Green Design Green design addresses: - health and comfort - impact on the planet and its resources - value and durability We strive to consider these points with every choice we make and will continue to incorporate more sustainable materials and green practices as they become available.
	Small is Green Small buildings mean less materials, less energy to heat & cool and more green space. Install a home office studio in your back yard, work from home and eliminate your commute, then you could get rid of your second car. The money you could save in a year would pay for your studio! Read about teleworking and the benefits of working from home.
	Lumber Using advanced framing methods we reduce the amount of lumber used and at the same time reduce thermal bridging and increase R-value. Waste is minimized by designing with full dimensions.  FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified lumber is available at an additional cost, soon to be standard on all models. http://www.fsc.org/
	Insulation Mineral wool insulation used in all buildings, CFC & HCFC free, 40% recycled content, moisture resistant and fireproof, and more effective R-value. www.roxul.com
	Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) (optional) A green building system consisting of a core of expanded foam (EPS) sandwiched between 2 layers of OSB sheathing. SIPs are: - up to 50% more energy efficient - use 75% less dimensional lumber - 400% stronger than regular framing - 400% less raw material required - mold resistant sip-information
	Siding As a BC company, we weighed the natural beauty of local wood against the carbon footprint of manufactured products and the shipping involved, and chose cedar. Protected with locally developed, low VOC, water-borne, oil finish. www.cbrproducts.com FSC  certified cedar is available at an additional cost, soon to be standard on all models. http://www.fsc.org/
	Doors & Windows Fibreglass doors insulate six times better than wood, have a longer lifespan, do not warp, twist or crack, and therefore reduce landfill use. Doors can be painted or ordered pre-finished. Argon filled, low-E glass in glass doors and windows, keeps interior warmer in winter and cooler in summer. low-e glass
	Interior Instead of drywall, prefinished birch panelling with hemock trim is used. Finished with low-VOC, water based polyurethane.
	Flooring Prefinished engineered bamboo flooring using  virtually formaldehyde-free adhesives. or Cork tiles finished with low-VOC, water based polyurethane. Both are very renewable resources and very durable.