about Saving Money and Going Green Using Salvaged Building Materials. For a full list of the 2010 Seminars, click here. Since 1994, Second Use has helped contractors and homeowners recover reusable building materials from remodeling and demolition projects. Our retail space in Seattle offers more than 20,000 square feet of reusable materials. Much of our inventory is tracked, which allows our customers to more effectively search for specific styles or sizes, both in the store and on our website: www.seconduse.com |
