"Green" building is becoming mainstream. Faced with escalating energy costs, increased awareness of the depletion of our natural resources, and the ill-effects of poor indoor air quality, a movement is growing among building industry professionals and homeowners to approach residential construction with a primary view toward energy conservation, alternative energy generation, and the employment of sustainable, non-toxic materials. This is the first Article of a multi-Article series summarizing the various quidelines currently in the marketplace and analyzing how they can be applied in the context of the renovation of a brownstone or other urban townhouse. 

Construction debris accounts for 24% of the waste disposed of in our nation's landfills, and disposing of your debris and excess materials at the city dump can also be costly.  Learn how to "Reduce" by demolishing less and reusing and restoring what you've got, and "Reuse and Recycle" by disposing of your "waste" in a manner that maximizes the amount of material that will be recycled or reused by others.  Refer to our directory of local salvage yards and charities that will take your stuff.