A wonderful series that is both fun and enlightening to watch (even if you have no intention of building a house), the 13-episode Building Green—hosted by Kevin Contreras—documents the environmentally aware construction of a new home. Contreras doesn't just focus on materials (such as finding non-toxic options for flooring, painting, etc.), but also looks at the process itself, including dampening the negative impact of building on local ecology, or reducing fuel usage in getting materials from sources to the building site. A very inclusive show, Building Green also features input from a number of contractors, architects, landscapers, and suppliers. Contreras begins by recycling materials from his old house, before making decisions regarding his new one, opting for steel instead of a wooden frame, and making walls with bales of straw mounted on rebar—the concrete holding all that metal work is 35% fly ash (which makes concrete stronger), a by-product of coal-based combustion that is usually buried underground (and thus wasted). In the end, mainly only the doors, windows, and cabinets use wood. Contreras is hardly an extremist—in fact, there are “green extreme” vignettes in which we meet people who go to great lengths to be even more green than the host (including a particularly entertaining segment on making solid flooring out of dirt and horse manure). Highly recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)
Building Green
(2008) 3 discs. 325 min. DVD: $49.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-59375-833-2. Volume 23, Issue 5
Building Green
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