Green building? By Greg Jordan    What exactly does it mean to build green? Most people cannot answer this. Many builders don't have a clue. A typical home incorporates a variety of toxic materials in the construction process. There are numerous ways to incorporate green building techniques into the average home. The key is to eliminate or reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used when building.    One example is your wall and ceiling insulation, instead of using pink fiberglass insulation (which contains formaldehyde) consider using recycled denim insulation. This product and many others can be found at your local green building supplier. Formaldehyde free fiberglass insulation is also available as an alternative to the more costly recycled denim. Another excellent way to reduce toxic emissions in your home is to eliminate the use of particle board in your cabinets. Check to be sure that your kitchen or bathroom cabinetry does not contain particle board, which contains off-gassing chemicals. Most custom cabinet makers use a good quality plywood as the frames for their cabinets, however, when purchasing pre-fabricated units, beware of particle board. Flooring is a great way to green your house and should be considered when remodeling a room. There are many green flooring products now available. Bamboo hardwood flooring is one of them. It comes from a highly renewable source that grows like a weed. Bamboo is very durable and comes in many pre-finished colors and is an excellent choice for any floor. Another good choice is cork flooring. This again comes from a renewable source, tree bark, and offers a wide variety of colors and patterns. Cork flooring has been around for a hundred years and has proved itself as a great alternative. Wood is always a good choice for flooring, but when choosing a supplier make sure that they harvest in an environmentally responsible way.    There are many ways to green a house while building and many options available when remodeling a room or a section of your home. Try and find a builder who is sensitive to these issues and is able to help steer you in a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle. To find some of the products that I have mentioned pick up a copy of Natural Home & Garden or go to Natural Home & Garden. Greg Jordan is the owner of Omountain Homes and has been building & remodeling homes since 1986. He does projects throughout central Texas. Omountain Homes can be reached by calling 847-5507 or 557-4790 or you can e-mail them Close this window