Welcome to the Humboldt County Green Building Program

The Humboldt County Green Building Program is a collaborative effort between the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and Humboldt Plan It Green. This program is intended to provide information and resources to designers, builders, developers, public officials, researchers and the general public of Humboldt County.

Inside this program is information pertaining to most phases of construction with the incorporation of “greener” practices, codes, material options, and contact for local contractors.

Please bear with us. We are open during the development and construction of this resource site.

In this fast growing economy of green building practices and technologies there are many definitions of green buildings or green homes. Here too in Humboldt County there are proven examples of: new green homes being built, commercial buildings being retrofitted “greener,” and more sustainable building operations become realities all because developers, architects, and engineers are catering to the good their clients (possibly you) and the State of California are demanding.

Humboldt County, this is our guide to green building. On this informational website you will find valuable resources, downloadable green building codes, local vendors of green materials and a catalogue of national companies that sell green building products.

Further you have the opportunity to download green building checklists and view pictures and diagrams of what green products are and how they function.

The Humboldt County Green Building Program has a messaging board for locals to submit green facets of their home or general questions about green building.

But Wait !!!! What the heck is Green Building? Here are some definitions the Humboldt County Green Building Program has gathered to give our county a better and hopefully clearer understanding of green building.

“Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition. “www.epa.gov”

“Green building uses construction practices and materials that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient from the design phase through to maintenance, and ideally to renovation and deconstruction as well.”

“The evaluation of the entire lifecycle of a (building) product is required to determine if it is truly a green building product. This includes from the manufacturing of the product, to the shipment of the product, its use, and finally, its disposal.”

Currently there are many organizations, regulators and standards that are evaluating and rating the lifecycles of green building products and green building practices. You will learn more about these entities under the different sections of building a green structure.

On Jan 1 2011, The Cal Green Building Code went into effect. The mandatory contents of the code should be reviewed and understood and of course implemented into the design, permit and construction of all new building projects. Note: remodels and additions are exempt at this time.

“We applaud the state of California for being the first state in the country to raise the floor on acceptable, green building standards,” said Jason Hartke, vice president of national policy for the US Green Building Council, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit. He adds that the statewide standards adopted will “significantly save water and energy, improve indoor air quality, and create jobs at the same time.”
As a property owner considering a project,

The Humboldt County Green Building Program highly recommends you review the pdf of the new mandatory green building code or contact a member of PLAN IT GREEN and ask your architect or contractor if they understand the new mandatory requirements.

How do I operate the Humboldt County Green Building website?

Common items in the construction process that must be considered in building a green home are listed in the left column. When you click on one of these categories it will send you to a page where you can access informational resources relevant to the specific stage of the process. You will also have options to click on local vendors that carry green products, or information to connect you to local contractors.

This green building program has also created a catalogue of companies that carry the products you need to create the green building of your dreams. The HCGBP is also in the works of creating a photo and suggestions gallery of local projects. Your input and knowledge is valued greatly. The HCGBP encourages you to glance at the glossaries if in your readings; you come across a term you are unaware of. This program and site will be updated often. Please don’t make this your only visit to the Humboldt Green Building Program and spread the news that there is a local Green Building Resource.

“Okay whew…..” Now that we have learned a little bit about The Humboldt County Green Building Program, operations of this website and some views as to what green building is let’s get started Humboldt County, building green.