We’re Positively Green Hammerschmidt Construction, Inc. is a Certified Green Builder. Now you may ask, what exactly is a Green Builder and why, as a homeowner, would I care? It doesn’t mean we use only olive and chartreuse paint! Or that we’ve turned organic and chant while we build (Although Lynn did go to Berkeley!) Instead, as one of the area’s first Certified Green Builders, we are trained to utilize a “Whole-Systems” approach to design and construction. Conventional home construction requires large quantities of wood, water, fuel, and materials and creates a great deal of waste. Many of these materials require intensive maintenance or frequent replacement, Green Building, aka “Sustainable Building,” is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which homes use energy, water, and materials and reducing the impact of building on human health and the environment. A Green-Built home conserves natural resources and minimizes waste at the same time it incorporates materials that will last for many years and require little or no maintenance. In the past, homeowners (and builders) were reticent to compromise their construction projects with the available green materials and techniques proposed by what was perceived as a fringe movement. Straw bail houses— for which you cannot obtain a mortgage— come to mind. Green Building has now gathered the momentum to be considered a leading edge “best practice.” And the market has responded with materials, resources, and products that embrace not only what is good for the environment, but what is good for the homeowner. Hammerschmidt Construction employs green building principles to enhance the beauty, comfort and convenience of each home we remodel. Smart energy design, proper insulation, efficient heating and cooling systems and energy efficient appliances help lower water and energy bills. Using durable building materials from renewable local resources and ones with low toxicity, reduces maintenance and replacement costs over the life of the home and improves indoor air quality. Our commitment extends to the channeling and recycling of demolition and construction debris from each job site to reduce the environmental impact of our work. To learn more, call us, or visit one of the websites listed below.

Ask an Expert is a free hotline providing customized responses to a variety of green building questions. Serves the general public, building professionals, local governments, and building suppliers in the 9-county bay area Provides trusted, unbiased, quality green building info Staffed by the Green Resource Center Submit a Green Building Question online (click on box above) or call 1-888-40 GREEN.

Green Resource Center www.greenresourcecenter.org Fact sheets, referrals, case studies, events listings, other green building links, and in-depth info about green building materials and strategies Workshops and presentations

Bay Area Build it Green www.build-green.org Continuing education and networking for public agencies, non-profits, and building professionals Listing of certified green architects and building contractors Materials Database: extensive listing of green products, materials, and technologies available in the Bay Area Green Home Tours, workshops, and presentations

Build Green Now www.buildgreennow.org Green building resources for the general public, design and building professionals, and public agencies Green Building Guidelines for renovations and new construction that have been adopted by or serve as the basis for many green building programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

United States Green Building Council (USGBC) www.usgbc.org Extensive collection of green building resources: market research, publications, presentations, and links to additional resources LEED® Rating System info: case studies, training, certification, workshops

Flex Your Power www.fypower.org Energy efficiency and conservation info for California residents, business, industry, local governments, schools, and agriculture Incentives/rebates, technical assistance, retailers, product guides, case studies and more

Energy Star www.energystar.gov Info on energy efficient buildings, appliances and equipment ENERGY STAR appliances and building strategies often qualify for rebates

DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Program www.eere.energy.gov/buildings Support for RandD activities to improve the energy efficiency of buildings Tools, guidelines, training, and access to technical and financial resources

Water Wiser www.waterwiser.org News, info, research results, discussion forums, references, calendar of events, and searchable databases Targeted to water conservation professionals, but freely accessible to the general public Links to Water Saver Home (www.h2ouse.net), a virtual encyclopedia of water saving tips for indoor and outdoor uses

EPA Water Efficiency Program www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency Extensive info and resources on how to use water more efficiently Applicable to all water users from homeowners to governments EPA Indoor Air Quality www.epa.gov/iaq Extensive info and resources on indoor air quality IAQ INFO: hotline to help locate the appropriate info, 800-438-4318

Health House www.healthhouse.org For Consumers: info on IAQ concerns and tip sheets to help identify and reduce pollutants in the home For Builders: guidelines and Registered House Builder training for building homes with better IAQ