FEBRUARY 16, 2011

Green Building lecture features Green Remodeling, March 3

SCOTTSDALE – When Larry Person’s mother-in-law relocated to Scottsdale from Omaha last year, the family decided it would be best for her to move in with them. Space – or lack thereof, however, was a major concern.

A home addition was a definite need – and because of health and environ-mental considerations, the Person family wanted to ensure it met Green Building requirements.
Residents can learn from Person’s remodeling experience at an upcoming Green Building program, “Home Improvements and Green Remodeling.” The free program is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale.

Person, along with two other speakers, Diana Kaminski and Phil Allsopp, will provide actual remodeling case studies as well as insight into navigating through the Green Building permit and inspection process. They’ll also share design strategies, materials and techniques appropriate for existing homes to create healthy, earth-friendly and economically-sound homes suitable for the Sonoran Desert.

And back to the Person family ... not only did they complete the addition in record time, it also achieved an Advanced Level Green Building Certificate of Occupancy.

The March 3 program is one in a series of lectures on green building topics that demonstrate energy/ resource efficient, healthy, and environmentally responsible building practices.
Here’s the season’s remaining schedule:

April 7 - Materials and Resources: Learn about materials and resources that conserve, preserve and protect natural resources. Hear about materials that are regional, renewable and compatible with our desert environment. Learn about the reuse and recyclability of materials.

April 14 and May 5 - Interiors & Indoor Environmental Quality: Indoor air pollutants can be six times higher than outdoor air. Learn strategies for minimizing indoor pollutants including material selection, ventilation and filtration.

June 2 - Innovative Green Built Projects in the Phoenix/Scottsdale Area: Learn about local innovative projects that excel from the synergistic benefits of energy efficiency, renewable resources, water efficiency and climatic responsive design.

The lectures are free and open to the public. RSVPs are not needed.
For more information, call 480-312-3111 or visit www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/greenbuilding/lectures.