By Megan McLaughlin
Whether you’re buying your first fixer-upper or you’re looking to remodel your current home, planning and building that dream addition or updating an outdated room can be costly, to the environment, that is. If you’re looking for yet another way to take part in greening our world, turning to the Green Building Resource Guide may be your best bet.
“The Green Building Resource Guide is a database of over 600 green building materials and products selected specifically for their usefulness to the design and building professions, rather than merely their green material content.” Clearly, a lot of effort has been put into this guide, to make building with green materials, just as effective as building with materials that aren’t safe for the environment or that could be better for the environment.
The Green Building Resource Guide is offered for a 30-day trial period. The CD-ROM allows you to initiate searches and modify your exact needs; this can save you time and money during the planning stages of your project.
In many cases, these materials are not only better for the earth, they are also better for you. For example, within the Green Guide Photo Gallery, a photo displays a project where formaldehyde-free laminated sheathing was used. Many first-time users of this guide may be surprised at how practical some of these materials are.
Did you know that newspaper can be used as loose-fill insulation? You’ll find yourself saying, “Why didn’t I think of that?” And the beauty of it is…you don’t have to, because the green guide will do the thinking for you!
