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Anyone here like puzzles? 'Cause we're gonna be putting together 5,000 square feet o' VMI basketball court soon... think of it: The Challenge! The Fun! This is better than the crossword in Sunday's Herald Tribune!

Or not.

"I got up at 6 am, made coffee and hit the road to approve the foundation preparation and receive the VMI Basketball Floor delivery.

As I was emptying out the shed for the floor the plumbers pulled up and I handed them the PEX tubing I had ordered. I began bush-hogging but Ron, the general contractor, soon arrived and we approved prep work.

(Radiant Heat And Off Grid Foundation Video:)

I returned to the tractor for an hour and the flooring arrived. We have a 20x20 shed and the fork lift was too tall/big so we ended up getting the plumbing crew, which had just finished installing the radiant heat loops, to help and were done within an hour.

(VMI Floorboards Unloading Video 1 of 3)

(VMI Recycled Boards Video 2 of 3)

(VMI Wood Reused In Prefab-ulous House Video 3 of 3) (Copeland's note: Oh. My. Gosh... can you believe we were actually thinking we could just rent a U-Haul and drive to Lexington, load the wood *JUST THE TWO OF US*, drive to the land, and then UNLOAD it?!?!? Soooooooooooo grateful to Bill Miller of ZellerMiller Companies, a VMI alumni who heard of our plight and used his construction connections to help, Bill Miller SAVED US by putting us together with these people to deliver the wood.)

I invited everyone to lunch, and as we left I noticed a flat tyre on my car - upon return to the site the delivery guys hadn't left yet and raised the car with their forklift so that the tire was changed quickly.

When I finally made it to lunch we spoke about alternative energy and it turns out that the plumbing company has done several geo-thermal projects."

Turn America from Eco-weak to Eco-chic -

Sylvia Hoehns Wright, recipient of the 2008 Turn America from Eco-weak to Eco-chic award, is a featured speaker for the Green Festival held at the Washington D.C. Convention Center, November 8 and 9, 2008. Speaking 4pm on the 9th in the Green Living Pavilion, interested persons can view details of Wright’s speech or purchase advance festival tickets at www.greenfestivals.org, select Washington Festival.

“Historically," says Virginia based eco-chic advocate Sylvia Hoehns Wright, "earth-friendly is defined in terms of reduce, reuse and recycle. Eco-chic takes earth-friendly a step further. It is a reflection of how we feel about the environment, not just as a lifestyle choice but a decorating style as well." Wright, in her speech From Eco-weak to Eco-chic: the Wright Scoop, shares strategies that respect an existing vista, preserving and enhancing its health. Wright emphasizes for any style landscape, plants should not simply be selected to provide contrast of structure, texture or color, but make environmental contributions.

An earth-friendly columnist, contributing writer and speaker, Wright is a Virginia Master Gardener and graduate of the VA Natural Resource Leadership Institute program. She teaches eco-scape landscape/garden workshops and conducts communication workshops for the Green Industry. For further detail, contact syhwright@comcast.net or visit web site www.TheWrightScoop.com

This week we release a new front page to the site that responds more to the turbulent economic and environmental context we are beginning to face.

Table tops and countertops made from paper are an eco-friendly and very sustainable alternative to stone and linoleum. The product is both processed in a low waste and low/no emission manner and easily recycled back into other products. Recycled paper countertops are a restaurant kitchen favorite, as they remarkably prevent the colonization of bacteria. Stronger than wood, as beautiful as marble, these paper countertops do a good job of mimicking the look of stone. However, paper countertops do add a softer ambiance to the look of your kitchen. Paperstone is one company that sells the design and is available at $90 to $120 per square foot. www.paperstone.com Paperstone countertops are made from 50 to 100 percent post consumer waste paper. The recycled paper is combined with a non-petroleum resin, (which is 100% water-based!), and the oil of cashews to make the paper countertop product. Rich-lite makes paper countertops that are approved by CO-OP America. They are not from 100% recycled paper, but from managed forests in North America. You can order samples at www.richlite.com Shetkatstone makes a paper countertop that boasts a 100% sustainable life cycle. Their countertops can be turned into a new product when ready to be changed. They offer sample kits in both a marbelized look or a matte finish. Shetkastone also takes it one step further by offering table tops made from the paper product. Large enough for conference tables these custom designs are great for home or office. Every table top arrives ready to install. www.shetkastone.com

Everyone’s been talking about green roofs, not the kind with solar panels, but a true, living planted green roof.  Chicago is bursting with them, and now New York has passed a tax break to encourage New York City residents to think green when it comes time to put on a new roof.  The storm water retention qualities alone were enough to rate a $4.50/ft2 tax credit that New Yorkers can apply toward the cost of their roofing project.

So let’s say you have a roof that needs to be replaced or, or you’re just ready to take some climate change repair into your own hands and go green.  What does a green roof entail, and how do you turn a formerly typical (and usually really unattractive) rooftop into a planted landscape that help clean the air, cool the city, and become home to butterflies and bees?  Here’s how a fairly typical installation went this September in the Tribeca area of NYC.

The site was a five story former medical building that had been converted into a co-op.  At some point in the building’s history a smaller 6th floor had been placed on the roof, built so that the unit had access to two sides of the roof of the 5th floor.  One side of the roof was built out in a more conventional NY style, with wooden floor tiles, lots of raised planters and a shade pergola above a dining table.

The other side of the roof, comprising roughly 900ft2, was left bare.  When the co-op need to re-roof the building two years ago, the bare area was resurfaced, but still remained an eyesore, especially when compared to the landscaped roof deck out the other side of the unit. 

Eventually the owner decided it was time to take a look at the possibility of a green roof, not only for its aesthetic qualities (since the view out of one set of glass sliding doors was nothing but a rubberized roof surface) but also it’s environmental impact.  Greensulate, a NY based green roof and wall firm, was brought in to discuss, design, and install the green roof.

Once the initial measurements were taken, the next steps were to have a building engineer calculate the roof’s weight capacity, and then talk with the roofing company who had recently installed the new surface to ensure that the proper green roof was put down on top in a way that would maintain the integrity of the waterproof surface.

Greensulate worked with the client to design a primarily extensive green roof, with a few raised areas to give the space some variance and texture, and allow for a wider variety of plants.  There would also be several visual rivers, created with the same river rock that would provide a border for the green roof, and surround any penetrations (vents, skylights, etc.) to keep their edges plant-free.

Once a final plan was agreed upon, it was time to start ordering plants and materials, and begin the coordination of what would be a two-day installation.  Before day one actually started, the drainage and root barrier layers would need to be ordered as would 6 tons of planting medium, 3 tons of river rock, and over 250 plants.

Working with nurseries in New York and Connecticut, all the plant, soil, and stone materials were ordered for delivery directly to the site on day one, or to be picked up the day before the installation by Greensulate. 

Day 1

Arriving at 6:30, Greensulate staff arrived to begin offloading plants and planting medium outside the Tribeca building. 

Getting materials up five stories usually involves a large freight elevator, or a crane.  In this case, there was no freight elevator, so a truck with a boom crane was brought in and parked in front of the building.  Greensulate had staff on the ground and on the roof to quickly distribute the materials across the roof as they were craned up.  First came the rolls of drainage layer and root barrier, which were cut and laid across the entire roof.  Then came the bags of river rock, which were spread along the entire border of the roof and around all roof penetrations.  Next came the planting medium, in large 1-ton capacity super sacks which could then be emptied directly onto the drainage/root barrier layer.

Greensulate staff then proceeded to spread the planting medium to a fairly uniform depth of 3 inches.  In certain areas, Greensulate created berms, or raised hilly areas in which some of the larger plants would be set.  Care was taken to make sure all of the drainage material was covered and that the river rock borders and visual rivers concealed the underlying layers.

Once the planting medium was prepared to the design’s specifications, plants could be brought up (this time over a number of trips in the building’s main elevator) and set (still in their containers) according to the planting design.  This step helps confirm in 3D what had only been visualized on paper during the design process.  Seeing the plants laid out, but not yet set in the ground helped confirm that they would look well placed, but also perform their functions in the cases where a plant would be blocking an ugly view from inside the client’s home.  By walking around and looking at various viewpoints, Greensulate staff could adjust placement here and there as needed.

Once all the plants were in their final positions, it was time to call it a day.  All that was left for day 2 would be to plant the roof, and water it in.

Day 2

The plants for this roof were chosen for their hardiness in a green roof setting (wind, sun, low water conditions) and for their ability to bring different colors, both foliage and blooms, during different times of year.  The were as large as Panicum grass in 2-gallon containers, and as small as a plug of sedum in 72-plug flats.  Varieties included native grasses, hyssop, lavender, allium, and seven varieties of sedum.

Planting started at 9:00am and continued to 3:00.  Plants were taken out of their containers and set into the ground where they had been placed on day 1.  Planting sedum plugs is a bit time consuming, but in order for them to form a healthy, solid mat in a short amount of time, 5-6 plugs were planted per each ft2. 

As the green roof took shape, it was clear that the planting design was accomplishing the goals set out—beautify the roof, block ugly views, and create a green habitat in Tribeca.  Much to the delight of the Greensulate staff, even before the last plant was in the ground, the entire green roof was alive with butterflies, and honey-and bumblebees.  It had taken them less than 24 hours to discover a new source of food in Manhattan.

Once the last plant was in place, it was time to give the entire roof a good dose of water, to start getting the plants established in their new home.  As with many of the green roofs that Greensulate installs, this roof had no irrigation system and would primarily rely on rainfall to survive.  It would be watered several times a week after installation (unless there was rain) to ensure the plants got acclimated, but in successive years only in very dry periods would supplemental watering be necessary.  Even then, this water would come from four specialized water tanks that would collect rainwater to be used later, keeping this green roof independent from an irrigation system.

At the end of day 2, the green roof was complete.  The client had a new, beautiful view shed, as did the people in the taller buildings surrounding it.  New York City was one roof closer to preventing storm water overflows, and the butterflies of Manhattan had a new place to call home.

Just this past week I sat down with Joel Klippert, the creator of the ‘green’ EcoTop countertop . I’d been anxious to talk with Joel about how things were going with his business, and the availability of EcoTop - the beautiful, practical, and affordable eco-friendly and green countertop material you’ve read so much about on GetWithGreen.com. Joel is calling it “Sustainable without sacrifice.”

As I expected, Joel is moving full steam ahead. The company has now made EcoTop countertop available nationwide through a master distributor in Denver - Designer Building Solutions. If you are interested in purchasing the product, you can contact Peter Colburn in the Eco Building division of DBS directly at 1-206-321-1823. The product is available in 10 colors, with Read about EcoTop on GetWithGreen.com...

Green Living TM Technologies and THE GREEN LIVING NEWS:

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Current September Issue:

New Product Launch Green LivingTM Roof Tray

Green Living TM Wall Changes!

Green Living TM Technologies in Honduras

Green Living TM Wall Featured on Dream Home w/ Lisa Quinn

Green Living TM Technologies reps and installer Michael and Angela Bucci, G-Space Philadelphia, show case the Green Living Wall.......

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I want to welcome the new subscribers to our newsletter! Lots to talk about this month! Our dedication to improving our products making sure they are both affordable and functional. This month we are proud to release our Roof Tray system that was designed to retain stormwater. As always be reached via email at George@agreenroof.com If you like our newsletter please refer us to a friend forward the email and they can click the "Register Now" link..... Register for Green Living Technologies LLC email updates

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New Product Launch: Green LivingTM Roof Tray Rochester NY.... Green Living TM Technologies announces the release of its advanced patent pending Green Living TM Roof Tray with water retention. The heavy gauge aluminum soon to be zinc Green Living TM Roof Tray was developed as a simplified way to install a basic green roof. The original Green Living TM Roof Modular System requires a higher level of installation skills and green roof know how. The Roof Tray has a price point similar to the cost of the original modular system but the installation labor is half. Its easier to transport and can be pre-vegetated or filled and planted on the roof. "This is a great product for clients who have the ability to lift and place the trays on almost any flat or minimally sloped roof without hiring a green roof contractor." The Green Living TM Roof Tray comes complete with a hydro-blanket that also acts as a filter. The system was designed for stormwater retention. The trays measure 20" x 24" (3.5 square feet) and come in standard 4", 6", 8" and 12" depths. The 4" depth can retain up to 4.35 gallons of stormwater and still provide unlimited drainage through the large .25 drain holes within the sides of the tray. Just like the Green Living TM Roof Modular System once the tray reaches saturation the stormwater flows to the roof and into the designated drains. With embossed feet, to allow the tray to sit off the roof for air and water flow and built in handles for easy transport and carrying, two people can install a complete 1000 square foot roof in less then a day! Even fully saturated we still maintain 15 +/- pounds per square foot.

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Change is Good! for the Green Living TM Wall With all good companies product improvement and development is a high priority. After additional R&D we have made some key changes to the Green Living TM Wall. Before we announce the changes let us make note the corner panel now part of the standard Green LivingTM Wall System. The first change is the safety hem on the outer edges of the wall panel structure. Second is the two part assembly that led to removing any torque. The result is a green wall panel that is easier and safer to handle. With our patented cell technology we still retain the unlimited drainage and root migration within the panels themselves and unlike plastic components the Green Living TM Wall will not warp or crack with the expansion and contraction of heat and cold. Also now available in standard increments of 6 inches and custom manufacturing, powder coating and laser engraving are always available.

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October 4th, 2008 Green Living TM Technologies and the Green Living TM Wall featured in one of the San Francisco area's Dream Home episode. Join us as we work with Lisa Quinn, co-host Alexandrea Schardt and GLT's George Irwin on how easy it is to dress up an otherwise drab wall by planting and installing a 2 - panel Green LivingTM Wall system with manual irrigation. October4, 2008 Dream Home http://www.watchdreamhome.com/ 

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Green Living TM Technologies Breaks ground with Angela Stassano (Techos Verdes) and her partner Lazarus & Lazarus in Honduras (San Pedro Sula). October 13th we will be in Honduras with Angela to establish the installation of the Green LivingTM Systems. In addition the location will also serve as a continuing education and eventually a growing facility. Congratulations to Techos Verdes and Lazarus & Lazarus. I will have more pictures and in depth coverage for our next newsletter!

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Green Living TM Technologies Philadelphia based and aauthorized representative / installer G-Space (Not to be confused with another "G" company) displays one of thier latest Green LivingTM Wall projects on the exterior of the refurbished Vorhees Coliseum, home of the Arena Football Leagues Philadelphia Soul. Great job to Michael and Angela Bucci and the entire G-Space staff!

In this weeks Slow Home Report we discuss the Rue Street House by Hurt Partners Architects.

From the second David Day's fabulous casa ti house kit design was laid before me, I have dreamed, imagined myself in my future home. Which bedroom will be whose? Where will the dining table go? How to furnish it?

(Luckily, for myself, an avid thrift-er, I have kept an eye out for good finds and amassed a basement full o' furniture over the years with which to trick out our prefab-ulous house. Here's an example of just a few o' the things I've collected & reused over the years!)

I have imagined all sorts o' frugal, crafty solutions for the interior wall. See, drywall just doesn't "do it" fer me; I like natural, I like patina, and, even the green alternatives for drywall were a little too smooth for me. (Watch out, there's Bryan Adams in them thar link!)

So when a friend on twitter messaged me that a historic college, Virginia Military Institute, had torn up it's maple basketball floorboards and was auctioning them on GovDeals.com, I *jumped.*

Let's just say... those salty builders bidding against each other had no chance. In the last 12 seconds, I swooped in and stormed off with over 5,000 square feet o' solid maple history.

So our casa ti interior will now be lined with beautiful, durable, historic maple boards, reflecting my passion for history yet maintaining a natural, modern design.

Now lissen here, you crafty VMI alumni or lovers of reuse: I am not going to need 5,000 square feet o' boards. Certainly I can find ways to use it all, but if anyone is interested in adoring the history and natural beauty of this maple in their own home, direct message me. : )

Green Open House Tour: Green Retro-fit: Built in 1818 and renovated with a grant from the state, one home on the Green Open House Tour now features modern green building systems.

The NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) is hosting an open house on Saturday, October 4, from 10 am to 4 pm. The organization has coordinated with home owners and facility managers to provide access to numerous green buildings. Visit the site to see if there is an open house in your area and drop in to ask questions and see the installations that make new and remodeled homes more energy efficient. Just click on the map search, enter your zip code, and click GO. You can also search for projects that involve a specific type of green feature, like a geothermal heat pump, grey-water collection, or LEED rating in the drop down menu at left. I’m going to visit a home built in 1818 in Andover, MA that exhibits grid-tied Photovoltaics, a geothermal heat pump, a tankless water heater, and an alternative fuel vehicle for daily use.

Post submitted by ThinkDwell.