Page 13 - October 2015 Green Builder Magazine

Brave, New Alternative 11
Construction Universe

Once confined to the progressive fringe, these trends and
practices hold the potential for transforming the homebuilding
industry into one that’s grounded in sustainability.

BY JULIET GRABLE Mainstreaming Zero-Energy Homes 12

FOR OUR ANNUAL FEATURE focused on alternative construction, we Getting the Carbon Out 15
decided to broaden our scope to include alternative approaches to design,
product development and manufacturing. We looked at all of the trends, Game-Changing Design 19
from the exponential growth of rooftop solar to the increasing number
of manufacturers seeking transparency labels for their products, and The New Natural Building 22 www.greenbuildermedia.com 10.2015
asked: Which of these are taking us in a more sustainable direction?
We picked five exciting developments to highlight in our annual Alternative Building Products with Integrity 26
Construction feature. From innovations in building and materials science to
paradigm shifts in the way manufacturers approach product development to
refinements of ancient building practices, we believe these ideas and practices have
the potential to transform home construction. We hope they leave you inspired.