Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/54815
special advertising section unto itself. Twenty years ago, we were building houses that were energy- efficient, but at that that point we called it sustainable, low-impact, or zero- energy building. "Green building" is a relatively recent term. Q: How would you describe green building? A: I like to envision green building as six interlocking rings: The first is ener- gy—the total energy usage of house. This can be broken down into energy "in" and energy "out." The ideal situation in green building is a house that does not use a lot of energy and is able to produce its own energy using renewables such as photovoltaic [solar] and wind turbines, for instance. Most people see these aspects as the greenest moves. But if you look at energy in terms of a pyramid, conservation is at the base of the pyramid. Simply turning out the lights like your mother told you. After that, choosing the lowest energy consuming ap- pliances as possible is also important. The second ring is workmanship. Better workmanship means a well-built house, which is more efficient. Better workmanship means less maintenance. And because it is well built, the house will last longer—making it inherently green. The third ring is choosing materials that are appropriate to the house and have the low as an impact to part of that building. Cities are inherently greener than suburbs because you use fewer house miles to get around in the city. All of these things have been around for a long time. What green building methodology has done is connect all these rings into a comprehensive way of thinking about buildings—whether its new construction or renovating. And there are many rating systems, such as LEED for homes and Energy Star, that help quantify the greenness of a building. Steve thomaS, the emmy-award winning tv perSonality and habitat for humanity SpokeSperSon. Q: What is the biggest myth behind creating a greener home? A: The greatest myth is that green design is more expensive. But it depends on how you do the math. Builders say green building practices are about 5 to 10 percent more expensive than standard building practices. But the payback, especially in energy savings, is huge, and you can earn your money back within 4 to 5 years. And if you look at the lifecycle of a building, such as the house I had in Salem that was built in the 1700s, it is more efficient because it has been in use for hundreds of years. STORE NAME Ashley's Hallmark Gold Crown MARIPOSA JOHN MEDEIROS CHAMILIA CRABTREE & EVELYN TROLLBEADS VERA BRADLEY Create the garden of your dreams this spring, we can help! Loam • Stone • Mulch • Cambridge Pavers • Garden Tools Patio Furniture • Fresh Nursery Stock • Wholesale Division 60 Turnpike Road, Ipswich 978-356-6342 104 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester 978-281-4480 www.wolfhillhomeandgardencenter.com STONEWALL KITCHEN CUSTOM GIFT BASKETS 100 Macy Street, Amesbury, MA 978.388.8002 Carriage Town Plaza Pentucket Shopping Center 58 Plaistow Road, Plaistow, NH 603.382.1000 Address Phone Website Store Hours: 9am - 5pm