Motivate Yourself to Build Green
“No, you cannot use a grey water system in your home. No, rain catchment is illegal in this county. No, living roofs are not fire rated for this area.”
-Inspector “No”
The chances of finding Inspector “No” these days are getting less and less. In general, most jurisdictions who employ a building inspector or planner also understand the importance of green technologies and the implementation of those technologies. Nonetheless, you may still find yourself up against resistance when you try to incorporate new green technologies or even those that are tried and true. In some cases, change comes slowly and so patience, understanding, commitment, and explanation will need to be a tool you carry with you.
In most cases, a no is simply the answer an uninformed person is required to give. If, for example, they don’t understand what you are saying when you ask to install a grey water system, they may think you plan to build a plumbing system that pumps waste water into your back yard. Of course, the system is much more than that, but without proper explanation, the inspector may not know what is really involved. Be sure to be very clear in your explanations of how things work. Give examples of places where your system has been used before and what the level of success has been. The more comfortable you make the inspector or planner, the more likely he or she will approve your request.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Morrison is the co-founder of Straw Bale Innovations, LLC, a company specializing in straw bale construction education and the proprietor of www.StrawBale.com. Andrew has a passion for straw bale construction that is matched only by his desire to teach his knowledge to others. For over 15 years, Andrew was a skilled, licensed general contractor with experience in designing and building both conventional and straw bale homes. In 2007 Andrew closed his contracting company to focus entirely on teaching workshops and consulting. You can learn more about his workshops at www.StrawBaleWorkshops.com and his consulting services at www.StrawBaleConsulting.com. Andrew received a BA degree from Hampshire College in 1995 for Glacial Geology. He also has a degree in construction technology form the College of the Redwoods.
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