Average Joe Goes Green - Part 8 - Renovations

We had been considering buying a new and larger home. However, due to the economic conditions facing most of us today, and the depressed housing market, purchasing a new home is just not in the cards for us right now. With two growing kids, we certainly could use the extra room so we began to consider renovating our home by adding on a new family room. We did find that due to the downturn in housing construction, there are many good contractors looking for work, and actually were able to hire one at a very reasonable price. Of course, we decided to go as green as possible.

First thing we did was to check with our local financial institution on financing. Again, we found home improvement loans at very low interest rates. We had heard that some banks and credit unions were offering “green home improvement” loans. These loans have special interest rate discounts when they are used for purchasing energy and water saving products, such as solar and wind systems, Energy Star appliances and products, low flow water and sensor systems and more. As these green home loans are not yet available from most institutions, we had to search around a bit before we closed on a loan with an institution which could fully accommodate our needs and budget.

We sat down with our contractor, and gave him our ideas for the new green family room. As we had previously discussed size and budget, within a week, he came back with plan drawings and a list of some of the green materials we had discussed, plus others he had come up with. It was quite exciting. To start, the roof is to be composed of a unique “membrane” made in part from recycled plastic bottles. We also will have a small “green” roof area for special plants. Combined, these two methods will reduce heat and cooling loss. There will also be rain gutters which will empty into two large rain barrels, catching the rain water and dispersing it through our garden area to irrigate our plants and shrubs. The plans do include a solar hot water system, however even with various federal tax incentives, our budget would not allow for a full solar PV installation at this time.

All windows are to be Energy Star qualified which are also specially designed to reduce heat and cooling loss. The plans also detailed a SolaTube natural lighting system, which simply accumulates daylight and reflects and transmits it through a series of tunnels and mirrors throughout 4 “light openings” in the ceiling. For evening lighting, there will be two LED lighting fixtures. While these were more expensive than conventional lighting, LED’s can last 10-50 times longer, use 85% less energy, and emit no heat.

There are several green choices for flooring. We have the option of using recycled carpet, much of which is made from recycled plastic, or, if we want a wood floor, can opt for bamboo or hardwood. When it comes to hardwood, we want to be sure to buy only Forest Stewardship Council, or Rainforest Alliance certified, as that assures the wood has been grown, farmed and milled in the most sustainable methods. There are now also floor tiles available made from recycled glass.

The walls will simply be painted with no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint. All materials off-gas, and synthetic materials can off-gas chemicals which are toxic - even furniture. To ensure no or low VOC's, we look for the GreenGuard certification ensuring the furniture is low in toxicity. For us staying green with furniture is an issue. Not because it’s not available, but because of the cost..it’s still quite high for quality green furniture. So we decided we would seek out used furniture and simply “recycle” it by using it our home. This eliminates more landfill waste, and reduces our risk of VOC’s as most of the dangerous chemical compounds off-gas within the first year.

So we are off and running…I can’t wait to pick out our new Energy Star rated big screen TV…

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .

Average Joe Goes Green - Part 7 - Landscaping

The grass is green, the flowers are in bloom, and my trees are providing that cool break area from the summer sun as well as resting areas for traveling and domestic birds. So what could be bad about that? In my search towards greenness and sustainability, I found sometimes a little knowledge can get you into trouble, and sometimes it’s so illuminating that when you understand the content, you can make changes which are wide ranging in their effect.

The lawn. Most lawns are made up of grasses particular to certain areas and regions of the country. It has been the homeowners goal to have a thick, dark green outdoor carpet, one in which your kids can run and play to their hearts content. However, there’s a dark secret about these lawns few are willing to share. First, lawn grass is a water hog. It requires large amounts of water to keep thick and green. As we all have learned, water, even though it is unnaturally priced, is a precious resource which requires substantial amounts of energy to process, creating millions of tons of carbon dioxide. Some new homes and businesses are using rain cache systems which capture rainwater and use that for irrigation. Unfortunately, not mine. Rain barrels are now available for purchase, but there are issues with cost and space.

Second, to keep that lawn green requires fertilizer and pesticides. Fertilizer production releases large amounts of greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide into the air, and it’s runoff causes large scale water problems, such as the Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone”. Pesticides contribute to the water pollution issues.

Last, mowing the lawn. Gallon for gallon — or, given the size of lawnmower tanks, quart for quart — the 2006 lawn mower engines contribute 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. However, some help is on the way. New EPA regulations will force manufacturers to reduce these emissions by 35% beginning in 2011. In the meantime, here are some strategies you may consider:

· Reduce the square footage of your lawn area and replace with natural plantings using Xeriscape techniques.

· Try to find affordable organic fertilizers. If not, use time-release fertilizers which have less impact.

· If you are planning a vegetable garden, try to go as organic as possible.

· If your yard is not too big, use a manual reel mower. It’s great exercise. Otherwise, there are now several brands of electric mowers now on the market.

Our yards are our escapes, our secret gardens, the outdoor barbecues, and those special places where many of us have shared fond experiences with friends and families. Of course, I am not giving up my yard…nor should you. However, all of the above recommendations will not only help in working towards our communities and planet’s environmental issues, but also provide for a safer and healthier environment for our families.

Keith Winn is the COO of GreenProfit Solutions, Inc. which assists businesses in becoming environmentally responsible. You may view their website at www.greenprofitsolutions.com or e-mail Keith at kwinn@greenprofitsolutions.com .