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Get Started

One of the best places to start when considering sustainable design is with the ideals of "net zero" impact, which pertains to all resources, including water, electricity, fuels, and carbon. For instance, it can be anything from producing the building's electricity requirements to producing as much energy as was used to create the entire structure (including the energy used to make and ship materials and furnishings) in addition to sustaining occupant lifestyles. So when you'd like to build, consider the resources around you, such as existing structures that could be renovated, alternative transportation options for food and work, and whether you'd like to tie into the grid or implement community cogeneration.

Step 1 - Join the journey:

This topic is so overwhelmingly large, and all of it so valuable, that the most important step in evaluating your green building options is to start reading and talking to people who are already involved. Join CREW [PDF 150Kb] and our Green Building working group attend seminars, participate in the online discussion forum, and browse the resources linked at the end of this page.

Step 2 - Think about lifestyle:

Green buildings do not necessarily need to be small, but should be smart. Rather than following the historical trend towards larger and larger homes, green buildings are designed to make better use of less space, leaving more yard and encouraging better integration with the surrounding environment. A proper understanding of the functional needs of the building's intended occupants can lead to some enlightened opportunities for energy and resource savings and will end up with a result that occupants find much more fulfilling.

Step 3 - Get help:

Brainstorm with family and friends for a personal project and consider hiring reputable consultants. One of the hallmarks of the sustainable building industry is the use of design teams who tend to have more brainstorming sessions, are more interested in challenging past thinking and who are more collaborative in their design efforts. The ideal mix is often a multi-disciplinary and highly collaborative design team that includes a "green" specialist to help liaise between the other stakeholders. The best solutions may not be particularly extravagant or unusual; they're just designed smarter and built better than the norm.

Local professionals you may wish to speak with:

Architects and designers skilled in creating beautiful and functional spaces, as well as coordinating building systems and construction details for an efficient system and tight envelope.

Green Building Design consultants and LEED Accredited Professionals are important for larger projects and can help integrate different solutions or interests such those of the architect, client, contractor and engineers.

Green Builders are indispensable even if you're building yourself. It pays to have an experienced professional check over your drawings or even come to site a few times to give advice during construction.

Know others that should be added to this list? Send us a note to be included in the next update.

Step 4 - Share your experience:

CREW is interested in developing a "green" checklist that home purchasers and renovators can consult and refer to. Please contribute ideas for low energy / low impact living in Waterloo region for future incorporation in this website.