ALLURE MAISON & JARDIN

    Green building has always been around. For millennia, people have regularly settled and built their homes to make the most of the heat and sunlight, for example, while various businesses and amenities were powered by water and wind. As the pressing need for these methods has diminished, we have forgotten about them. It wasn't until the 1990s that green building really took off in the United States, after the steady rise in oil prices that began in the 1970s.     Today, green construction is increasingly integrated into homes and businesses .  In fact, 90% of people surveyed in 2006 by the American Institute of Architects said they would pay $5,000 or more above the normal price to build or buy an eco-friendly home. But is this really the best way to go? It depends on the technology, the building and your needs. Before you automatically jump on the green train, consider a few points.     Although the cost of green building has come down over the...

        In addition to being noisy and dusty, construction projects also have a large environmental footprint, and this is what green construction aims to repair. Green builders look at the entire construction process, from the supply of materials to the energy consumption of the building, and try to build the most environmentally friendly structures possible.  The main factors considered by green builders are the materials themselves, indoor air quality and waste, both on site and in the completed structure. Many green builders also take into account the lives of the inhabitants of these buildings, which facilitates access to public transport and green spaces.   The green construction sector has existed since the beginning of the last century. But it really didn’t take hold until the late 1970s, when rising oil prices caused people to think twice before relying so heavily on fossil fuels. Companies do the bare minimum to qualify. Proponents of green const...