Archive for September, 2007
September 29th, 2007
September Green News–And Just a Little Ranting
Stumble it!
Well, the big story this month is the same as many past - global warming. The biggest news was the dueling global warming conferences held at the UN General Assembly on September 24 and the US State Department several days later. Why two events, you might reasonably ask? The UN meeting, held the day before the UN General Assembly Meeting in New York, was intended to boost support for a global fight against climate change and specifically to rally support for the next round of global climate change talks scheduled for Bali in December 2007. The overall goal is to put in place a binding set of caps on greenhouse gas emissions that will reduce overall emission levels to pre-1990 levels. Perhaps the biggest US news from the event was who wasn’t there (President Bush) and who was representing US initiatives: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
So, why was a second set of talks in Washington necessary? Well, the US along with Australia were the only two countries not to sign on to the previous round of climate commitments, put in place as the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. The primary resistance from the current administration focuses on the fact that developing countries with large emissions such as China and India are not covered under the old framework, and also that any reductions should not come at the expense of any economic growth. And, it’s not clear that there’s much to this concern: the UK economy continues to flourish even though the UK is in track to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 16% compared to 1990; the US, on the other hand, will emit 25% higher levels of greenhouse gases in three years than it did in 1990. Rather than agreeing to meet binding caps, the Bush administration proposes that all strive for “long-term goals” - a much less stringent standard. Democratic US Representative Edward Markey from Massachusetts stated it this way: “My fear is that the president has set aspirational goals that are really procrastinational.”
We see any delay as a missed opportunity - a missed opportunity for our planet, and a missed opportunity for the US economy. Would General Motors be in the same trouble it is today if it had taken its electric vehicle leadership from the EV-1 program and leveraged it to produce hybrid vehicles well before the launch of the Prius? Would Germany be seen as the leading solar economy in the world had the US not scrapped the ambitious solar programs started in the late 1970s and early 80s? And, there’s the simple moral issue, spelled out eloquently in Vaclav Havel’s recent editorial in the NY Times: is it fair to leave problems of our own creation to future generations to solve?
In other green news:
More on the climate front: There was more open water in the Arctic Ocean this summer due to ice melting than at any time since we have been keeping track - for the first time a Northwest Passage from Europe to Asia was open to boating travel. For those that are data-inclined, see a chart of sea ice coverage over the past 30 years.
Scientists optimistic: Despite all of the bad news related to global warming, many eminent scientists hold out hope that we are reaching a tipping point and will respond in enough time to stave off the most dire consequences. We certainly hope so … still we all have a lot of work to do!
Threats to endangered species increase: According to the World Conservation Union, animals and plants around the world continued to disappear at an alarming rate in 2007. The causes? Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species and pollution among the tops.
Last but not least, I came across this interesting post on the Weather Channel’s blog. It’s quite technical, but if you’re a weather junkie like me it’s an interesting read that provides still more evidence (and from a previous climate change skeptic) that something’s going on in the blue skies over our heads.
That’s all for now - please come back Tuesday to learn about what you can do to eliminate the annoyance and environmental waste of junk mail from your life!
Popularity: 1% [?]
September 26th, 2007
Outstanding in the Field: Organic, Local Delights Al Fresco
For those of you who have not heard of Outstanding in the Field, it is an ongoing food event that takes place at different farms and community gardens across the country. Elegant five course meals are served al fresco right at the food source. Farmers, food artisans and guests enjoy the organic, local bounty together at long linen covered tables, under setting suns and shining stars.
I had the pleasure of attending an event last Sunday at the Wattles Farm Community Garden in Hollywood, California. The glass of wine and garden tour offered at the start, brought all of the craziness of L.A. living to a complete stand still. Family-style servings of salad with beets and figs, uni chowder, braised lamb tongue over white beans, duck confit and zucchini cake were (needless to say) “outstanding”. My evening was perfected by the amiable guest environment, charming hosts ― and quite possibly, the only shooting star I have ever seen flying over Los Angeles (celebrities excluded).
Outstanding in the Field hosts organic dining events at various times across the US. To find out about upcoming events visit www.outstandinginthefield.com
Popularity: 1% [?]
September 24th, 2007
Green Prefab Homes - Prefabulous!
Prefabricated, or modular, home construction is enjoying a renaissance in the booming green building market. Some people may think that prefab or modular building connotes cold uniformity, but in this newsletter we’ll introduce you to companies that are making this new breed of green prefab homes beautiful, comfortable, and most importantly very light on the planet! (when you’re done reading, visit this new article with more information about the latest prefab trends and products)
What is Prefab?
The basic principle of prefab construction is that sections of a home, or modules, are built in a controlled factory environment, transported to a project site upon completion, and then connected and placed onto a foundation. Depending on the complexity of the home, designers can employ anywhere from two to 50 structurally connected pieces.
Most often prefab is associated with highly modern design. Modern design is typically characterized by clean lines, strong forms, use of materials in their natural state, and little to no added decoration. Modular building allows modern design to be brought to mainstream markets because it generally reduces construction and design costs significantly when compared to a similar custom-built home. Recently, a much broader range of prefab home options has emerged, especially some of those designed using “green” building principles.
Why is Prefab Green?
The primary goal of building a green home is to reduce its environmental impact while also creating a healthy environment for occupants. Architects and builders do this by emphasizing energy efficiency, reducing fresh water use, selecting materials that are healthy and sustainable, and choosing sites that minimize environmental disturbance.
Prefab design & construction offers a number of unique opportunities to accomplish these goals. First, the control available in a factory environment allows the designer / builder to be very precise with material planning and use – there is very little waste left over when compared to standard construction techniques. Second, hard-to-find green materials can be bought in bulk and used over many projects, minimizing delays and ensuring that no “short cuts” are taken due to unavailable materials. Third, this bulk purchasing and the delivery of a small number of completed modules to the home site dramatically reduce pollution from transportation to and from the site. And finally, the disturbance of the home construction site can be minimized because there is no need to stage and store large amounts of material onsite for extended periods. A good prefab contractor might clear only the house footprint itself and enough room to deliver the completed modules.
In addition to being green, these elements also help to keep costs down and shorten the overall project timeline. Materials can be bought in bulk at attractive prices. Skilled craftsmen can be fully employed and can work on modules for many prefab homes at a time. And, the indoor construction process eliminates delays and damage due to weather conditions.
So, What Do Green Prefab Homes Look Like?
Green prefab homes come in all shapes and sizes. Smaller is better for the Wee House by Alchemy Architects. Alchemy offers a wide selection of green materials, technologies and styles in their prefab house line. They come in small “solitaire” units or in multi-module larger “companions” if you need more space. While Wee Homes arrive on site nearly ready to live in, the homeowner needs to get a contractor to complete the foundation, utility hookups and cabinetry. You’ll save time, money and dramatically lower your environmental impact with a dwelling like the Wee House.
Another beautiful example of the modern-style prefab home is Michelle Kaufmann Design’s (MKD) Sunset Breezehouse (pictured at the top of this article). Designed through a partnership between MKD and Sunset Magazine, the Breezehouse has a “BreezeSpace” at the center which is situated under a distinctive butterfly-shaped roof. This breezeway or porch allows you to “let the green in” to your main living and dining areas, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior and increasing your functional living space without building more walls and ceilings. The home is Energy Star certified and highly efficient, relying on open cell foam insulation and thorough caulking to eliminate air leakage. The Breezehouse also features water-saving plumbing fixtures, on-demand water heaters, and a mechanical ventilation system that is 30% more efficient than typical forced-air systems. It’s efficient and gorgeous.
Another innovative prefab design is the Solaleya Home. Solaleya homes actually rotate to track the sun in order to use passive solar energy for heating. This rotation is highly energy efficient, provides a constant change of scenery, and brings warming natural light into the living space. The structure is made of a central pillar and arches, giving the home excellent hurricane and earthquake resistance. It is also Energy Star rated and is truly the house of choice for anyone who follows the sun all year round.
One last example for those looking for a slightly less modern approach is the house pictured here from Bamboo Technologies in Hawaii. These green prefab homes are made almost entirely out of bamboo, one of the most sustainable of building materials. You can customize versions for any climate zone, so fear not if you don’t happen to live in the tropics! And, these homes are incredibly strong and stand up to both earthquakes and hurricanes. Although these homes are built far away, they are transported by ship, which is one of the less carbon-intensive methods of moving materials. The other environmental benefits of a bamboo structure certainly counter this one drawback.
How Can I Get A Prefab Home?
The easiest way to get a green prefab home is to call a design firm that specializes in prefab such as one of the ones mentioned above. Here are some of the other options in green prefab design:
- pieceHomes (Los Angeles, CA)
- Blu Homes (Boston, MA)
- Eco Structures (Maidsville, WV)
- Eco-Infill (Denver, CO)
- kitHAUS (CA)
- Hive Modular (Minneapolis, MN)
- Modular Homes, Inc. (Edison, NJ)
- h-haus (Santa Fe, NM)
To find more companies that create and build prefab homes, please visit our green prefab housing directory.
What If I’m Already Building a Home?
Some of us might want to have it both ways – the individuality of a custom home or the benefit of working with a trusted architect / builder, combined with the cost and environmental benefits of prefab approaches. If this is you, don’t fret – you can now find green prefab elements to employ in more customized designs. Some of these include:
- Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). SIPs are preconstructed wall and roof elements that combine insulation, structural elements and often channels for wiring & plumbing in one piece. They are much easier to assemble than typical walls, are very strong, and are incredibly energy efficient. Premier Building Systems is one of the leaders in this area, with over twenty years of experience.
- Precast, predesigned foundations. Check out the Oasis Foundation Wall System. Foundation, insulation, and interior walls combined into one piece, and installed in one day. And, you achieve indoor air quality and material efficiency savings too.
- Precast or prefabricated countertops. Several companies produce integrated counter and sink elements out of sustainable materials. Lithistone produces beautiful sink and countertop units out of materials that contain recycled content and require low energy use to make when compared to traditional cement-based products.
- Pre-packaged solar PV systems. A large portion of the cost of solar PV installations is labor. You can cut that significantly with a pre-packaged solar system from ReadySolar. Their “Solar in a Box” system comes with all of the needed components, ready to install.
And, last but not least, try to check out Modern Cabana’s line of green prefab accessory structures – perfect for that home office, guest suite or relaxation space in the back yard!
Related features:
To explore some new products and services in the green prefab market, check out this new post.
Looking for something smaller? A prefab office, or a retreat cabin? Check out this post on small prefab (weefab) options.
Read an interview with the co-founders of pieceHomes, Jonathan and Mary Jo Davis.
If you are interested in building a custom green home, find a green builder near you.
Popularity: 66% [?]
September 20th, 2007
This is Green Heaven: Live Report from West Coast Green
If you are into green homes and eco-friendly living like we are, you will think you died and went to heaven here at West Coast Green. This is the largest residential green building show this year. The huge expo took place at the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco Thursday through Saturday September 20-22.
For starters, West Coast Green and many partners built a green prefab home designed by Michelle Kaufmann in the middle of City Hall Plaza, complete with landscaping and all. It’s a perfect way to enter the show - check out how everything looks in a true home setting before diving into the details with all of the vendors.
If you have any question about whether green building is entering the mainstream, you won’t when you walk in the door of this show - there are multiple vendors in almost every category of home construction, and the quality and variety of products are truly a sign that green is here to stay.
Looking for gorgeous sustainable wood flooring? Check out the beauties from Restoration Timber and EcoTimber. Think some cork flooring might float your boat? See the wide offering from Sustainable Flooring. And if you have a hankering for tropical hardwood but are worried about what rainforest was cut to provide it, worry no more. The reclaimed woods from Terramai are mindblowing in both their diversity and beauty.
Don’t even get me started about counters. Recycled glass wonders from Vetrazzo, recycled paper counters from PaperStone, and cement composite from Syndecrete. Based on what we’ve seen, it won’t be too long before green countertops become the materials of choice in fine homes around the country.
Want to learn more about green building trends and standards? Come get an education from Build it Green. They offer an interesting alternative to the USGBC’s LEED certification.
And then there’s oodles of solar companies, water-saving home water technologies, smokeless fire places, wine racks made of reclaimed wood…everything here is sustainable and lovely and you’ll want to take it all home with you.
If there is one general critique we would make, it is that many of the products on display are clearly targeted to the high end of the market. We certainly hope that through time these manufacturers will work hard to bring their products to lower price points accessible to a broader audience. Only then will green products truly go mainstream and reach enough people to reduce our collective impact on the environment.
Popularity: 2% [?]
September 18th, 2007
How to Tuesday: Cut Your Use of Plastic, Plastic, Plastic
You are not new to recycling. You’ve been doing it for years and it’s a big part of your daily routine. You’ve become at an expert at identifying what plastics you can and cannot recycle. Now focus on another important part of eco-friendly living: reduce your use of plastic.
Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year or in landfills. If that’s not enough, almost 3 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of all water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills. We are drowning in plastic, people!
That plastic can be bad for us and bad for the environment. Recent studies have shown that there’s more plastic than plankton in some of the remote parts of our oceans. And there are increasing reports on the human health effects of chemicals used in plastic products. Let’s also not forget that plastic is made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource and a major contributor to global warming.
So let’s get to it– how to reduce your use of plastics:
1. Don’t use garbage bags—just empty your trash into the garbage bin.
2. If you don’t like that approach, get yourself some recycled or biodegradable, compostable garbage bags.
3. Request that your daily newspaper not be wrapped in plastic when delivered. (Or cancel your newspaper subscription and go totally online for your news fix– you’ll save hundreds of trees as well.)
4. Take your own plastic or metal container to the restaurant to take home your leftovers when you’re eating out. Sure they’ll look at you funny, but remember you’re an eco-trend-setter!
5. Remind your favorite take-out place to leave out the plastic utensils when they pack your food to go. Your drawers are full of them already! And politely decline the bag if you only have one or two items to carry home.
6. Ask you favorite dry-cleaners to eliminate the plastic wrap on your clothes. Don’t forget to choose an eco-friendly, non-toxic dry cleaner too.
7. Take your reusable coffee tumbler with you when get coffee to-go. And skip the lid for your soft drink. Those plastic lids add up! And now you don’t need a plastic straw.
8. You’ve heard it before but it’s critical: The simple most profound solution to reduce plastic consumption is to bring your own bags when you shop at the grocery store, drugstore or mall. There are so many great cotton, canvas, even hemp bags available now in endless sizes and styles. Have you seen the ultra-light compact Chicobags? Throw two in your car or purse so you’re never without a reusable bag and you’ll always have one handy!
9. Another major source of plastic bag waste are the pesky flimsy plastic produce bags that accumulate in your closet. Reusable cotton mesh produce sacks are a simple solution to that problem. Check them out at Ecobags.com. Toss them in your reusable shopping bag and head to the market. Each reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate thousands of plastic bags over its lifetime.
10. And let’s all remember the problem that is the disposable plastic water bottle. Many alternatives to plastic water bottles are available. Kleen Kanteen and SIIG water bottles are stainless steel safe alternatives to plastic water bottle and are available in many sizes.
11. For water use in the office…Remember the novel concept of a pitcher or a glass of water? You don’t have to drink from a bottle.
12. There are loads of ways to reduce your consumption of plastic when you store leftovers, pack lunches or food to go. Ditch those plastic baggies or foil for containers that come in endless shapes and sizes and you can use them over and over again! Pack them in your reusable lunch sack too.
13. Become an eco-wise consumer whenever you shop. Choose products that contain less packaging. Check every plastic container before you chuck it– it may be recyclable! Purchase products in larger containers—get a huge jug of laundry detergent rather than three smaller ones. Choose glass bottles over plastic whenever possible.
Just as recycling has become second nature, these simple ways to reduce our consumption of plastic make a world of difference! And don’t be afraid to speak up about these ideas. The more that retailers and restaurants hear about alternatives, the better the chance that they’ll make changes in the way they do business. That way we’ll multiply our individual actions.
What ideas do YOU have? We’d love to hear them!
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