green building

There are elements in our modern casa ti SIP house kit that I envision like the old bridal tradition:
"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue."

As much as I appreciate turnkey prefab, there's something in my farming Virginia soul that insists upon reusing items from the past, within our architectual structure.

Using the latest green building technology, merged with timeless passive solar design, I now begin to focus on the interior. In my mind, I meld industrial modern elements with nostalgic reused materials:

• the sophisticated strength of a poured, polished concrete floor (which also collects thermal mass, and with fly ash, reuses local byproducts!)
• juxtaposed with the natural embrace of sustainable pine walls
• deft, no nonsense modern lines of built-ins
• the faded tales told by old wooden doors through whom how many hands and lives passed through?
• And if we're lucky, a special, plain, reused farmhouse sink.

Strolling through research, I came across CoolStuffIsCoolStuff.com and other neat architectural salvage sites. I will be sticking closer to home and shopping locally at Caravati's, but did want to mention a special site, Second Chance.

There, not only do they repurpose materials and give old buildings new life, but they also give people another shot at opportunity and learning valuable skills.

From their web site, here's what they say:

"Job Training Second Chance is working with low-income residents of Baltimore to train them in a wide variety of skill sets, ranging from carpentry to craftsmanship. Our goal is to create skilled workers making a living wage with benefits for themselves and their families.

Through the use of public and private funds, we teach our workers to safely deconstruct a building without damaging its historic elements. They become self-supporting members of the community with new skill sets.

At Second Chance, we believe that second chances are not just for buildings, they are for people, too. "

Like the bridal saying, sometimes "something borrowed" might mean borrowing on the strength of community and pooled skills, and recognition that when community comes together to help others succeed, we all benefit.

Whether it be good friends helping out for a few weekend hours as we work on a house kit project together, helping my family but where the structure and land will be a benefit to all our friends, or craftsmen investing their time in training someone new to later help them on future projects and rely on them as part of their paid, skilled team.

Sometimes, pushing ahead with the advances of cutting-edge technology, what we also need is a good ole fashioned barn-raising.

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GreenerBuildings News: August 14, 2008
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Welcome to the latest edition of GreenerBuildings News. We are committed
to bringing you the latest information and resources on the full
spectrum of environmental issues related to buildings and facilities.
Log on to http://www.GreenerBuildings.com for more up-to-date news,
tools, case studies, and other resources related to greener building
practices.

A full-color, graphic version of this newsletter is available online at:
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/enewsletter

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FEATURES AND COLUMNS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Last Swath of Fort Ord is Turned Over to Local Group for a $100M Privatized
Cleanup
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/13/last-swath-fort-ord-turn...
By Leslie Guevarra
A 3,300-acre Superfund site at the once vast Fort Ord in Monterey County has
moved from federal hands to a group of local authorities that will oversee a
$100 million environmental cleanup funded by the U.S. Army and will set the
stage for redevelopment.

Box of Rain – States Take a Closer Look at Rainwater Harvesting
By Jeff Kray
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/column/2008/08/14/box-rain-rainwater-har...
Regulators have historically tended to look the other way when it
comes to water captured as rain. But as water becomes more scarce, regulators
are more closely scrutinizing the increasingly popular practice of
rainwater harvesting — collecting rainwater in barrels, buckets and tanks.

=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE LATEST GREEN BUILDINGS NEWS =-=-=-=-=-=-=

National Labs Help DOE Strive for Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/06/national-labs-help-doe-s...
By Leslie Guevarra
With guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE),
five national laboratories are banding together to help speed development of
marketable zero-net energy commercial buildings.

'The Dollars and Sense of Green Retrofits'
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/01/the-dollar-and-sense-gre...
Companies that pass up a chance to green their existing
commercial buildings may never recover from the losses resulting from greater
operating costs, lower productivity, negative brand image and declining
attractiveness to workers, according to a recent study.

Johnson Controls Helps Green Olympic Venues
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/05/johnson-controls-helps-g...
Johnson Controls' green building and efficiency solutions are
up and running at 18 Olympic stadiums and supporting facilities, the firm said.

Waste Drywall Finds New Life As Gypsum Products
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/05/waste-drywall-finds-new-...
USA Gypsum has added a new product to its line of gypsum made from recycled
drywall waste.

Aon Offers Green Building Insurance, Allstate Tests E-Payment, Eco-Contribution
Program
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/07/aon-offers-green-commerc...
By Leslie Guevarra
The Aon Corporation is offering a green insurance option for
commercial property policyholders, and Allstate Insurance Company is expanding a
market test of a paperless billing and pay process that's paired with a
conservation contribution program.

EPA Provides $500,000 to Green Brownfields
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/11/epa-provides-500000-gree...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's program to help
green brownfields is providing more than $500,000 in technical assistance to 16
projects nationwide.

Atco Signs Up to Help Ease Draw on NY Power Grid
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/12/atco-signs-up-help-ease-...
Atco Properties & Management has enrolled several of its
commercial buildings in the PowerPay New York demand response energy
conservation program that's aimed at reducing blackouts and brownouts in New
York State.

50 Kohl’s Stores Awarded EPA’s Energy Star
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/04/50-kohl%E2%80%99s-awarde...
The Kohl’s stores that earned the designation form the
largest group of non-supermarket retail buildings to now bear the Energy Star

Retrofit Brings New Life to Old Industrial Park
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/08/01/retrofit-brings-new-life...
By Leslie Guevarra
San Jose moves a step closer to its vision for a green
community with the transformation of a tired former industrial property into an
eco-friendly business park that was crafted according to LEED standards.

MORE OF THE LATEST NEWS...
http://greenerbuildings.com/current/daily-news

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TOOLS & RESOURCES =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Pulpwatch.org
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/resource/pulpwatchorg
Pulpwatch.org provides an interactive map of pulp and paper mills, rating them
on their environmental and social performance.

The Dollars and Sense of Green Retrofits
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/the-dollars-and-sense-green-r...
This study looks at why some organizations green an old structure instead of
building a new one.

MORE TOOLS & RESOURCES... http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FEATURED EVENTS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Urban Solutions: Sustainability Tools for Small Business Workshop
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/calendar/2008/07/24/urban-solu...

Event Date: Aug 19, 2008 Location: San Francisco, Calif.

This workshop will help identify business opportunities from the environmental,
social, and economic challenges of the Bay Area.

Green and Clean Dinner Series: Where's The Money?
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/calendar/2008/07/21/green-and-...

Event Date: Aug 21, 2008 Location: Menlo Park, Calif.

This "Green and Clean" forum will focus on the the role of technology and
business in finding green solutions to problems.

EcoTuesday Networking Event
http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/calendar/2008/08/12/ecotuesday...

Event Date: Aug 26, 2008 Location: San Francisco, Calif.

This month's speaker: Sheryl O'Loughlin, CEO of Nest Naturals and former CEO of
Clif Bar

MORE EVENTS . . . http://www.greenerbuildings.com/resources/calendar

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= GREENERBUILDINGS AND YOU =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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tool you'd like to share with others? Please write to
GreenerBuildings@GreenerWorldMedia.com, or click on the "Contact" link
on the home page.

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In case anyone would like to spread the word...

The ThinkDwell Blog is holding an open Question & Answer forum: an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have in regards to home projects you are thinking of undertaking and have professional home designers respond. We specialize in issues facing the affordability and sustainability of home construction projects, chemical-free mold remediation techniques, green building product specification, and energy-efficient home design. We are happy to supply any information we can about your small or large projects and point you in the right direction! E-mail your questions to pubs@thinkdwell.com with “Q& A” in the subject line. We will try to post all questions and answers on the blog. http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog

If you have questions or comments regarding this article, please feel free to contact us through our website: http://www.thinkdwell.com

Part 15 of our 15-part Q&A series on all aspects of green building from the publishers of HealthyHouseInstitute.com. Click here for the introductory post and furthur details.

Question: I can’t tolerate the artificial fragrances in laundry products. Are there any healthier options?

Answer: There are a number of fragrance-free products, and they’re also often available at health-food stores or co-op groceries.

If you live in or near a large city, look in the telephone directory under Chemical Suppliers. There should be companies listed that sell all kinds of nasty industrial chemicals. However, they also often sell unscented borax, or unscented washing soda (sometimes called sal soda, or sodium sesquicarbonate)—both of which can be used in the laundry. You may need to purchase 50-100# bags, but buying in bulk is considerably cheaper per pound than buying in small quantities. Sometimes, adding a cup of white vinegar to the wash water can help remove odors.

You may run into another problem with artificial fragrances if you’re shopping for a new washer or dryer. That’s because many manufacturers put scented samples of detergent or fabric softener inside new machines at the factory. If you can’t get a company to ship an appliance without free samples, your best solution is to remove the offending products from the washer or dryer immediately. Then, run the washer (without clothes) several times with unscented borax, baking soda, or white vinegar until the odor dissipates. Likewise, run the empty dryer on its highest temperature setting until all the perfume odors are gone. If your utility room has a window, keep it open during the entire “decontamination” period.

Question: How important is it to use unscented cleaning products and cosmetics, and natural-fiber clothing?

Answer: Scents and perfumes very often trigger reactions in chemically sensitive people and they bother many individuals with conventional allergies. We feel it’s very important to use unscented products throughout your home. Because fragrances are formulated to spread and cling, they can quickly saturate an entire house and be difficult to remove.

Scented cosmetics can be especially problematic for sensitive people because they’re applied directly to the skin. Your clothing is also in direct contact with your skin. We’ve found that untreated natural-fiber clothing (cotton, wool, linen, ramie, hemp, etc.) is a good option because it outgases no synthetic odors. And, we choose only those items that can be easily cleaned at home with unscented laundry products.

Question: The house we just moved into smells perfumy. What can I do to remove the odor?

Part 14 of our 15-part Q&A series on all aspects of green building from the publishers of HealthyHouseInstitute.com. Click here for the introductory post and furthur details.

Question: We’re getting ready to move into our new healthy house. Do you have any additional advice?

Answer: Congratulations! By using healthy building materials and installing a ventilation system, you now have a healthy structure. However, you must realize that what you put inside your house is just as important as how you built it. We’ve heard of cases where healthy houses were filled with unhealthy furnishings and maintained with unhealthy cleaning products. The result was poor indoor air quality. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy products out there that can be substituted for all the unhealthy ones. Lynn Bower's book, The Healthy Household, goes into interiors in considerable depth, but the following questions and answers cover the highlights.

Question: Antique furniture was made before particleboard and other synthetic materials became popular, so it’s healthy, right?

Answer: Not necessarily, old furniture can be contaminated with musty smells, tobacco smoke, pesticides, and perfume odors—all things that affect air quality. Some pieces are actually moldy. If an antique piece has been refinished recently, it may be bothersome because of a noxious stripper that was used, or because of an oil-based stain or finish.

We have an antique oak desk that belonged to John’s great grandmother. Over the years it picked up a wide variety of odors, and it was too bothersome to bring it into our healthy house. We thought about stripping the finish off ourselves (3M has a low-tox product that’s widely available called Safest Stripper), but decided to take it to a commercial stripper. They had more powerful stripping chemicals, the correct safety equipment, and they knew where to properly dispose of the spent stripper and old finish. Once it was stripped, it didn’t have the original odors, but it did smell of stripper. So, we put it in the garage and let it air out for a couple of months. Once it was aired out, we finished it with a water-based urethane floor finish. It’s now odor free and sitting in our entry hall.

Question: I think outgassing from some of my new upholstered furniture is affecting my health. Any suggestions?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know!

Believe me, I have been waiting for this longer than any of you.
; )

So here's my update on our zero energy casa ti being built in central Virginia, in response to a reader's question today on our own experience with building loans and how we, personally, did what we did.

"...Where do I get info about getting loans for buying land and building. Right now I’m pre-approved for a FHA loan.

I hope I’m wrong with my assumptions but I have a feeling I can get a loan that's good for building a (green modern kit?) home.

thx-Sarah"

Dear Sarah, This is what we did, and I would love for those in the business of green loans to chime in:

We did tons of research then found our land on UnitedCountry.com. I looked for areas close to history and culture and within 20 miles of infrastructure (hospitals, jobs), where rural land was available but where people were of a mindset to preserve instead of develop, and community was strong.

Got the mortgage through Colonial Farm & Credit. They are great because they are a co-op, and when their entity makes money, we got a check at the end of the year as "shareholders"! I would look around for a similar land cooperative in your area.

We paid off the land for a few years, enjoyed camping there, then saved up for (My! Yes, disclosure: I'm GreenModernKits.com and GreenCottageKits.com) our passive solar modern house kit. And even then we didn't jump on building it.

For the past year I've been throwing extra money to the factory, so that by the time we ordered our kit... it was paid for! AND I've paid off the windows!

But that's obviously not going to *finish* the house. We decided to refinance our primary residence instead of going for a construction loan because... well, let's face it, Virginia is not the most progressive green building state. A lot of the things we expect to do... well, have not been actually accepted yet by traditional construction loans.

By using a re-fi loan, we can do more cutting edge things and then wait for local zoning to catch up since it is not yet our residence.

When the children are older we will sell this house and use those funds for our financial security. This is not just about "being green" and preserving land where you can purchase those parcels already on the market to preserve; yes, it's all that, but it's also about financial freedom, making different choices than many who have a similar income to become debt-free. And telecommuting is on the rise; so our move could easily be sooner than later.

In the meantime we will spend the next years helping the land: practicing crop-tree release, encouraging quail and other wildlife habitats that have been in decline, gently working through no-till agriculture to grow food yet encourage quail in existing fields, and dismantling a dangerous falling-down tobacco barn for reuse on the property.

What I will love about living in an off grid house is that I can be older yet secure about not having to pay those $500 monthly heating bills, and that by selling our city house we will have everything paid off, living debt-free and not a burden to our children.

Ah... but how's the project going now?

Well, my fabulous contractor is back from vacation.

: )

And really, he's worth the wait because I trust him and it's not his fault my husband did a last minute (I hate being married to an MBA!) systems audit / foundation plan audit that held everything up 6 weeks since he then only did it on the weekends. (Ah, my cute, sweet, dear, thank- goodness- he's- handsome- or- I'd- really- be- letting- him- HAVE- IT- right- now husband.)

(Grrrrrr)

So... onward!

Oh p.s. though: As of this week:
We have a barn!
Not very mod but made by the Amish in the area, therefore supporting the local community.
: )

On June 25, 2008, the New York State legislature passed a bill allowing building owners in New York City who install green roofs on at least 50 percent of available rooftop space to apply for a one-year property tax credit of up to $100,000. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor David Paterson shortly.

The credit would be equal to $4.50 per square-foot of roof area that is planted with vegetation, or approximately 25 percent of the typical costs associated with the materials, labor, installation and design of the green roof. Building owners will be able to apply for the credit starting Jan. 1, 2009.

A 10,000-square-foot green roof can capture between 6,000 and 12,000 gallons of water in each storm event. In addition, the evaporation of this rainfall will produce the equivalent of between a 1,000 and 2,000 tons of air conditioning, enough heat removal to cool 10 acres of the city.  This energy cooling could save New York City residents more than $5 million annually. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, green roofs will also help reduce overflows of raw sewage into area waterways. The tax credit starts Jan. 1, 2009, and will expire after March 15, 2013 unless extended.

Other cities have passed similar laws and green roofs are sprouting up all over, including Chicago's City Hall.  Could this be the beginning of a trend?