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Power of the purse!
First, let me say "my hats off to you for pushing a green box". I presented this idea to Terrace Homes of Adams, Wi. ten years ago and they thought I was nuts. It is nice to see this green housing being developed.
Secondly, might I add that the "from where" and "do I really need it" ideology should be applied to everyday purchases.
Absolutely! Embodied energy is the amount of energy required to create and ship an item to your location. Choosing regional products reduces the embodied energy.
Bamboo is a perfect example of a false-profit green. People love bamboo because it is a sustainable product, grown quickly and reproduces madly. HOWEVER, two issues come to mind:
1. Social consciousness of the companies creating the flooring in < to be left un-named > communist countries. How are they treating their workers? What are the working conditions? Are their factories a pollution machine..etc!
2. If it has to ship half way across the world to get to you...Is it REALLY Green?
So next time you buy something, check the "MADE IN" and pause before you purchase!
Author
Nichoel Farris
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Who is the GREEN-EST person you know?
There is no "Green-er" individual than the homeless guy on the corner! He lives practicing "reduce, reuse, recycle", does not drive a vehicle or travel by air, doesn't use a cell phone , waste very little, always shops local, has a minimal carbon signature, and some homeless even save paper by not having to mess with those pesky little tax return forms. Do you know your carbon footprint? http://green.msn.com/tools/calculator.aspx
Honestly, the guy on the corner, is a good lesson to us all. As a society, we need to practice "REDUCE" by not buying. FellowWomen! You have the most powerful tool in the green movement: YOUR PURSE!
This brings me to embodied energy. When you are selecting building products, it is essential to research the origin. There is a certain BUZZ surrounding bamboo and cork flooring. While they may be a rapidly renewable resource, cork only comes from Spain or Portugal, and the majority of bamboo used for flooring comes from China. Thousands of tons of Co2 emissions, tires, pollution, all to bring materials to the US. There is a greener option! Think Global, Buy Local! Buying products within 500 miles reduces the embodied energy and more importantly, supports your local economy!
I am designing a new Green Prefab Home to be placed in the Auburn Home Show this May. I have been trying to hunt down some truly "green" flooring. To my amazement and sheer joy, I found a local Auburn company "California Hardwoods" who salvage a variety of woods and have it milled into lovely mantels, flooring, moldings, beams, headers, and more. The owner Dave, told me, "We have been producing flooring from urban and forest salvaged trees after fires, floods for 20 years. We have saved over 5,000,000 board feet or enough to build a town the size of Auburn, homes cabinets and furniture to boot." Some of the salvaged wood Dave has "rescued" was designated by a certain un-named CA city to go to the city landfill!
Learn to ask, "From where" and "Do I really need it" when purchasing your "green" home improvement product
Nichoel Farris
Green Builder / Designer
American Home Sales
www.ecomanufacturedhomes.com