Goal For The Green

If you are a builder or the head of a construction company, it is important that you know about all of the laws that regulate your profession before you begin working. For example, you need to know how close you can build to the property line or what you need to do to keep from encroaching on the neighbor’s land.

Relative contribution of the land surface area to the flux for two different measurement heights at near-neutral stability. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You also need to know about the building codes so that your building will pass the inspection. The laws are always changing and shifting, some of them having to do with how you design the buildings and others having to do more with the materials that you use, so it is wise to stay on top of all of these changes so that a law is not accidentally broken.

One thing to consider is that you have to survey the land before you start. This takes into account not only the surface area, but what is under the surface. You are required to take soil samples, and you could also use geophysical equipment from Advanced Geosciences, Inc. to map out the soil and rock formations that are hidden underground. This way, you know that you are building on a safe surface.

In all reality, this step should probably be taken even before the person who you are doing the project for decides to buy the land. The lot needs to be certified as a build-able lot before the work can begin, and the ground survey is part of getting this permission.

As you may know, I use to live, in a dome home.  I would love to live in one again, but, I’m also happy in my current home.  Another type of home, I’m interested in, and had you explore with me, was an Earthship .  The truth is, I love browsing the web for alternative, affordable, and most importantly, sustainable ways to live.

The aftermath of the  real estate bust, and a down economy, may have placed, a tiny bright spot in the housing market.  As a way to save money, or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans, are buying or building homes, that could fit inside many people’s, current living rooms, according to entrepreneurs, in the small house industry. Thus, giving a new meaning to downsizing.

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“It’s very un-American, in the sense that living small, means consuming less,”  according to Jay Shafer,  the 46 year old, co-founder of the Small House Society. “Living in a small house like this, really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else.” Read the rest of this entry »

In response to my recent post, on exploring the idea of living in an  Earthship,  I received this fascinating information, from  Tearrie Johnson, from the Visa “GoBiz” Outreach Team.

“After reading about Michael Reynolds on your blog, I thought that some of your readers, who are small business owners, would enjoy Laura’s story. When it comes to protecting the Earth, Read the rest of this entry »