Green building is the convergence of three goals: conserving natural resources, saving energy and improving indoor air quality. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling, there are myriad ways to go green, increase your comfort and lower your bills. For inspiration, learn the impact of your home energy use by calculating your CO2emissions at carboncounter.org.
Green Building Products
If you’re curious about a green building technique and want to discover more, a workshop is a great way to learn the basics and estimate cost. Build it Green in Berkeley offers workshops on building techniques for $20-$40 and leads green home tours. Their website also contains a list of green vendors (called AccessGreen), and you can call the free “Ask an Expert” hotline at 888-40-GREEN for your toughest questions. Also find a list of contractors who are Certified Green Building Professionals to help with your next project. For more detailed information on green building, refer to the Residential Green Building Guidelines which offer recommendations and contain cost-effective suggestions for home remodeling, new home construction and multi-family housing.

For new materials shop Ecohome Improvement (2619 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, ecohomeimprovement.com), which stocks a variety of supplies including cork, bamboo, recycled tiles, Green Seal-certified paints and FSC-certified wood floors and cabinetry. In Oakland, EarthSource Wood also carries FSC wood and a line of FSC garden furniture (1618 28th St, earthsourcewood.com).