Let's talk conservation

To my mind, he main tenet of the "green rehab" is minimizing waste: in reconfiguration, retrofit, acquisition, conversion, increasing efficiency, etc. If it already exists, find a way to either re-use, reconfigure, re-purpose or recycle it. This M.O. reduces your carbon footprint not only by not consuming a newly-created thing, but also prolongs its useful life before its inevitable (?) demise to a landfill. This applies to existing systems as well as materials.

EVERYBODY loves their new, modern, of-the-day, high-efficiency stuff. Honestly, I am no exception...but I'm learning. I'm learning to appreciate the existence of what already is. I'm learning to think of the usefulness of existing things beyond their original intent. I'm learning to be creative about how to use existing materials and systems rather than just trashing them and buying new (the much easier route). Who hasn't bought some wonderful something at a garage sale or found something at a thrift store or an antique shop, gotten a hand-me-down and felt the satisfaction of having gotten GREAT deal?

I threw a Christmas party many years ago and wore a hand-me-down fur-collared sweater. My vegetarian, PETA-loving best friend was appalled when I opened the door to greet her. I immediately explained that this fur thing was handed down from my step-grandmother...it was decades old. By caring for it and wearing it I was prolonging the useful life of the by-product of the animal that gave its life to make this thing. That seemed to make sense even to her...and she became OK with my faux-pas. The offense in the questionable origin of the item became acceptable to her in learning that my use of it was thoughtful and conservative.

The concept of conservation in a home also applies to natural resources: we need them for our on-the-grid lifestyle, but how can we minimize our use of them? What systems can we put in place to make ourselves aware of our use on a daily basis in an effort to be more conscious about our consumption? What systems can we, with a little creativity, put in place to minimize our use of natural resources? How can existing materials and systems be repurposed or retrofit to extend their useful life?

The most effective things we can do are the least obvious to onlookers and, as a result, are also the least "sexy" as far as "green" goes. Conservation-minded rehab should be just that and ONLY that: creating systems that work functionally and fiscally for the user while also minimizing natural resource use. The installation of a geothermal heating/cooling system or a photovoltaic power system is great and is the sort of "sexy", high-profile greening that has become somewhat of a status-symbol. But if such systems are so expensive that it becomes impossible for a typical household to afford, then the technology - however "sexy green" it may be - becomes limited in its usefulness in affecting mass change in mindset about residential consumption. Installation of "sexy-green" systems without serious consideration of costs or true functionality is merely an exercise in status-symbol-seeking hubris...greenwash.

Every home is different, every set of needs is different, every budget is different. But every homeowner facing rehab. decisions can make small choices that have a big impact to reduce waste and consumption. And these choices shouldn't necessarily be made in an effort to "go green", but in an effort to pursue smart, thoughtful and responsible building practices.

Separating "green building" and "green rehab" from conventional building or rehab is an unnecessarily divisive practice. ALL building and rehab standards should follow these thoughtful and responsible practices.