Related Sections: Green Tech
Habitat for Humanity goes green
You often hear that more people would go green if only it was more affordable. Builders and manufacturers are always looking for ways to make environmentally-friendly products that we can all put into use in realistic, practical ways.
The Portland, Oregon branch of Habitat for Humanity has just built two green houses and now they're looking for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for the pair. A design contest was held to find the right plans, and the two homes were built together, sharing outdoor spaces. The "green" elements include: radiant heat in the concrete floors, Paperstone countertops made from recycled paper, reclaimed wood fences, two 1,200 gallon water cisterns, rainwater irrigation, metal roof, and overall, the homes are 40% more efficient than code.
If green living was more affordable, can we afford not to go green? Little green houses for you and me. Personally, they'll have to make it more attractive too. Good that it's green, but does it have to look so, well, practical?
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Via Jetson Green
By Old Man Dotes at 7:39 PM ON 03/30/09
To someone who has never been able to own their home before, these houses are going to look like the most beautiful palace ever constructed. I suppose a spoiled, upper-middle-class college grad with plenty of money to blow won't see it that way, but Habitat has done something wonderful (again), and I'm proud to have them in my area.
Now GET OFF MY LAWN, you rotten kid!
By FuZVulf at 10:59 PM ON 03/31/09
Way to go Habitat! Keep up the good work.
As far as the "look so practical" comment, if by saving thousands on aesthetics they could build one more house for every, say ten of these so that another person who wouldn't be able to own their own home will be able to, then keep em practical. That sort of comment sounds like something that would come out of the mouth of somebody who would rename Sci-Fi to SyFy, oh wait...
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FuZVulf:
Way to go Habitat! Keep up the good work. As far as the "look so practical" comment, if by saving thousands on aes...More »