Green Building >
Alternatives to Waste >
Reduction
Reduction
The best approach to reducing waste is not creating it in the first place. Waste reduction is the
central theme in Ecology's
Beyond Waste Plan. It's
simple; waste that is never generated doesn't need to be handled or managed. And the savings, to
individuals, business, government, and the environment can be enormous.
Second hand door.
Courtesy of Clallam
County Built Green.
One green building strategy to reduce construction waste is advanced framing. Advanced framing is
a collection of techniques, also referred to as optimum value engineering; it was developed to
reduce construction waste and material costs, and increase energy efficiency. If you are considering
new home construction or a major renovation, talk with your designer and contractor about implementing
advanced framing strategies. You can also download a detailed brochure on advanced framing techniques
at the
U.S. DOE EnergyStar website.
Other green building waste reduction strategies include:
- Build smaller and use less resources
- Design structures using conventional measurements
- Plan multiple-use rooms that utilize available space
- Reuse existing buildings instead of new construction
- Build for easy deconstruction
- Invest in durable materials
- Avoid materials that can't be reused or recycled
