Welcome to Shades of Green

Welcome to Shades of Green, your comprehensive guide to green building practices and possibilities for YouthBuild programs.

Here in one place you'll find an overview of opportunities big and small to go green, clear presentations of the comparative benefits and challenges of available methods and materials, and honest reports from the field where real groups like yours have successfully incorporated these powerful ideas.

What's New

We have added new information and resources to the Shades of Green site! Go to the blue tab labled DeconstructionThe orderly disassembly of a building, and sorting of its components for reuse, recycling or disposal. . In this section, we will help you: 

• Understand the difference between demolitionThe destruction and complete removal of a building and its components. and deconstruction.
• Evaluate whether your project is suitable for full deconstruction, partial deconstruction, or recyclingThe reprocessing of an item into a new raw material. Recycling preserves natural resources..
• Identify the types of materials that can be salvaged and reused in a deconstruction project.
• Locate resources for recycling unsalvageable materials – in particular carpet, concrete, wood, and gypsum drywall – in an environmentally friendly way.

We have also added a new tool about selecting the right building for deconstruction, along with two case studies that show you "real life" examples of deconstruction projects in YouthBuild programs. 

We know that time is always in short supply, but the need for assistance is always great! To help with that, we're offering "Small Steps. Big Impact". Each month we'll highlight something you can do, in 15 minutes or less, that can have a big impact on your program. We will also highlight helpful tools and information that can be found on the site. > Learn More