Stephani Carter (Interior Design Technology '01) of Green Alberta and EcoAmmo shows you what to look for when searching for green building products. Also see A Breath of Fresh Air in techlife magazine p. 35.

Today, more people are into recycling; saving rainwater for the garden, separating garbage for blue bags or blue bins, using energy-efficient light bulbs, LED lights and even composting organic waste for their gardens.

Terms like greenwashing, net zero, LEED, triple bottom line and corporate social responsibility are weaving their way into common usage in businesses, schools and post-secondary education programs. Consumers want choices when it comes to selecting products for their building projects whether they're replacing a water heater, renovating or building a new home.

To get the straight goods there is help in the form of information from Green Alberta and from builders who have been using sustainable practices for years. Stephani Carter, the director of business operations and development for Green Alberta, is very passionate about what is happening in the industry to bring about real progress when it comes to choosing safe and environmentally-friendly products and practices.

Green Alberta is an online database of sustainable building products to help consumers and the building industry identify and select green materials. How does the average consumer know whether a product is truly green or merely a marketing ploy? Green Alberta's database will provide a verified list of products along with other information such as a distance calculator to determine how far the product has traveled from extraction to site of intended use.

Carter is a LEED certified professional, a graduate of NAIT's interior architecture program, a champion and expert when it comes to sustainable building materials. She believes that manufacturers are now doing more to produce materials that nourish the planet and contain ingredients that don't make us ill. In fact, industries are seeing economic opportunities due to consumer demands for innovative products that are environmentally safe and save money. Her advice to the average consumer is to look for third party verification of information or claims on green materials and consider the total costs and benefits of using greener materials. Check the website on a regular basis as the information on grants and incentive programs and product information will be updated constantly. 

Once you're armed with good information, the next step is to find someone who knows what to do if you want to use efficient and sustainable materials. One such builder is Habitat Studio & Workshop Ltd. Peter Amerongen, along with two other partners in the firm, specialize in construction management for residential projects, acting on behalf of the owners, providing professional advice and overseeing the project. They have done projects ranging in size from 1,800-10,000 square feet using principles like R2000 and net zero.

Amerongen recommends the average consumer looking to use green construction in their home or renovation first ensure indoor air quality by avoiding gas-producing materials, using recycled materials, and being wary of materials with ingredients "you cannot spell." Amerongen's 'quick wins' include replacing old windows, water tanks, lighting, and mechanical heating and cooling systems. When building or renovating concentrate on the envelope of the home as you can always change the furnace later.

Habitat clients are becoming savvy consumers when it comes to wanting environment friendly materials and energy saving solutions. Habitat Studio & Workshop uses computer modeling to give their clients detailed analysis about their project and estimate savings from materials used in the new construction design or renovation. 

Habitat Studio & Workshop is one of several builders that will bring its expertise to an exciting project that if approved will make Edmonton the envy of many communities around the world. The project, located along Whitemud Creek south of 23rd Avenue is a joint venture between the Poole family of Edmonton and Melcor Developments Ltd. This is not just another residential development but an environmentally intelligent subdivision with houses and multi-housing units that will incorporate sustainable elements of water, energy and waste. About 23 hectares of the 57-hectare project will be protected. The projected population is about 1,900 residents in a compact, diverse and connected environment with green buildings, natural habitat, and modern architecture.

Chris Nicholas, regional manager for Edmonton South, is the driving force for Melcor Developments on this project. Nicholas is bringing green thinking to this project with LED light standards for roadways, concrete recycling, green heating systems and solar-ready homes. All this will be priced for the market and hopefully ready to offer to consumers by the fall. If the excitement that Nicholas brings to this project is any indication of the innovation and uniqueness of the development, then this will be a winner for all those fortunate enough to buy into this project. I know that things like rain barrels, dual flush toilets, high-efficiency fixtures, green gold homes and shared heating are all concepts that the developer is looking into that will make this community cost effective and a model of excellence. 

Combining green materials, knowledgeable builders and a residential project that can bring all the best practices together will make Edmonton a leader in doing the right thing for the environment for the right reasons at the right cost. In previous articles we have talked about backyard ponds, highly efficient bathroom fixtures and smart homes - which have all highlighted what the marketplace has to offer in terms of building materials.

Our family already uses rainwater and compost to nourish the gardens, separates the garbage and uses biodegradable shampoos. Next is the opportunity to create a green home that is safe for the family, nourishes the soul and provides an environment that rejuvenates the family from the stresses of hectic lives in a fast-paced society. 

Edmonton now has both the beauty of its river and valleys and the talent of people like Carter, Amerongen and Nicholas to make it a leader in sustainable communities.