Hot Reclaimed and Recycled Materials!

If you have a weak spot for reused, reclaimed, and recycled in architecture and interior design, you have to check these out!

• The M + E Collection from EcoDomo is made entirely with recycled materials, blending stones, glass and recycled leather - the Recycled Leather is made from leather scraps taken from tanneries which produce leather for car seats and others.

• The free form, organic design of each Bear Creek Glass handcrafted ocean bowl makes it a spectacular focal point for any bath. 100% recycled glass.

• A warm, rustic and very hip way to serve up a compact fluorescent (or incandescent, your choice). Laser cut steel over mica. Made by Eleek from recycled steel square bar stem and 100% recycled cast aluminum canopy, shade rings.

• Mirai collection was designed by Matteo Leoni for Warisan. Fully built in Recycled Teak wood, derived from demolished old houses, bridges, phone posts, etc. The line features 2 beds, nighstands, drawer's chest, as well as desks, bookshelf, sofas , coffee tables & outdoor items.

• These Asian Art Imports palm lamps are made from recycled palmwood. The heights range from 4' to 7' tall. Each piece possesses an individual character.

• The Debris Series Recycled Ceramic Tile features over 112 glaze colors, contains over 60% recycled materials, and is made by Fireclay in their U.S. Northern California sustainable factory, creating one of the most beautiful, sustainable ceramic products on the market.

• Custom made lighting by Function + Art - variable options: size, finish, glass drop length, ceiling or wall mount. Made from recycled steel and glass.

Mythic Paint Review

My affair with Mythic Paint goes back about a year and a half ago. I was pregnant with our first child and browsing through a pregnancy magazine I spotted an eye catching advertisement. Naturally I went online to find out more about them. I was excited to find non-toxic paint to say the least. In January of 2009, being nine months pregnant, I invited Mythic to host a Lunch 'n Learn in our office at Rob Bramhall Architects. I was more than impressed and decided that I will never paint with anything else in my life, period.

After our daughter was born we put off painting our living room for a long time because of finances. This past August though Mythic was kind enough to send us some paint to try and I present to you my account of the truly legendary Mythic Paint.

After

Before

The Buzz: So what makes Mythic so special and how come it stands apart from other paints? If you are new to the 'indoor air quality' scene, I'll fill you in. Your average paint contains a multitude of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Yes, they also contain known carcinogens. Why would anyone make paint that causes cancer you ask? I honestly don't know - but the same question can be applied to everything these days. Like why do they use pesticides on our food if it causes cancer? Or why are most cleaning supplies cancerous as well?

Anyhow, VOCs off-gas for years after you paint your walls. I am sure you are all familiar with that 'new paint' smell as well. It can be a trigger for asthma and other ailments. With Mythic you don't need to worry about any of that. My daughter was contently watching daddy paint in her highchair. I was nearby working on my laptop, no headaches involved. Safe for pets, save for babies, and good for the Earth as a bonus. It is a major step toward better indoor air quality - which at the moment the EPA labels as one of the top five health risks in the US.

Before and After

Performance: If you don't believe me that it performs better than SW and BM paint, you can try it yourself! They now sell 4 oz sample jars to feed your curiosity. I wasn't the one painting, my husband was, but he said that it is better than other paint he used before and has much better coverage. For me though, I was sold at the non-toxic part and would have used it even if the performance was average. Not sure if you want to commit? Two words for you: sample jar.

You see, Mythic Paint doesn't just take out the toxic stuff out of regular paint, which is what other 'green paint' manufacturers do. It is the result of over six years of intensive polymer research conducted by the University of Southern Mississippi. It is completely redesigned in its makeup from the ground up, resulting in something you will not find on the market.

As a latex paint it is very easy to deal with. It washes off tools nicely (if you don't let it dry of course!). We had a drop or two on our laminate flooring, it just peeled off with no issues. Third party performance testing? Sure:
"In 2007 an industry leading independent consulting and testing laboratory service, performed side-by-side comparative tests between Mythic Paint and all other leading paint brands – both their Eco-friendly and premium lines. Tests focused on subjective performance including thickness, sheen, sag resistance, flow and leveling and gloss. Mythic Paint proved to be equal if not better than all competitors. Resistance and durability was analyzed through the industry‟s gold standard in paint performance testing – the „scrub test‟. Mythic Paint substantially outperformed by 1.5 to 8 times the durability of their competitors."

Value: I know what you are thinking, if this paint is so great, am I going to pay more for it too? Yes, it does cost more than your average toxic paint (about $50 a gallon for interior paint). Here is the deal though, in my experience and that of other people who have used it, the coverage of Mythic is superior to that of other paints. This means that you will need less to cover more. For most colors, even one coat is sufficient. You can't put a price on your health though, so this beats the value of all other paints in that aspect. They also have exterior paint. In which case you will be doing the Earth a favor by having one less house painted with toxic exterior paint.

Love their commercials, take a look!



Disclaimer:

I did not receive payment in any form for this review.

I did receive a sample of the product or service for testing and review purposes. This will in no way sway my opinion of the product or service. The review is in my own words and is my own opinion. Your results and opinion may differ.

Emerson Creek Pottery Review

What do you bake with? Let me guess... It has a non-stick coating? If you are familiar with how 'responsible' the FDA and EPA are with consumer safety, you have every reason to be concerned about your non-stick cookware and bakeware. PFOA is a chemical used to manufacture non-stick coatings and its fumes, emitted at high temperatures, are actually toxic to living organisms. Studies show that an estimated 95% of the population have PFOA in their blood. In rat studies it was shown to cause cancer with high exposure. Don't take my word for it, do your own research :)

With that being said, one of the alternatives to non-stick bakeware is ceramic pottery. It has been used in baking for centuries and is naturally non-toxic. It has great thermal properties and helps in even baking. Emerson Creek Pottery was kind enough to send me the Go Green Loaf Pan to test.

My Homemade Bread in an Emerson Creek Go Green Large Loaf Pan

Emerson Creek Pottery is located in Virginia and all their pieces are U.S. made. You are also guaranteed that the products are lead-free, non-toxic, made by humans - not machines, packed in Eco-friendly corn starch peanuts and recycled fiber boxes, their catalogs are never mass mailed, and your piece of pottery will last you a lifetime with good care. I made bread in this beautiful loaf pan about 10 times already, comes out perfect every time. Cleaning is a breeze, I just rinse it in warm soapy water. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for healthier baking alternatives for their home and family!

VISIT EMERSON CREEK ONLINE
COME BACK TO THIS POST SOON FOR A 15% DISCOUNT CODE!

Below is a short video of their Virginia store.

Former Vice President Al Gore to Keynote Greenbuild Phoenix

The USGBC announced that the Greenbuild 2009 keynote speaker will indeed be Al Gore:

"Nobel Laureate, best-selling author, and the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary – the Honorable Al Gore will address thousands of Greenbuild attendees at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. as part of the Greenbuild Opening Keynote & Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Featuring an opening plenary address by USGBC President, CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi and a closing concert with nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, the event promises to deliver inspiration, excitement, and the unique opportunity to listen in person as Former Vice President Al Gore continues to bring climate change to the forefront of international consciousness.

Along with four terms in Congress, two terms in the Senate, and two terms as Vice President, Gore has written the bestsellers Earth in the Balance, An Inconvenient Truth and the just-released Our Choice. The first 5,000 full-conference attendee registrants will receive a complimentary copy of Gore's latest book and all other attendees will be able to purchase the book on site."

Register for Greenbuild 2009 here!

Text from USGBC newsletter

Ditch Your Plastic and Go Stainless

In the world of reusable water bottles most are familiar with big names like Sigg and Kleen Kanteen. But there are many companies out there that offer similar, if not identical, alternatives that will not break the bank. New Wave Enviro has quite a few products on the market and thanks to their generosity I gave the 1 liter stainless steel water bottle a test drive.

Read full review at EcoBabyz

Solar Revolutionizes the Camping Experience

If you went camping lately you might have some inconveniences of the trip still lingering in your mind. Sure, a lot of us love camping for that experience - cooking on an open fire, reading in your tent after dark with a flashlight, and other pleasant oddities. Design has its ways of affecting all areas of life, camping included. Great design has been reshaping camping as we know it and inspiring city dwellers to get out and play without leaving all the conveniences of home.

The new Orange Solar Concept Tent will someday make your camping trip a lot more comfortable. Although the unknown price tag might make it inaccessible to the average camper, it is a great idea nonetheless. By weaving solar threads into conventional fabric, the solar tent will gather energy throughout the day and provide a variety of ways to use that energy. How about some heat from the tent's groundsheet? A charging pouch for mobile phones and other devices? Care for some light in the evening hours of camping? A modern camping experience to say the least.

Another camping convenience that is already available on the market is the Hot Pot Simple Solar Cooker. With some help from the sun, cook or heat your favorite meals without the need for electricity. All you need to do is set it up in full sunlight and within an hour you'll have an oven to use for up to 6 hours. Hey, who needs to go camping, you can do this right in your backyard! It comes with a 5.3 quart enameled steel pot for all your cooking needs. At a temperature of 350 - 400 degrees you can make stews, bake anything to your liking, or heat up previously cooked food. Great news for those of you living off grid - such a handy invention!

On a side note, if you are going camping, I highly recommend investing a few bucks in Bug Bam, read my full review of it here!

House OKs 6.4 Billion to Make Schools Greener

Here is an article that was reprinted by USGBC about the greening of public schools (originally published on May 14, 2009, CNNPolitics.com, Ed Hornick author). Finally, something good for the schools:

Rachel Gutter, of the U.S. Green Building Council, says the benefits of an eco-friendly school will pay off economically.

"The typical green school saves $100,000 a year on direct operating expenses. In school terms, that's enough to hire two new teachers, purchase 200 new computers or 5,000 textbooks," Gutter said.

"So these are major savings. And that's just one year. The typical school lasts 40 years. And when you do the math, it starts to become some serious savings. ... It pays for itself after a few years of operation."

The council, on its Web site, lists several benefits of green buildings, such as improving air and water quality, conserving natural resources, reducing operating costs and improving employee productivity.

But Gutter says that part of the concern over green schools is the fear over construction costs.

"The research shows the greatest barrier to getting more green schools built is the perception that they cost more up front to build," she said. "The fact of the matter is that they don't. ... Building green doesn't have to cost more, and then everything else, all the savings over the lifetime, are just savings you get to put back in your community's pocket."

The legislation, if signed into law, would also help to create new jobs -- around 136,000 positions, according to calculations by the Economic Policy Institute.

But much more is at stake, Gutter says.

"It's about raising a new generation of leaders who inevitably are going to inherit the problems we will leave behind," she said. "So when you're actually able to use the school itself as a teaching tool, as an opportunity for learning, that's when the connections with curriculum really start to happen."

Read entire article here.

Babcock Ranch: Solar and Green Design of the Future

If everything goes according to plan, soon Babcock Ranch in Florida will be the archetype for solar and green design of the present. In essence it will incorporate everything I write about on this blog in regard to sustainability, including photovoltaics, water conservation, daylighting, and energy savings. It sets a precedent for Eco-friendly urban design, one that will not be easy to live up to. It will take about 25 years to complete and will probably be the greenest city around - literally, over half of the 17,608 acre city is alotted to greenspace such as parks, trails, and nature preserves. Even city rooftops will be 'green roofs' with vegetation to minimize cooling costs.

The city will be powered entirely by renewable solar energy. It will have the largest on-site solar plant in the world that will cost over $300 million. Electric vehicles will be charged at stations powered by the sun, and traffic will be eliminated thanks to the extensive system of pathways for alternative transportation, i.e. walking, biking, rollerblading, etc. No existing city would ever be able to retrofit to such high standards because the design is completed from the ground up taking into consideration all minute details before the site plan is even done.

While in my opinion 'green' and 'city' is an oxymoron, I've got to give them some credit for making a city - the epitome of consumerism and over spending, more sustainable. I still think it is 'greener' to live off-grid (solar and/or wind) in a rural area, raise and grow your own food, and collect rain water. Babcock Ranch is just a great attempt at taking the comfortable consumerism lifestyle and subtracting the guilt that some don't even feel while living like billions of others in the average city. It will be a great place for those who like city life but want to go 'green', which is impossible in any of today's cities.

To appreciate everything this city will have to offer you have to visit their outstanding website, the in-depth interactive presentation will answer all your questions and will leave just one - how can I get a place there?

The Age of Stupid Premier

The Age of Stupid opens in theaters in the UK today. If you haven't heard of it yet, here is what it is:

"The Age of Stupid is a 90-minute film about climate change, set in the future, which will have its world premiere in London on March 15th 2009 and then be released in UK cinemas on March 20th 2009, followed by other countries.

Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name of the Father, Brassed Off) stars as a man living alone in the devasted world of 2055, looking back at “archive” footage from 2007 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?"

The movie premiers in the US in April if it does well in its initial weeks in the UK. It is shot on site in America, UK, India, Nigeria, Iraq, Jordan, and The Alps. The whole movie was funded by selling shares to individuals and groups, therefore being completely independent.Here are some quotes from the movie:

“How the heck are we meant to persuade people in India and China to develop in a more sustainable way when we’re not even prepared to accept the odd windfarm in the landscape?”

“Throughout our history, the deal was we left the world in a slightly better place than we found it. That was progress. The wheel, the rule of law, penicillin. It was our covenant with our children and grandchildren.”

“It’s strange, watching these film fragments [looking at 2007 footage in 2055]. It’s like looking through binoculars observing people on a far off beach. Running around in circles, fixated on the small area of sand beneath their feet, as a tsunami races towards them."

Since it is dubbed as "The first successful dramatization of climate change to reach the big screen," it should be on every Eco-conscious individual's 'to watch' list.

The Age of Stupid: final trailer Feb 2009, (bleeped) from Age of Stupid on Vimeo.

source

Earth Hour March 28th!

More than 1,000 cities in 80 countries are expected to participate in Earth Hour on March 28, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Boston will shut off the lights of the Citgo sign, Zakim Bridge, Prudential Center, John Hancock Tower, and other local landmarks will "go dark" for one hour as the city joins others across the world in a climate-change campaign.

That's a great idea and everything, kudos to all those cities. But give me a break, what is one hour a year going to do?! Stop global warming, save the wales, etc...? People are finally grasping the concept but unfortunately with a 'greenwash' approach. What happens the other 364 days a year? Those city lights are on 24/7. For this to have any significant impact the lights should be off one hour every day.

Would be fun though to see that satellite image of earth at night to see how much dimmer the cities actually get in that hour, one time zone at a time.



source

Caveland USA: Not Your Average Dwelling

Anyone interested in a cave home? It is up for sale on eBay. This amazing dwelling was built by an entire family as a primary residence and took five years! This 15,000 square foot cave jewel in Festus, Missouri, is a passive house that requires no heating or cooling and stays at a comfortable 67 to 75 degrees year round, with utility bills equal to an average 800 sq. foot home. The cave was a concert venue between 1960 and 1985. Ted Nugent, Bob Segar and Tina Turner are just a few of the groups that have performed there. Talk about unique!

See the eBay listing here

Eco Friendly Radiant Heating

Many of us have forced hot air heating systems in our homes. It might have crossed your mind in the winter just how inefficient this method of heating is. Forced 'hot' air they call it? More like barely lukewarm, not to mention that the registers are often placed in the ceiling plane or high on a wall, resulting in cold drafty floors and all your heat escaping through the ceiling before it heats the room. Whoever came up with this system should be ashamed. It does not even follow any basic common sense laws of physics. Should we take into account the poor quality of indoor air that this system creates?

Fortunately there are much better alternatives, radiant heating has been a growing trend. While installation can be costly, it will pay for itself with the money you will save on heating. Radiant floor heat creates a very comfortable indoor environment, it also makes complete sense by all laws of physics. Since hot air rises, a heated floor will distribute it evenly in the entire space and you can say good bye to drafts! Moreover, this kind of heating is great for homes with kids, pets, and people with allergies as it does not create airborne pollutants.

Log Homes: Sustainable Living

Log homes have been around for centuries and have regained popularity in recent years. Until not long ago though, the energy efficiency of log homes was in question, but recent tests confirm that well built log homes have a superior 'thermal mass effect' and can outperform stick-framed buildings. Timber is a naturally renewable resource that requires less energy to produce than all other building materials. Log components, in particular, consume less energy and labor between harvest and placement on the housing site, while log walls provide 'surface as finish', saving material and labor costs since other building material layers are not required. Provided that a log home has high performance doors and windows that are well installed and an insulated roof membrane, it can provide enormous energy savings, not to mention it is very comfortable to live in concerning many aspects. While I believe the sheer size of modern log homes is often very unsustainable, if you keep with reasonable square footage - it can be a very ec0-friendly housing option. As with any wood used, you should always seek FSC certified wood, most log home companies and builders adhere to that as a given.

Country Log Cabins

European Log Homes

Green Log Home

Coyote Log Homes

Russian Log Homes Site

Northern Log (russian)

Archangel Log Homes

Watch this interesting video about Eco Log in Ontario, Canada.

New President: Green Economy

With Barack Obama in office, as Van Jones put "the first 'green' president", the window of opportunity for renewable energy can finally be opened more than just an inch. The highlight and focus of Greenbuild 2008 in Boston was the Green Economy, now it can become reality. With the current economy crisis, energy is one of the spring points that can create jobs and jump start this country if it is executed in a wise and thought out manner.

California is already at the forefront of this solution with companies researching and producing renewable energy technology that demonstrates performance surpassing what was previously thought possible. New jobs are created and workers are trained in things such as solar panel or wind turbine installation. The task ahead is not easy, it requires determination and perseverance, but no longer can the US rely on other countries for its energy needs. The payback on the investment in renewable energy will not be seen in an instant - that would be too easy. It will take a few years, years that many small businesses do not have, yet it seems to be the only solution that can address several problems at once.

The Art of Biomimicry

Biomimicry is an art. The art of learning the intricacies and ways of nature and using them in the design of today's new technologies and products. Nature is overflowing with examples of complexity, efficiency, and sometimes outright mind-boggling design. Today architects, engineers, and designers can all draw on the inspiration provided by nature to design more efficient buildings, more adaptive transportation, and more innovative products.

The Biomimicry Institute is a non-profit organization that is at the forefront of this design movement. They have really great tools that a designer in any industry can use to learn more from nature and perhaps find ingenious solutions to problems that they face. Their portal, Ask Nature, is a free on-line database that is searchable by design challenge. It is also a great tool for students and children to learn more about the intricate designs found in nature.

Biomimicry has helped design a myriad of products and objects including cars, boats, airplanes, paints and coatings, high performance fabrics, solar panels, roofing material, and buildings.

The List: Creating a Healthy Home

I often come across questions from people who are new to sustainable living and they often ask for the 'easy list' on what they can do to make their homes and lives more healthy. Recently I came across an interesting list that I thought was worth it, I attribute the credits to Seventh Generation, you can also view it here.

Light Green Steps to a Healthy Home

1. Use cleaning products made from natural and not-toxic ingredients; avoid cleaners that contain synthetic chemicals.
2. Dust with a damp cloth to ensure that household dust, the final resting place of many toxins that enter our homes, is removed and not stirred back into the air.
3. Open windows and doors occasionally (even in winter!) to bring in fresh air and rinse out pollutants that have accumulated inside.
4. Avoid aerosol products. They fill your home with microscopic droplets of the synthetic chemicals that are often in these sprays.
5. Same for deodorizers or other air “freshening” products, which are frequently made from unhealthy chemicals that coat surfaces and pollute the air your family breathes.
6. Opt for natural pest control methods instead of pesticide products.
7. Keep conventional cleaners and other chemical products out of kids’ bedrooms and playrooms. Click here to learn why children need special protection.
8. Use chlorine-free products to wash dishes. The chlorine in conventional detergents evaporates in hot water and is released into the air in your home.
9. Conduct a radon test. Radon is an odorless natural radioactive gas that seeps into homes from surrounding soil. A simple test can tell you if your home needs abatement measures.
10. Replace synthetic personal care and make-up products with natural alternatives that don’t contain toxins. To learn more about the hazards in personal care products, click here.

Medium Green Steps to a Healthy Home

1. Eat organic food. It’s grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers, drug and hormone treatments, and genetic alterations. That makes it healthier for you and the earth.
2. Ask guests to remove their shoes upon entering your home. From pesticides to pollutants, shoes can track unwanted visitors into your home.
3. Clean and inspect combustion devices like furnaces, stoves, and hot water heaters to make sure they’re functioning properly and not venting hazardous gases into your home.
4. Have your water tested for chemicals pollutants like pesticides and chlorine. Install a filter on drinking water taps if pollution is found.
5. Buy a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. These special filters trap particles that regular vacuums can’t catch.
6. Don’t buy soft vinyl products, including toys and shower curtains. These items likely contain phthalates (“thal-ates”), toxic chemicals that easily leach.
7. If your home has a chlorinated water supply, install a filtering showerhead to prevent chlorine from vaporizing in hot shower water.
8. Remove any permanent press, easy-care, wrinkle-free, and/or flame-resistant linens and fabrics that are less than one year old and don’t buy new ones. They are most likely treated with the chemical formaldehyde, which slowly escapes during the first year of use.
9. If your home was built before 1978, test painted surfaces for the presence of lead. Conduct the same tests on your child’s toys.
10. Conduct an indoor air quality test to see if any toxic gases, including formaldehyde or vapors from VOCs, are being emitted by your home furnishings.

Dark Green Steps to a Healthy Home

1. Don’t buy home furnishings or fixtures made from particleboard or other pressed wood products. These can emit dangerous fumes over time. Choose solid wood instead.
2. Choose naturally- or low-impact dyed natural fiber carpets and textile products, and use natural flooring for your home. These products won’t introduce any chemical additives to your environment.
3. Become a "localvore" by eating foods grown within 100 miles of your home. Organic or not, such foods have the lowest overall impact on the environment.
4. Clear out the clutter. Crowded, exposed shelves are dust magnets that collect a disproportionate share of the toxins present in your home. Display your favorite items behind glass instead. To find out more about dust and dusting, click here.
5. Replace synthetic foam mattresses with beds made from untreated cotton, wool, and other natural fibers, and glue-free solid woods.
6. Take the same step with other home furnishings. Synthetic foams and treated textiles are one of the chief sources of toxic flame retardants.
7. Replace your lawn with natural landscaping that provides valuable habitat for your local flora and fauna.
8. Wear naturally-dyed natural fiber clothing and keep synthetic materials, colors, and treatments away from your family’s skin.
9. Swap all your non-stick cookware for cast iron. Properly seasoned cast iron will provide much the same results and won’t leach perfluorochemicals or toxic fumes.
10. Express yourself. Let public officials, corporate leaders, and other decision-makers know how you feel about local, national, and global issues.

Dell Children's is First LEED Platinum Hospital

Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas has become the first hospital in the world to receive the LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum designation, given by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Many consider building to LEED standards a waste of money and just a reason to brag, but it is clear that LEED buildings are actually money-saving, not to mention healthier to occupy. The poor building standards that have governed for such a long time result in the occupants developing chronic conditions such as asthma. We spend most of our time indoors in schools, office buildings, and hospitals, the air we breathe there has an absolute direct impact on our health. Here are some reasons why Dell Children's is superior to other hospital buildings:

"Dell Children's, which occupies nearly one-half million square feet on 32 acres that were once part of Austin's old Mueller Airport, opened in June 2007. Its environmentally-sensitive design not only conserves water and electricity, but positively impacts the hospital's clinical environment by improving air quality, making natural sunlight more readily available, and reducing a wide range of pollutants.

Inside the facility, sunlight reaches 80 percent of the available space. Outside, sustainable and indigenous building materials were used throughout the façade. A 4.3 megawatt natural gas-fired power plant produces 100 percent of the hospital's electricity, heating and cooling."

Read the full article here.

Simple Steps to a Greener Home

If you are looking for ideas for a more sustainable lifestyle for you and your family, check out the DVD Simple Steps to a Greener Home by Danny Seo.

This presentation will show you simple steps that will help you turn your home into an Earth-friendly oasis. Learn more about implementing recycling, decorating, and remodeling that is Eco-friendly.

The book Plug-in-Hybrids by Sherry Boschert is an interesting read. Plug-in hybrids are a part of the environmental solution, and the technology to put them into mass production is already existent. Demand for plug-ins is nearly at a fever pitch already, and this book examines how you can get one, along with just what they are and why you want one.



For further home and lifestyle greening check out this book Solar Electric System Design and Installation:

Passive Houses: no heating bills!

Did you ever dream of not having a heating or cooling bill for your home? Are you tired of cold drafts, leaky doors and windows, and the unknown of energy costs? You can get quick fixes like replacement windows, radiant heat perhaps - but how about a house that does not need a heating/cooling system to keep warm, even in a cold climate? Sounds enticing?



Passive house is a concept more familiar to the people of Europe (they always seem to be a few steps ahead), and the Passivhaus Institut in Germany is the pioneer of the engineering concepts for this energy efficient way of living. A passive house is a "very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply."

To learn more about Passive Houses (not to be confused with a solar passive house), take a look at the links below:

PASSIVE HOUSE INSTITUTE US

PASSIVE HOUSE INTO AT PASSIVHAUS INSTITUT

NY TIMES PASSIVE HOUSE ARTICLE

SCANDINAVIAN HOMES LTD

EXAMPLES OF PASSIVE HOUSES

USGBC: 15 Year Anniversary

The USGBC (US Green Building Council) is celebrating 15 productive years! On their website you can view a great presentation highlighting the 15 individuals who have been involved in the making of the USGBC organization and shaping it to what it is today. Read about and watch video clips featuring Rick Fedrizzi, David Gottfried, John Picard, Bob Berkebile, Pliny Fisk, Susan Maxman, Mark Ginsberg, Alex Wilson, Auden Schendler, Bill Walsh, Peter Templeton, Scot Horst, Linda Cato, Martha Jane Murray, and Danniel Wallach.

One interviewer quoted Churchill whose words mark this point in time so well "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else and failed." The incredible thing about this 'green' movement is that it is not just about architecture or culture, it is a social movement. Likewise, the USGBC is not just about buildings, it is about people and lifestyle. Going forward, the organization hopes to continue their mission and avoid misrepresenting the current need for sustainable building, to avoid calling it mainstream when only 2-10% of homes can actually be called 'green'. This also involves exposing corporations that claim to be green without ever complying with LEED, they do not deserve a free ride just by masking themselves as environmentally friendly recyclers. The challenge ahead involves a lot of work on both new and existing buildings in America.

USGBC 15 YEARS PRESENTATION LINK