Page 66 - October 2015 Green Builder Magazine

FROM THE TAILGATE By Ron Jones

New Offerings for the Sustainable Minded

64

A Season for Learning

THE DAZZLING COLORS of autumn have But I’d like to suggest that it actually represents a huge
already come and gone up in the high opportunity in disguise, one that allows us not only to catch
country, and although we have been blessed our breath, but also to take a deeper dive into learning more
with gorgeous fall weather at Mariposa about what we do and how best to do it. This is the time
Meadows thus far, we can see the new snow when we can take a serious look at building science, energy
that is already beginning to stick on the performance, resource management, new technologies,
north-facing slopes of the high peaks. products and systems and better quality control.

While we are not enduring last year’s pressures of placing There is a whole universe of knowledge just waiting to be
and finishing concrete this time around, we seem to have explored, if we are willing to make the effort. And while I
just as much urgency in making as much progress as know that I will often find myself daydreaming of the time
possible—especially in all aspects of the building envelopes when we can return to our project in the high country, I
and roofs—before the season closes in on us once again, and will also do my best to learn as much as I can between now
we’re relegated to the plowed roads and workshop activities and then, so that the time we spend there will be as special
that will have to keep us occupied until next spring. as it should be. GB

www.greenbuildermedia.com 10.2015 Every day is precious now, as the
crew hustles to secure the buildings
and make certain that they are ready
for the long weeks of silent, numbing
cold that are lurking just around
the corner. Material deliveries seem
more crucial than they did a few
weeks ago, when the warmth of
the sun and the gold of the aspens
tricked us into thinking we had lots
of time to wrap everything up.

Additionally, it seems that the
builders of all the projects in the
area are hurrying to stay ahead
of the changing season and finish
what they’re working on. Our trade
contractors are being tugged in
several directions at once, making
scheduling a bit more difficult and
communication even more important than usual. Some
aspects of building are universal, I suppose.

Meanwhile, my inbox is constantly inundated with
newsletters full of regurgitated information and stale blogs
featuring overworked topics and questionable advice on“how
to attract millennial homebuyers,”“markets to watch in 2016”
and endless lists of the“best and worst”of virtually everything.
Is this really valuable information? Is this what builders are
truly interested in? Maybe so, but I have my doubts.

Some builders regard winter as the time to settle into
a holding pattern, hunkering down until the season has
passed and given way to the promise of spring once again.