St. Cloud General Contractor

Green Design Concepts for Your Home

The term green design includes both home interiors (products) and construction methods (services) that use green technology or sustainable energy resources. As a homeowner you can do your part for the environment through implementing various sustainable products and services into your new or existing central MN home.

Green Design for Your Home

The layout and functionality of a house is one of the things that comprises a sustainable design. A lot of homes being built these days are designed with energy efficiency in mind. This is one component of a green designed home.  Another is the use of sustainable materials during construction including fixtures and flooring.

More and more construction suppliers offer various products that focus on making a home more environment-friendly. Architects, engineers, and even property developers have started to use earth-friendly designs and construction materials for new homes that are being built and on homes that are being remodeled.

Homeowners and Green Furnishings

One of the most popular concepts in green design these days is the manufacture of furniture with the use of sustainable wood resources. A lot of designers and manufacturers have introduced their own line of furniture that is made from either recycled wood or wood composites.

Furniture manufacturers have also started to use wood from regulated wood areas that are controlled and maintained by independent environmental organizations. Furniture depots and stores on the other hand have started to carry brands that produce furniture made from environment-friendly materials.

Green Design | Green Roofs

Another popular green design concept is the transformation of building roofs into green areas by planting various kinds of vegetation and plant life. This practice is being adopted in urban areas — such as in Minneapolis on the rooftop of the Target Center — that have high levels of air pollution. But, this green design concept may be used just about anywhere, including central MN.

As a homeowner, you too can transform your roof into a small garden and start earning the energy efficiency benefits of adding this feature to your home. Adding a green roof can also provide you with more space, allowing you to utilize an otherwise bare area of your home.

All these design and construction concepts contribute to the worldwide effort of preserving and conserving natural resources. If you are interested in taking part in this cause you can do so as a homeowner by switching to green design concepts and methods that can save you money while providing you with a healthier home.

Are you considering a green design for your home or thinking about a remodel for your existing home in Central Minnesota with some green options? A quality St Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Green Roof: The Advantages of Going Green—

With all the hype about using green materials in construction, having a green roof is now considered a viable alternative, or addition, to your typical roof structures.

Green roofing on a building or home basically means utilizing the otherwise vacant space on a rooftop and transforming it into a place that has various types of vegetation. This type of roofing has been used in Europe for quite some time, but it is only beginning to increase in popularity in the US because of the awareness being promoted through green building initiatives.

Did you know that the Target Center has a green roof? Yes it does, and The Target Center’s 2.5 acre roof is now the largest green roof in the State of MN, the fifth largest in the entire country and tenth largest in the world. See it here: Green Roof at Target Center in Minneapolis.

Green Roof Benefits

There are a lot of benefits to having a green roof for your property, chief of which is the reduction of air pollution and smog levels. Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and transforms it into nutrients for the plants’ growth. Aerosol and nitrates are also absorbed and stored in the soil to facilitate the plants’ development. With decreased levels of contaminants the air becomes cleaner and safer to breathe, especially for people who are suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

Aside from this, a green roof also lessens the need to spend money on sophisticated drainage systems because soil and vegetation found on the roof can absorb a large amount of rainwater during heavy downpours and storms. By absorbing much of the water, the amount of runoff going through the drainage system is dramatically reduced, which in turn also reduces the amount of money you have to spend purchasing, repairing, or replacing your drainage system.

A structure with green roofing also offers advantages to the property owner. Taking the unused, ugly rooftop space and transforming it into a garden can increase the actual value of the property you own. Some office buildings that have roofs with lush vegetation often use these as employee areas where everyone can relax and enjoy the scenery during their lunch and coffee breaks.

Green Roofs and the Need for Going Green

The need for environmental preservation has grown over the years as have the advancements in green building technology. Because of this, interest in the various ways to protect Earth’s non-renewable resources is no longer considered an alternative way of living. Rather, green building options — including green roofs — have crossed over to main-stream culture.

Most people agree that there must be a plan of action that integrates and balances green building with the practical needs of everyday living. Being a property owner, you can do your part by having a green roof installed and maintained on your building or home. If that doesn’t suit your taste, then simply take some time to consider the benefits of other green building options.

Want to learn more about green roofs? You can do so from the Minnesota Green Roof Council.

Are you considering a “green” constructed home or simply looking to remodel your existing home in Central Minnesota with some green options? A quality Saint Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Benefits of Green Construction Goes Beyond What is Seen Today—

Given current global environmental issues, the construction industry is committed to taking an active role to help preserve the planet. The building industry is doing so through various “green construction” initiatives. What’s fascinating is that not only are business owners within the construction industry embracing the benefits of going green, but more homeowners are now shifting their choices to green methods of construction over more conventional ones.

There are a lot of benefits to reap if you integrate green building techniques into your construction project. For example, green construction methods use materials that are stronger and more durable and built to last longer than traditional products. Bamboo is a great example of a green product.

Additionally, in a green home, ceilings, windows, and doors are designed with energy efficiency in mind. Good interior ventilation for the entire house is essential also (a home has to breathe!). When air circulates properly, a house requires less heating and air conditioning, thereby reducing utility costs. When air circulates improperly, energy costs can skyrocket!

“Green Construction no longer means weird looking homes! To the contrary, many eco-friendly building techniques are stunning in design and practical too!”

Green structures are found to give great satisfaction to residents and owners for being recycled, eco-friendly, and sustainable. An added bonus is that green buildings are no longer weird-looking. Most, actually, are very typical in look and feel and blend well with more traditionally built homes and buildings. Lastly, people living in a green built home enjoy fresher and cleaner air, thus, giving each family member the taste of a healthier environment.

Living green is not just living in an environmentally friendly home, but goes beyond what one can see objectively. It is living as an example in the promotion of health, maintaining a clean lifestyle, protecting the environment, and supporting local policies and practices that are expected to have a positive impact on the community.

Benefits of Green Construction | Cost Analysis

Does building green mean spending more? Materials used in green building as well as in conventional construction may vary in quality and price. What matters most is that the design and the cost of the building are balanced with your personal construction preferences.

Green construction does tend to cost more up front, but this additional cost can easily go beyond the long-term benefits of choosing such construction methods. In fact, it is not all that expensive to live green and healthy, especially when you factor in the savings (over time) that you’ll enjoy.  The benefits of green construction are truly very wonderful!

Of course, if cost is an issue, you must know that by implementing little things that are beneficial to both man and nature — such as LED light-bulbs, on demand water heaters, and recycled flooring materials — one can still contribute to a going green lifestyle and prepare for bigger endeavors in the future.

Going green is a winning construction method for everyone involved, from home owners to business owners. Although this may still be a vague concept to some people, it is remarkable to note the number of construction companies adapting such principles and the number of people who choose green construction methods over conventional ones.

Will the benefits of green construction entice you to build a green home or office space? Only you can answer this question, but hopefully you’ll give green building strong consideration.

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Looking to build your “green” constructed home, or remodel your existing one in Central Minnesota? A quality Saint Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy.
What a source of power!
I hope we don’t have to wait ’til oil and
coal run out before we tackle that.”
~ Thomas Edison

Why Solar Energy? This is a question many ask.  It is a question I asked recently, and I want to share with you a bit of the more interesting information I discovered about solar energy and solar projects in the great state of Minnesota.

The following is excerpted from the booklet “Creating and Implementing Your Community Solar Plan.” Maybe one day in the near future Saint Cloud, Minnesota will have a community solar energy project. Say… I think I’ll work on that, so stay tuned!

Solar Energy Minnesota

“We are all familiar with the risks associated with our society’s use of energy. Pollution from burning fossil fuels for their energy poses health risks that demand increasing levels of regulation on industry and individuals alike. Energy markets and energy demand forces continual compromises between extraction of fossil fuels and protection of wilderness areas. Global warming leads to massive shifts in climate patterns and threatens entire nations with eventual extinction.

Yet we often struggle to make good stewardship choices. The promise of renewable energy remains largely unfulfilled as the growth in fossil fuel use continues to outstrip investment in renewable en- ergy resources and technologies. Solar energy in particular, the most ubiquitous of energy resources and the most popular of energy choices, is difficult for individuals to take advantage of for a number of reasons:

• Solar energy systems cannot be purchased incrementally but instead require bulky investment;
• Individuals who want to invest in solar energy don’t have good solar access on their property;
• The equipment and technology is unfamiliar to most people;
• Contractors who understand installation details are difficult to find.

So how can we take action on our stewardship goals, take advantage of solar energy’s popularity, and build our community’s self-reliance? One vehicle for meeting these goals is a community solar project. A community solar project allows individuals to work together to achieve stewardship goals, to overcome the market barriers to solar investment, and to do so in a way that build’s the capacity of our community organizations or institutions.”

Excerpted from Community Solar Plan,
published by the MRES (Minnesota Renewable Energy Society)

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Looking to build your dream house or remodel your existing one in Central Minnesota? A quality St Cloud, MN General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and builders in Central Minnesota.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Eco Friendly Construction—

With environmental problems like pollution, climate change and thinning of the ozone layer looming, the need to address these challenges has been addressed by many sectors in our society. The building industry in particular responded with eco friendly construction which is a part of their going green building initiative.

The construction industry advocates these going green trends to homeowners and business owners for many reasons. One of the main reasons is to achieve a high level of efficiency in resource consumption for a new home or office, or for a remodeling project such as a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel.

Furthermore, eco friendly construction improves the environment, and it helps build a strong and healthy indoor atmosphere. Using materials such as paints that do not emit harmful pollutants in the environment (otherwise known as green paints) is one example of a green building product.

Consider this: Chemical pollutants released by some paints can, for example, cause health problems especially among children. Moreover, the presence of plastics, solvents, compound woods and timbers, which cause the development of molds and dust mites, may also cause complications to one’s health.

Going green helps reduce or totally eliminate indoor air-quality problems. Additionally, creating good ventilation so that a home or office building can “breathe” greatly lessens any harmful effects on the quality of air inside the structure. To go green in businesses is excellent also for workers and clients as eco friendly construction practices reduce the danger of inhaling harmful fumes and chemicals.

More About Eco Friendly Construction

With eco friendly construction there are companies today that promote products and services that support green living lifestyles for their customers. In practicing eco-friendly solutions, many of these green businesses discovered that going green can be applied to their operations as well.  By doing so many businesses have found that they incur less operational cost due to reduced waste and to successful efforts to reuse materials (rather than buying new ones). Going green requires a small investment on the part of the business and may be further enhanced by using recycled office supplies and avoiding plastics in general. Little things really do make a big difference!

Today going green is not only a trend or fashion, rather it is more of a requirement for all of us. Local and international laws are now being adopted that require the construction industry to comply with the construction of green buildings. Adopting measures to reduce waste and encourage the use of eco-friendly materials is needed before irreparable damage is done to the environment

Eco friendly construction is a wise decision for anybody who plans to build a house or a new business office or to remodel their home, kitchen or bathroom. It not only ensures that we avoid harmful effects on our health, but it also benefits the planet and future generations as well.

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Looking to build your dream house or remodel your existing one in Central Minnesota? A quality Saint Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Green Building— The threat of climate change brought about many unexpected but practical methods to help prevent further degradation of our earth. This change toward more environmentally friendly living was a by-product of pollution, and people found it beneficial to embrace green living and green building.

Pollution is a result of mankind’s irresponsible behavior and disregard for the impact of our choices on the earth. If we want to stop ruining our planet then we have to become advocates for a cleaner, pollution-free environment in every aspect of life, including building and construction.

We often hear that change starts at home, and there is no better example than changing some of our common practices in building our houses and employing Green Building techniques.

Why Green Building Matters to You

There is a dire need to build eco-friendly homes today primarily because it can help minimize pollution and can greatly improve the environment. Other than that, these “healthy” homes can also help people cut their monthly consumption on electricity.

If homes are properly constructed to be eco-friendly, innovative measures are taken to control the heating and cooling system of the house since this is the biggest contributor to the monthly electricity bills. Additional green building options such as growing trees on the lawn, using tankless water heaters, putting up reflective insulators, replacing old windows with new ones, and utilizing innovative landscaping to conserve water more effectively are just a few of the small steps that can make a huge, positive impact on the environment.

Moreover, eco-friendly homes not only help create a better environment, but they also help minimize health problems. We all know that conventional materials, such as paints, plastics, and solvents are closely linked to some of the health issues today. Furthermore, dust mites and molds contribute to symptoms like asthma, headaches, depression, and many other health issues. The construction of a green building, through good ventilation and use of non-toxic materials, exceedingly eliminates these risks.

The choice to build green is fast becoming a mandatory option for all of us if we want to have a better future. Indeed, before we reach a point of total environmental damage, we all must act out to preserve our planet. Different countries have already recognized the need for modifications which is why they enacted strict regulations for the integration of a “green” mentality in construction and beyond. Modern industries must also take heed to this calling, make alterations to their buildings, and adopt practices that are not detrimental to the environment. Soon enough, we will all embrace, happily, the idea of creating a better future through innovations such as green building.

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Looking to build your dream house or remodel your existing one in Central MN? A quality Saint Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the project of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best remodelers and custom home builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.

Finding a Green Builder in Central MN—

A green builder is something that was unheard of a few years back. Today, however, the need to build in an eco-friendly manner is more important than ever, especially with the increasing level of awareness that many people have for the environment.

Many homeowners would like to go green as much as possible with the materials being used for their new homes, remodeling projects or additions, and, as such, they may be on the lookout for contractors that are green conscious or that have some sort of green certification.

Green Builder Definition: a green building contractor uses eco-friendly materials and products that come from sustainable resources or renewable sources which are typically managed by independent bodies that aim to protect the environment.

When choosing a green builder, it is important that you check the credibility of the building contractor. You might insist on working only with a contractor who has some form of green certification — just be sure that they can back up their claim of being eco-friendly! Or, you might be satisfied to work with a builder who does not have a green certification yet can demonstrate to you that he is knowledgeable of green building products and procedures. Keep in mind that there are some contractors that will do anything to win a contract, including making claims of being green certified or green building knowledgeable even if they are not.

Green Builder Tip: To ensure that you are dealing with the right contractor simple check for references, ask insightful questions and do a bit of research on their backgrounds.

More Green Builder Suggestions

The internet is a useful tool for researching a green builder in your area, and you may want to utilize it to find the best contractor possible. You can check for reviews from previous clients that have hired the services of the contractor and determine whether they were able to complete the job with efficiency. You can also ask for recommendations from family and friends or anyone you know who has recently had an eco-friendly home built and obtain the services of their central Minnesota general contractor.

Once you have a contractor in mind, do not hesitate to ask for an appointment and discuss the concepts that you want to achieve for your home. The building contractor can then work with you and provide you with the estimates for the materials that will be used as well as the time needed to complete the project. If you are still hesitant as to going green with your home, seek advice from a trust-worthy Central MN general contractor about the best options for you to consider.

You will find that going green can offer a wide range of ideas that you can play with and explore as you make decisions about building your dream house or remodeling your basement. Hiring a green builder can definitely help you achieve your goal of having an eco-friendly home and doing your part in preserving the environment’s natural resources.

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Looking to build your dream house in Central MN? A quality Saint Cloud General Contractor is always willing to help you construct the home of your dreams at a price that works for you and for your family. Craig at Schoenberg Construction is one of the best custom home builders in Central MN.  Give him a call today at 320-252-0911 for your no-obligation consultation.