flexiblefullpage - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
Currently Reading

The Lean and Green Blog: Lesson 3 - 'Lots' of opportunity

Advertisement
billboard -
Construction Practices

The Lean and Green Blog: Lesson 3 - 'Lots' of opportunity


November 29, 2011

Down here in the south, you will often hear the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” When it comes to lot preparation, we seem to fix a lot of things that were never broken in the first place. Just think back to the last lot you prepared for construction that, remarkably, had no measurable vegetation. I might be wrong, but that doesn’t seem to be the natural order of things.

When working through the opportunities in sustainable construction techniques, lot preparation can increase your “green” footprint at a significant overall savings. Clearing a lot completely removes trees and plant life that must be replaced prior to final inspection. Clearing also creates additional cost in the area of erosion control. Depending on your municipal requirements, costs can be rather high to restore vegetation.

This is not to say that construction activities will not require the removal of natural vegetation from the property. The key is to limit the clearing to the area required for construction activities and save as much of the natural vegetation as possible. 

I recently spoke with a fellow builder who will soon be saddled with the cost of installing sod on the entire lot because of a new city requirement to have established vegetation before a certificate of occupancy will be issued. I suggested fencing off the lot behind the house 15’ beyond the back corner and maintain the native grass. The reduction in cost for sod will mean $100’s to the bottom line. 

For most builders, the opportunity is not just to control projected increases, but to reduce current costs today through better development and construction processes.  If cost control is your particular challenge, this greener alternative is better than nothing.

Or, as we say in the South, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

leaderboard2 - default

Related Stories

6 Must-Knows for Installing Pocket Doors

Save your sanity: Do it right the first time

Crawl Spaces to Basements: Proceed with Caution

Converting a crawl space to other uses can upgrade a home and add significant value, but when done incorrectly, it can also be disastrous 

Webinar: Project and Trade Management Musts—The New American Remodel 2023

Access the webinar here to learn project and trade management lessons from The New American Remodel 2023

How to Attach a Patio Roof to an Existing House

A graceful integration may mean more work but improved functionality and aesthetics 

How To Improve Energy Performance in Existing Attics

There’s more to insulating the attic than attic insulation; there’s venting, air sealing, and misery

Model ReModel 2022: A Case Study in Sustainable, Thoughtful Construction

The eighth annual Model ReModel project features an accessory dwelling unit, designed for aging in place, attached to a 19th-century Victorian

Installing a Curbless Shower

Model ReModel 2022 features an ADA-compliant bathroom. The contractor shares the install process

How to Install PVC Bevel Siding Over Rainscreen

It’s a lot like installing wood bevel siding, except it won’t warp or rot. And it expands and contracts differently and for different reasons

Understanding How PVC Trim Moves

Anybody who’s used PVC in an exterior application knows that it moves seasonally. Just like wood, right? Not exactly

Step-by-Step Install of a High-Performance Cathedral Ceiling

See how Model ReModel 2022 constructed its vaulted ceiling

Advertisement
boombox2 -
Advertisement
halfpage2 -
Advertisement
native1 -

More in Category




Advertisement
native2 -
Advertisement
halfpage1 -
Advertisement
leaderboard1 -