Green Architecture

Historic House Gets Green Facelift

Marcus — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:45:19 -0400

Located in Summit, New Jersey, Twin Maples is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The original house was erected in 1908 by well-known New York architect, Alfred F. Norris. Over the past century, the house has served as a hub for charitable events and fundraisers, and since 1949 has been the home of The Fortnightly Club of Summit and the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club. These groups support a variety of charities including the NJ Community Foodbank, the Peterpaul Foundation, SHIP (Summit Helping Its People), and the community “Tot Trot,” a foot race benefiting a different children’s charity each year.

This October, in conjunction with the opening of the Twin Maples Centennial Show House, The Fortnightly Club will be raising money in support of The Cancer Center at Overlook Hospital. In addition to adding another charity to the impressive list of causes Twin Maples has helped over the years, the unveiling of the Show House will also feature another Twin Maples milestone: environmentally sustainable design.

The Carriage House at Twin Maples, one of the newly restored buildings in the Twin Maples compound, will be an entirely green design space, utilizing sustainable building practices and alternative energy. All materials used in the renovation will be recycled, reused, or renewable. The carriage house will feature green paint, wall coverings, recycled furnishings, Energy Star appliances, and reclaimed wood cabinetry and stone. The Carriage House will also incorporate two solar arrays, courtesy of Vanguard Energy Partners. When completed, the Carriage House will illustrate how easily environmental sustainability and state-of-the-art renovation can go hand in hand.

The Carriage House will be on display as part of the Show House festivities that will be taking place next month to celebrate Twin Maples’ centennial. For more information on Twin Maples, visit www.historictwinmaples.org.

Embarking on a new project - Insulating my entire house

ellen — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:24:00 -0400

I'm taking Barack Obama's advice and insulating my house so that it can be heated by a candle. No, we're not heating with a candle, it would ruin the indoor air quality. Just kidding.

Over the next few days, we will lay out the plan for insulating our little semi-attached row house and then get prices and do it, hopefully before the cold weather sets in. Our house is at the end of a row of 4 houses in the Kensington section of Brooklyn. Our heating bills have been double those of our next-door-neighbor who benefits from the heated spaces in our house.

Here's the general plan - we'll attack 1 area at a time, starting from the top down.

1. Roof: The area below the roof and above the 2nd floor ceiling is called a cock-loft. It is currently uninsulated and unvented. I want to blow in insulation and vent it to prevent mold build-up and heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

2. Exterior Wall: We have approximately 800 SF of wall which faces a community garden. It is brick construction with a layer of stucco, now cracked in many places. There are 3 windows on the wall which will need to be dealt with carefully. Our idea is to insulate the wall and paint it so that it can receive a mural painted by a community group.

3. Basement ventilation: We installed a fan a few years ago to ventilate the Basement. Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication with the contractor, we ended up with the kind of vent that has a cover manually controlled by a chain which basically means we have an 8 inch diameter hold in the Basement wall.

4. Boiler Room: The boiler room is located adjacent to the exterior wall and is completely uninsulated. The plan is to insulate the room as well as the boiler, hot water heater and all exposed pipes

Ellen

www.ehapc.com

[brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com

Indy House: Green Getaway in the Backyard

ellen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:08:00 -0400

We took a little hiatus from this project for a few reasons - babies, construction projects, etc. but we're back on track now! We're calling this post # 7 to continue from where we left off.

To recap, (check out the previous blog posts), our goal is to document the design for a proposed secondary space in Indianapolis adjacent to a single family home. This small getaway space would be a backyard living space (mainly an artist's studio) and will incorporate as many environmentally friendly design and construction methods as possible. The design of this small home design will attempt to create the most efficient home in terms of cost, energy efficiency, material waste, and carbon footprint reduction. Here are some of our goals:

* Modular Design: to save on material costs, ease of constructability and time.

* Zero Energy Home - designing a building with a net energy of zero over the course of a year.

* Passive Solar Home Design : Using the sun to heat and cool the house through orientation, materials and natural methods.

In our effort to achieve these goals, green guidelines are important to establish upfront not only for the design team but for all parties involved in the construction process. It is also critical for the owners to have baseline metrics and common language for green expectations. Although our priority for the Indy House is not necessarily to gain a green certification (such as LEED), we believe it is important to outline the major categories involved in the holistic design approach for any green building: Site, Energy, Water, Materials, Air Quality. Regarding certification for homes, this article in Sunday's New York Times, points out some pros and cons of the current residential certification process.

To better understand the project and how the space will be used, we compiled a questionnaire for the Owner because we want to make sure we understand how the owners envision the space. Following are the questions and answers:

1. Use of Space:

* Will you cook in this space?
* How many hours a day will you spend inside?
* Will you entertain guests here?
* Would you like to garden here?
* What kind of maintenance do you expect from this space?
* Activities?

The space will be used as a retreat which will be used mainly for painting and writing. Rarely will we entertain here. We're a busy family so low-maintenance is key. Eventually we will grow a garden, most likely after this building is complete so we don't ruin the garden during construction.

2. How do you envision the relation of this house to the main house?
* connection or hidden?

The house should be connected visually but actually separate. The whole point is to find quiet space away from busy family life.

3. How will you use the house through the seasons
* Winter? Spring? Summer? Fall?

We intend to use the house year-round so comfort is crucial.

4. What do you think about generating power from this house for the main house?

If we can....ABSOLUTELY! It's a no-brainer.

5. Of schemes A, B, C, D -
* which do you like the best?
* what don’t you like & why?
* what would you change or add?

We like Scheme D - we don't need a green roof to grow stuff or to occupy since we have the lawn and the adjacent patio, we'd rather use the roof area for solar panels if possible. However, we're concerned about leaks from the inverted roof.

6. How public/private will the spaces be?

Entirely private.

7. Composting waste on site for the garden – what do you think?

Absolutely, but let's keep it hidden from view and as far from the house as possible to avoid contamination by bugs, mice etc....

8. Roof access – what do you think?

Don't really need it.

9. Whats your thought on materials?
* texture
* feel
* color
* maintenance

We want the house to feel natural - that it's part of the landscape, not that it just dropped down from outer space.

13. If there was a wood burning stove, would you use it?

Yes. By the way, with the rains we have had over the past 10 days, the backyard is a swamp so think about elevating the house somewhat so we can use it during Indy's new "rainy season".

Thanks. We love the design so far!

Jen Altman also contributed to this post.

www.ehapc.com

[brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com

10 Reasons To Consider Building a Straw Bale Home

jchait — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

I really super adore straw bale homes, and am even considering straw bale for my next self-built home. There are disadvantages to every kind of home you might think to build. Including straw bale homes, but today, let's look at some advantages of straw bale building.

1. Straw bale homes are created with an overly abundant by-product of grain - if no one uses said by-products they're typically burned which of course creates pollution issues.

2. Unlike the 3 little pigs your straw bale home won't blow over. Straw bale homes, are sometimes considered "Hay" but that's not the whole truth. Straw and hay are different materials. Straw used in straw bale homes can differ in quality, but overall, with smart planning and building techniques, straw is actually quite durable and safe as a building material.

3. You can build straw bale homes that are cute, quaint, and hippie-like, traditional, classical, or even very large (although don't because why use that footprint). The point though, is that straw bale is very flexible to most designs.

4. Straw bale is a nice noise reducing material. The secret to this is the thickness of the bales factor.

5. Almost anyone can learn to build with straw bale. If you have the time and means, you could build your own straw bale with possible far less help than you could a traditional home. Workshops and training surrounding straw bale building are abundant. Just type, "Straw bale workshop" into Google, and you'll see what I mean.

6. Straw bale homes are fire proof, water proof, rodent proof, and if you plan right and keep it dry, straw bale is even resistant to decay. Some people imagine a rain soaked straw bale or the whole house aflame with the flick of one match, which is actually not true with proper building techniques.

7. Straw bale is not "A New Mexico phenomenon"; something I once heard someone say. You can build a straw bale home almost anywhere.

8. Straw bales are very energy efficient. I've seen straw bales in New Mexico summers that don't even need air conditioning to stay cool, yet stay warm in winter. It's amazing. If you build correctly, you can save 30% plus on your energy needs.

9. Straw bales are slowly becoming more popular. I suspect obtaining financing and home insurance will only get easier with this material as time goes on - which is not true of all eco-building materials.

10. The earth loves a straw bale home. A well built straw bale drains fewer non-renewable resources, uses less wood during construction, reduces pollution, and are easy (in most cases) to build locally wherever you may be, cutting transport costs.

My favorite book and DVD set about straw bale is Building With Awareness. If you see this DVD and read the book, you'll love straw bale too.

[photo - the Building With Awareness house - a stunning example of a straw bale solar home]

If you have a dollar, spend it on insulation!

ellen — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:23:37 -0400

Appropriately and properly insulating a home or structure may be one of the most substantial green practices you can do to get the most for your money. Paying attention to the building envelope can drastically improve the environmental performance of the systems in terms of heating and cooling the building. The ReGreen guidelines (pg 80 & 81) recommends wall insulating levels of R-30 and higher, and ceiling/roof values of R-50 and higher. I even heard Barack Obama say that we should insulate our homes so well we could heat them with a candle (of course this brings up a whole host of fresh air and indoor air quality issues - but that's a whole 'nother post).

Choosing the right insulation is key for a successful installation, as well as knowing what the insulation is composed of. Many insulations contain formaldehyde, a toxic chemical resulting in poor indoor air quality.

There are a variety of insulation materials that contain high recycled content, are formaldehyde free, and are a sustainable choice for selecting insulation. Cellulose (recycled paper), cotton, fiberglass, foam and mineral wool are some of these options.

Some interesting facts:

Cellulose is composed of about 75% post consumer waste paper, having one of the highest recycled content values among insulation types. It can easily absorb moisture however, so proper sealing and installation techniques are necessary to ensure it will last over time. Check out CIMA for more information.

Cotton insulation has a very low environmental impact, due to the careful attention to processing the material made primarily of blue jeans. Bonded Logic is one company that manufacturers this type of insulation.

Recycled glass makes up 25% or more of all fiberglass. The ReGreen Guidelines states" The insulation industry is now the largest user of recycled glass in the country" (ReGreen guidelines, pg. 103) in reference to the fiberglass material contained in a variety of insulation types. Although a high recycled content, its important to research if the fiberglass contains formaldehydes that can offgas - many companies have begun to use adhesives that contain low VOC's, approved by Greenguard standards. Fiberglass also sometimes has a bad rap due to the fibers that can come loose during installation and be inhaled or cause splinters.

We're considering using foam insulation, Polyisocyanurate - and since we have trouble remembering that word, we'll refer to it more simply as polyiso for our project. This insulation material is made of a closed cell rigid foam, that comes in a variety of forms (boards, spray, etc). The ReGreen guidelines recommends a foil-faced polyiso for insulating exterior walls (using 4" thickness creates a R-40 value) and a cellulose spray for the roof. The spray form that we're considering can be sprayed in the cavities throughout our brownstone renovation. Although the material does not have the highest recycled content, the material comes highly recommended because of its potential energy saving properties, high R-value, as well as increased air sealing and we think its effect on durability far outweighs its lack of recycled content.

This link from the GreenHome Guide is helpful, going into an in-depth explanation of the pros and cons of some insulation types that are available.

Happy insulating!

www.ehapc.com

[brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com

Green Home Site Selection - Part One

jchait — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

In this post, I'll create a partial checklist that can help you prepare to choose the best plot of land when building your green home. In tomorrow's post (and maybe Friday) we'll see the rest of the checklist. And next week we'll start looking at each tip in more in-depth detail.

When we built our home, it took my partner over a year to find the perfect plot of land, I thought we might just look at all the land in New Mexico (we didn't). My point don't be discouraged if it takes some time. In fact timing is my number one tip...

1. Don't rush: Rushing makes it easy to buy land you're not completely happy with. If you plan on living in your home for a long time - and I hope so, because rampant moving is not a green choice, then you'll want to love the land you're on. Being patient can also save you money, and save you from making a mistake when you don't check out the land properly.

2. Research and then set a budget. You can set a budget before researching, but you won't know how far your money will take you in your area. See what's typical. Note how much land your budget can buy, and if you'll have to make any sacrifices. You might have to, but if you know ahead of time what sacrifices you may need to make you can pick and choose the lesser of two or three evils.

3. Slope is good. I though slope was a bad thing when we first started building, but it turns out, slope assists in a natural drainage, say for graywater systems.

4. Avoid flood plains: This seems obvious, but how many people build smack in the middle of a flood plain - tons. Don't be one of them.

5. Don't build in arroyos. Actually don't build near one either. In New Mexico for example, this could be a problem. It won't rain forever, and then when it does, it pours, transforming streets into lakes and arroyos into worse. Your house could be flooded and pounded down in one rainy downpour.

6. Make sure your site has decent to great solar access: Even if you won't be going full on solar, you'll want to try for passive at least. In the North Hemisphere choose land open to the south and in Southern Hemisphere of course do the opposite. If you don't know North from South take a compass with you as you search for land. I get really confused with direction, and there's no shame in taking tools that can help you. If you have the time - say a piece of land is not a likely hot seller you'll want to track the sun for a while on the land to get a feel for how solar might work on a day-to-day basis.

Tomorrow: More tips to add to this checklist. Possibly we'll wrap up. and if not, we'll finish up Friday. There's a lot to choosing the right plot of land, you don't want to leave anything out.

[Photo via author's personal home building photos - New Mexico land]

Passive Solar Design -- Angling Doors and WIndows to Get the Most out of the Sun's Natural Heating Power

ellen — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Robyn and Mike Sealander, of Sealander Studio in Brooklin, Maine are wonderful architects, builders and experts in passive solar design. They have agreed to tell us everything about designing a home to use passive solar energy. OK, maybe not everything you ever wanted to know, but it's a good start! See our interview below.

Ellen Honigstock:

Hi Robyn,

As you know, we are designing a (very) small house in Indianapolis. We want it to be as green as possible so we are proposing that it be designed with the principles of passive solar design in mind. My personal experience with this type of work is limited given that I’m an urban architect through and through and we just don’t have those types of opportunities in our work here in good old Brooklyn (NY, not Maine!).

I know that siting is the most important aspect of the schematic design. How do you usually start the process?

Robyn Sealander: For us, the first step in any design--before picking up a pen or firing up the computer--is to get inside the head of our client, to try to get a thorough understanding of their lifestyle and expectations. We will usually have several casual conversations to get a general familiarity with new clients and then follow up with a series of specific questions. For example, we need to know how they expect to spend their time while in the house:

Do they work during the day and are usually at home only during evenings?
Are they avid gardeners or crafters?
Do they work from a home office?
Do they entertain often?
Do they love to cook?
How old are their children or grandchildren?
What are their favorite family activities?

All of these questions can (and do) lead us to an understanding of the general activity-based requirements for the house. We feel this step is essential for several reasons.

First of all, anyone can build a house that would be suitable for anyone else--builders churn out hundreds of these every day. Hiring an architect and designing and building your own home gives clients the opportunity to get exactly what they need and want, to have a home conform to the requirements of their lifestyle, instead of the other way around. I mean, we all grew up in houses, right? We all know what goes into a house, so how hard can it be? Well, we think it is worth the extra time to really get this right, to fully understand what the essence of dwelling is for any client.

Concurrent with this effort is a thorough understanding of the site itself. We create a 3D model of the site using Revit, a BIM (Building Information Modelling) software package. We document the physical aspects of the site: topography, solar orientation, existing trees, flowering bushes, large rocks, marshy areas, ponds, whatever. We also document the experience of being at the site--is there a view, either desirable or unsightly? Do the neighbors use crabshells for garden mulch? (I would guess this is fairly unique to Maine, but try to avoid neighbors who use crabshells for garden mulch. The stench in summer is supremely foul.)

We analyze the site for its load capacity--what type of construction would be most suited to the ground? Lots of land here is solid granite ledge. Where will run-off go? Will it need to be diverted? Is part of the site currently or formerly a garden?

Once we feel comfortable that we know both the client and the site, the initial schematic design can begin. The key to effective passive solar design is a melding of the requirements and conditions explored during the pre-design phase. Depending on the client, spaces sometimes shake out into clearly defined dichotomies: day/night; public/private; front/back warm/cool.

The process we use is similar to a block-diagram method, with volumes of spaces for the client's activities arranged (and endlessly re-arranged) until all of the design criteria are met simultaneously. For example, this might mean that a "day" space, like a home office for a telecommuter, needs to receive maximum daylight during 3 seasons, must be able to see the view, and must be adjacent to the entry, the family area and a bathroom. Each programmatic activity is analyzed to determine its adjacencies, its optimal orientation, its correct spatial volume. Obviously one major goal is to maximize solar gain during the daylight hours, but that usually doesn't mean simply a south-facing wall of windows.

EH: I completely agree that the siting of the house is just as important as the program in generating the schematic layout. At what point in the design process do the technical aspects of passive solar design come into play?

RS: Solar design is by nature a technical activity. Think of it like structural design. While we can be seat-of-the pants for a little bit, we are really interested in knowing that sun angle, percent glazing, and other parameters are going to be satisfied. Solar design constrains the design process from the beginning, just as structural design does.

EH: I understand that in Maine, most people use passive solar for winter heating purposes but that it is also possible to achieve summer cooling in warmer climates. Could you speak to that?

Mike Sealander: Yes, you simply design to avoid solar gain. Overhangs, fenestration on the north side, thermal mass, well-insulated roof deck. In Maine, we get a lot of solar gain in the summer. As it turns out, a well-insulated roof goes a long way in cooling a house in summer as well as keeping it warm in the winter.

EH: Do you have a sense of what portion of the heating and cooling costs a passive system can cover? For example: is it crazy to expect that a passive solar house can be completely off the grid as far as heating & cooling costs go?

MS: You can be completely off the grid by using supplemental heat from a wood stove, for instance. The nice thing about being on the grid is not heat; it's electricity for lights, computers, dishwasher, washing machine, that sort of thing. It takes a big lifestyle commitment to be off the electrical grid. It's a lot easier to live without direct use of carbon fuels, except for cooking. I hate electric ovens. However, domestic hot water from solar panels is common in Maine, so most of the domestic carbon fuel use up here is by choice, not by necessity.

EH: Are there materials that you prefer that work better with passive solar design. Conversely, are there materials (besides crabshell mulch of course) that you would avoid?

MS: We try to work with the best glazing systems we can find. We also use a lot of caulks, sealants, insulation, house-wrap, that sort of thing. In terms of finish material, there is not much of a difference between one flooring product over the other. For hydronic floors, we may avoid carpet, but we don't feel we have to use tile, for instance.

EH: Is a passive solar house more or less expensive to construct than a conventionally-built house?

MS: No.

EH: How much do passive solar design principles overlap with other "green" or
"sustainable" practices?

MS: I don't think you can be green without considering passive solar, especially with single family dwellings. In a high-rise, you may not have much choice in the matter.

EH: Do you have photos of projects you have done?

RS: Above (and at the top of the post) are 2 photos of a project we call Meadow Lane. On this house, 40 out of the 47 openings (doors and windows) face south for maximum solar gain. The design of the deep overhang on the south end of the family room was tuned to the window heights on that wall to take full advantage of the solar orientation. In the summer, the overhang protects the openings from the rays of the sun. In the winter, it is desirable for the sun to enter the house and the tall openings allow daylight to penetrate the entire length of the house, south to north.

EH: Thanks!

for more info check out our site: Ellen Honigstock Architect PC at www.ehapc.com and our blog: [brooklyn green] www.ehapc.wordpress.com

Green Homes Not Welcome Here

jchait — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

The Daily Green had a very interesting post up recently related to one couple who built green. They picked a lovely modular home by architect Michelle Kaufmann (who I'm a huge fan of by the way), and did everything right, but people got a little upset with them.

The locals objected to the style of the home. According to Daily Green, some went so far to call it "Trailer like" which frankly should be punishable by law, because none of Kaufmann's designs are trailer like. But I digress. A petition was started against the home, but in the end the home won out, due to a vote by a local board. You can read the whole story at the Daily Green.

The Daily Green calls stuff like this "Greenfear" which may be appropriate. Just trying to install a composting toilet at our passive solar house I built with my partner was a total nightmare - lots of opposition. The Daily Green also points out that people never come down on the lame old McMansions like this - which is also one of my major pet peeves. McMansions bring nothing but a big fat carbon footprint to the table, yet it's rare that full on revolts are planned against them.

So, say that you'd like to build green. Say that the neighbors object. What can you do?

Some opposition to green homes say that they'll bring property values down. In truth, green homes and green home upgrades can improve resale of a single home, but no one is really sure of the neighborhood value associations. There's not enough data yet - if you search around most research about green homes will say just that. Point being - arguing property values may not work in your favor.

If it's your immediate neighbors who object, try sitting down and talking to them. It could be that all it takes is a reduced six home, or a fence to make them happy - really, there have been cases like this in the news.

Another thing you can do is go over the positives with the neighbors. A HUGE selling point of many green homes, especially if you go modular, is time investments. Green homes (true green) tend to be smaller than conventional homes, thus saving construction time, often by half, which neighbors should be thrilled with.

Build rural or at least not in a style established neighborhoods and historic districts. It's a pain, yeah, but it's also the truth that you can face more opposition in areas like these. While I know, and you know, that green building should be the norm, not the exception, you honestly might not get your green home built, or even be allowed to install energy efficient windows if you live in a place that decides green is undesirable. Check out the neighborhood association before buying land or a house that you assume you'll be doing green upgrades on.

Hiring an established green designer, architect and construction team can work in your favor, as opposed to self building.

Make sure you follow all the building rules laid out by your city and county. Some areas have very specific rules regarding what you can and can't do with regards to green building.

Hook up with organizations who can offer you suggestions and support.

Keep talking about green building. This is a really frustrating topic, because of course we shouldn't even have to ask if we want solar panels, or wind generated power. Building green should be seen as an advantage, not a problem to the "look" or economy of a neighborhood. The only way to make change is to keep on talking about green building to everyone you know. Discuss the cost advantages over time, selling points, and other earth-based perks gained by green building.

[House photo: Sunset Breezehouse by Michelle Kaufmann] - I.E. NOT a trailer (some people, I swear).

Happy World Health Day

jchait — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Tomorrow is World Health Day - actually it may be World Health Day for some of you already since it falls on April 7th. I'm a west coast girl, so it's still the 6th where I am. In any case, it's not too early to discuss.

Each year, World Health Day, from the World Health Organization announces a theme for the upcoming year. This year's theme is "Protecting health from climate change." Now of course we talk about building and green homes here, but we won't be building any homes if our health is harmed by climate change. So, let's chat about it.

Obviously climate change is set off by the toll we create on the planet. By using too much energy, by driving when we could bike, and by big old companies pumping that pollution into the air. Some people find global warming amusing, a joke, but if the World Health Organization finds it important enough to focus on this year then we can too.

The World Health Organization sites the following reasons why climate change is this year’s topic.

“Extremes of heat and cold can cause potentially fatal illnesses, e.g. heat stress or hypothermia, as well as increasing death rates from heart and respiratory diseases.
In cities, stagnant weather conditions can trap warm air and air pollutants - leading to smog episodes with significant health impacts.
Other weather extremes, such as heavy rains, floods, and hurricanes, also have severe impacts on health. Approximately 600 000 deaths occurred worldwide as a result of weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s; some 95% of these were in poor countries.”

The World Health Organization feels that help is needed immediately, if we’re going to help stop climate change and it’s negative affects, also if we’re going to help the people already affected.

Following are goals of the World Health Organization related to climate change:

“Establish links between climate change and health and other development areas such as environment, food, energy, transport;
Hold events/activities in countries to publicize issues related to the impact of climate change on health;
Involve as wide a spectrum of the world population as possible in efforts to stabilize climate change;
Create advocacy campaigns for generating momentum that compels governments, the international community, civil society and individuals to take action;
Protect poor and vulnerable populations from the effects of climate change, especially in Africa.”

Now when it comes to homes, and building homes, we can make a large difference to climate change, help prevent it, by doing some simple things to reduce our weigh on the earth.

You can do the following at home to help minimize climate change:

Check your light fixtures: If everyone in the U.S made sure that their five most used light fixtures contained ENERGY STAR light bulbs, the EPA notes that we could "Prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars."

Use the STAR when building: There are ENERGY STAR products available now in lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliance. By only useing energy efficient appliances, we cut greenhouse gases significantly.

Seal and insulate your home: It makes no sense at all to build a home that will just be chilly in winter, and too hot in the summer.If you start smart from the start with superior insulation techniques, you'll save energy and money, and reduce greenhouse gases.

Reuse & recycle: By using reclaimed and recycled materials to build you save previously discarded resources, while reducing the power needs to make new materials.

Use local materials: Transportation is one of the driving forces behind global warming. You can, in almost all cases buy local material for your home, instead of shipping in supplies.

To learn more ways to build cleaner and greener in order to prevent more climate change from occurring, visit the Green Building Initiative.

Proper Disposal of Paints & Other Home Finishes

jchait — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

A large part of green building that people often forget to work into their plans is proper disposal of building materials. If you build green, then toss items into landfills to rot for 100 years, or pour finishes down the drain, you're missing a big part of the green building process.

We could discuss any number of excess building materials, but because paint and other finishes are a biggie item, used by many, let's look at that first.

Even if you're buying non-toxic paints and finishes you still need to dispose of them properly. Just because it's a greener finish, doesn't make it cool to dump it down your drain where it can enter our water supplies, streams, groundwater, and so fourth.If you do happen to have some of the more toxic finishes around, then proper disposal is even more important.

Here are some steps you can take:

First, you should be buying non-toxic paints and finishes whenever possible. Not that their disposal is any less important, but why not be more green?

Don't buy more paint than you need. If you aren't sure how much paint you're going to need, ask a professional - even the fellows at your local hardware store should be able to help you estimate paint needs, both exterior and interior.

If you do end up with left over paint - consider it's other uses before tossing. Keep it well marked and use it for home touch ups, your next dog house, tree house, refurbishing bookshelves, and more. Let your kids use it for art, paint birdhouses; donate it to a school or community center.

Re-mix it. Did you know that if you have many different left-over paint colors, than all of them mixed together will almost always create a dull gray color that's perfect as a primer. Now you do.

If you've honestly used all you can, give the excess to it a hazardous waste collection organization in your community. Your local trash or recycling program will be able to tell you where to go.

[photo via stock.xchng]