Today's Green Construction

Using Nu-Wool Cellulose Insulation is Green

2008-12-08T21:14:00.003-05:00

Today contractor's started installing spray-in-place Nu-Wool cellulose wall insulation in the Energy Star home we're building at work. Dense packed cellulose wall insulation is one of the best ways to insulate your walls. If you're interested in learning more about this great insulation product then I suggest you check out the post I wrote today on my other site; Installing Cellulose Spray-In-Place Insulation. Cellulose insulation is a green building project because it uses 100% recycled newspaper as the cellulose component.

$100 Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway

2008-12-06T19:01:00.001-05:00

If you missed out on winning the $100 giveaway last month that I gave away on my Home Improvement Blog then I have good news. The folks over at One Project Closer are giving away a $100 Home Depot Gift Card for two lucky winners. There are several ways to enter the contest.

1 entries: Leave a comment. Leave a comment their article to get one entry into the contest.
10 entries: Subscribe via e-mail.They would love to be able to reward their RSS subscribers as well, but unfortunately RSS subscriptions don’t report any identifiable information for them to link you with the giveaway. If you’re already subscribed, you’re already entered!
75 entries: Write a blog article about the month’s giveaway and agree to review the product. By far the best way to enter the contest is to write a short article on your own blog saying briefly what you’d do with the product, and linking back to the article for that month’s giveaway. The post need not be long at all. For 75 times the entries for leaving a comment, a short three-line article on your own blog gives you a real advantage. After you write the article, make sure you e-mail them @ oneprojectcloser@gmail.com or leave a comment on their post letting them know about the article.

Green Lawn Mower for Green Homes

2008-11-29T19:26:00.003-05:00

Black & Decker has the perfect lawn mower for a green home. Check out the Energy Star certified Black & Decker 19-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Mulching Lawn Mower #CMM1200 available at Amazon. This amazing green lawn mower is available for $430 and it's the perfect Christmas gift for the environmentally conscious member of your family.

The Black & Decker Cordless Electric Mower features:

24 Volt Sealed Lead Acid Battery for Trouble-Free Cutting of Up to 1/3 Acre Homesites
Rechargeable Battery Recharges to 60-70% in 4 Hours and to 100% in 10 Hours
LIFETIME 19" Mower Deck - Mulch Plate and Bag Included; Deck Has Lifetime Warranty
No Gas, Oil or Tune-ups So No Trips to the Service Station or Gasoline to Store
One-touh Height Adjustment Adjusts All Four Wheels With the Touch of a Button From 1-1/2" to 3-1/2"

GREENandSAVE.com

2008-11-28T15:40:00.004-05:00

I wanted to share with you a great Green Construction resource. GreenandSave.com is a really great site offering information and resources for building green while saving money. The site was founded by an Architect with a background in green design. If you're looking to build a new green home and you're not sure what features will pay off in the long run then this is the site for you.

The site features several useful tools including:

So be sure to stop by this site if you're looking for solid money savings advice while you build green.

Harvey Tribute Windows are Green

2008-11-06T12:31:00.003-05:00

This week one of my crews has been installing the new Harvey Tribute windows in the new Energy Star home we're building for a customer. This new line of windows from Harvey is a really great way to build green.

The Tribute window can be ordered with triple pane glass filled with krypton gas to achieve a U factor of 0.20! That means these windows are about 60% more efficient than the standard double pane argon gas filled windows that we typically use.

Some of you may argue that vinyl windows are not exactly green. However, I argue that these windows have almost zero maintenance (no painting) and the energy savings over time make them a serious improvement for the environment.

Be sure to follow the Total House Construction Series over at my Home Improvement Blog if you'd like to read more about this great new Energy Star home that we're building this fall.

$100 Home Depot Card Giveaway Contest

2008-10-31T06:28:00.002-04:00

How would you like to win a $100 Home Depot Gift Card to help with holiday shopping? If you're interested in winning this great prize then head over to Home Construction Improvement for the details.

We're giving out this great price on Black Friday, November 28th, to kick off the Holiday Season.

OPEC is the Best Reason To Go Green

2008-10-21T20:26:00.002-04:00

The news today says that OPEC wants to cut production to increase the price of oil. They are concerned about the recent fall in oil prices and their incredible profits. If this isn't reason enough to promote foreign oil independence I don't know what is.

The members of OPEC care only about their profits. Most of the OPEC Countries actually dislike our Country. OPEC members are even encouraging non OPEC members to cut production in order to drive the prices back up to levels from this summer.

The only way for use to break free from the grip of OPEC is to do everything possible to cut our energy needs and find alternative fuel sources domestically. We all need to promote conservation, solar power and heat, wind power, hydro power and bio-fuels. The easiest place to start this transformation is right at home. If we all do our part the dream of foreign oil independence really won't be that hard.

Renovating Your Home or Business? Be Careful of Asbestos in Older Structures!

2008-10-21T14:03:00.002-04:00

Here is a fact that many home and business owners may not know: over 35 million residences and commercial buildings in our country are laden with asbestos-containing products, including attic and piping insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, and roofing tiles. If you are thinking about renovating your structure, it is crucial that you take the necessary first steps before beginning any renovations. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to the development of a number of asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and the deadly cancer mesothelioma.

First, it is advisable to hire a home inspector to survey the structure so that there are no “surprises” during construction. Too often building owners receive a phone call from their contractor halfway through the renovations informing them that asbestos has been discovered in the structure – and at that point, renovations stop and an asbestos abatement plan must be put into place before the project can move forward, costing additional money and pushing back project deadlines significantly. A home inspector can point out any issues, including structural concerns and the presence of asbestos before renovations begin, allowing home and building owners the opportunity to properly handle any issues and ultimately protect their investment.

If asbestos is located within a home or commercial building, the appropriate next step is to hire a licensed asbestos abatement company to safely handle the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. It is unwise to tackle a do-it-yourself asbestos abatement project, as it can potentially expose you and others to harmful asbestos. An abatement company will handle all aspects of removal and disposal, including alerting local environmental authorities and obtaining the necessary permits. Once asbestos materials are removed, renovations can begin.

If you own a home or commercial building and are considering renovations, it is a perfect opportunity to remove potentially toxic materials (such as asbestos insulation and ceiling tiles) and consider installing more earth-friendly construction products. For example, after removing aging asbestos-containing attic insulation, consider installing foam insulation, a great “green” alternative.

For further information regarding residential and occupational asbestos exposure, please visit Mesothelioma.com.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits Have Been Extended

2008-10-17T21:16:00.003-04:00

I was very happy to read about Renewable Energy Tax Credits being extended for another 8 years. I'm not really sure I agree with the recent "Wall Street Bailout Plan" but I'm happy to say that the plan did extend the much needed renewable energy tax credits for businesses and homeowners.

I believe the only way for us to kick our energy dependence is to help each and every American afford these new technologies. By supplementing the cost to build these great new technologies we are creating an atmosphere for competition among manufacturers and suppliers. That competition will lead to advances in technology that I hope will one day get us closer to foreign oil independence.

So if you've been considering installing a renewable energy system such as solar, wind or geothermal then there's no need to worry about the previously expired renewable energy tax credits.

ZIP System Sheating - Another Green Construction Product

2008-10-16T08:29:00.002-04:00

The ZIP system sheathing product by Huber is another great green construction product. We are building a new Energy Star certified home for a client right now and we're using the ZIP system wall and roof sheathing as part of the building envelope. The ZIP system is a really great idea. The system is composed of a Advantec sheathing panel combined with a vapor barrier that is factory adhered to the panels. Once you finish framing the house a special tape is applied to each joint and penetration in the panel. The finished sheathing envelope is very airtight which will help us maintain a very tight envelope for the blower door testing.

So if you're interested in learning more about this exciting new product I suggest you also follow posts that I'm writing on my home improvement blog. Currently we're erecting prefabricated wall panels which were built using the ZIP system.

Have any of you used the product? What are your thoughts?

Minimize Construction Waste

2008-10-11T11:26:00.002-04:00

One of the ways to help make today's construction more green is by minimizing construction waste and recycling. I've been writing a Total House Construction Series - Foundation to Finish on my other blog and I took a picture of the pile of waste that's been generated in the first week of construction.

If you look closely at the pile of construction waste you might be surprised at the size. I'd like to think this is a very small pile of construction waste compared to most job sites. One of the reasons this pile is so small is due to really good planning and ordering of materials. I spent the time to order beams, joists and framing materials that were as close in length as possible to the required materials.

This pile of construction waste will be separated into two piles. One pile will contain traditional dimensional lumber which can be burned or composted. The other pile will contain engineered lumber and plastics that need to be disposed of properly. It's very important not to burn engineered lumber because of the adhesives and chemicals contained in them.

We will also recycle cardboard and plastic containers on this job. By separating the construction waste and recycling as much as possible we'll be able to reduce the amount of construction waste that enters the landfill by 50% or more.

Lempster Wind Farm

2008-10-09T19:12:00.003-04:00

It is a very exciting time here in this rural part of NH as a large wind turbine project is nearing completion. The Lempster wind farm is a $48 million project that will bring online 12 large turbines that will produce 24 megawatts or enough electricity to power 10,000 home each year.

The towers are 240 feet tall with 139 foot long blades. You can see these wind mills from miles away and I must say I get excited each time I see them. It's hard to believe that these 12 wind mills can power all of the houses in several of the surrounding communities.

During the design phase there were quite a few skeptics about the aesthetic damage these giant towers would do. Considering the crisis we are facing today in our country I can only look at them and hope that we see more and more of these beautiful engineering wonders.

Photo Credit Don Himsel

PickensPlan

2008-10-07T20:55:00.003-04:00

Join me and go sign up for the PickensPlan Pledge and join T. Boone Pickens and other Americans to demand that an Energy Independence Plan be enacted within the first 100 days of the new administration. Regardless of your political party this is one of the most important issues facing our Country. So do your part, read the plan and make a difference.

DIY Solar Panels

2008-10-06T22:44:00.003-04:00

A blogging friend of mine writes a really great blog, Homeowner's Blog and he wrote a great post today on DIY Solar Panels. If you're at all like me and love building your own things then I suggest you read his post. Paul is a very intelligent guy that has a serious knack for designing and building really great solar devices.

Green Promotion Equals Green Construction

2008-10-01T18:29:00.004-04:00

The company I work for has come up with a really Green Giveaway in order to advertise and promote our latest sub-division, Juniper Hill Village. The company will give away a free Smart Car for the first five customers that buy a lot and sign a building contract.

This idea is really great for a couple of reasons. First of all the sub-division is located about 20 miles from Dartmouth College and a very busy business district that employs many of the folks that this location is marketing to. By offering the Smart Car which gets over 40 mpg the development is also offering an environmentally sound transportation option to potential customers.

This development is also going to be built with many Energy Star features. By offering the Smart Car the customer can buy a green house and get a green car at the same time. In a time when oil prices continue to be a strain on families this sub-division surely offers a great Green Promotion and Green Construction.

So if you live in the Dartmouth - Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire and you're looking to build a new home you may want to check out this great free car giveaway at Juniper Hill Village.

Green Construction-Watch for Asbestos when Remodeling

2008-09-30T19:52:00.002-04:00

Today's guest post comes from the folks at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

Many homeowners that wish to make their home environmentally friendly know what they want, but typically don’t really know how to make it happen. This is a common problem for consumers, especially when it comes to figuring out what exactly “green” means.

Contacting Today’s Green Construction is a great first step to take when deciding to go green. Of course, the U.S. Green Building Council can also provide the steps and guidelines to contractors and homeowners on environmental construction better than anyone. Their rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), has been the industry standard for determining whether a green building is actually earth-friendly.

Even for smaller residential projects, such as remodeling or renovation, LEED for Homes is a great place to start.

However, one important aspect to any construction project should be asbestos awareness, which notably missing from this “authority” website. Homeowners should always be extra cautious when tearing down a room or building a new one. Many older homes, primarily those constructed before or during the 1980s, were built with materials containing the toxic mineral asbestos. If these materials become damaged or disturbed, asbestos fibers can release into the air where they can be inhaled.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers has been known to cause several forms of serious disease, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Typically though, signs of these illnesses do not appear for several decades, which often results in a late diagnosis and causes major complications for mesothelioma treatments.

Homeowners that make the switch to environmentally friendly products need to be watchful for asbestos-containing materials. If asbestos is present, mishandling such materials is dangerous and a professional asbestos abatement contractor should be hired. Although the abatement process may be expensive, it is well worth performing. Replacing asbestos products with green products not only saves money in the long run, but is also great for the environment.

Green Grocery Bags

2008-09-27T13:41:00.007-04:00

The fine folks at TOKYObay sent me (my wife) a green grocery bag to use and write a review about. Now you might be asking what this has to do with green construction and it really doesn't. However, I'm all for promoting green living ideas and products so I agreed to do a review for them.

The CARRYECO green grocery bag is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. They are produced in audited manufacturing plants so you know these bags are the real deal.

A chic tote and an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable bags. The large capacity tote goes from beach to town and conveniently folds into its own interior pocket. CarryEco bags are manufactured in an ethically audited factory in a choice of 8 colorful prints. Produced from 100% recycled bottles. 26" x 17" w/handle drop 11"

So the real question is what did my wife and I think of these environmentally responsible bags? We already use re-usable bags that we bought at Hannaford's and Walmart so I was curious to compare them to the one from TOKYObay.

There is no doubt that the ones available from TOKYObay are much more fashionable. My wife thought the bag had a nice design and the ones available all offer some great designs. For me the comparison was in performance. My first impressions have been mixed. I honestly like the "stiffer" canvas type bags that we already own. The reason I say that is they hold their shape better and make it easier to load and unload the groceries. Both types of bags definitely hold more groceries compared to today's plastic bags.

The verdict is pretty simple. If you're looking for a stylish alternative to the boring look of recycled grocery bags then you should check out the bags that TOKYObay offers. No matter which type you choose the real issue is making the switch and helping to reduce the waste that happens everyday in this country with plastic grocery bags.

Thanks for sharing your product TOKYObay and I hope more people will start using recylced grocery bags in the future.

You can buy several different recycled grocery bags from Amazon. The following are just a sample of the bags available.
Reusable Grocery Tote Bag 5 Pack Combo
The Planet Bag Set of Six (6) 100% Cotton Cloth Grocery Totes - Free Shipping
Recycled Grocery Tote - Eggplant

Radon and Granite Countertops?

2008-09-22T20:06:00.000-04:00

I've received lots of questions recently on this blog and my home improvement blog about whether granite countertops emit radon gas. First of all let me say that I'm by no means an expert and my opinion is just that, an opinion.

Having said that it appears there are two camps out there with opposite views. Some activists say that granite countertops can emit up to 100 picocuries per liter which is well above the FDA recommended level of 4 pCi/L. However, according to A Rational Discussion On Radon in Granite Countertops a vast majority of granite countertops emit no or very little radon. So the real question is should you go out and replace your beautiful, expensive granite countertops? I say hold on a minute and think about this issue.

First of all let me say that I'm a cancer survivor and I'd say I'm very aggresive at avoiding cancer causing exposures. However, I skeptical at best about radon exposure from granite countertops.

My opinion is fairly straightforward. First of all most radon problems occur in basements of homes because there is poor ventilation. Typically home owners install granite countertops in kitchens and bathrooms where ventilation is much better. Secondly, I find it hard to believe that the small volume of granite countertop in a home can produce a significant amount of radon. I found the following quote to be quite informative and inline with my feelings about the subject.

"A considerable amount of research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific literature and all of it comes to the same conclusion: the levels of radon coming off a granite countertop are not excessive and not showing any risk for the population in their homes. To properly measure radon, one must calculate the emission rate in connection with the volume of air in the home. Much like paint fumes do, radon generally dilutes harmlessly into a home's air. To get even close to the type of dangerous levels of radon exposure that's been reported in news articles recently, a consumer would have to completely seal off the room, stay in that room 24/7 - for 72 years."

- Dr. John McCarthy
President, Environmental Health & Engineering

Now, having said all of this I believe there is really only one way to be sure and feel safe for your family and loved ones. If you're at all worried about radon exposure then you need to get the air in your home tested. Testing your homes air for radon is very easy to do. You can even test the air for radon with a do-it-yourself kit like this one, Professional Radon Gas Dual Canister Test Kit, sold at Amazon.

I'd love to hear other people's take on this interesting issue. Obviously with the increased popularity of granite countertops this is sure to be an important issue for some time.

Green Construction Does Pay Off

2008-09-18T21:57:00.002-04:00

Today I spoke to one of our customers that recently moved into his new home we built. The home was one of the homes we've built with spray applied cellulose insulation in the walls. The weather here in NH is starting to get cooler at night. This morning it was in the 30's and he called me to say that he woke up to a house that was 72 degrees with NO heat on! That's right, he hasn't turned the heating system on yet and the house stayed at 72 degrees when it was in the mid 30's outside. He's not the first customer to rave about how well their new homes hold heat compared to traditionally insulated homes. So the investment that was made in the spray applied cellulose insulation will certainly pay off with the high prices of heating fuel.

Lead Paint Safety

2008-09-18T13:07:00.002-04:00

One of the biggest safety issues with older homes is the presence of lead paint. Taking proper lead paint safety precautions is an extremely important step in any construction or home improvement project. Today I wrote Home Improvement Lead Paint Safety on my other blog. You should check it out and remember to check for lead paint anytime you work on a structure more than 20 years old.

Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies

2008-09-13T21:34:00.004-04:00

If you're looking for a very easy to read, concise, book about green building and remodeling then you should buy Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies. The whole green building industry can be very vast and confusing at times and this book can really help you cut through all the technical jargon and find out what you need to know.

This book covers:

Understand the lifecycle of building materials
Choose the right system for your green building project
Put together a green team
Work within your budget
Use green building methods and sustainable systems
Speed construction and reduce energy use and waste
Refinish old fixtures and materials
Beware of asbestos and lead-paint hazards
Avoid costly mistakes

So if you're looking for a simple book about green building and remodeling then buy yourself a copy of Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies.

ZIP System Sheathing

2008-09-11T20:52:00.002-04:00

Today I wrote about the ZIP System Wall and Roof Sheathing on my other blog. This exciting new sheathing product is sure to be a big component in many Green Construction projects.

The ZIP System combines a resin based OSB sheathing with moisture barriers applied to the exterior surface. The moisture barriers eliminate the need for housewraps and felt paper.

The real beauty of these new products is the ability to improve on the vapor barrier integrity and improve on total air sealing. This product is manufactured by the same company that makes AdvanTech sheathing. AdvanTech sheathing is a really great product that I swear by some I'm excited to try this newest product of theirs.

Green Building Details for New Home

2008-09-08T20:34:00.004-04:00

Over at my other blog I'm documenting the progress of a new home that has some green construction details. Check out the latest post, New House Energy Efficient Details, which talks about using spray-in-place cellulose insulation and energy efficient triple pane vinyl windows. I think you'll enjoy watching us build this new home and hearing about these exciting green construction products.

Green House Construction Series

2008-09-05T22:11:00.002-04:00

Over on my other blog, Home Construction Improvement, I'm going to be running a series of articles over the next few months documenting the construction of a new house. That house will have several Green Construction details that I think you'll find very interesting. So keep an eye on New House Construction Series for updates during construction.

The new house will feature dense packed blown cellulose insulation, triple pane energy efficient windows and a high efficiency heating system. The series will follow the construction from the ground breaking all the way to occupancy.

Green Cement

2008-09-02T19:53:00.004-04:00

The production of Portland Cement, the key ingredient in concrete accounts for nearly 5% of the worlds CO2 emissions. Cement is produced by heating limestone to over 1450 degrees Celsius. China, India and the United States produce over 900 million metric tons of cement each year with a total world production approaching 2000 million metric tons. In order to heat the limestone to over 1450 degrees Celsius an enormous amount of fossils fuels are burned which produces the extensive amount of CO2.

Obviously if a new method of producing cement can be found which requires significantly less energy to produce the process would make a significant impact on CO2 emissions and global warming. That's why I found the article, Green Cement May Set CO2 Fate In Concrete, extremely interesting. Stanford Professor Brent Constantz says he's found a way of producing green cement that could eliminate the massive quantities of CO2 being produced each year.

His method has two major benefits, first it allows cement to be made without producing large quantities of CO2 and it also reduces the amount of CO2 being dispersed into the atmosphere from modern day power plants. Professor Constantz takes carbon dioxide gases from the smoke stacks of a conventional power plant and bubbles the gas through sea water. The process creates the chemical necessary to produce cement and it captures a large portion of the CO2 being released by the power plant.

The idea has gained support from some venture capitalists and researchers. It's exciting to think that if this process actually produces cement with the necessary properties to produce structural concrete that it could make a major impact on global warming and air pollution. Cement is one of the largest manufactured products in the world and it's impact on the environment is significant.
Type rest of the post here