[Greenbuilding] 100 miles builds

[Corwyn]

On 2/25/2012 10:14 PM, Jason Holstine wrote:
> Id argue that's overly generalist and not necessarily true. (a) better they rebuild at
  net zero than trash, but putting that aside... The old home may have 
been a creaky sieve
  with asbestos and lead paint hanging out. How healthy and responsible 
is that?

The asbestos and lead paint are a bit of red herring.  They are often 
best left undisturbed, and eventually they will need to be dealt with no 
matter what you do.

But the issue of sieves is pertinent now.  A house which is consuming 
vast amounts of fossil fuels is not green.  It is an intriguing question 
when you are better off starting over rather than renovating what you 
have.  I am involved with a couple of projects to retrofit existing 
houses to Passivhaus standards.  While it certainly isn't as easy to 
accomplish as building from scratch, it is a lot less material 
intensive.  I am not seeing much of a correlation between the current 
efficiency or age of an existing building, and the ease of retrofitting 
it to be energy efficient.  Some of the easiest buildings are early 
1800's mansions with thick empty walls, while others are cheaply made 
buildings that just get wrapped.

I think we are once again, needing to examine the details of each case, 
and doing the right thing based on an intelligent analysis of all 
possibilities.

Thank You Kindly,

Corwyn

-- 
Topher Belknap
Green Fret Consulting
Kermit didn't know the half of it...
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