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Future Homes & Neighborhoods Will Likely Be Compact, Greener, & FriendlierBy Peter Lazar

largie — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:31:00 +0000

American home & neighborhood designs change constantly. If you put yourself randomly in a 20th century neighborhood, chances are that you could tell the decade it was built, even after the avocado-green siding is replaced. We may be in for an even bigger than normal shift in the next decade. How will a 2015 neighborhood be different than a 2007 subdivision? Here are some recent trends:

Movement to smaller, greener & more livable homes

New homes are undoubtedly getting smaller. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average size of a house under construction fell 7.3 percent in the July-September ¼ of 2008. A January 2009 survey of builders reported that ninety percent are building smaller homes.

Until recently, homebuilders focused on grand houses that maximize square footage & feature high-end upgrades. Today, builders are more likely to highlight how their homes save money & energy. “As people value operating costs more, they start thinking more about these things,” said Roger Voisinet, noted EcoBroker & President of Cvilleproperties.com. “People are choosing solar & more energy-efficient heating & cooling.”

More attention is being paid to the quality of space rather than the quantity of space. “Time after time people leave the basement unfinished & put their money into good trim & quality elsewhere in the house.” said Voisinet. “People are also getting more creative with spaces.” He cited Belmont Lofts, which are popular condos in downtown Charlottesville where moveable, Shoji screen walls allow smaller rooms to be transformed into larger living spaces.

Economic fears are impacting design, suggests author & architectural psychologist Sally Fretwell. “People are now more simplistic in design & in building material. People are probably less showy,” said Fretwell, who also owns a paint store in Richmond, Virginia. Cost is more of a factor but by being more thoughtful, home purchasers focus on the details. “People are looking at things differently.” Said Fretwell, “They are a lot more creative. That’s wonderful”.

Migration to new urban centers with common greens & ready-built community

Besides moving into smaller homes, Americans are moving to communities with denser housing & “village” aspects that evoke neighborhoods of our great-grandparents.

Arthur C. Nelson, a leading housing expert who has studied housing trends for twenty years, expects that migration to denser living will bring sweeping changes to American society. According to Nelson, “Surveys indicate a growing preference for urban living. Roughly ½ of all households want the opportunity to live in neighborhoods & communities with higher density housing, a mix of housing types & household income levels, sidewalks, proximity to stores & restaurants, accessibility to transit options & other “smart growth” features associated with well-designed urban areas.”

Nelson predicts that there will be a surplus of between 3 million & 22 million homes on large lots (built on one-sixth of an acre or more) by 2025. He & other experts foresee these big homes in the exurbs eroding in value, with many of them being subdivided into multiple units.

Lifestyle has influenced people as much as economics in the growing taste for clustered, walkable neighborhoods. Clear? In an October 10, 2008 New York Times article, Kathleen Gerson, a professor of sociology at New York University describes the sense of well-being from being able to walk around & recognize your neighbors or even shopkeepers. Gerson said this sense of well-being is second only to being able to provide food & shelter for the family. “We know from studies that in close-knit urban communities, where private space is not as plentiful, public space becomes more central,” she said. Indeed, many families said they did not spend a lot of time at home. “There are always trade-offs in these choices. Families are resilient & find ways to adapt to whatever their circumstances.”

The community-oriented changes in where people select to live coincides with new research on psychological studies of happiness. According to the Handbook of Psychology, by Irving Weiner & Donald Freedheim, “the strongest predictor of happiness [is] social connectedness. People who are relatively alone in the world are much less happy than people who have close connections with others. All other objective predictors of happiness, including money, education, health, & place of residence, are only weakly correlated with happiness.”

What might a neighborhood of 2015 look like?

A recent Chicago Tribune article summarizes the eight great real estate trends of 2009:

Smaller Houses
More apartments
Increase in attached housing
More rental units
New urban centers with homes close to shops & restaurants
Common green spaces for outdoor enjoyment of homeowners.
Creating Community – where the developer gives social features beyond land, bricks & mortar.
Online marketing of homes

(see http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/dec/26/realestate/chi-real-estate-trends_chomes_12dec26)

So, what might a Year 2015 neighborhood look like? There will probably be many variations of neighborhoods that adopt the above trends.

Cohousing as a Case Study

One kind of modern neighborhood is cohousing, which is mostly unknown in the U.S. but which constitutes twenty-five percent of new development in Denmark. Cohousing is a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood where single family & attached homes surround a common green. Homes are smaller & closer together than the typical 2007 house, but space is efficiently used & homeowners enjoy a large clubhouse, shared gardens, a large playground, & other common amenities. Often a cohousing neighborhood is located near an urban center – further promoting walkability & neighborliness. Marketing of the homes is typically on line or through word-of-mouth. Private spaces & backyards are a standard feature of cohousing. Solar, geothermal & other green features are also very common. But markedly different than typical housing developments, there are social aspects built-in. Neighbors have the option of taking part in potlucks & common meals & also working together on common tasks (such as landscaping & decision-making). In summary, cohousing is one example of where people buy houses not so much based on raw home size but more based on improving their social & private lifestyle as well as reducing their carbon footprint. Proponents of cohousing refer to it as “yesterday’s neighborhood today,” as a shorthand for describing a community where neighbors know one another & have fun together.

More to Life Than Square Footage

The weaker economy & worries over energy costs may have spurred homebuilders to make smaller, clustered & more energy-efficient homes; how ever, a broader national mood towards simplicity, & a richer lifestyle is likely to drive further change. As they further realize there is more to life than square footage, people will change their tastes. Clustered housing around green spaces will not just alter the landscape but will foster neighborliness & improve the way people live & relate to one another.

Mr. Lazar is active in the cohousing movement (http://www.cohousing.org), giving talks & writing articles on the subject. He is a member of Blue Ridge Cohousing (http://www.blueridgecohousing.org), which is working to build a 26 home cohousing neighborhood in Crozet, Virginia. Peter, his wife, and their two daughters, aged 4 & 7, live in Shadowlake Village Cohousing in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Living in a Green HomeBy Dan Revel

largie — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:20:00 +0000

Article on Green Houses (version 2J)

By now, virtually virtually everyone has heard never ending stories about how bad our current housing market is. However, there’re still plenty of people searching for a home to purchase. And so… So whether you are looking to buy your first home, or have bought more than a few homes in your lifetime already, purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions you can make. Additionally, the size, type, area, & cost of your next house, along with what you decide to do with your new house, can have a very large impact on your environment.
If you are concerned about the environmental footprint you leave behind for your loved ones, while at the same time enjoying a beautiful home, read on & learn about purchasing a “green” home.

Cut your homes energy bills by reducing its energy usage:

Nearly anyone can conduct their own, quick & easy energy inspection of their own home or a prospective home to see what’s needed to make the home more green. It is a simple process which begins with simply searching for leaks or drafts in the home. Check common problem areas such as doors, windows, baseboards, & even power outlets. Right. Wherever you find a draft or see sunlight, seal the areas with common items such as spray in insulation or window tape. Your local hardware store can usually assist you if you have completely completely unique situations or hard to fix locations. Also, make an effort to use a full load for household appliances such as your dishwasher, washer, or dryer. Over or undersized loads create unneeded energy waste by inefficient use of the appliance’s motors.

Purchase an energy efficient home:

If you are looking to purchase a home, you can select to have your Realtor search for “green” homes. Modern home builders are constructing “green” properties that come with upgraded insulation, energy saving blinds & windows, along with appliances that are designed to conserve energy. To find houses like this, consult with your local Realtor. Owning an eco-friendly home in this current marked is a smart choice because the homes are becoming increasingly popular & in demand, & have a better potential to sell rapidly & at a better price. Every day, a larger percentage of the population is putting greater emphasis on either saving money, protecting the environment, or both!

Location.

People who live in crowded, dense populations, in general, leave a smaller ecological footprint than people who live in suburbs. This is not necessarily because people from places like New York City are in principal more eco-conscientious than people in suburban areas, but more likely because they tend to live closer to work, shopping, & entertainment than suburbanites. Furthermore, individual persons who live in dense populations are generally more likely to use subways, busses, or public transportation to get to their destination than non urban dwellers.

The lesson? Chose the location of your home carefully & pay close consideration to commuting distances, proximity to shopping & your method & options of transportation.

Live Large, while Buying Small.

It’s the newest mantra for eco friendly individuals: Small, is really the new big. Do you follow? The smaller your living space, the less heating/cooling, & lighting it will need. Thus, you will have reduced energy usage & utility bills.
With some careful interior design, you can create a tasteful & beautiful living area out of some surprisingly small living spaces.

Don’t be afraid to make changes:

Don’t expect to find the perfect home when you are shopping for any home, let alone an eco-friendly home. And so… So far so good. Whatever home you purchase, you will likely want to make some basic changes to make it more aesthetically pleasing for you & your tastes & needs. A fresh coat of low VOC paint in your favorite color is easy & affordable. However, ripping up the old, leaky, rusty, lead leaking plumbing is a much bigger task, but something to consider depending on the house’s needs. These are important things that you should consider when purchasing a home. An experienced Realtor can assist you with some of these considerations.

Recycle:

When you are searching for your next home, do not rule out a home just because of an out of style kitchen or bathroom. Typically, these are two of the rooms in a home that will get you your best return for your renovating dollar. Assuming you do not have to gut the place & change the structure of the rooms to get something that will make you happy, you can perform a modest remodel based you your ecological principals & obtain a greener, more efficient home which suits your style & needs, & likely increase your home’s worth & resale value when it is time to upgrade to your next home.

The importance of Shade:

While some people want trees close by for hugging, others look at trees for their climate control abilities. The foliage that comes with your new home can influence your home’s energy usage. In the summer, a trees leafy branches will block the sun & help keep your home cooler & use less energy. Conversely, in the winter, when the leaves fall, the bare branches let in more sun light & in turn heat your home, resulting in cost savings to you.

Build Green For the EnvironmentBy Kenneth Wittels

largie — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Sustainable, or green building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological & resource-efficient manner. Green building plans are designed to meet certain objectives & use key resources such as using materials, energy, water, & other resources more efficiently while reducing the overall impact to the environment. By utilizing more natural light, better air quality, wind turbines, solar panels, insulation alternatives, & water storage tanks, a well designed home will contribute to improved efficiency, health, & comfort in your home.

Green Building Financial Benefits

Typically, a green building will cost more up front, but saves through lower energy costs over the life of the building. Do you follow? The up-front expenditure will be absorbed over time by the project life cycle cost analysis. The benefits include energy & water savings, reduced waste, and lower operation & maintenance costs.

These & other cost savings can only be fully realized when they areincorporated at the project’s conceptual design phase with the assistance of an integrated team of professionals. The integrated systems approach ensures that the building is designed as one system rather than a collection of stand-alone systems.

Even with a tight budget you can incorporate many green building measures which can be incorporated with minimal or zero increased up-front costs & they can yield enormous savings over the project life.

Site Selection

Start by selecting a site well suited to take advantage of solar exposure, and suitable area for the size of building proposed to reduce disturbance of the environment to protect & retain existing landscaping & natural features. A custom home plan can be set partially into the ground which helps to cool the building in the summer, & in the winter once you get below the frost line the temperature is constant year-round & tends to be warmer than the air outside. Protect & retain existing landscaping & natural features. So… So… Select plants that have low water & pesticide needs, & generate minimum plant trimmings. Use compost & mulches. This will save water & time. And so… So far so good. Water can be collected from the roof in cisterns for landscape irrigation.

Reducing Energy Consumption

Buildings have the potential to reach energy efficiency levels exceeding far beyond California Title 24 standards, yet most only strive to meet the standard due to upfront costs.

Passive design strategies can dramatically affect building energy performance. These measures include window placement, building placement & orientation, passive solar design, & the use of natural lighting. By orienting a building toward the south(running it east-west), & creating significant southern exposure , you can take advantage of the sun’s energy to heat a building in the winter. When sun light hits a buildings mass or enters through the windows it passively heats the building & the air inside by not using mechanical means such as solar panels.

Install high-efficiency lighting systems with advanced lighting controls. Clear? Include motion sensors tied to dimmable lighting controls. Task lighting reduces general overhead light levels.

Use a properly sized & energy-efficient heat/cooling system in conjunction with a thermally efficient building shell. Maximize light colors for roofing & wall finish materials; install high R-value wall & ceiling insulation such as spray-in foam; & use minimal glass on east & west exposures.

Consider alternative energy sources such as photovoltaics & fuel cells that are now available in new products & applications. Geothermal heating & cooling is the most energy efficient & cost effective way to heat & cool your building, & it can take care of all your domestic hot water needs at the same time. Geothermal systems use the heat of the earth underground to heat water that is in turn used to heat the building, or in the summer to dump the heat from a building underground to cool it.

Material effectiveness

Select sustainable construction materials & products by evaluating many characteristics such as reused & recycled content, zero or low off gassing of harmful air emissions, zero or low toxicity, sustainably harvested materials, high recyclability, durability, longevity, & local production.

Water Efficiency

It is fairly easy to implement simple systems for recycling & reusing water on your own property, drastically decreasing the demands on shared supplies, & in turn, reducing your water bill.

Design for dual plumbing to use recycled water for toilet flushing or a gray water system that recovers rainwater or other nonpotable water for site irrigation.

Minimize wastewater by using ultra low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, & other water conserving fixtures. Use re-circulating systems for centralized hot water distribution & install point-of-use hot water heating systems for many more distant locations.

Kenneth Wittels is a successful Engineer & Building Designer, primarily focused on structural design of homes in mountainous areas with heavy snow loading & seismic concerns. To view more projects related to this subject visit:

http://homecustomplans.com

Remodeling? Try an Eco-friendly KitchenBy TC Thorn

largie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:32:00 +0000

It’s quite refreshing how many people are interesting in using environmentally friendly products these days, even when they aretaking on expensive home improvement projects such as remodeling the kitchen. Fortunately, you can now get “green” materials without paying any more than you would for other high-end materials. Unfortunately, you can not always find these eco-friendly countertops, cabinets, & floors at your local home improvement store.

Specialty stores (those that emphasize green living) are your friend here, but since they aresmaller, they will not always have all the options. It is a good idea to research on line & decide what kind of flooring, countertops, appliances, etc. you want before you even look for a buyer.

That’s where this article can help. We’ll look at a few areas where you can make environmentally friendly choices when remodeling the kitchen. In the end, your new kitchen will look as good as anybody else’s on the block (maybe better).

Countertops

There are lots of eco-friendly options for kitchen countertops. Concrete is low-maintenance & easy to mold into whatever shape & thickness you want. Natural stone such as granite, though a somewhat limited resource, doesn’t give off harmful vapors that man-made materials can. Countertops made from recycled materials are increasingly popular. You can find everything from paper to glass to ceramic (how would you like a handsome Terrazzo countertop made from old toilets, sinks, & tubs that would otherwise be cluttering up landfills?).

Eco-friendly Flooring

Bamboo is becoming very popular in the flooring arena, both in the kitchen & other rooms of the house. Since it’s a grass, it grows much more rapidly than trees, so it’s an easily replenished resource. If you prefer hardwood flooring, consider wood harvested from sustainable forests. You can also get hardwoods made from salvaged or reclaimed wood (such as from old buildings that were torn down). These natural materials are often more eco-friendly than man-made compounds.

Kitchen Appliances

Make sure to select Energy Star appliances when you’re shopping for your new oven, dishwasher, refrigerator. They may be more expensive than traditional models, but these appliances use 10-50% less energy & water so you will save money in the long run. You do not have to give up style for energy efficiency; you can get stainless steel & other high-end finishes in Energy Star-rated models.

Cooktops

Is there such thing as an environmentally friendly cooktop? Of course. The new induction units on the market use electricity to produce a magnetic field that causes molecular movement, which heats pans instead of burners. This method of heating uses less energy than gas & electric stoves, & induction cooktops are safer too (no need to worry about a child touching a hot burner).

Cabinets

Choosing cabinets that are functional & handsome is a big part of a kitchen remodel, since they take up a large portion of the room. When you’re searching for eco-friendly options, select the same sorts of materials you would with flooring. Bamboo & reclaimed wood are handsome choices. If you need less expensive cabinets, you can get fiberboard or particleboard, but make certain to find cabients that do not contain urea formaldehyde, which is as unpleasant as it sounds; it’s not something you want in a healthy kitchen.

Paints & Finishes

Kitchen remodeling isn’t just about countertops, cabinets, & shiny stainless steel appliances. Think about the paints you’ll use on the walls & the finishes you’ll use on cabinets & countertops too. You should select paints & finishes with Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) ratings. (Many conventional materials have high VOCs, & these compounds produce potentially harmful gases when they areapplied. These can be troublesome for all those with allergies or chemical sensitivities, & they diminish the indoor air quality for all.

Windows

Most kitchens will have at least one window. You can assist save energy by installing Energy Star-qualified windows (in the rest of the house as well as the kitchen).

Remember Recycling

The eco-friendly homeowner will make recycling a part of her or his life. You can make separating jars, bottles, & cans easy by building a recycling center into your kitchen. When choosing the cabinets you want to install, consider adding one with a slide out unit that holds a traditional garbage receptacle & a can or cans for recycling too.

For more information on green living & kitchen remodeling, visit the author’s home improvement site.

What Can Solar Lighting Do For Me?By Kriss Bergethon

largie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:28:00 +0000

We are all searching for ways to cut cost as the price of living continues to rise. And, with the recent push to more green power sources, we look for ways to do our part in saving the environment. One of the best ways to achieve both of these aspects is to switch to solar power. There’re so many different ways to implement the renewable source in our daily lives, & with a few simple questions, you can find the right one for you.

Maybe you’re a Realtor in need of lighted signs for your properties. Right. What are your options? You are in luck, because there’re affordable & dependable solar lighting systems that fit right on top of your existing Realtor signs. No one wants to lose a possible sale because it was dark & the interested party could not read your sign. Solar lighting is an excellent option to make certain your signs are always readable.

It seems like those city bus stops must use a lot of energy with those lights, but you would not feel safe without some sort of illumination. Are there any other options? Yes! In actual fact, there are a whole line of lighting systems that depend on solar power. And, some of these systems offer this neat little motion detector, so when a passenger steps under the shelter, the light automatically comes on. These systems could save a city thousands of dollars $ $ in electrical bills.

Are all of those warning lights & traffic notifiers using up electricity? In most cases, these lights, like speed indicators, school zone lights & flashing warning lights do depend on electricity. The good news is that more & more localities are switching to solar power for these signs too. Again, this is a great money saver & another step toward green living.

Have you always wondered about parking lots & street lamps & the power they use? They are needed, but they seem so unreliable, going out at the worst moment. Are there more reliable options? Solar powered lamps for these cases are more than reliable. They are each self contained, meaning that, if one was to malfunction, & the others will continue to glow brightly. The cost of installation of such a lighting system will pay itself off in a matter of months, since the lights use no electricity & need little or no maintenance.

What can you do for outdoor lighting at your home? There’re numerous styles & designs for home outdoor lighting needs in sun powered options. You can find cute little pathway lights to illuminate the walk to your door. You can select decorative lighting for your gazebo or patio. And, you can even install solar powered security lights to make dark corners of your yard feel safer. With outdoor lighting the options are endless. And, installing these solar systems will save you both money & time.

Perhaps you have a dock, & are always worried that something will cause your light to malfunction. What can you do? Consider installing a solar light. These illumination devices are available as track lighting along the edge of the dock or as pillars that can also serve as mooring. Do you follow? They are reliable even if the power goes out.

As you can see, there’re so many excellent solar powered lighting options. These seven above are just a few of the many uses for these lighting systems. For anyone looking to save a great deal of money on power bills or for all those searching for green power options, then a solar light system is definitely a great choice. You will not actually be dissatisfied, & you will love the drop in your electric bill.

For more information on Solar Lighting, check out our website.

Kriss Bergethon is a solar expert & writer. For lots more of his useful articles on solar power, please visit Solar Panels, Power Kits & Systems.

Green BuildingsBy Sapna Kulshrestha

largie — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:08:00 +0000

The frantic building activity going on all over to create affordable housing as well as premium residential & commercial spaces could have serious environmental consequences in the form of deforestation, depleting water table, and strain on natural resources. Also heavy reliance on conventional building materials has aggravated environmental problems as they utilize large amount of non-renewable natural resources like energy, minerals, top-soil, forest cover etc. & are generally polluting in nature.

Typically, conventional building technologies like burnt bricks, steel & cement are high in cost too, making construction unaffordable to wider section of the society. Many developers are now adopting building practices like rain harvesting, solar energy, daylight utilization & other measures, to help sustain the environment. The construction industry is increasingly seeking innovative green building materials, to build economical, affordable buildings & reduce the impact of the construction activity on the environment.

Green building materials are made up of renewable, rather than nonrenewable resources & its impacts are considered over the entire life cycle of the building.

Here are some of the environment-friendly building materials:

Fly-ash bricks: One of the most commonly used products in construction is fly ash bricks, tiles & hollow blocks. Not only has this product solved the problem of disposal of this by-product of the power industry but is also energy efficient in terms of keeping the interiors cooler.

High-performance glass: High performance glazing controls the solar & thermal heat in the interiors & brings abundant natural light without glare resulting in energy savings. The energy savings mean that the initial high cost can be recovered within three-four years.

Recycled wood: This wood made by compressing the wastes like chips, shavings, generated by logging industry & agricultural wastes like sisal fiber, rice husk, jute stalk etc. are being utilized in wide range of applications as substitutes for wood-based products.

Recycled building materials: Much of the building materials used in construction are fabricated with twenty percent -40%recycled contents including steel, glass, aluminum etc. The gypsum boards & tiles for false ceiling, partitions contain phosphor gypsum, a pollutant by product of fertilizer industry.

Plastic products: Plastic waste which is non biodegradable is recycled to be very useful as building product for flooring, waste containers, fence posts, park benches & as substitute to other timber & concrete products. Polyester resin from recycled PET can replace the conventional high cost resin for use in construction.

Bamboo products: Bamboo is fast growing available wood which is increasingly being used as ply panels for wall cladding, flooring & other interior purposes.

Low VOC paints & adhesives: Paints & finishes containing Volatile Organic Compounds release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. Now are available non toxic products with low or zero VOC levels which are less harmful to human & environmental health.

Green roof: Landscaped roofs partially or completely covered with vegetation, reduces winter heat losses & summer cooling loads on buildings thus balancing energy efficiency, rainwater management & climate protection.

Grass pavers: They can be noticed in parking lots, driveways & open areas that are paved but have tufts of grass coming out between the blocks. These are concrete grid systems filled with soil which not just preserve soil erosion but also regenerate the water table by allowing excess water to seep in.

The concept of sustainable building incorporates a variety of strategies; the use of green building materials & products represents one of these important strategies, offering benefits like reduced maintenance & replacement costs, energy conservation & greater design flexibility in the design of a building.

Green Roof Systems & Your RoofBy Steven Briesemeister

largie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:44:00 +0000

In recent times there has been a significant increase in the number of people who are opting for green roof systems for their homes. But even now there’re many people who just have a vague idea about what exactly green roof systems are. The simplest way to describe them is that they aredefinitely a kind of garden situated on your rooftop.

These kinds of roof systems have a wide variety of offers that are important to not just the owners of the home but also to the environment in general. They are also popular because of the amazing, completely completely unique & distinctive look that they create. Earlier it was an object of significance only to certain people of society like environmental activists. People used to consider it as peculiar & very hardly interested, leave alone well informed. But now it?s a rage all over the world because it has become the most popular choice as a solution for roofing needs round the world.

Green Roof Systems

As compared to the modern green roof systems, the earlier versions were weighty & tough to install. It was also cumbersome to maintain them or repair them in case of any problems. But thanks to modern technology & scientific advancement which has gifted us the boon of modular systems, these latest developed systems are free from all these problems & are also much more cost effective than earlier ones.

In a modular green roof system, you have pre planted panels. All you need to do is to place them securely over your roof. Now its your decision whether you want to create an eclectic garden by mixing & matching various species of plants on the roof or go for a simple uniform look by choosing the same kind of plants. The green roof system does a great benefit to the environment as the plants produce a lot of oxygen gas that not just helps in reducing pollution from air but also helps in removing stagnant air. The green roof system also maintains a control over overflow from storms.

Apart from this we have many other significant profits of installing a green roof system on your rooftop. Believe it or not but the fact is that installing it will result in a considerable reduction of cost for cooling & heating of your home. You will spend less energy in mechanical heating & cooling because your plants will often help you in this work. The plants of the green roof system, along with their panels keep warmth rapped during winter. In a similar way they help you in keeping your home cool in the scorching summers. Thus they provide a natural & effective way of temperature & weather regulation for you.

Another major problem, significant especially in urban areas, is the excessive heat building up. The concrete web of buildings & their density can raise the temperature of a city by as much as ten degrees. Green roof systems contribute a lot in dissipation of this heat. The insulation & cooling effect of plants neutralizes this heat to a large extent.

Green roof system is also excellent applications when it comes to complete sound insulation. It is an added incentive to city people who have nowhere to go when they want to escape from the noise pollution of our day-to-day life. You can go to your green roof whenever you want & enjoy a sound free time of leisure.

Thus regardless of where you live, opting for a green roof system is worth it.

As Long Island, LI Roofing Contractors, & Northern Virginia Roofing contractors we take great pride in maintaining customer satisfaction for all types of new roof installation & roof repair work for residential & commercial roofing accounts.

Join the Green Movement by Building Eco Friendly HomesBy Katrina Fillmore

largie — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Going green is the best route to take today. With the environment getting much attention these days, there’s no way to go but go green. Thanks to concerned non-profit international organizations that strongly advocate the preservation of the ecosystem, many people are now made aware of their responsibilities for saving our Mother Earth.

It’s great to know that various segments of society are indeed exerting efforts to use & recycle environment friendly materials. Homeowners are recycling wastes, companies are using recycled products to promote their businesses, car owners are making biofuel to run their vehicles & automakers are making electric cars & other eco friendly vehicles. The construction sector has joined in & many companies such as Mountain Creation in Pennsylvania are building wood cabins & log homes for people who want to go totally green to save the Earth.

Eco friendly wood homes compared to the regular homes have little impact on the environment & humans as well. They are constructed in such a way that they use energy, water & other resources in a very efficient manner thereby reducing waste & pollution & protecting the health of occupants. Clear? In other words, their overall design, operation, maintenance & construction support the green building process.

Green building promotes the use of environment friendly resources in constructing residential structures considered to be an affordable approach for both home builders & homeowners. Clear? In the United States, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) leads in setting the standards for designing, constructing & operating eco friendly buildings. The council is, in actual fact, responsible for creating the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design or what’s popularly known as the LEED rating system.

In building homes, using wood & logs is not only practical but is also beneficial to the environment. Most logs such as those from cedar can be easily obtained from natural resources. They are renewable resources in that they can be replanted again & again after being cut for use in building homes. These trees can be easily found locally & need not actually be transported from other states resulting in lower costs.

Apart from their renewable properties, wood can also be recycled. Unused logs can be often used again to build other homes or used as firewood. Since nothing is wasted, the environment benefits a lot from them.

A big advantage of wood homes & log cabins is that they do not pose any health hazard to occupants. This is because wood used for construction are very natural. They do not need any kind of processing with the use of harmful chemicals.

Still another benefit is the big savings homeowners of eco friendly homes can gain. They can save a lot on their energy, heating as well as cooling bills. The reason behind this is that wood homes provide a family’s much desired comfort all year round regardless of the weather outside. And so… So far so good. Wood is capable of absorbing heat during the summer & releasing heat during the winter season.

Keep in mind that a beautiful home does not necessarily have to be made from concrete. A wood home or log cabin can be anybody’s dream house because aside from its natural beauty, the benefits it can give you & your family are incomparable.

Mountain Creations Log Homes, located just north of Pittsburgh, PA, can assist you install various green technologies in your log cabin before you start building or after your home is completed. Mountain Creations can assist you design your log cabin by incorporating natural sun light & other energy-efficient design elements into your blueprints.

Green Alternative Building Materials For HomesBy Jennie Kyle

largie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:04:00 +0000

The majority of homes today are built using wood frames, the traditional building material & the material of choice for many. However building a wood framed house requires a very carefully designed plan & a construction crew with much experience & skill.

Building a home with a wood frame will generally result in a reliable & secure structure, however it is also susceptible to premature failure when small details are left unchecked or is made with a poor quality wood product. Wood frames also have the ability to rot & attract infestation & construction costs associated with building such frames are also a detriment.

Today the home owner has the opportunity to select from alternative green building materials & make a difference.

Insulated Concrete Forms: These preformed blocks are made with expanded polystyrene (EPS) & metal rebar which can be stacked to build your frame. They are then filled with concrete to create an insulated & exceptionally strong wall!

The Benefits of Building a Home with Insulated Concrete Forms

Ease of Use – These building blocks are very easy to use. They require much less crew & take significantly less time to build than a traditional home
Energy Efficiency – The insulation properties of polystyrene & the high thermal mass of the concrete help to reduce the internal temperature fluctuations to create a more efficient & comfortable indoor environment.
Noise Reduction – Insulated Concrete form walls make an enormous difference in the reduction of noise transmission.
Fire-resistance – This product is highly rated for fire-resistance & has been proven in some products to have a four hour resistance rating!
Strength – These walls are exceptionally strong & can be built to hurricane/seismic standards.
Mildew/Rot – These walls will not support the growth of mildew & mold.

This alternative building material is an excellent home structural choice for all those living in areas where their homes are exposed to severe weather such as hurricanes & tornadoes.

These blocks are made using concrete which does raise some environmental concerns. Concrete depends on cement & the production of cement is an enormous environmental hazard! However there is now in existence cement substitutes which are being implemented into green build design.

If you are interested in building a home using these blocks insist that your builder uses a concrete with a high concentration of fly-ash.

Structural Insulated Panels

SIP’s are high performance building panels that are used to form & build walls, floors & roofs both for commercial & residential purposes.

They are made by sandwiching foam insulation between Oriented Strand Board (OSB). OSB is an engineered wood product that is formed with wax & resins & compressed.

This building material has all the same benefits of ICF’s however they do not compete with insulated concrete forms for fire resistance even though they do meet fire testing standards.

So if you are ready to take on the challenge of building your own home, attempt building green & consider your house framing options!

Jennie Kyle is the co-founder of TheSexyGreenHome.com a resource website for green living providing visitors with quality information regarding environmentally friendly materials & products for the home. To learn more about alternative green building materials visit her website. Turn your home into a Sexy Green Home!
If you are in the market for a bathroom renovation visit TheSexyBathroom.com to see what’s hot in bathroom design!

Green BuildingBy Cheryl Sandella

largie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Many people are interested in Green Building & Materials these days & have asked me many questions about building green. I decided to share the answers here so virtually virtually everyone can learn.

What is Green Building?

Green Building is about creating a project that is energy efficient, eco-friendly, & has sustainable design. A structure designed to conserve resources & reduce negative impacts on the environment, whether it is energy, water, building materials or land.

What does LEED stand for?

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction & operation of high performance green buildings put forth by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

What makes a given product Green?

To keep it simple remember the three R’s

Reuse – Reduce – Recycle

Whenever we can reuse a product instead of producing a new one from raw materials we save on resource use & energy.

Products that reduce material use are considered green. By example, concrete staining can turn concrete slabs into attractive finished floors, eliminating the need for conventional finish flooring.

Taking a material at the end of its useful life & recycling it to make another product is considered green. By example, plastic bottles after use can be recycled into carpet.

Can you list some Green Building Materials?

There are so many “new” green materials popping up all over the place. Here are a few new ones that interested me & I’m considering using for the new, soon-to-be-built green eco-friendly spec home in Paradise Valley.

Soy-Crete – Yes it’s made from Soy. It is a soybased concrete stain that is non hazardous, low VOC (volatile organic content), acid free & looks just like acid stained concrete flooring – only healthier.

Eco Top – used for countertops – it’s made up of FSC (forest council certified) bamboo blend & mixed with recycled wood fibers. Clear? It is available in 7 colors. Clear? It will not fade & is very durable.

Natural Clay Earth Plaster – adds a rich texture to walls. Clear? It is available in 43 colors. A nice bonus is it’s fade resistant, non toxic & easy to repair.

Denim Insulation – made from recycled denim. No they arenot digging out your old blue jeans from the landfill, instead they areusing the scrapes from the manufacturers. Clear? It is 100% recyclable & formaldehyde free. And it will not itch like the fiberglass type.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you had like further information.

Need help with your project? Start a Design Notebook. Get the FREE how to guide at http://www.sandella.net & click on FREE STUFF!

About Cheryl:
Cheryl Sandella, Interior Designer ASID Allied Member, works with her husband & partner of thirty years, Al Sandella, General Contractor. They own Sandella Custom Homes & Interiors in Fountain Hills Arizona & design & build homes in the valley.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Cheryl Sandella, Interior Designer publishes a monthly eZine called “Bespoke Home”. If you want Tools, Tips & Guidance to design & build your custom home, be sure to get your complimentary subscription at http://sandella.net

Cheryl Sandella
Sandella Custom Homes & Interiors
PO Box 18132
Fountain Hills, AZ 85269
480.836.1543 – office
480.816.4233 – Cheryl’s personal line
bespokehomeezine@ymail.com