What is Green Building?

 

Green building is the process in which a structure is designed and built with the incorporation of materials and methods which reduces the environmental impact, through energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, and sustainable or recycled products.  

Green Buildings out perform all other buildings which are just built to code because they incorporate more natural lighting, improved air quality, are stronger in many instances and use less energy and resources to maintain and operate. Through improved shell/envelope design and insulation, the amount of energy that it would take to cool a conventional home can be greatly reduced, which in turn means a much lower electricity bill. Also with the incorporation of water proof materials which also have a much higher fire rating, these structures are mold and mildew resistant and will likely never fall prey to termites and other common issues that conventional homes experience, which in turn decreses your long term maintenance expense. When you consider the benefits, both health wise and economically of building green such as improved indoor air quality (IAQ), a structure that can easily stand up against category IV hurricane winds, lower electricity bills and overall maintenance cost, it is easy to see why building green is becoming the choice of many new home owners and builders. Not to mention that a home which has incorporated green features will have a higher appreciation than the same home built without any green considerations.

 

Solution to Energy Cost

Caribbean Greensafe offers an advanced shell/envelope design and insulation. The amount of energy that it would take to cool a conventional home can be greatly reduced, which in turn means lower electricity bills. The incoporation of our wall injection foam combined wtih addtional energy saving designs and components in your building structure will contribute to potential overall cost savings of up to 50% in your annual cooling cost.

 

Solution to Hurricane wind

A tried and proven system such as reinforced concrete block now with all the energy saving factors!

Solution to Mold & Midew

Conventional types of residential and commercial construction allow moisture to enter and condense in the wall cavities. When combined with air circulation inside these walls, mold and mildew can grow unchecked.

Mold prodices spores, tiny specks you can't see that float through the air. When you breathe in mold spores they get into your lungs. This can cause health problems. It is estimated that on average we spend upto 90% indoors where the U.S Environmental Protection Agency reports that the levels of pollutants may run two to five times- and occasionally more than 100 times - higher than outdoor levels.

The cell filled blocks within the wall system provide the interior structure with a better, healthier environment. This prevents the moisture and air circulation required in the formation of mold/mildew. It also creates a pest barrier, reducing the ability for pest to penetrate through the wall.

 

Solution to Fire 

A fire must have three ingredients to thrive: Fuel, Ignition and Oxygen. The foam injection wall allows no air within the solid core of insulation, therefore without oxygen, fires cannot propagate within the wall. These injected wall systems have passed all standard fire test required by wood-based or type V construction, and have achieved a class 1 fire rating.

 

 

What was once a trend in the Industry a few years ago, is now progressing and will in the near future become an industry standard for many new home owners and builders. With the Energy and Environmental issues we all face, the cost of operations and maintenance of conventional structures, building and living green is a responsibility we all share to do our part to sustain our environment and live more efficiently.