MISSION----DONATIONS----CONTACT

Green Business and Eco-Construction
print text-only version

As it evolves, a number of green businesses and dwellings will eventually comprise Carp Ridge EcoWellness Centre. A green business or home is one that is environmentally sustainable. Such construction makes a connection between human activity and the health of the planet, minimizing negative impacts to the ecosystem while providing a viable income or healthy living space.

The greening of any building makes economic and social sense, and can be done to varying degrees. Simply employing energy efficient lighting and heating is a form of greening since this reduces greenhouse gases by conserving energy production.

In ecological construction, resources are shared where practical. For example, homes may be clustered together to share gardens, septic systems, and wellwater. This decreases the cost to individual households. The sharing of major appliances such as washer and drier facilities is another easy option in conservation.

Those who reside on-site at CREWC will be part of a demonstration in ecological and healthy building practices. All CREWC buildings incorporate examples of sustainable approaches to construction, energy use, building materials, and alternative power sources.

As development progresses, our facilities will include strawbale building with earthen plasters, cordwood walls, and timber frame construction using recovered wood. Natural building techniques can reduce costs, and also 'follows materials from cradle to grave' with the intent of reducing environmental impact and pollution.

On-site homes will reduce space heating and cooling needs through passive solar design. Active solar energy systems will also be incorporated, with some homes being grid inter-tied (net metering), while others will be independent of the hydro grid entirely. Solar water heaters will supply domestic hot water and some space heating needs.