Green Lists or the Price of Environmental Hip Status

Renovated spaces
Right-sized space
Green Intelligent Design
Healthy non toxic natural materials
Energy Efficiency (Energy Star Appliances)
Day-light spaces
Water efficient fixtures (Toilets, showers heads, sinks)
Quality Construction
Recycled materials & salvaged items from older homes
Local Materials
Organic land care and landscaping utilizing local plants
Southern orientation of the house
Limited or no use of plastics (especially PVC)
Limited or no use of asphalt
Pleasing spaces gracefully integrated with nature


We are in process of building an online directory of Green Products. Please check back as we bring you links to the following categories of products and services.
1. Alternative Building Materials
2. Architectural
a. Residential
b. Small Commercial
c. Large Commercial, Government & Institutional
3. Building Contractors
a. Residential
b. Small Commercial
c. Large Commercial, Government & Institutional
4. Building Control Systems
5. Building Maintenance
6. Cleaning Products
7. Commissioning
8. Consulting
9. Connecticut Produced Products
10. Day Lighting
11. Design Services
a. Residential
b. Small Commercial
c. Large Commercial, Government & Institutional
12. Educational
13. Electricians
14. Energy Audit Services
15. Energy Efficiency
16. Energy Efficient Products
17. Energy Modeling
18. Engineering Services
a. Residential
b. Small Commercial
c. Large Commercial, Government & Institutional
19. Environmental Remediation
20. Financial Services
21. Flooring
22. Furniture
23. Governmental
24. Green Electricity
25. Green Retailers
26. Healthy Products
27. Home Inspections
28. Indoor Air Quality
29. HVAC
30. Interior Design
31. Insulation
32. Land Use
33. Landscape Architecture
34. Landscape Design/Construction
35. Landscape Plants & Materials
36. Legal
37. LEED™ Accreditation/Consulting
38. Lighting Design
39. Lighting Products
40. Lumber
41. Natural Gas
42. Not-for-Profit
43. Office Equipment
44. Organic Land Care
45. Organic Products
46. Paints & Coatings
47. Plumbers
48. Real Estate Services
49. Recycling & Waste Management
50. Recycled Materials & Products
51. Renewable Energy
52. Remodeling
53. Research
54. Retailers
55. Roofing Materials
56. Site Planning
57. Solid Waste
58. Solar
59. Transportation
60. Wall Coverings
61. Wastewater
62. Water Heating
63. Water Management
64. Water Conservation
65. Wind
66. Windows
67. Wood Products

I put this list together off of the Connecticut Green Building Association site. These elements were all listed as being key to building green. So, I would love folks to chime in, item by item, as to what they think it would cost EXTRA (above and beyond normal construction costs without a "green" agenda} per square foot, say to add these elements properly. There are, of course, multiple elements within elements, and I am sure there are folks out there who know exactly what all of the water management costs of going green are, but haven't a clue about environmentally friendly flooring. That's fine. Just chime in on what it is you do know. That would be extremely helpful.

I realize I have set this up like I have a bet on it. "Hey, Bud, I think it will cost only x dollars/ square foot to go whole hog green." "No, f'in' way! It'll cost twice that if a penny." "Wanna bet?"

No, that isn't the impetus for this, but it sure as shootin' could be. Just navigating through the particutlars about a topic I blogged earlier about Green being the province of the spoiled rich when it should be directed toward the affordable housing set instead. Anyway, let's see what we come up with and go from there.