Archive for the ‘Water use’ Category
August 25th, 2008
Spend $100 on Green Upgrades, Save $500
Stumble it!
Don’t have $25,000 lying around for a new solar system, you say? Longing to go a darker shade of green but don’t have an extra $1000 for a tankless water heater? We know the feeling!
There are so many things you can do to make your home and life more eco-friendly that are FREE (for example recycling all you can, composting, taking shorter showers, walking to the store, using reusable grocery bags, dining by candlelight, saying no to bottled water and the list goes on and on and on…). There are also tons of things you can do that cost very little and SAVE YOU MONEY. Check out this list– spend only $100 and you will save over $500!
1) Get a low-flow showerhead for your home. A low-flow showerhead can save you up to 3,000 gallons of water per person per year! They cost about $30 and will save you ~$45/year in water and energy to heat your water. While you’re at it, get a $3 sink aerator attachment, and save $25 more each year.
2) Get a programmable thermostat. Most homes waste a great deal of energy and money by heating and cooling when people are not at home. With a programmable thermostat you can control your cooling and heating by day and time to maximize efficiency and money savings. These devices cost $50 and take 15 minutes to install. And it will save you close to $100 per year.
3) Turn down and insulate your water heater. First, turn the temperature down to at least 120 degrees. Most people run their water heater too hot. That act alone is free and will save you ~$100/year. Then get an insulation sweater to put around your water heater– it will reduce the amount of energy the heater needs to keep the water hot. (And it costs only $30 and will save you ~$45 per year.)
4) Wash your clothes in cold water. This is free and will save you ~$100 year. Today’s detergents work perfectly fine in cold water– really! Go a step further and air-dry your clothes on a drying rack– you just saved another $50.
5) Hopefully this one is old news by now: replace all of your lights with compact fluorescents and LEDs. Lighting is one of the largest uses of power in your home. If you spend $50 on new lights, you’ll save over $100 in power (and new bulbs) within the first year. And if you use LEDs– which are 10+ times more efficient than compact fluorescents– you’ll save any more. Check out CFLs and LED lighting options here.
For many more ideas for how you can go low-impact and save money, be sure to use our Household Environmental Impact Calculator. It will tell you your LILI (Low Impact Living Index) and also give you a robust list of green projects you can undertake to use less energy, water, reduce your trash load, and much more. Get the Low Down!
August 20th, 2008
AIA Launches GreenStep Video Series
Written by Dawn Killough, courtesy of GreenBuildingElements.com
The American Institute of Architects recently launched its “GreenStep” online video series. The series presents short episodes on several green building topics. It is meant for those planning new buildings or the renovation of existing buildings, and shows how architects can help clients address their green concerns.
The schedule for the release of the videos is as follows:
- Greenstep 1: Water Conservation - already posted.
- Greenstep 2: Smart Controls - already posted.
- Greenstep 3: Radiant Heating and Cooling - already posted.
- Greenstep 4: Vegetation for Sun Control - already posted.
- Greenstep 5: The Whole Building Approach - September 2
- Greenstep 6: Green Tags - September 15
- Greenstep 7: Energy Modeling - September 29
- Greenstep 8: Green Roofs - October 13
- Greenstep 9: Daylighting - October 27
- Greenstep 10: Choosing Green Materials - November 10
- Greenstep 11: Carbon Offsets - November 24
- Greenstep 12: Deconstruction - December 8
Links to the videos can be found at http://www.aia.org/walkthewalk/.
August 11th, 2008
Green Living 101
Though here at Low Impact Living we’ve been working to spread the gospel of living green for a few years, some folks are new to this whole green thang. It can certainly be difficult to know where to start. We frequently receive emails from people saying “How do I get started with green living?” If this sounds like you, read on! (Or if you know someone who needs an eco-boost, please forward this post!) Even if you are a Green Jedi Master, read our recommendations below to make sure you can put a check mark next to everything on the list.
First, a quick primer. Humans put a great deal of strain on the earth’s ability to support us. Americans, particularly, live way beyond the planet’s means – each of us uses over 100,000 gallons of water and generates 22 tons of carbon dioxide per year, on average. And though we hear a lot about the impact of new developing companies on the environment, like China and India, Americans are responsible for 22% of carbon emissions, though we only account for 5% of the population. These carbon emissions contribute greatly to global warming, a condition that is reducing the biodiversity of our ecosystem, and threatening our long-term survival. For more information on how global warming will impact each of us, take a look at our global warming synopsis. You can also use our household environmental impact calculator to get a better view on your individual contributions to global warming and other forms of environmental degradation.
Fortunately, it’s not too late! Even small changes that you make today can add up to a big difference. The key is getting started.
Take stock, then take action
People often ask us for the one thing that they should do to reduce their impact on the environment. Our answer: buy less stuff. When you resist the urge to buy something (reducing its demand), you eliminate all of the materials and resources that go into creating the raw materials, manufacturing the item, packaging it, and shipping it. You also cut out the energy and resources you use to go get it and maintain it. And, you keep it out of landfills at the end of its life. Very simple, very easy.
That said, there are many things, most of them very simple, that can also have a big impact. Regardless of where you live – house, apartment, ashram, or whatever – take a look around. Odds are, opportunities for change abound. Consider each of the key resources below.
Water is a scarce resource – less than 1% of the earth’s water is potable. Climate change has caused shifting weather patterns, so we can’t always count on water being where we need it, when we need it. Take a big first step towards conservation by finding and fixing leaks. Turn off all water-using devices for an hour, and see if your water meter moves. If so, check everything you can see, like toilets and faucets. You may need to call in a plumber to help with repairing leaks.
Next, consider where you use water, including landscaping, appliances and fixtures, and showers and faucets. There are many things that you can do right away, while others might take more time or investment:
1. Do it today
+ Adjust sprinklers to eliminate runoff onto pavement
+ Water only during pre-dawn hours to reduce evaporation
+ Run appliances with only full loads (dish washers and laundry machines)
+ Take shorter showers, and turn off water while brushing your teeth
2. Do it this month
+ Adjust your irrigation controllers to account for plant needs
+ Install rain and moisture sensors
+ Install low-flow shower heads and sink aerators
+ Begin replacing water-intensive grass and plants with drought resistant varieties
+ Begin installing new, water-efficient Energy Star appliances
+ Install a new, low-flow toilet to save up to 10 gallons per day
3. Do it this year
+ Install a graywater system, which re-uses water from showers and washing machines for landscaping
Electricity generation affects the environment in several ways, including the emission of carbon dioxide – a whopping 40% of our national carbon emissions come from power generation. But it also takes about 39% of our potable water supply in the US to cool power plants. Reducing your electricity use will have big, positive impacts. Consider where you use electricity, including lighting, computers, TVs, air conditioning or heating, and appliances.
1. Do it today
+ Turn off lights and TVs when you leave the room
+ Replace light bulbs with energy-efficient versions, like compact fluorescents (CFLs)
+ Shut down computers, printers and other equipment at night
+ Install a power strip, plug electronics into it, then turn it off at night
+ Turn the thermostat up to 78◦ in the summer, and down to 68◦ in winter
+ Make sure air conditioner and heater air filters are clean
+ Hang clothes outside to dry
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy-Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
+ Buy alternative energy from your utility, if available
3. Do it this year
+ Investigate alternative energy sources for your home, like solar power or wind power
Natural gas is cleaner burning than oil and coal, but it still has an environmental impact — it currently accounts for 20% of our carbon dioxide emissions. And, though most of our supplies currently come from North America, expected growth in demand for natural gas will require more imports from overseas. Some areas of the country use natural gas primarily for heating homes, others for creating electricity. Consider how natural gas is used in your home, which may include heating, hot water, cooking, and drying clothes.
1. Do it today
+ Turn the thermostat down in the winter to 68◦ or lower
+ Make sure heater filters are clean– replace them at least once each year
+ Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater to its lowest setting
+ Air dry your laundry
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
3. Do it this year
+ Install a solar, tankless, or high-efficiency hot water heater
Oil. Where do we start? Oil use in the US contributes 40% of our carbon emissions, but also impacts the environment through drilling, processing and storage, as well as spills. Our demand for oil seems ever-increasing, while supplies are dropping – we import about 2/3 of our oil supplies, while debate rages over opening our natural spaces to more drilling, processing, and storage. And spills.
Mostly, we use oil for transportation, but it also goes into petroleum-based products like plastic. It’s used for home heating, and to create electricity. Consider taking some of the following steps to reduce your impact:
1. Do it today
+ Drive less: walk, bike or take public transportation
+ Make the switch to non-petroleum based green products, like cleaners and paints
+ Choose products with less packaging, and give up bottled water
+ Purchase carbon offsets to fund carbon-reducing projects, like planting trees
+ Conserve electricity
2. Do it this month
+ Weather strip and add insulation to your house
+ Install an Energy Star programmable thermostat
+ Begin installing new, energy-efficient Energy Star appliances
3. Do it this year
+ Trade your gas-guzzler for a more fuel-efficient car
As you work through these items, you’re bound to find new things to do. Some things also might not work for you. Adopt what you can, make adjustments, and keep your eyes open for new opportunities.
Please also visit our green projects page for many more “how to” guides on eco-friendly green home improvement and lifestyle changes.
August 4th, 2008
Winner of LIL Green Home Contest Announced!
We’re pleased to announce John Neville and Jawn McKinley as the winners of our first Low Impact Living Green Home Contest! Of the over 1,000 users who registered using our Environmental Impact Calculator during the contest period, their Low Impact Living Index of 11 was the lowest of the low. Given John’s background, it’s no surpise – he has been working in sustainability for over 20 years and is on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Arizona – as you’ll see, he practices what he preaches!
John and his wife Jawn had begun to employ many green techniques in their former home in Minnesota, but when they decided to build a new home in Arizona he started with a clean green slate. The results were pretty impressive: their Low Impact Living Index is a mere 11, which indicates it has an environmental impact nearly 90% lower than the typical home in his region. Compared to the average home in the desert southwest, the house uses 85% less energy and 90% less fresh water, and it produces 90% less stormwater runoff, 80% less trash and over 99% less wastewater! Oh, and John and Jawn’s carbon footprint is a net zero due to the high energy efficiency of their home (including a solar hot water heater and passive solar heating and cooling), the purchase of green power from their utility, and their use of carbon offsets for their cars and air travel. We’ll now walk you through the main areas that allowed John and Jawn to achieve this amazing performance.
Energy Efficiency & Carbon Footprint
John and Jawn’s LILI score of 11 is nearly 90 points lower than the typical score in their region, and 45 of the 90 point reduction come from their efforts in energy efficiency (and associated carbon footprint). They’ve done all of the easy things – compact fluorescent lighting throughout, low-flow water fixtures, pipe insulation, efficient appliances, etc. But they’ve also employed some more substantial and advanced green building features, including:
- Use of a solar hot water heater and in-floor radiant heating to heat the house in the winter. The house is also oriented to the south, has a heavy concrete slab to retain heat and ample windows on the south wall to improve passive solar heating.
Despite summer daytime temperatures in the high 90s or more, the house has no air conditioning. The roof is insulated to R-45 and has a cool roof installed, and the walls are formed by insulated concrete forms (ICFs) that are insulate to R-25 and are made of 85% recycled material. In addition, John can circulate cool water through the radiant system to further cool the slab on hot days. There are also awnings over all south-facing windows that shade the intense summer sun (shown at right on a sunny summer day).
One side benefit of these features: John says visitors are often amazed that he’s always walking around in bare feet, whether it’s on an eight-degree winter night or a 100-degree summer day!
Because their home is so efficient right now, solar electric doesn’t make all that much sense yet: the payback period would be more than 20 years based on current power prices and rebates. Instead, he buys green power that comes from solar and wind energy from his local utility.
Water and Wastewater Efficiency
Another 32 points were lopped off of their LILI score by being incredibly water-efficient. This is critical in the Southwest, as water is always scarce and getting scarcer due to global warming. Once again, John combined the accessible with the truly innovative to build a water efficient house. Through a combination of low-flow fixtures and water-efficient appliances, John and Jawn use only 30 gallons a day per person indoors, much lower than the national average of 70 gallons per capita per day.
In Arizona, though, it’s what outside that really counts, for over half of residential water use is for irrigation. John and Jawn rarely use any irrigation water, for not only do they have all drought-tolerant native plants around their home, they also have 3,500 gallons of storage in two cisterns (almost three months worth of irrigation) to collect rainwater from their rooftop. And, they have an innovative wastewater system that collects solids in a tank, aerates and lightly chlorinates the liquids, and then distributes the cleaned effluent to water a bed of native plants and trees – they have nearly zero true wastewater discharge.
Other Savings
The balance of John’s LILI savings come from nearly eliminating stormwater runoff (four points) using cisterns and an innovative network of terraced gardens, swales and water holes to slow, filter and capture runoff from all but the biggest storms (all shown in the image above). They also compost and recycle everything they can, reducing trash to only 20% of the typical household in his region (eight points).
Lessons Learned
While John built their home from scratch, he learned lessons that are applicable to both new construction and renovation projects. Some of his key thoughts:
- Always start with the small projects first. By focusing on such things as using compact fluorescent lighting everywhere, making sure his home was very tight and well-insulated, and using low-flow water fixtures, he was able to get away with much smaller heating, cooling and renewable energy systems. This in turn helped him keep his overall budget quite reasonable - about $185 / square foot.
- Use the local climate to your advantage. John designed his home so that it takes advantage of Arizona’s ample sun in the winter and the cool of the earth in the summer, but you can often do the same with an existing home. John recommended that a neighbor run only the ventilation portion of her central AC system at night to bring the cool desert air into her home, and that simple change reduced her AC needs by several hours each day.
- Green doesn’t have to be more expensive, but it might require more time and effort. When John built his home five years ago, he said that many of the vendors he worked with weren’t familiar with green techniques and products, and he had to play a very strong oversight role to make sure things got done the right way. There are many more green product and contractor options now, especially near larger urban areas, but you’ll still have to spend some significant time ensuring that your contractors are using the right green products and techniques.
Next Steps
One final key lesson that John has taken away from his green efforts: regardless of how much you’ve done, you can always improve. He says he’s always tweaking things and making minor improvements. As for big projects, John hopes to get rid of his backup natural-gas-powered boiler (used only in the coldest and grayest of winter periods) and replace it with a solar-PV-driven tankless hot water system at some point, eliminating his last use of fossil fuels at home.
John and Jawn, thanks so much for sharing your project and insights with us, and congratulations on having such a low-impact green home!
To learn more about how to do many green projects in your home, visit LIL’s green projects page.
Click on these links for how-to information on the following related topics: radiant heating, rain gardens, home energy efficiency, solar hot water heaters, and graywater recycling.
July 17th, 2008
Green Condos in the West
A couple of weeks back we did a feature on the great trend of green condo developments taking off all over the country– and we covered many developments in the East and South. Click here to learn about Green Condos in the Eastern U.S.
A green condo can be a wonderful alternative for (the vast majority of) those of us who cannot afford to build a new green single-family home. We want sustainable design, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and so much more, but we can’t afford to build. Viola– the green condo!
This week we cover many of the excellent green condos available in the Western United States. There are so many to choose from it’s tough to pick just a selection to highlight here!
In the Los Angeles Area
Evo South is an exciting development in the heart of downtown LA. It is an urban tower of steel and glass– 23 stories with 311 residences. They are in the process of seeking LEED certification for the building. The units feature such eco-friendly elements as Bosch Energy Star appliances, low-flow water fixtures, Nature’s Choice carpeting and more.
If you prefer the beachy side of life, Green On 19 is a cool townhouse development in Santa Monica. These townhomes are the first of their kind in Santa Monica, and there are five units in the development. Architect Jesse Bornstein has integrated modern style, light and sustainability into his design. The units meet Energy Star New Home standards and feature solar power, bamboo and concrete floors, LED landscape lighting, xeriscape landscaping, and more.
In the San Francisco Bay Area
The Arterra is a relatively new development in the Mission Bay district. Arterra is also seeking LEED Certification. The Arterra has three sections: “sky”, a 16 story tower with city and bay views; “city”, a 9-level building with city views and green roof; and “park,” a 6-level building with two-story residences that come with private outdoor spaces. Altogether there are 269 units in the Arterra, and apparently 55% of them are already sold.
The Green City Lofts in Emeryville have 62 units of Energy Star Certified living. The steel superstructure and interior framing contains 25-90% post-consumer recycled content creating a more durable, earthquake-resistant, fire-resistant, rot-resistant, mold-resistant, and pest-resistant building. The units have radiant heating, no-VOC paints, double-pane windows, and cool metal roofs.
In Seattle
Enso is a thrilling condo development in Seattle. They are seeking LEED Gold certification. Units are for sale now and will be available in Spring 2009. The building is gorgeous and the units feature such eco-elements as concrete counters, sun shades, 100% recycled content carpet, no-VOC paints, and Ecoresin panels. The building also uses heat-pump technology, which is a very energy-efficient option for heating and cooling.
The Veer Lofts are bringing a kicky spirit to Seattle. They have three styles of lofts for sale– the “Flexi-loft” is 1 and 1/2 stories; The Full Loft is two stories and The Flat is a one-story. They are seeking LEED Certification and the units include daylighting, water-conserving fixtures, recycled building materials and drought-tolerant landscaping. Check out the funky website– it’s very fun!
In Portland
The Metropolitan in the Pearl District is a gleaming, modern tower that is a LEED Certified building. The Metropolitan balances luxury with a commitment to sustainable design and healthy living. The LEED Silver building has high performance energy efficient mechanical systems and glazing systems, storm water retention for landscape irrigation, the incorporation of durable, low-maintenance materials and the use of healthy materials and abundant natural ventilation for improved air quality.
In Denver
Just a few blocks from Coors Field in downtown Denver, 20|20 Lawrence Street features 60 residential condos atop an exciting mix of ground-level retailers. The development is LEED Gold (no small accomplishment!) The 50,000 watts of electrical power that will be produced from a roof-mounted photovoltaic system will represent one of the largest solar photovoltaic arrays in Colorado. The individual units feature sustainable hardwoods and low-VOC carpets and paints.
Click here to find green real estate for sale across the U.S.
Click here to find an EcoBroker to help you with your green real estate needs.
July 8th, 2008
My Solar Hot Water Experience
Editor’s note: this piece has been contributed by guest blogger Kevin Hughes. Kevin was generous enough to share his own experience with installing a solar hot water system on his home. Thank you, Kevin!
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I live in Los Angeles and I prefer the ugly one! Please don’t get me wrong, my wife is very beautiful, but when it comes to solar power, I prefer the ugly one.
Let me explain, for the past few years there has been huge interest in Solar Electricity (photovoltaic’s, PV, or solar panels), there are lots of incentives at both a state and federal level, there are often photo opportunities for politicians, gazing towards the future over a vast array or solar panels. But there are problems with this vision: solar electricity is expensive to purchase and install; it has a long pay back period; it converts sunlight to usable energy fairly inefficiently, and because of that, you need quite a lot of roof space or land to put up enough panels to power your home.
The ugly one that I prefer is solar thermal, specifically solar hot water, a much older technology. It is also much cheaper to install, much more efficient, and has a much faster pay back. It can even be a do-it-yourself project if you are reasonably handy. As for the payback, that’s easy: you don’t have to pay for 70-100% of your hot water heating costs, and with a clever tweak, you can save 10-15,000 gallons of water annually, and reduce your water and electricity costs.
Let’s start with a few details, then I will tell you how I added solar hot water (SHW) with a twist, to my house. I live in Los Angeles on a hillside in the Santa Monica Mountains, about 2 miles inland from the beaches in Malibu. We heat water with propane which comes from a storage tank filled every month or so by a delivery truck, and until recently we used about 30% of our total home energy to heat water. We are an ordinary family, with 2 kids at home, and have the usual uses for hot water, washing clothes, running the dishwasher, bathing and so on.
My wife and I have become more eco-conscious over the past few years, and have taken some steps to being green. For instance we have switched all of our light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL’s), and we’re using tote’s rather than plastic or paper shopping bags. So I was looking for a project that would make a real difference, and would give me something to keep me busy for a while. We could afford to invest maybe $2-3,000, preferably spread over a few months. I had known about solar hot water from our travels in Greece, where pretty much every house has it installed. I got hold of a book, and spent some time reading up on Solar Water Heating by Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz.
The concept seemed pretty simple, and could be added to our existing hot water set-up, effectively using the sun to pre-heat water before it went into the propane hot water tank. I used Microsoft Excel to draw up some plans, and a system schematic (see image below), and marched off to the local permit office. Here is a schematic of the eventual system, which has evolved a bit from my first permit office visit. Largely as a result of their help, and the help of a yahoo group called Solar Heat, the design evolved into something that works.
There are actually only 6 new components, plus pipe work, (which seemed daunting at first, but with patience and practice, was actually pretty simple). The main components were: (1) Solar Collector, (2) small Solar Panel to power the (3) Pump, a (4) Solar Storage Tank, a (5) Tempering Valve, and finally the twist, the (6) Hot Water Recirculation box.
