Building Green

Watch Building Green

  • 2006
  • 1 Season
  • 7.8  (11)

Building Green is a documentary series that aired on PBS from 2006 to 2008, starring host and green building expert Kevin Contreras. The show focuses on the sustainability and eco-friendliness of buildings and homes as Contreras travels around the United States to explore and showcase green building practices.

Each episode of Building Green is a deep dive into a particular project, from homes to commercial buildings, exploring the various strategies employed to achieve sustainable design and construction. Contreras interviews architects, builders, and homeowners who share their experiences and techniques, showcasing different ways to incorporate eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and renewable energy sources into the building process.

In the first season, Contreras travels to a variety of locations, from a straw-bale home in Colorado to a sustainable community in Missouri, to explore the latest developments in green building technology. He also examines the benefits of using recycled materials and the integration of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems into a building's overall design. The show also highlights the advantages of natural landscaping, such as green roofs and living walls.

Season two of Building Green focuses on the same topics, but with a more in-depth analysis of the sustainable design process from start to finish. Contreras investigates the construction of a unique straw-bale home in the California desert and a high-end green home in Taos, New Mexico, discussing the challenges and benefits of sustainable living.

Throughout the show, Contreras underscores the importance of a building's impact on the environment and the significant role that ecologically responsible building practices play in reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions. He also explores how residents of green homes can gain self-reliance and financial savings by using renewable energy sources while reducing their carbon footprint.

Besides the practical aspects of sustainable design and construction, Building Green also touches on the psychological and emotional effects of living in environmentally-friendly homes. Contreras shares heartwarming stories of the homeowners enjoying the benefits of sustainable living and feeling more connected to nature in their new homes.

The show also highlights the work of various professionals, organizations, and governmental agencies that advocate for green building practices. Contreras speaks with industry leaders who are developing innovative products and technologies to help people achieve sustainable living.

In conclusion, Building Green sets out to educate and inspire viewers by showcasing a sustainable and eco-friendly way of life. By exploring various projects, interviewing experts, and sharing eye-catching examples of healthy and green homes, the show demonstrates that environmentally-friendly design can reduce energy consumption, save money, and improve one's quality of life. The show is a must-watch for anyone passionate about a sustainable future, and It's sure to inspire you to take action!

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Seasons
The Finale
13. The Finale
December 22, 2006
The process was off to a slow start due to limited information resources and understanding about green building.
Interior Design
12. Interior Design
December 15, 2006
Before he begins building, Kevin invites a Feng Sui expert, Victoria Miller, to come and give her opinion of his architectural plans.
Landscaping
11. Landscaping
December 8, 2006
The greenest garden of all: one without any green -- a rock garden.
Water
10. Water
December 1, 2006
Alyssa Alvord, building Green health expert, explains why clean water is so essential to our health.
Lighting
9. Lighting
November 24, 2006
Alyssa Alvord, building Green health expert, explains that electromagnetic frequency is everywhere around us and educates on the dangers of low-level exposure.
Floors and Closets
8. Floors and Closets
November 17, 2006
In his new green dream home, Kevin has chosen concrete slab as the primary flooring on the first floor, therefore, he will need to finish it with nontoxic stains and sealants.
Interior Finishes
7. Interior Finishes
November 10, 2006
While the straw bales are the envelope of Kevin's dream home, plaster will be the skin. Therefore, he doesn't want any ordinary plaster, he is looking for earthen plaster.
Exterior Finishes
6. Exterior Finishes
November 3, 2006
Kevin's straw bale dream home is coming along very well. Next step? Start the plastering process.
Doors and Windows
5. Doors and Windows
October 27, 2006
Using a dwindling natural resource to build, wood, the most responsible way is to not use too much of it. Fortunately, Kevin is building a straw bale home.
Straw Bales
4. Straw Bales
October 20, 2006
Kevin works on his first step: finding dry, structurally sound straw bales to transport them and move to the center of the house so that they don't get wet.
Framing and Roofing
3. Framing and Roofing
October 13, 2006
Kevin goes to see green architect Eric Corey Freed to talk about the environmental differences between using steel and wood for the post-and-beam structure of his new home in Santa Barbara, CA.
Foundation
2. Foundation
March 20, 2007
This episode is dedicated to foundation planning, host Kevin Contreras explains, "Today we're going to talk about straw-bale building before preparing and pouring the foundation."
Breaking Ground
1. Breaking Ground
September 29, 2006
Follow host Kevin Contreras over the next 13 episodes_4-18, as he builds his green dream home in Santa Barbara, CA.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    September 29, 2006
  • IMDB Rating
    7.8  (11)