Practical Eco

National Green Building Standard™ Approved by ANSI

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has said that their National Green Building Standard for residential construction has been approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This gives the standard added credibility and importance in a somewhat crowded field of mostly local standards for green building.

The standard defines what green practices can and should be incorporated into residential development and construction on a national scale. And it shows how home owners can operate and maintain their green homes.

 

As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council assembled a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. This group deliberated the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings and evaluated more than 2,000 public comments submitted for consideration.

 

The NAHB Research Center, an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, administered the development of the standard. The Research Center also administers a national verification and certification program for green homes through NAHBGreen, the NAHB National Green Building Program, and can now offer certification for residential projects to this new standard.

 

A teleconference will be held to discuss the implications of this standard.

When: 2:00 p.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009

 

To Participate:

To participate in the teleconference, please dial 1-800... and ask for the “National Green Building Standard” Call.

 

If you are unable to participate in the teleconference, you may listen to a full replay of the call after the teleconference has concluded by calling 877-344-7529 and entering 427664 followed by the # sign when prompted for the account number. The replay will be accessible beginning at 5:00 p.m. EST on Feb. 5 and will be available until 5:00p.m. on Feb. 19.

Mega LEED for Homes development in DC

Washington DC developer EYA has begun building a 210-townhouse project which will be the largest green residential project in the country. EYA is aiming for LEED standards for all of the townhomes in the project. 

“The homes at Capitol Quarter provide more energy savings, better indoor air quality, and less impact on the environment than standard new townhomes – all qualities that the LEED for Homes program is designed to promote,” the EYA press release said.

The first phase of homes are due to be available by May of this year, with the entire project expected to be completed by the fall of 2010. Prices start at $630,000.

HID Retrofits replace Metal Halide bulbs for up to 75% savings

Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs have been the standards of commercial and municipal lighting for many years. But the cost of energy and regular maintenance are steep. With more and more businesses and towns scrutinizing their budgets, particularly for energy, LED lighting is looking like an obvious choice. Savings of up to 75% on lighting energy bills virtually sell themselves.

Technological advances in LED lighting have been rapid and today many cities are making the decision to replace street lighting, sports lighting etc. with LED fixtures where possible.  Perhaps one of the most important advances in LED technology, has been in output. Now there are units available that can directly replace the High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps that have been so expensive to operate and maintain.

One reason many have not yet made the leap has been the cost to replace an entire fixture. With EcoSmart's HID Retrofit LED Lighting units you can get the savings with less outlay by not needing to replace the fixture. This retrofit kit replaces wasteful Metal Halide and Mercury Vapor Lighting for Parking Lots, Garages, and Service Stations with efficient and long lasting LED Solid State Lighting. They are available now in 250W, 400W and very soon 1000W equivalents. And a qualified electrician can install one in around 15 minutes.

For towns and businesses, a key advantage of LED lighting is its long lifespan. This can save significant costs incurred replacing bulbs at regular intervals. Plus, they do not attract insects the way other lights do. And LED light being more directional avoids some of the light pollution and glare issues associated with today's typical fixtures.

Businesses can also earn a tax deduction of up to $0.60 per square foot of a building provided the retrofit reduces the lighting power density by at least 25% below the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 standard of watts per square foot.

Virtually any commercial or industrial HID light fixture can be converted quickly and efficiently to energy efficient solid state lighting (LEDs).  And the reasons to do so are compelling.

EcoClad - sustainable siding from Klip Biotechnologies

Now that Joel Klippert of Klip Biotechnologies has created two of the most respected green counter-top surfaces, (Paperstone and EcoTop) he's gone outside to create a sustainable siding material.

EcoClad, like EcoTop, uses a blend of post-consumer paper and bamboo fibers in a water-based co-polymer that's totally VOC and benzene free. And, the fiber blend is even FSC certified. The result is a durable long lasting board that can be produced in various sizes, shapes, textures and colors. So, while it offers an eco-conscious alternative, it allows a designer to consider a wide range of looks or even mix them easily.

It comes off-the-shelf with your choice of 10 wood-grains and 6 matte colors, or can be custom ordered with one of 200 grains and can be matched to any color.

EcoClad is clearly an exciting new way to sustainably cover buildings but its range of colors and textures could well be an equal draw to anyone wanting to use this product.

 

Six Green-Economy Solutions for the Economy

Green America (previously known as Co-op America) just ran an article suggesting six green-economy solutions to rectifying the economic weakness we're experiencing now.

Clearly, with a bold new President taking office today we have a leadership in place that finally places sustainability at the top of the agenda. So there's enormous hope that something quite similar to these suggestions will come to pass in time to make a difference.

The six ideas are:
Green Energy & Green Jobs
Clean Energy Victory Bonds
Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
Go Green and Local
Community Investing
Shareholder Activism

See the full article here.

American Clay workshops in Durham's Common Ground

Common Ground Green Building Center in Durham is hosting two American Clay workshops on Saturday Feb 7th. One workshop is designed for enthusiasts who want to learn the basics, the other is for professional to refine their skills.

Enthusiast course:
A hands-on approach for learning the basics of American Clay application. All you need to know from tool basics to mixing and trowel techniques. Participants will get to practice on actual walls, as well as go home with their own color samples.  Wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting muddy.

Professionals course:
This class is geared towards industry professionals with American Clay or plaster experience. Get further acquainted with this great eco-friendly material and learn tips and techniques to make your jobs go smoothly. Advanced application techniques, repairs, compression, and finishing techniques are some of the topics that will be covered.

Either course is priced at $175, includes lunch and materials, and provides the attendees with discounts to be applied to purchases.

For further info and to register call 919-688-1500

Sustainability Now event Jan 24

The Unity Church of the Triangle in downtown Raleigh is hosting an all day even Jan 24th titled "Sustainability Now!" This event which will run from 9am to 6pm offers lunch by Green Planet Caterers and a line up of great speakers from around the region.
Pam Beck - How To Change Your Garden
Lyle Estill - Living in a Local Economy
Andy Wood - Motivating to Action
Carolyn Toben - Thomas Berry's Sense of Sacred
Stephen Hren - Renovating Your Home to be Carbon Free
Wanda Urbanska - Simple Living

Cost: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $10 student price

Click Here for the Program and Registration Info

Questions? Contact Karen at chickadeebirders@earthlink.net or call 844-9050

Introduction to Sustainable Building Design Course at CCCC

The new course at Central Carolina Community College in Pittsboro will offer an introduction to sustainable design.  Topics offered in this course will take the student beyond "net zero" sustainable concepts to new ideas about "net resource contribution", and "eco-restoration" concepts.

Relevant new topics include on-site water management design, panelized and prefabricated foundation design, permaculture concepts, aging in place design, and "green" modular building design.

The instructor, Tim Watson Architect, brings years of teaching experience along with his long-standing professional commitment to sustainable and eco-restorative design.

Classes will meet Thursdays from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at the campus main building in room 111, with the last scheduled class meeting on April 16, 2009.  The cost for this continuing education program course is only $61.25 for the entire spring semester!

Course book: "Ecological Design, 10th Edition "; author: Sim van der Ryn and Stuart Cowan

Registration services will be available at Central Carolina Community College beginning January 5, 2009. For further information you may go to www.cccc.edu, or call the registrar's office at (919) 542 6495 x 223, or contact Tim Watson Architect at (919) 644 2901, or visit his web site at www.tlwarchitect.com.

Toy helps home energy audits

So what's the "Wizard Stick", a child's toy, doing on a site about high performance building?

I have Bill Klotz of EcoAnthracite to thank for this, and I hope he won't mind me giving away this little secret. Anyone doing home energy audits needs to check the seals around doors and windows with a smoke making machine or a wisp of tissue. This helps you identify areas that need attention, weather stripping or sealing. Professional machines cost around $100 or more in most places. This Wizard Stick, on the other hand, costs a mere $16.95 on Amazon, and does the same job.

Even if you're not a professional energy auditor, like Bill , you can easily afford this little gizmo to keep a check on how well sealed your house is, or a neighbor's or a friend's house.

I've also added it to my A-Store for convenience.

Local Green Builder Says Homes Sales are Steady

A local green home builder in Chapel Hill NC, Zinn Design Build, says that they sold homes at a steady rate through the 4th quarter of 2008, bucking what seems to be the trend. Zinn sold 9 homes in the last quarter ranging from $515k to $1.3m in price. Meantime, according to the MLS, sales in that price band are down 39% versus 2007, across the Triangle. So it seems that green built homes are moving again in spite of the general economic malaise.

Each of their homes is certified by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), a program administered by the local Home Builders Association, and ENERGY STAR, and federal government program.

Zinn Design Build’s bestsellers are located in the communities of Claremont and Montclair. Claremont is a welcoming and distinctive community located on Homestead Road. Single-family homes are available from the $500s to $1 million and twin townhomes priced from the $350s. Montclair is an upscale neighborhood off Culbreth Road in Chapel Hill offering sophisticated single-family homes on private homesites from $1 million upward.

Dreaming Green: Eco-Fabulous Homes Designed to Inspire

This new book by Lisa Sharkey offers real inspiration to anyone who yearns for a stylish green home. It demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt that building green is no limitation to elegance or beauty. So, read it and drool. 

Dreaming Green features Sharkey's own Manhattan brownstone remodel and sixteen other residences from cities and suburbs to the countryside.

Click the image to get it on Amazon, or check our A-Store here.

Georgia Bizios "Green By Design"

Local green architect Georgia Bizios has written an article about the advantages of green building, together with Katie Wakeford, for the News & Observer. They highlight top green building tips from five top architects in North Carolina who regularly build green homes.

The architects quoted are Brian Grant, Alicia Ravetto, Tina Govan, Jay Fulkerson and Erik V. Mehlman.

The key ideas discussed in the article are:
1. Outdoor living space - more economical to build and reduce the area you need to condition.

2. Passive solar design - dramatically reduce heating and cooling needs by intelligent design.

3. Efficient floor plan - keeping it simple and efficient can reduce waste and reduce energy demand.

4. Location - smart choices can reduce the time spent in cars and use less resources.

5. Daylighting - well planned use of daylight will make for a happier healthier environment while reducing the need for electric energy.

6. Cross stack ventilation - designing a building to take advantage of the cross stack effect can reduce energy needed to cool the home while making for a healthier environment.

7. Solar hot water - can reduce heating bills by up to 80%

See the full article here.

Energy Star Dishwashers can save you $42 per year

The Energy Star program estimates average savings of $42 a year from using an efficient dishwasher rather than washing dishes in the sink. The estimate is based on a national average of current utility costs, both gas and electric, said Maria T. Vargas, spokeswoman for the program.

The savings figure includes an estimated $22 for the water that is used and $20 for the energy used, Ms. Vargas said.

Via: New York Times - click for full story

Eco Everyday in Downtown Greensboro

We know Greensboro is green - it's right there in the name. Site of the Proximity and many other green efforts, it's now home to a green retail experiment that's offering only fairly traded, useful and green products. They seek to excite and educate the community, which is a big goal but a great one.

One of the relatively cool products they offer is this indoor composter that fits into your cabinet space a bit like a trash compactor might. Only this turns your trash into something useful.

If you're in Greensboro, go visit Betsy and Sarah at the store.

<UPDATE - 4-12-09> Betsy had to close down the store but has set up a shop on Etsy in the meantime. See it here.