Step 4 – Green Renovations – Build

Once your plan is in place it is time to start the work. Thinking green in work terms means practicing green in how you do your work and what you use.

On site a contractor should have only materials ordered that will be required – just enough to do the work. This creates less waste. Materials stored on site need to be protected from the elements again to reduce waste. Driving vehicles back and forth for supplies due to poor planning is not only a time water but a huge fuel waste considering most commercial vehicle are gas guzzlers.

Rather than the big disposal bin on site which makes it easy to fill and remove - recycle. (The bin may be destined for Michigan). We have always been recycling drywall, wood, packaging, metal, tile and other materials from a job sites into local municipal recycling centres. It takes extra work – but it is the right way.

We like to call this the 4 R’s reduce, reuse, recycle, and really think. There are no cookie cutter green solutions for older homes. Each is unique and presents its own challenges.

Even if the project is not “green” we can incorporate green practices and materials. We ask what eco-materials can be included in the project. (E.g. low VOC paint).

Go green!