What part do reused or recycled materials play in building green and are there standards to evaluate them?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has standards for evaluating energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, environmentally preferable building materials and specifications, waste reduction, toxics reduction, indoor air quality, smart growth, and sustainable development. Information can be found at epa.gov/greenbuilding Costs: Are green homes more costly to construct? Often, good green buildings cost approximately the same amount as your standard home. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, good green buildings may cost only a few percentage points more than conventional designs. Over the long run, cost savings show up in energy/utility bills. Return on investment could also be seen in bettering society as a whole and creating healthy environment for you and your family. Is it more expensive to maintain a green home versus an average home? Some experts say with more recycled product use, there may be less maintenance. For example, recycled content ca
