Going Green: Things to Consider When Building Accessory Dwelling Unit

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Home Living: Going Green

The majority of home improvement projects reduce the resale or market value of a home. That is not, however, the case with accessory dwelling units. They are considered to be tools in the fight against climate change. Many of the people who are willing to make the investment in building ADU’s consider themselves to be environmental enthusiasts. ADU’s are more likely to add resourcefulness to property than a traditional renovation.

What is a Green Home?

A green home is a type of domicile created for the sole purpose of being environmentally friendly. The primary focus of green homes is to maintain sufficient use of building materials, water preservation, and energy conservation. Ideally, green homes should be healthier for the people living inside of it, compared to a standard home.

Benefits of Going Green

The benefit of green homes is that any home can be made into one or renovated later. ADU’s that have been constructed with environmentally friendly materials tend to be more robust and expensive to build. This is due to the number of high-quality building materials and rigorous construction processes they undergo.

People who live in green homes save more each month than those who live in traditional homes. People living in green homes also used significantly less energy and water in comparison to those who lived in standard homes.

Living in green homes could also mean a reduction in healthcare costs. For example, living in an eco-friendly home could mean fewer visits to the doctor. With the increasing number of insurance companies offering to discount policies that cover green homes, it’s safe to say that living in a green home can also cut back on insurance cost.

The Process

Building an eco-friendly home is a skill that changes consistently as more advancements in technology are made. With scientific breakthroughs emerging, the process you undergo to build a green dwelling today may be different for your neighbor tomorrow.

Building an ADU in Portland exclusively with environmentally eco-friendly materials does not have to be expensive. This is a process you can complete yourself, all at once, or over time. You can do this by building on your own land and adopting reuse practices. You may also want to consider installing energy efficient windows and environmentally friendly lighting.

If you go through a construction company, you may find that this can be an expensive process. Architects and traditional construction companies tend to charge additional fees to cover the amount of time spent researching the information needed to complete this type of process.

Green Home Building Companies

If you are able to partner with a green home building company, it will be a benefit in the long run. These type of companies save you time and money in the building process because of the amount of knowledge they have in this particular field.

These companies are considered low maintenance in operation as some of their practices include using rainwater as an alternative measure when installing plumbing fixtures. The purpose is to reduce water waste. They also ensure that no trash makes it into landfills. This is especially beneficial for the environment and ensures your ecological footprint leaves less of a mark.

How Social Security Determines if You’re Disabled

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How Social Security Uses a Five-Step Process to Determine If You’re Disabled.

Are you working?

If you’re currently employed, and your earnings average more than a specific amount every month, the SSA typically will not classify you as being disabled. The certain amount varies yearly. If you’re not working, or your monthly earnings average meets or is lower than a certain amount, the SSA then proceeds to evaluate your medical condition.

 

Is your medical condition “severe”?

For you to meet the criteria necessary to be considered disabled, your medical condition has to be undoubtedly creating the inability for you to complete typical work tasks such as lifting, standing, walking, sitting and memory for a minimum of 12 months. You will not meet the Social Security’s definition of disabled if the medical condition isn’t severe enough. If your medical condition is truly severe, the SSA goes on to step 3.

 

Does your impairment(s) meet or medically equal a listing?

The SSA has a list of impairments or listings which describe medical conditions that qualify as sufficiently severe to stop a person from doing basics activities without considering age, education, or work experience. If your medical condition(s) cannot be found on the list, the SSA evaluates your condition is as severe as another condition on the list. If your condition severity meets or equals the severity of an already listed condition, the SSA will then determine that you have a qualifying disability. If your condition still does qualify as a severe impairment, the SSA will continue to step.

 

Can you complete previous work?

The SSA determines if your medical condition(s) stops you from completing previous work at this step. If it does not, the SSA decides you do not have a qualifying disability. If it does, the SSA will go on to step 5.

 

Can you complete other work?

If you cannot complete previous work, the SSA determines if there is another occupation you can work in despite your condition(s). They take into account your age, education, previous work experience, and any particular skills that could prove useful in another job. If you can’t complete other work, the SSA will decide that you are disabled. If you can, then the SSA will determine that you do not have a qualifying disability.