Environmental Articles » Green Building

Benefits To Using Reclaimed Building Products

Rebecca Flora — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:49:13 +0000

Simply put, reclaimed building products are building materials that would otherwise end up in landfills if they were not recycled. When old buildings and warehouses are demolished much of that material can be reused, but more often than not it ends up in the dumpster. However, as our focus shifts into more environmentally friendly options in the way we live there are more and more companies reclaiming old building materials and making them into beautiful products we can use in our own homes.

What Type of Material is Reclaimed?

When a building is torn down everything you can imagine can get reclaimed. From the roof to the floor and everything in between it can be reused. Many of the products are in near new condition even though they have been in homes and buildings for years. Some of the more popular reclaimed products are:

Wood floors

Tiles

Granite

Slate

Fireplaces

Brick

Floor / Ceiling Beams

What are the Main Benefits to using Reclaimed Products?

Okay, the biggest benefit in using reclaimed materials is that you are being friendlier to our environment. Millions of board feet of flooring are reclaimed each year and reused. This would have ended up in landfills, resulting in more trees being cut down, had the products not been reclaimed.

Some other benefits include the character and charm that can come from a reclaimed product. Anybody can buy a wood floor, but not many people can have a wood floor that is over 100 years old and looks brand new – you can if you choose reusable flooring options.

This article is not intended to talk you into using only reclaimed products on your next remodel, but take a look at what is out there you just may find something you love that has less impact on the environment as well. Everybody wins!

Roberta is an eco-consultant who focuses on environmentally friendly home design. If you want more information on reclaimed flooring check out Roberta’s latest site: http://reclaimedflooring.net

The Fundamentals Of Green Home Building

Thomas Bleier — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:56:32 +0000

Here are the basic principles involved in green home building. Basic principles address the installation of energy efficient heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing systems, along with the latest architectural techniques. Global climate change is a growing concern. Home builders have begun to address the problems caused by global climate change. These principles should serve as simple guidelines to follow when planning construction or remodeling projects.

The technologies with the most potential are solar panels and wind power turbines. High efficient variable speed heat pumps must also be put into that category. Provisions of current federal tax law gives tax credits for the installation of alternative energy systems. Using tax credits will lower the total cost of installation making these technologies more cost effective. Home builders must constantly be aware of tax credits and other tax consequences.

For electric supply wind turbine power and photovoltaic solar cell panels are the most promising technologies currently being used. Photovoltaic cells are combined in arrays. They are attached to the house roof. Also mounted on the roof, wind turbines continue to improve in design and function. Both wind and solar systems interface with the electrical grid. Any excess energy produced by your solar and wind systems will be sold back to your utility company. Everyone should get into the habit of only using low energy LED and compact fluorescent lights.

Plumbing system must promote reduced water usage. Rainwater collection system will supply water to toilets, dish washers and clothe washing machines. Boost pumps used with in-demand water heating systems will reduced the cost of hot water heating. Water heating will be assisted with roof top thermal solar arrays. Further water reduction is realized with the use of low flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.

Minimize wood usage and at the same time increase insulation area. Create a sealed thermal envelope. Use structured insulated panels, which will increase home energy efficiency. Concrete walls should be of poured concrete with conditioned, sealed crawl spaces. With a sealed thermal envelope you will see your energy bill go down. You will find that the investment of energy efficient systems and environmentally friendly designs will save you a ton of money over the long run.

Appropriate roof design is a very important architectural issues. This is because both photovoltaic solar panel equipment and wind turbine equipment will be mounted upon the roof. Due to this fact, the architect must be experienced in the science of modern roof design. Roof design is not a simple matter. There are important structural and engineering issues that must be address in formulating the design of a roof.

As you can see, insulation is a crucial element in attaining the level of energy efficiency you are seeking. The objective is to have the home tightly wrapped in a thermal envelope. Two types of materials are used to obtain the tight seal necessary: structured insulated panels and open cell spray foam. The foam must be sprayed into all open wall cavities. Roof decks and band joists must be filled with foam also. Every tiny gaps and slit left over from framing must be sealed. The other material is structured insulated panels. Structured insulated panels are two pieces of plywood with four to six inches of foam sandwich between. Both materials will render the complete thermal seal for the entire home that you require.

As you can easily see, the principal of green home building will help you choose the building contractor who will implement these green techniques in their craft. Remember the best methods that have given us the environmentally friendly home. Use wind turbines, photovoltaic solar heat panels, variable speed heat pumps. Work with those architects who follow the right philosophy in their work.

Thomas Bleier is a professional carpenter and green building enthusiast. In a addition to writing about green home building, Thomas also covers urban gardening, permaculture, and clean energy.

Green Building Products and Materials – 7 Factors to Consider When Making Green Selections

Environmental Articles — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:58:51 +0000

There are many products on the market that claim to be green. It is up to you to determine which products are green and which are not. Beware of “green washing”! Many products are advertised as green, but after review really do not live up to their claims. Here are 7 factors to consider when selecting green or sustainable products and materials for your project.

Renewability – Are the products made from material that is rapidly renewable such as cork or bamboo? Wood products are also a renewable resource. Choose wood products that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. Many engineered wood products are made from fast growing trees such as aspen and require less wood to make them than conventional lumber.

Recycled Content - Using material with recycled content not only reduces strain on our landfills, but reduces the need for raw material. Paper, cardboard, plastic, steel and aluminum are a few of the most commonly recycled materials. Recycled paper is used in cellulose insulation and paper countertops. Plastic is used in carpet. Metals that are recycled can be made into their original form.

Reusability and Recyclability - Many products, such as metals, can be recycled after their useable life. Others can be salvaged and reused somewhere else.

Durability - Choose products that will stand the test of time and require little maintenance. This will save time, money and energy on repairs at a later date.

Embodied Energy - This is the energy used to produce, transport and install a product or material in the place where it will be used. Choose local products when possible and products that do not require a large amount of energy to produce.

Air Quality - Products like carpet, cabinetry, plywood and paint can contain petroleum products or formaldehyde and off gas VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). There are now many products available that give off little or no VOCs. These products will give you a healthier home to live in. When you are not able to find suitable products, ventilate the new or remodeled space prior to moving into it. Open windows and doors when possible to remove the VOCs from the home.

Waste Reduction - Choose material that does not create a lot of waste and can be used efficiently. Order material in sizes and lengths that are efficient for your job.

Some products may be green in one area but not in another. Example: Although it is very durable, brick has a high embodied energy because of the energy used to fire the kilns and transport it. It would be a greener option for someone in North Carolina than someone in New York because the clay that is used to make it is a local product. Use these 7 factors and your best judgement to determine which green products are the best for your project.

As an owner of a renovation company in Charlotte NC, Roger Ketchum has become very passionate about Green Building. Visit his website at http://completegreenbuilding.com Not only is he a GCP (Green Certified Professional) but also a CR (Certified Remodeler). Visit his companies website at http://advancedrenovations.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roger_Ketchum
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The Real Deal on Industrial Strength Green Energy

Robert Holdsworth — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:34:49 +0000

Today’s energy conscious climate has motivated many to do what they can to become more efficient and conserve energy and money. Unfortunately this same climate has prompted others to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers’ wishes to save energy and reduce expenses.

Companies that tout power factor improvement (kVAR correction) and transient voltage suppression are a good example of this bad trend. Lately we are seeing more and more of these companies cropping up and feel it is time to set the record straight.

First, transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) plays a valuable role in improving power quality to protect sensitive equipment inside a facility. However, TVSS does not save energy. TVSS’s are only active a tiny fraction of a second to protect against voltage surges which only last for less than a millisecond. To actually reduce energy consumption the TVSS would need to actually cut power consumption for an extended period of time which is not what they are designed to do. Again, TVSS is important to protect sensitive electrical equipment but buyers should avoid vendors promising, or even guaranteeing, that they will reduce energy consumption.

Now what about vendors who claim that improving power factor will save 15% or 20% or 30% of energy consumption and corresponding cost? This one is a little trickier.

For residential applications, power factor does nothing to save energy because the typical home already has an average power factor of about 0.97 which is almost the perfect power factor of 1 or unity. In addition, the device (called a capacitor) is placed at the main circuit breaker. According to IEEE 5.5.3.3 capacitors must be situated at or near the respective inductive loads to reduce power system losses by reducing heat and distribution losses known as I2R losses.

So what about commercial and industrial facilities using power factor correction to reduce energy costs? It is perfectly appropriate for a company that is incurring penalties or a kVA billing structure from the utility company to improve the facility’s overall power factor by employing a capacitor bank at the main service entrance or individual capacitors at or near the respective motor loads. Doing so will eliminate the power factor penalties and/or reduce the kVA demand charges on the utility bill which can save significant money and provide a significant ROI on the investment.

But what about power factor correction reducing kWh consumption? IEEE also tells us that I2R losses only account for 2 to 5% of the total load in a facility. Simple math tells us that it would be against the laws of physics to get the 15% to 30% energy reduction claimed by some vendors. Think about it. Even if your facility had 5% distribution losses and you could correct 100% of the problem via power factor correction at every load (which can’t be done) you would still only save 5% at the most. No where near the claims of some capacitor vendors and manufacturers.

All that said, power factor correction when done properly will eliminate utility penalties and kVA demand charges, improve facility power quality, increase electrical system capacity, and save a little energy when applied to the appropriate motor loads.

So make an investment in transient voltage surge suppression and power factor correction when appropriate and necessary. But caveat emptor!

Save Money On Your Company’s Energy Bill, visit Energy Edge Technologies site for strategies on saving a tremendous amount of capital on your Corporate Energy Bill or call 888-729-5722 Ext. 100.

categories: Robert Holdsworth,Energy efficient buildings,Lower electric bills,Green buildings,Lease energy projects,Free energy audits,Energy project,Building energy efficiency,Commercial energy efficiency,Industrial energy efficiency,Energy efficiency consulting

Converting Your House Into An Eco Home

Environmental Articles — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:59:50 +0000

New construction has slowed as the economy continues to slump – but remodeling goes on as ever. A lot of homeowners have decided to give their existing homes a new look rather than buy or build a new home. Coming as it does during a time when people are more concerned than ever with the environment, there has been a lot of interest if remodeling homes into eco homes.

So what are these eco homes? If you live in the UK, you certainly already have heard the term – it is a rating system for the environmental friendliness of home construction in the UK. The idea behind eco homes is to build housing which is comfortable to live in and has a smaller environmental impact than homes build with older techniques.

Similarly, the United States has a program called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED for short) which is roughly equivalent to the eco homes standards. This is a certification program which provides standards for construction, home design and performance.

An eco home can be made without going through the trouble of building another home. Many homeowners just remodel their homes to meet the environmental standards in their country (LEED or Eco Homes).

Many newer homes, such as recently constructed tract houses can be converted to eco homes with relative ease. Since buyers are increasingly interested in environmentally friendly homes, a lot of newer homes are designed with these standards in mind from the ground up. One of the best ways to remove the environmental impact of your home is to simply change out the windows with more efficient ones.

Using more energy efficient windows will keep your heating bill low, keep your home warmer and update the look of your home.

Making eco homes involves more than just design and materials. A great way to make your home an eco home is to replace energy inefficient appliances with newer, energy efficient ones. This will save you money on your energy bills of course, but it will also dramatically reduce the amount of natural resources which must be used to keep your household going.

There are a lot of people who would like to live in eco homes. Many people are looking for ways to reduce their own environmental impact and environmentalism, like charity begins at home. You can convert your home into an eco home for a cost which is far lower than that of buying a new home – and you’ll be doing your part to help out the environment as you do so.

How To Save On Your Fuel Costs

Environmental Articles — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:24:11 +0000

Fuel prices are becoming an increasingly concerning fact of the daily costs of running a modern home. So when times are hard like they are now, cutting down on fuel costs and therefore saving money isn’t a bad idea at all.

There isn’t only one “quick fix” method that will present the solution to all of your energy problems but instead we’ll address a few which will all play a part in contributing to your overall savings.

The first stop is the thermostat, start saving power by turning it down. Most of us overheat our homes without thinking about the consequences for both the environment and for our wallets. The heating and cooling systems in your home can account for around 40% of your total energy usage so it makes sense to delve a little deeper into ways you can make some cut backs.

Simply turning down the dial can lead to massive savings throughout the year, just by lowering your heat dial down by 1 degree can result in a 10% savings in your energy bill. Imagine if you were to take it down by just one more degree? When you think about it the heating doesn’t need to be kept on all day long and by simply adjusting the heat only when you need it can drastically lower your fuel costs.

Second of all there are a number of improvements you can make in your home to reduce your fuel costs. The first is to boost the insulation in your home particularly if it’s an older property. This can be achieved by adding foam insulation to your roof or to fit double or triple glazed windows to retain more heat within the home.

In addition to this you can begin to use more energy efficient devices around the home from a new, modern boiler to frontloading washing machines which use 60% less water than the top loading kind. Most new devices have an energy efficiency rating on them which helps you to select the most energy conservative model for your budget.

Third, weather permitting try hanging your laundry on a clothesline rather than to use your dryer, doing this can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by around 6 pounds for every load of washing you air dry in the sun. Not only is it better for the planet but smells nicer when it’s fresh off the clothesline.

Fourth you can try and integrate renewable energy supplies into your home. These can take a variety of different forms from installing solar panels to wind and geothermal energy. The immediate downside to these options is the initial start up costs, however the benefit really does outweigh the cost in the long run and also you have the peace of mind knowing that you’re helping the planet.

There are however a range of do it yourself options available on www.amazon.com under their “green range” of products which provides solar energy panel kits including installation instructions. This is a much cheaper solution and allows you to get started with solar power for just hundreds of dollars rather than the usual $15,000 price tag. Amazon.com makes it an affordable alternative for those on a tight budget wanting to do their bit for the planet.

You can implement these tips and start saving on your energy costs now, because the sooner you start, the more you’ll save.

Get Rid of Mold in Your Home

Environmental Articles — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:58:55 +0000

Mold is a common problem in homes, especially older ones; mold may begin growing in homes for many reasons and there is no way to eliminate the risk entirely – mold is all around us.

Mold is not a problem until mold spores find a dark, damp area – the ideal conditions for mold to thrive. If you find mold in your home, how do you go about getting rid of it?

The first step is to locate where the mold is growing. You should then have the area tested to determine whether the mold is only a surface growth (which can be taken care of easily) or is a more serious growth that penetrates into the walls.

Mold can grow underneath floors and inside of your walls (in fact, it prefers these dark locations). If you find mold in your house, you need to completely eliminate it or it will just grow back again.

If you have a well established mold growth in your home which has penetrated past the surface, then you’ll need to hire a professional and perhaps a contractor as well to resolve the problem. The same things which lead to the growth of mold can also cause structural damage, so in order to get rid of mold in your home, it might be necessary to hire a contractor to remove and replace walls. Before closing up any area where there has been mold growth, it’s important to ensure that it is dry and will stay dry even after being closed up.

Quite often the moisture which the mold needs to grow is coming from another part of your home. You will need to repair any leaks which are causing moisture to accumulate to ensure that the mold does not return.

If you have just a surface growth of mold, then it is usually easy to remove yourself. Vinegar or bleach can kill the mold, as can many mold removal products which are widely available. Any wood in your home which has been home to mold needs to be dried and treated or if the damage is serious, replaced (make sure to dispose of this wood away from your home to keep from spreading the spores).

The best way to get rid of mold in your home is to keep it from growing there in the first place. Repair leaks as soon as you find them – and keep an eye out for the conditions in which mold can grow. By using preventative measures, you can save yourself a fortune in repairs later.

Global Warming and Building Green

Environmental Articles — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:55:04 +0000

Building green is one of the solutions to global warming that many people do not think about. Building green is designing and constructing buildings with the environment in mind. It is these practices that can have an impact on stopping global warming.

Houses give off a high percentage of a country’s total carbon dioxide emissions. In the United States, the figure is about 38%. Since carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases, houses contribute strongly to global warming.

One way to cut the greenhouse emissions of houses, and therefore help stop global warming, is to minimize the energy use needed to sustain comfortable living in a house. There are several ways to do this.

One way is to be careful about what building materials are used. Some building materials can be from quickly renewable sources. These include bamboo and straw. Also, building materials can be used that originates near the building site. This cuts down on transportation, and so cuts down on emissions of greenhouse gases and global warming. One example is stone houses built with local stone.

Buildings are also often built using recycled materials. Wood can be used from an older home that has been torn down. This will prevent the need to cut down other trees. Since the deforestation of the land contributes to global warming, this will help the situation.

Heating and cooling have a big effect on the amount of global warming caused by a house. Some ways to help this are very simple. One is to design the house to sit on the lot so that sunlight will come in through the windows and warm the house. It can also be oriented so that breezes will blow through the windows more naturally for cooling.

In this way, passive solar energy can be used to heat and cool the house. This will cut down on the greenhouse emissions from a house. Global warming will be lessened. Insulation is important to maximize on the cool or heat that is in the house. With good insulation, you will need a less intense heat or cooling source.

The main heating and cooling source in most green houses will be solar panels, wind power, or hydropower. Any of these sources will power a house with minimal effects on global warming. At the same time, these sources of energy will sustain a household in a comfortable style.

There are several organizations in the US that aid in the cause of stopping global warming by encouraging green building. One non-profit organization makes it their business to foster green building methods in both houses and commercial buildings. This group of people from the building industry is a part of the Green Building Initiative.

The state of Washington has required builders of buildings larger than 5000 square feet to use green building practices. Their law was enacted in 2005. It should help to keep a cap on global warming.

Green building is important for a number of reasons. One just happens to be that it can reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. If green building can help stop global warming, perhaps it is time for everyone to build green.