Read N Seed 3: Second Quarter of Green From the Ground Up

1. In the 2nd quarter of the book it covers 4 chapters, framing, roof and attic, windiws and doors, and plumbing.
2. The 5th chapter is framing and it has a lot to do with things to help insulate the building more effieciently. One way to do that is to not waste wood and use whats called Optimum Value Engineering. There are different techniques to doing corners that does not squish the insulation making it less efficient. Recycled steel studs are another way to cut down on the amount of wood that is used. Chapter 6 is installing the roof and attic. One of the first things you ahve to do is decide if you possbily want solar panels because then there slightly different things that need to be done. Again there is some new techniques to make sure the insualation is not squished making it less efficient. Some greener roof types would be recycled metal roofing or vegetation roofing, opposed to variety of shingle types. Chapter 7 was windows and doors and they both have some common similarities. Positioning windows and doors in a room is important for the aspect of natural air ventilation saving electricity amoung other things. The 3 most important things are the framing, insulating value, and edges of multiplane window/doors for keeping the as efficent as possible. Mudrooms are a great way to "seal" off and area that might alter room temperature. Chapter 8 was plumbing and what can be done to not be wasteful of water. The first thing that you can do is use Energy Star appliances that specialize in using as little water as possiblr. The type of water hearter that you use is also a large factor. The longer you are waiting for the water to heat up the more cold water that is getting wasted.
3/4. The thing that I thought was the coolest and could help out the community with a large impact was the on demand hot water system. This makes it possbile to immediately have hot water so you are not standingt here outside the shower or sink watching the water go down the drain without using it. It doesn't seem like much but think of how much is wasted in one day, then in a week, then a month and so on. It would be an astronomical difference not having to wait. I think that communities should have so legal binding to use on deamnad water systems.