You must be the change you wish
to see in the world.
Gandhi.
Eco-nomic Solutions is a small company with a big mission: Save the planet one building at a time. As Green Building Consultants we understand the economics of ecology and using this as the foundation of our philosophy we are able to save you money while reducing your
impact on our fragile ecosystem. Did you know the energy used in the average house costs more than $2,200 a year and is responsible for twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as the average car? That's a lot of money and a huge environmental impact! We've learned that by making sustainable choices you can live and
work in a healthier environment, produce a smaller carbon footprint, and save money.
Green building uses a systematic approach that covers every step of the design and construction process from land use and site planning, to material selection, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. Building green is the right thing to do and makes you feel good because you are reducing your impact on the planet, but if that's not your motivation then perhaps living or working in a healthier more comfortable building that costs less to operate and lasts longer is a more attractive reason. Not all of us are fortunate enough to start from a clean slate and must work with an existing home or commercial building but there are still strategies and technologies that can be implemented to make your building green. Weather it's new construction or a retrofit green building has three primary focuses- Energy Efficiency, Conservation of Natural Materials, and Indoor Air Quality.
Energy Efficiency is the cornerstone of all projects with the goal of creating a building that consumes as little as possible and uses renewable energy whenever possible. Using
the state certified energy rating system we can conduct a comprehensive
energy rating on your building in order to give you a clear picture of
it's energy use. For existing buildings we then prepare a "Plan of
Action" to reduce energy consumption. This plan starts with simple modifications that can be made in daily behaviors followed by a
list of proposed retrofits and renewable energy systems with a costs to savings
analysis. By focusing on the return of your energy
saving investment we help you adopt and implement sustainable practices and
technologies in order to reduce operation and utility costs of your home or
business.Creating an efficient building not only saves money on operation costs but has social benefits such as reduced consumption of non-renewable energy sources, better air quality, and less impact on climate change.
Conservation of Natural Resources is another primary focus of green building. Conventional construction consumes massive quantities of wood, water, metal, and fossil fuels. New technologies and strategies include the use of durable long lasting products to reduce waste and specify the use of recycled-content products that reuse resources. There are hundreds of new beautiful products that reuse items that were headed for the landfill.
Indoor Air Quality has been gaining a lot of attention. Poorly designed or leaky air conditioning systems cause mold and mildew which are the leading cause of poor indoor air quality. Additionally many traditional building materials contain toxic chemicals that off gas for years, some of which are know carcinegens. When working with clients we also look at household products, such as cleaning products, that add to indoor air pollution. Many homes in America have worse air quality indoors than can be found outside and since we spend the majority of our time indoors this is certainly cause for alarm.
Solutions for Your Home or Business
- Photovoltaic System (PV)--Utilize the sun's energy to provide alternative energy to your home or business.
- Solar Hot Water System --The most efficient use of the sun is to provide hot water or heat your pool.
- Air Conditioning--By increasing the efficiency of your system and sealing the ducts you can save hundreds even thousands of dollars a year.
- Home Insulation--One of the easiest retrofits, properly insulating your building dramatically increases the efficiency of the building allowing you operate on a smaller HVAC system.
- Water Conservation--We offer rainwater catchment systems to augment your primary water supply for either landscape or potable usage.
- Eco Landscaping--Using native plants requires little more than natural irrigation reducing your water consumptions.
- Home Modifications--There a many things a person can do to save money in an existing structure. From windows, doors, and weatherization, to lighting and beyond, we offer a selection of products that not only help to save the environment, but save you money as well.