WNC Green Building Forums

Green Energy – Eco-Friendly Electric Power Source for Your Home

2009-06-12T03:06:20-05:00

With the improvement of our technology, more and more homeowners are taking to consideration home appliances and home utilities that let’s them save money and energy at the same time.

With the advancement of scientific research and technology trends nowadays, having a renewable energy use at the comfort of your homes is no longer impossible. Most homeowners from the US, Canada and Australia are switching to a greener energy method.

Green Energy is getting your home electric power source from renewable sources coming from the sun, Earth’s internal heat, wind, water or even plants. This green power enables consumer to save on electric bills and get an eco-friendly home as well.

Getting renewable sources of energy or electric power in your homes can be achieved by making use of green technology equipments or sources. In the long run, investing on green technology equipments may be cost-effective since not only is it eco-friendly but the expense you will have to invest will definitely be lesser compared to the amount you can save once you “go green.”

Greener Options

If you would like to switch from a person who doesn’t care a bit about our current environmental situation to a person exactly the opposite of that, or you simply want to save money from your high electric bills, then digging in on some research work about green technology will help you decide.

Get green news updates or read more about green technology resources.

Here are some information and updates you should not miss knowing:

1. Solar Powered Appliances

Solar powered electic appliances such as solar powered windows, roofs and lightings, solar heating and cooling equipments are also becoming a trend for homeonwers. Most people install solar powered lighting around their garden. Solar powered appliances not only saves you money from electricity costs but it’s also easy to install having no wires.

2. PV Cells

PV cells enables a homeowner to generate his own electricity, this is applicable for houses with adequate solar resources.

3. Alternative green options

Aside from investing in green technology equipments, a consumer should also be informed with the “Major Appliance Shopping Guide.” The US Department of Energy provides a checklist and information on how to buy appliances wisely, spending on appliances with the Energy Star label.

4. Green LEED Building

Another eco-friendly option is through Green Leed Building. LEED is created to standardized building and construction which focuses in optimizing building constructions by increasing the efficiency of resource use. Through better design and construction a certain building will get a LEED 2.0 Gold certification by making use of sustainable design and green architecture, reducing waste production, pollution, and environmental degradation. Check out Leed Explained for more information.

Get more information and green news and green hacks at HippyGreen.

What about the Roof!

2009-01-05T14:30:01-05:00

I am respectfully inquiring as to the decision for many to put on petroleum based shingles?
Other than budget (I get that), but why does it appear to be the last major decision in the building process?
Is it not just as important as the foundation, the siding, the insulation, and all the other green building components?

We don’t build houses on foundations that need to be replaced or repaired every 15 to 30 years, nor do we install siding that would go to the landfill in the same time.

Case in point:
I recently worked on a home, approximately 1300 s.f., 2 story, and they put on a “standing seam” roof. It cost under $9000 to include gutters and a sun tunnel.
My guess is that you could get a shingle roof on for maybe 1/2 of that.
But then in 15 to 30 years, you do it again at increased material and lobor cost.
Not to mention landfill impact and environmental impact.

With a metal roof, you’re done… FOR LIFE! Even though the up front costs are more, the lifecycle cost is less, way less.

Sustainable roofs are such a win win, for the environment and the owner that I hope they find a higher priority in our future green building endeavors.

Again, respectfully asking the question, Why?

Regards, Paul

green kitchen counter top

2009-01-31T12:39:46-05:00

I want to get rid of my warn out old kitchen counter top. I also need a new faucet. I’d like something relatively green, but realize there are lots of pros and cons to all the various materials. Economy is also a consideration, so I’m thinking some kind of tile is the best solution. What do you think? And do you know anyone who does that kind of work?
Thanks!

Alternatives to Concrete Block

2009-01-31T21:10:34-05:00

I am looking at building a creamery/dairy building. Everyone is telling me to use concrete block vs poured walls or ICFs. Are there any builders in Polk County or nearby that have worked with ICFs?

Anyone who could give me an idea of what a 24 x 40 building like this would cost?

Simulated Slate & Shake roofing?

2009-03-17T10:50:14-05:00

Anyone have any experience with simulated roof shingles, Builders, Installers, Homeowners?
I talked with a roofing peer, and they said they installed a sim. slate 3 years ago and the surface is starting to bubble. The manufacturer said it wasn’t a warranty issue because it wasn’t leaking.
We are getting more inquiries for these simulated products, and we want to obviously steer our clients towards the best product.

In the past we have stayed away from these types of products, i.e. Eternit and Simwood, because they simply did not perform in our area.

Any feedback on these products from the past 2 years would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Northeast Georgia Home Builder Certified By Energy Star

2009-05-12T23:14:29-05:00

Mountain View Home Builders is now building certified EnergyStar homes in Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina.

Mountain View Home Builders, of Gainesville, Georgia, recently qualified as a green home builder under the Department Of Energy’s Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program. Energy Star homes use up to 50% less energy to maintain than conventional homes. To date, they have built four homes that qualify for the EnergyStar label and plan to make all their future homes EnergyStar qualified.

The company is also certified under several other green building programs including EarthCraft House, Jackson EMC “Right Choice”, Georgia Power EnergyStar, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy “Builders Challenge Program”.

Mountain View Home Builders is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. During 2009, the company plans to be certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The LEED green building rating system provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. The company is also certified under the EarthCraft House program. EarthCraft House is recognized nationally as the leading residential green building program.

For more information on how Mountain View Home Builders is pioneering green building in the Northeast Georgiaand Western North Carolina area, visit their website at… http://www.mvhomebuilders.com

Phone: 770-654-3435
E-mail at mvhomebuilders at bellsouth dot net.

Also visit these other websites to learn more about the Green Building Programs mentioned above.

EnergyStar- http://www.energystar.gov
EarthCraft House- http://www.earthcrafthouse.com/
U.S. Green Building Council- http://www.usgbc.org/
LEED Program- http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222
Right Choice- http://www.jacksonemc.com/Why-Buy-Right-Choice.137.0.html
Georgia Power Energy Star- http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/
Builders Challenge- http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/homebuyers.html

3d architectural rendering & animation

2010-01-04T02:21:47-05:00

Shanghai Sunrise Visual Design Co., Ltd. as a professional 3D Architectural Design company, which located in Shanghai that is the biggest and the important economic center in China. We have the professional 3D artist team and Eight years experiences in architectural design and rendering, and we can give you the highest quality products and the best after-service. Our main products include 3D Floor Plan, CAD Conversion And Animation/Fly Through, 3D Architectural/Interior Rendering, 3D Walk through Animation, Virtual Reality, 3D Character Model Design.If you want to get the latest information, please visit the website: www.shanghaiarchi.com.

BambHaus - The Enviroment Sustainable Home

2009-10-09T09:36:00-05:00

INTRODUCTION
CO2 emissions represent a serious problem for mankind and environment. In 2008, according to Mauna Loa Observatory data, CO2 levels in the atmosphere stand at 387 parts per million (ppm), the highest for the last 650.000 years. Due to massive production of CO2, the atmosphere has reached high levels of greenhouse gases that contribute to the global warming, with disastrous results for the whole ecosystem, such as drought and floods, and also economic consequences, especially for those developing countries depending on agriculture and breeding. Apart from reducing CO2 emissions, one possible solution could be a massive cultivation of plants that work as carbon sinks. Bamboo forms part of these precious plants that, after absorbing carbon, stores CO2 in its own biomass, and so reduces CO2 in the environment.

GUADUA BAMBOO
Francisco Gallo Mejia’s idea answers to this problem: a specific bamboo typology, named Guadua, to realize the BambHaus project - The Environment Sustainable Home.
The Columbian researcher’s ambition is to conciliate local economic development and environmental conservation, in those economically depressed areas.
The intrinsic properties of bamboo make the Engineered bamboo a high-tech building material capable of replacing or completing a large number of traditional construction materials.
The main qualities of Guadua Bamboo are:
- Ability to capture and store carbon
- Traction resistance
- Quick growth (up to 1 cm/day), easy new growth (over a period of 3 to 5 years) and its consequent easy availability

THE PROJECT
The “BambHaus” project proposes a human scale innovative architectural project and creates a link between Environment, Manufacturing Processes and Local Economy.
Francisco Gallo Mejia’s project of using Guadua Bamboo for a new building material won the Altran Foundation for Innovation 2008 Award.
Environment. Bamboo cultivation stimulates rainforest restoration and promotes biodiversity. Moreover, it allows to preserve the soil (by regulating its hydration) and, above all, to capture CO2. The plant absorbs at least 14 tonnes/ha/year of CO2 and fixes 30% more carbon than other species. The Engineered bamboo doesn’t release carbon in the atmosphere and generates less CO2 emissions due to transport, as Bamboo is cultivated close to the end users.
Manufacturing Processes and Local Economy. The manufacture of the Engineered bamboo will enable local economies to create a network of small industries, specialized in bamboo transformation. Moreover the Engineered bamboo requires, for its fabrication, a little energy, the usage of traditional building materials and small machines, to produce a high quality composite material.
People will play the main part in the whole project: locals will grow bamboo to turn Guadua into building materials that will be used to build environment sustainable houses.

ALTRAN FOUNDATION FOR INNOVATION
Since early 2008, Altran Consultants have started the new Engineered bamboo production and its promotion through the world. During one year, they will put their skills under the project’s disposal.
The Altran Foundation for Innovation fosters and supports technological innovation in a wide range of sectors to improve human wealth by creative and technologically advanced projects.
The Altran Foundation for Innovation announces a competition for brilliant minds coming from those countries where Altran Group offices are. The competition winners can turn their ideas into industrial reality, thanks to one year of technological and scientific support.
The Altran Foundation 2008 Award was on the theme: “Reducing CO2 levels in the atmosphere: our technological challenge!” and Francisco Gallo Mejia, with his “BambHaus”, won it.

For further information:
http://www.altran-foundation.org
http://www.altran.it
marcom at altran dot it
Join the BambHaus fan page on Facebook!

Green building: Flooring

2008-09-19T14:38:18-05:00

One of the fastest-growing trends in building green energy-efficient homes begins with the flooring used. The initial cost of using environmentally friendly materials translates into products that endure time and are easily maintained, all of which translates into cost savings over the years for the wise homebuilder. Some of the most popular green flooring, which means the products are made from natural or recycled products, includes carpet tiles, cork floors, bamboo floors, natural linoleum, and leather floor tiles.
Understanding the cost of materials, installation, and added value that green materials provide is one reason that customers trust J. E. Futch Custom Homes, Inc. to construct this important investment. Each green material must meet certain standards, such as those issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This official agency spells out the life expectancy of materials used for residences. For instance: bamboo flooring can last 30-50 years, while natural linoleum should last at least 40.
Even carpet, which is only expected to last an average 10 years, can be green if composed of recycled nylon and backing, Carpets identified as having fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the carpet and rug industry, will actually improve indoor air quality.
Cork flooring is environmentally sustainable, thermally insulating, and non-toxic, as well as being available in a host of attractive colors. Harvested every nine years from the same tree, cork is a renewable source that is finding its way into the most luxurious homes.
Similarly, Bamboo, a member of the grass family, matures in three to five years, regenerates without need for replanting and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. The careful custom builder can advise which bamboo flooring contains virtually no formaldehyde, a necessity when going green. Water resistant, anti-microbial, bamboo is actually a bit less expensive than hardwood floors, but has many more applications in the home, from cutting boards to counter-tops to wall coverings. Because of the durability of bamboo flooring, there is less replacement and therefore, less waste, both of which create overall savings to the homeowner and the environment.
Natural linoleum is composed of many natural materials, including linseed oil, tree rosin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone, and jute… none of which consumes much energy when extracted. Much less costly than hardwood flooring, linoleum is appropriate for many of the same applications as bamboo, such as counter-tops, wall, as well as flooring that resists dust, bacterial and household mites.
Recycled leather tile products provide the beauty of leather, without the high price tag. Made from 100 percent recycled leather, these tiles add elegance to a floor or can be employed as decorative devices on the walls.

[url=http://www.royaloaksofsebring.com]http://www.royaloaksofsebring.com[/url]
JEFutchcustomhomes

Looking for Opinions on Energy Audit Training

2010-03-05T20:13:41-05:00

Hello,

I’m looking for feedback and opinions on classes you’ve taken related to energy audits and home performance retrofitting. BPI, HERS, etc. I’d love to hear your opinions.

I run a small organization that provides training in green industries. Our priority is to offer only the highest quality courses, but making this determination isn’t always easy. Anyone willing to share your experiences?

You can see a list of our current offerings here:
Energy Audit Training

Building Analyst Training

Thanks!

James
http://www.buildagreenbusiness.com