Green & Design - July/August 2009 - (Page 6)

hot topic Is Carbon Neutral Possible? In the heart of Washington, DC, a pre-civil war, wood-framed house is going through a remarkable renaissance to become the District’s first carbon neutral home By John Michael Day, AIA, LEED-AP With our national conscience changing to support the production of “cleaner” energy like solar, wind power, and geothermal, our carbon footprints can be improved by being “carbon neutral.” Carbon neutral means removing as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as we create. There are many examples of lifestyle choices that reduce an individual carbon footprint, including riding a bike or walking to work, using mass transit, recycling, and buying food from local farms. In the building industry, achieving carbon neutrality is typically reserved for new homes or buildings—but what about an adaptive reuse project? Is carbon neutrality a realistic goal? Considering the costs associated in renovating an historic home—rotting structural members, a failing roof and/or crumbling foundation walls—for many achieving carbon neutrality may not seem possible. In addition to issues of aging, numerous urban issues come into play. Is there access to daylight? Is there a correct solar orientation? Is natural ventilation an option? What are the zoning constraints, and how will historic guidelines impact a renovation? However, ask Mark Turner, founder and president of GreenSpur, if an historic home can be carbon neutral, and he would answer an enthusiastic “yes.” After a lengthy search, Turner found the perfect old house to showcase his vision of utilizing cost-effective sustain- 06 www.greenanddesign.com | July/August 2009 http://www.greenanddesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green & Design - July/August 2009

Green & Design - July/August 2009
Contents
Editorial
Is Carbon Neutral Possible?
Products
Growing Green
Firmly Planted
The Energizer Effect
Natural Wonders
Above the Fray
Northern Exposure
Industrial Chic
Walking the Walk
Green Building Goes Global
Here Come the Lawyers
Do You Have to be LEED to be Green?
Ad Index

Green & Design - July/August 2009

https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/greenanddesign_20090708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/greenanddesign_20090506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/greenanddesign_20090304
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com