Choosing the Right Green Remodeling Driveway Solution

Answered by Brendan ~ March 6th, 2010 | 1 Comment » | Respond to this question

I’m thinking about green remodeling and replacing my driveway with a landscaped turf blocks. Is this a good idea for a home in Syracuse? If so what should I consider?

Ellen M. ~ Syracuse, New York

Brendan Fowler

First you should consider what aspects of “green” are most important to you.  For example, if a small carbon footprint for this project is the most important thing, look at factors like these.

Does the driveway need to be pulled up by heavy equipment that has to be hauled to and from the job on large trucks?  Will the project generate debris that needs to be hauled off and disposed of by large trucks?  Will materials necessary to rebuild the driveway need to be delivered by large trucks?  Are concrete products going to be used to rebuild the driveway?

If your answers are yes to these questions, you are going to be leaving a carbon footprint.  Maybe having the additional permeable area on your property is more profound than a carbon footprint.

There is no right or wrong here.  You just have to assess the green value of the project and how it will be accomplished.  Sometimes the greenest thing to do is nothing, if the thing being replaced is not broken.

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One Response to “Choosing the Right Green Remodeling Driveway Solution”

  1. Todd Todd says:
    March 8, 2010 at 9:57 am

    Keep in mind that concrete’s main ingredient is Portland Cement, which requires huge amounts of electricity to make. If that electricity comes from a coal fires power plant, then that is a huge carbon no-no!
    If you have access to crushed glass cullet, this is a green alternative to other types of road base.

    Reply

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