“We are committed to giving Californians the right to choose the plumbing product that is best for them and their applications,” says Rich Houle, associate product manager, Uponor Commercial Plumbing. “We are confident our efforts, coupled with those of the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) and the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association (PPFA), will restore PEX to the state code in the near future.”

PEX became part of the California Plumbing Code in August 2009, following the CBSC’s January 2009 certification of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on PEX and the commission’s ensuing unanimous adoption of regulations approving PEX water distribution systems. Recently, however, the CBSC was compelled to repeal the inclusion of PEX in the state code, effective July 1, 2010, to comply with a court order.

“Uponor fully supports the CBSC in its efforts to address the issues the court raised about the EIR,” says Houle. “But it is also important to note that the court’s questions focused on technical and process issues in the EIR document, not on the suitability of PEX for plumbing systems.”

Approximately 15 billion feet of Uponor PEX has been installed throughout the world over the past four decades — including the past 20 years in North America. PEX is certified to the stringent health standards set by ANSI/NSF, approved in all national building codes and widely used in the remaining 49 states as well as in all 10 Canadian provinces. More than half of all new homes built in the United States today feature PEX water distribution systems.

In addition, prior to the inclusion of PEX in the California Plumbing Code a year ago, 180 municipalities and counties within the state had already approved the use of PEX tubing as an alternate material to copper and other materials used for plumbing piping. Until such time that PEX is reinstated in the state code, those jurisdictions may continue to use PEX under those same alternate-materials provisions of California law.

The reinstatement process: Even though the CBSC necessarily removed PEX from the code to comply with a court order, the CBSC also submitted a revised EIR for public comment. Following the 45-day comment period, which ended July 19, the Commission is now evaluating the revised EIR, and will presumably put PEX back on the path to reinstatement into the state plumbing code, according to Houle.

Although PEX tubing is temporarily not part of the current state plumbing code, contractors may still install it if approved by California county and municipal governments and their code-equivalent authorities. Tradespeople should contact these local code officials for more information; additional information can be found at www.bsc.ca.gov. Furthermore, the temporary removal of PEX from the code does not affect any already-approved or permitted projects or work done under local ordinances, regulations or alternate-materials provisions.

“As the reinstatement process takes its inevitably successful course, our stance at Uponor remains as strong and confident as ever,” Houle continues. “Regardless of individual preferences, we fully support everyone’s right to use the plumbing material of their choice if that material meets the highest testing and listing standards required, and PEX does.”

According to Houle, “Given its many years of successful and proven performance in plumbing systems worldwide, Uponor PEX meets all the relevant criteria, and Californians deserve the same choice in systems that is currently enjoyed by builders and installers in all 49 other states.”

For more information about PEX in California, contact:

Uponor, Inc. is a leading supplier of plumbing, fire safety and radiant heating and cooling systems for the residential and commercial building markets in the United States. Uponor, Inc. employs 380 people at its North American headquarters in Apple Valley, Minn. For more information, visit www.uponor-usa.com or call (800) 321-4739.

This weekend we planted our vegetable garden which is an excellent green home improvement project. Seriously, think about it, if you’re buying fewer vegetables at the store that were grown hundreds of miles from your home then you’re helping cut pollution.

This summer we decided to only mow the lawn once every two weeks instead of weekly. So far it’s working great, the lawn looks healthier and we’re using half as much gas!! This method will most likely result in needing less fertilizer as well.

Each of these small projects means you’ll be saving money. If you want another way to save some money then check out the Lowes Coupon article over at HCI. It’s a great way to save 10% off at Lowes for certain people.

“Homeowners should be actively involved in the product decisions that go into their new home construction,” says Jim Costello, president of Superior Walls®. “Consumers can build value from the bottom up in their new homes by using energy-efficient foundation systems. The steel-reinforced concrete panels created by Superior Walls are matched up in the manufacturing process with DOW® Styrofoam™ boards, which provide excellent rigid foam insulation. The resulting Xi™ wall panels provide an exceptionally energy efficient foundation for a home.

“According to the publication ‘Native Power – A Handbook on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Native American Communities,’ an uninsulated basement can account for one-third of the total heat loss in a home. This study, funded in part by the Office of Energy Research, U.S. Department of Energy and the Office of Utility Technologies, illustrates the tremendous value homeowners can achieve by shunning unheated basements and crawlspaces in favor of installing energy-efficient foundation panels.”

A separate “Residential Foundation Insulation” report issued in 2000 by Kansas State University with support of the U.S. Department of Energy, suggests that the benefits of foundation insulation are often overlooked. According to the report, “heat loss from an uninsulated, conditioned basement may represent up to 50 percent of a home’s total heat loss in a tightly sealed, well-insulated home.”

Superior Walls insulated precast concrete wall systems have earned the Green Approved Product designation by the NAHB Research Center. Builders choosing to use Superior Walls Xi™ and R-5 foundations can now earn up to 10 points on a project toward a National Green Building Certification.

At Superior Walls, Xi wall panels are constructed with a concrete face shell, backed by 2-1/2-inches of DOW extruded polystyrene insulation. In addition, the steel reinforced concrete walls create a permanent barrier against sidewall water penetration, making the home damp proof.

Each Superior Walls panel is custom made to the specifications of an individual home, including built-in openings for windows and doors. Pre-engineered access for wiring or small plumbing elements along with smart stud facing for easy drywall installation are included and help speed up the installation process. Foundation systems generally install in a day or less by certified installation crews, making it possible for builders to begin construction within 24 hours.

The pre-cast insulated foundation systems provided by Superior Walls help homeowners save on energy bills and allow them to fully utilize their basement space as functioning and comfortable living areas in the home.

For more information visit www.superiorwalls.com.

(San Francisco, CA) – What’s new for SolarDay 2010? How about a national Solar Sweepstakes.

It’s free to enter the $5,000 solar sweepstakes on the SolarDay website (www.solarday.com) to win a chance at a $5,000 credit off a residential or commercial solar installation for homeowners in the U.S.

Really Reducing Your Monthly Energy Bills

Why enter? Energy prices are going up, again. People with solar installations on their homes and businesses can dramatically reduce their monthly energy bills. And, there are many incentive and rebate programs that can reduce the cost of a solar installation by nearly half. Plus, new programs allow you to pay off your solar installation through your property taxes and other methods. Some solar companies will install a solar installation at no cost – and simply charge you for the electricity you consume – at a guaranteed rate with no surprises.

You Can’t Win if You Don’t Enter!

Check out the SolarDay 2010, Solar Sweepstakes at: www.solarday.com.

Somebody will win a $5,000 credit for a home or business solar installation. With existing government rebates, that credit can be worth close to $10,000 off the cost of your installation.

Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2010) — New efficiency standards released late yesterday by the Obama Administration’s Department of Energy (DOE) will deliver huge energy savings nationwide by making each of the millions of new water heaters installed more energy efficient, according to a coalition of energy efficiency, consumer and environmental organizations.

In addition, for the very largest home water heaters, the new efficiency standards will for the first time require advanced technologies — heat pumps for electrically-powered products and condensing technology for gas products — paving the way for even bigger future savings.

“From washing hands to hot showers to clean dishes, we all rely on water heaters for our daily needs,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “These new standards will deliver big national energy savings, reduce consumer energy bills and cut pollution.”

According to DOE, for most product sizes sold, the new standards can be met with modest changes, such as adding more insulation to today’s conventional tank-style water heaters. For the most common size electric water heater (50 gallons), the standards will save 4 percent while for the most common size gas water heater (40 gallons), the new standards will save 3 percent. These per unit savings add up to big national impacts since more than nine million home water heaters are sold every year and water heating accounts for some 12 percent of the typical home’s energy use.

However, for the biggest products — those with over 55 gallons in storage capacity, which is about 9 percent and 4 percent of the electric and gas water heater markets respectively — the new standards can only be met with heat pump and condensing technology. Heat pump electric water heaters save at least 50 percent and gas condensing water heaters save about 25 percent relative to today’s conventional storage water heaters.

“In the long run, a shift to electric heat pump and condensing gas water heaters is absolutely essential if we are to make deep cuts in household energy use and costs,” said Jeffrey Harris, vice president, national programs, of the Alliance to Save Energy. “DOE deserves tremendous credit for kick-starting this transition with its new standards.”

The new standards will save 2.6 quads of energy over 30 years or about enough energy to meet the total needs of about 13 million typical U.S. households for one year. Over the same period, consumers would save about $8.7 billion and carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by 154 million metric tons (an amount equal to the typical annual emissions of 30 million cars).

Based on DOE analyses, ACEEE estimates that a transition to electric heat pump and condensing gas products in all sizes and applications that make sense would save about 10 quads of energy and reduce CO2 emissions by about 0.5 billion metric tons.

Last year, President Obama committed to accelerate DOE’s work to update many outmoded standards. These new standards are the latest in a series of more than 20 that must be completed during the current presidential term.

“Just a year into President Obama’s administration, DOE has made remarkable progress to update appliance standards,” said Appliance Standards Awareness Project Executive Director Andrew deLaski. “DOE’s new standards prove again that the cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy we save.”

Condensing and heat pump technologies are common in space heating but have only a toehold so far in the water heater market. More than 40 percent of U.S. furnace sales are of condensing products, and about 8 percent of U.S homes are warmed with heat pumps. Several major water heater companies have brought these technologies to the water heater market and other major manufacturers are working to develop and introduce competing products.

“The Obama administration has demonstrated again its strong commitment to an energy efficient future with these standards. These standards are a big step toward improving the efficiency of U.S. homes,” said Earthjustice associate attorney Tim Ballo. “We are encouraged to see the Obama administration make the right choice and give energy efficiency the boost that it deserves. We hope this decision signals the administration’s future choices on energy efficiency standards, which have the ability to put money back in the American people’s pockets, spur innovation, create jobs, and lift our economy, while at the same time reducing harmful air pollution from power plants.”

A broad coalition of consumer, energy efficiency and environmental groups as well as utilities, state officials and more than 17,000 individuals wrote DOE urging adoption of the standards announced today.

Today’s final rule also updates minimum standards for less common products such as tankless water heaters (also known as instantaneous water heaters), pool heaters and direct heating equipment, a type of space heater.

LINK TO DOE RULE: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/heating_products_fr.html

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The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ACEEE was involved in the legislation establishing federal efficiency standards, and has been active in all rulemakings since then. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.

The Appliance Standards Awareness Project is dedicated to increasing awareness of and support for cost-effective appliance and equipment efficiency standards. Founded in 1999, ASAP is led by a steering committee that includes representatives from energy efficiency organizations, the environmental community, consumer groups, utilities, and state government. See standardsASAP.org .

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy and national security. www.ase.org

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. Earthjustice brings about far-reaching change by enforcing and strengthening environmental laws on behalf of hundreds of organizations and communities. More information on Earthjustice is available at its Web site: www.earthjustice.org

Fort Wayne, IN – Water-to-water geothermal heat pumps from WaterFurnace International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps, now qualify for the ENERGY STAR® label thanks to a new ENERGY STAR specification for geothermal heat pumps that went into effect Dec. 1, 2009.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) stringent specifications for this category of geothermal heat pumps will help protect the environment and reduce energy costs, because geothermal heat pumps that meet the new standards will be up to 45 percent more efficient than conventional pumps.

“This is the first time geothermal water-to-water heat pumps are eligible for the ENERGY STAR label and comes in response to growing consumer interest in geothermal heating and cooling systems,” noted Andy Fracica, director of marketing at WaterFurnace. “At WaterFurnace, we’re proud of the extensive list of WaterFurnace products that meet efficiency standards established by the ENERGY STAR Program for Geothermal Heat Pumps.

In addition to significant energy savings, tax credits available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) make the purchase of an ENERGY STAR product even more attractive. “That’s because homeowners who install geothermal heat pumps with the ENERGY STAR label before Dec. 31, 2016, are eligible for a 30 percent renewable energy tax credit,” said Fracica. “In addition, homeowners can take advantage of utility rebates and state and local tax incentives, where available.”

To see the complete list of WaterFurnace ENERGY STAR-compliant water-to-water geothermal heat pumps, visit the company’s Web site at www.waterfurnace.com.

WaterFurnace International, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional geothermal and water source heat pumps. Products from WaterFurnace include energy-efficient and environmentally friendly geothermal comfort systems, indoor air quality products and pool heaters. WaterFurnace (TSX:WFI) was founded in 1983, the company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Ind.

For additional information, please visit www.waterfurnace.com.

Lead Poisoning

In support of National Poison Prevention Week, March 14-20, OldHouseWeb.com presents, Lead Poisoning and Children: The Risks in Your Old House, a new guide and educational tool for families to help them identify and address the risks of lead, a toxin frequently found in old homes.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lead-based paint is the leading cause of lead exposure for children and adults. Whereas toys garner the brunt of media scrutiny with regard to lead poisoning, materials used in old house construction present a significant source of exposure, especially for children. Homes built prior to 1978 are especially at risk, and more than half of the homes built between 1940 and 1960 contain lead-based paints.

Lead poisoning is not to be taken lightly; children exposed to lead can suffer brain damage, impaired mental or physical function, headaches, and learning or behavioral problems. Among adults, lead poisoning can cause irritability, reduced muscle function, nerve damage, elevated blood pressure, memory problems, muscle or joint pain, and reduced reproductive ability. In pregnant woman, lead exposure can hinder proper fetal development.

“Be very cautious when performing house repairs, restoration, or remodeling,” OldHouseWeb.com columnist and home inspector, Bill Kibbel warns. “This can disturb and distribute large amounts of lead containing dust throughout your family’s home.”

In addition to Lead Poisoning and Children: The Risks in Your Old House, OldHouseWeb.com has published a number of articles and a video related to lead-based paint contamination in the home:

• Lead Paint – Reducing Your Family’s Risk
• Keep Your Home Safe From Lead-Based Paints
• Lead Contamination in the Home
• Old House Web Home Hazards Series – Lead Paint (video)

Home built prior to 1978 are at a high risk for lead paint contamination. Because of that the government has decided to require that any remodeling or renovation project that disturbs more than 6 square feet on the interior or 20 square feet on the exterior be tested for lead paint. If the house tests positive you must hire a certified contractor for the work. There are a few exceptions and you can read more about them on our other site on our Lead Paint Law 2010 article.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. March 16, 2010 – American Standard Brands is taking a stand for global safe drinking water and basic sanitation for all, by standing up 12 high-efficiency toilets outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 in a Guinness World Record attempt to create the World’s Longest Toilet Queue.

The event is part of two days of activities to support World Water Day (March 22), with toilet queues being set up in Europe and Asia, as well as North America, to draw attention to WASH, an acronym for water, sanitation and hygiene. Lack of access to fresh clean water, the world’s largest environmental health crisis, kills 4,500 children every day.

The World’s Longest Toilet Queue is one of many happenings taking place in Washington, DC next Monday and Tuesday, bringing together thousands of campaigners from around the world to identify ways to achieve the United Nations’ 2015 Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half the proportion of people who lack safe drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015.

On March 22, a series of high-level roundtables entitled “Paths Forward for the Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Sector,” hosted by the Global Water Futures Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, are being held. Their goal — to generate strategies on how to improve the outcome of WASH programs and increase participation of U.S. based public and private sectors in global WASH initiatives. Jim McHale, American Standard Brands vice president, operations and engineering, is an invited participant in the roundtable discussion “Making our Investments Count,” contributing ideas to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of WASH programs. McHale and other American Standard Brands executives will also attend an invitation-only event at the National Geographic Society, expected to feature U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, where the spotlight will be on the expanding commitments of the U.S. government, corporations and non-profit organizations towards worldwide WASH proposals.

“Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene is a serious global issue,” said McHale, “Nearly 1 billion people around the world still lack access to clean drinking water, and more than 2.5 billion people lack even basic sanitation.

“In our country, we are fortunate that trained plumbers protect our health and safety, a fact American Standard celebrated in the1930s with our iconic advertising campaign, The Plumber Protects the Health of Our Nation,” McHale continued.

World Water Day participation is the latest in a series of initiatives by American Standard Brands to raise awareness of practical water conservation solutions through award-winning product innovations and increased consumer choice. In February, American Standard Brands announced a $1 million, two-year partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organization, in support of its mission in the area of global freshwater conservation.

Organizations supporting World Water Day include Action Against Hunger, Africare, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, InterAction, Global Water Challenge, H2O for Life, ONE, Millennium Water Alliance, NRDC, PATH, PSI, P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, U.S. Coalition for Child Survival, Water Advocates, WaterAid, Water For People, and Water.org.
“If you are in Washington D.C. next Tuesday, get in line with us,” said Jeannette Long, general manager of e-commerce and marketing initiatives for American Standard Brands. “We’ll be giving away chances to win prizes when the line starts building at 1:00 pm right through the media event at 1:30 pm.” The World’s Longest Toilet Queue, which is open to any supporters and passersby, will take place in the park alongside Constitution Avenue between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol.

ABOUT AMERICAN STANDARD BRANDS
American Standard Brands is a leading North American manufacturer of a wide range of high-quality kitchen and bath products, including faucets, fixtures, furniture, vitreous china fixtures, cast iron sinks, whirlpool tubs and other related products. The company currently serves both the residential and commercial markets; employs more than 6,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico; and markets products under the American Standard®, Crane®, Eljer®, Porcher®, Jado® and Fiat® brands. American Standard Brands is an affiliated portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners with a minority interest held by Bain Capital Partners, Inc.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – MirrorMate® gives bare, plate glass bathroom mirrors the finished look of a beautifully framed, free-hanging mirror in a matter of minutes – easily and affordably updating the appearance of an older bathroom and adding character to new construction.

“It is the most inexpensive and dramatic change that can be made to a bathroom’s biggest focal point – the vanity mirror,” said Lisa Huntting, MirrorMate® Founder and President.

Each frame is custom cut to seamlessly fit any mirror, even if it sits atop a backsplash or runs to the wall or ceiling. Just like a frame for a piece of art, it features mitered edges that give the mirror an authentically framed look, yet comes at a fraction of the cost of traditional framing or purchasing a whole new mirror.

The pre-taped frame assembles easily and adheres directly to the mirror currently on the wall, making it an eco-friendly option that eliminates the need to remove and dispose of old mirrors. The innovative, patented design covers all unattractive clips and de-silvering while also masking the mirror’s edge when viewed from the side – so there’s no telling it isn’t an expensive, free-hanging mirror.

All that is needed to order a MirrorMate® frame is the mirror’s measurements (width and height) and the distance from the mirror’s edge to the backsplash, ceiling or wall. At the company’s websites, www.mirrormate.com, there are over 40 styles and finishes to choose from, including rich woods, ornate looks and metallic tones, as well as eco-friendly frames made from all recycled wood.

The frame is delivered within approximately 10-14 business days. Assembly and installation take about 20 minutes (plus time for the glue to dry) – so there is almost no room downtime. The frame corners are easily joined with the supplied wood glue and corner wedges, just like those used by professional framers. Once dried, placement corners are used to properly align the frame on the mirror before pressing the pre-taped frame directly onto the glass.

Retail costs typically ranges from $109 to $198 depending on the molding chosen and the mirror size. A favorite among designers, homeowners and commercial property owners, MirrorMate® frames are durability-tested, easily maintained and approved for use by most major hotel chains.

ABOUT MIRRORMATE LLC

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, MirrorMate LLC was founded by Lisa Huntting, who invented the company’s flagship product, the MirrorMate® frame, as a design solution for the bare mirrors in her own home. As the original and industry leader, MirrorMate® frames are patented in the U.S. and Canada. In 2008, MirrorMate® expanded their offerings with Pizzazz® MirrorSquares™, a line of custom-framed mirror squares designed to hang in groupings – adding visual interest, and reflecting the homeowners’ individual décor and style. The Pizzazz® MirrorSquares™ are available in over 35 frame styles. For retail and wholesale information, as well as a MirrorMate® demonstration video, please visit www.mirrormate.com. Connect with MirrorMate at www.twitter.com/mirrormate and www.facebook.com/mirrormateframes.