Michael Braungart & the Cradle-to-Cradle theory on building home additions

Michael Braungart; photo courtesy of Jonata Daniel

During an interview with the acclaimed German-born chemist, Michael Braungart, we discussed many facets of green architecture. A leader at the top of his field and at the top of research for green architecture, Braungart made his philosophy clearly articulated. He said, “the greenest thing anyone can do is to build architecture that lasts as long as possible.” In effect, Braungart believes the greenest home is not one that has the most sustainable bells & whistles, but one that will last for as long as possible.

Making homes endurable includes many types of strategies. First and foremost, the overall design, if done nicely and with meaning, can satisfy generations of individuals and families. If one would notice, some of the best-designed architecture is never be torn down. Think about Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes or perhaps some homes in a historic district of your city where the home values seem to defy gravity. It is likely that the homes built in this area were designed with great care. Perhaps the city planning for this particular area too was designed with care. As a result, it is the place where everyone wishes to live.

The second most meaningful action that a homeowner can do to make their home’s existence enduring is to use durable materials for each project. Such as choosing a type of window that has the highest level of insulation and superior exterior protection; these windows would not likely be replaced within 20 years, but last much longer. Choosing materials such as ceramic tile rather than linoleum or vinyl flooring too is another more sustainable choice, regardless of the recyclability or earth-friendly materials one might discover in a sheet flooring material.

Thirdly, think about adding onto or remodeling your current home rather than tearing it down or selling it for another choice. An addition to the home perhaps accompanied with some remodeling is a greener option with less generated waste. Since the USGBC believes building waste to be one of the greater contributors to the decline of our environmental health, reusing existing building stock is really the greenest thing we can do. More about this topic will be published in Housetrends magazine this Spring.