Green Options » construction

Are Extruded Houses Green?

Philip Proefrock — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:50:32 +0000

For several years, Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis at the University of Southern California has been working on systems for rapidly creating buildings with system that is essentially a very large 3-dimensional printer. Called Contour Crafting, the equipment is able to rapidly build up walls. Already, test runs have been able to produce six-foot high concrete walls.

One goal of the team developing this technology is to be able to build a house in a day, a goal that they hope to reach within the next few years. There is some merit to this goal, and the benefits of being able to rapidly and inexpensively produce houses are obvious, though not without some attendant problems.

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Sustainability Becomes a Priority in New Hospital Construction

Kristin Dispenza — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:29:22 +0000

According to the Washington Post, the United States is currently seeing a dramatic increase in hospital construction. American Hospital Association senior vice president Rick Wade is quoted in the article as saying that we are experiencing the most significant hospital building boom since after World War II. (For discussion of the various social and financial trends that are influencing this boom, as well as its economic ramifications, see the Washington Post article referenced above and Health Beat by Maggie Mahar.)

The Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Oregon, which opened in August 2008, features many of the amenities that newer hospitals are becoming known for. The building is over 1,000,000 sq. ft in size, is set amidst 181 riverfront acres, and blends hospitality design with health care design. In fact, the design architect for the building was WATG, a firm that specializes in destination design and hospitality. Anshen+Allen was the architect of record, and focused on health care design.

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Low Impact Living: Green Weefab Mini-Homes

Low Impact Living — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:39:58 +0000

In case you can’t tell, we like green prefab homes. Many are beautiful and innovative, and the best of them really push the boundaries of green practices. But for most of us they’re aspirational rather than practical. Most of us aren’t building green homes from scratch, and even if we are the number of green prefab providers who can deliver cost-effective complete green prefab homes is still quite small.

Which is why we decided to write about small green prefab rooms or homes - “weefabs” - so small that you actually might be able to put one in your backyard. They could serve as a “room-away-from-home” place for the inlaws, a quiet office or TV room out back, or simply a comforting, tranquil place to just hang out and relax. While not affordable compared to pre-made sheds at Home Depot, you can still secure most of these models without having to take out a new mortgage. Which is good, because at least right now most mortages harder to come by than a protest license in Beijing!

We’ve always liked Modern Shed - whether you live in a Mid-Century Modern home or a traditional Cape Cod style in New England, Modern Shed makes a model that will fit in with your design. They have many green features, and you can get several models for less than $10K. Shipping is included in the price, and they’re designed and shipped so that a relatively handy D-I-Y-er can do the install.

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Energy Efficiency at -30 Degrees Fahrenheit

Kristin Dispenza — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:29:46 +0000

Across the arctic and subarctic, many native tribes still occupy their traditional lands — but most do so in decidedly non-traditional ways. Western products of every description have been adopted by northern peoples, but one of the products that is least suited to the northern climate has also become one of the most widespread: wood frame housing.

All of the materials necessary to build a wood frame house must be shipped into subarctic regions. Once built, a house in the far north must be able to withstand frequent high winds, and be extremely well insulted. Often, the fuel necessary to heat the home must also be shipped in. With fuel costs spiraling ever upward, the worsening of an already severe housing shortage is causing subarctic communities to explore alternative housing forms.

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Basics to Building a Better Green Home

GO Media Sponsor — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:31:01 +0000

Editor’s Note: This post was provided by one of our paid sponsors, Solar Energy International (SEI), a USA non-profit organization whose mission is to help others use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through education. SEI teaches individuals from all walks of life how to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and how to design and build efficient, sustainable homes. SEI offers trainings online and in 22 locations around the world.

Homes built today are generally twice as efficient as their 1980s counterparts. Improved window technology, more efficient heating and cooling equipment, better control of air infiltration, and greater use of insulation are helping decrease energy use in today’s homes. But building science—the physics of optimizing building performance and understanding why buildings fail—also plays a pivotal role.

Building science encompasses the study of heat transfer, airflow, and moisture movement through building enclosures; and how those factors affect the building’s performance, durability, comfort, and air quality. It predicts and measures the relationship people have to the controlled environment of buildings. Building science encompasses home design, construction, diagnostics, repair, and operation—all pitching in to make better buildings.

Dealing with Heat Flow

Insulation controls the flow of heat through a building assembly by slowing the conductive heat transfer through the envelope. Wherever floors, walls, ceilings, windows, and doors are exposed to differing inside and outside temperatures, heat conduction takes place.

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Wood Product Manufacturers Bracing for CARB 2009

Joel Bittle — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:14:10 +0000

The air is going to get a little bit cleaner come January, 2009 - and that has nothing to do with a new presidential administration. The California Air Resources Board’s dramatic Air Toxic Control Measure known as “the CARB rule” will go into effect January 1 and will, among other things, mandate a reduction in formaldehyde levels in composite wood products like particle board, hardwood plywood, and medium density fiberboard. Manufacturers of composite wood products have less than four months to adapt to the new requirements or they will be unable to manufacture or sell their products in California.

Formaldehyde came into the public consciousness this past Winter as trailers used for Hurricane Katrina victims were found to contain dangerous levels - click here for those findings. Urea-formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound that has been linked to health issues ranging from persistent eye and skin irritation to asthma to, in extremely high levels, cancer. It has been practically banned in Europe, Japan, and Canada. The United States Green Building Council awards LEED credits for buildings that have eliminated added urea-formaldehyde. The inclusion of the word “added” is due to the fact that small levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in wood. Urea-formaldehyde is used in composite wood as a drying agent for glues and adhesives, significantly speeding up the manufacturing process of the composite wood. For this reason, non-formaldehyde composite woods will come at a higher price. Add in the increased demand due to the CARB rule and the current limited supply of formaldehyde-free composite wood and we could see increased prices across the board for composite wood products like furniture, cabinets, moldings and millwork, doors, and many other products.

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Adventures in Windows - Part 2

Dawn Killough — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:54:47 +0000

As I mentioned in my previous article on this project, I recently replaced most of the windows in my house with Penguin Windows. The installation is now complete, and it is time to look at the results.

First of all, the installation went well and was completed in just two days. The crew was very friendly, knowledgeable, and cleaned up nicely. There was some inconvenience, in that we had to move furniture and other items away from the openings, especially when the window sizes were being changed. Also, someone had to be home to let the crew in, and watch the cats.

The installation was well done, certainly in comparison with the original windows. They are all tight to the outside trim, and the inside and outside are well caulked. This should prevent air leakage and water intrusion that was occurring before.

As far as energy use differences, it has been hard to tell. Penguin promises a 40% reduction in heating and cooling costs. The weather has warmed up considerably since the installation, so the air conditioner is still running as much as it was before. I will need to compare the costs for the next few months to the same period last year to see if there has been any significant changes.

As a homeowner, I am pleased with the quality of the windows and the installation. We will have to see if the promised energy savings materialize over the next few months.

AIA Launches “GreenStep” Video Series

Dawn Killough — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:51:50 +0000

The American Institute of Architects recently launched its “GreenStep” online video series. The series presents short episodes on several green building topics. It is meant for those planning new buildings or the renovation of existing buildings, and shows how architects can help clients address their green concerns.

The schedule for the release of the videos is as follows:

Greenstep 1: Water Conservation - already posted.
Greenstep 2: Smart Controls - already posted.
Greenstep 3: Radiant Heating and Cooling - already posted.
Greenstep 4: Vegetation for Sun Control - already posted.
Greenstep 5: The Whole Building Approach - September 2
Greenstep 6: Green Tags - September 15
Greenstep 7: Energy Modeling - September 29
Greenstep 8: Green Roofs - October 13
Greenstep 9: Daylighting - October 27
Greenstep 10: Choosing Green Materials - November 10
Greenstep 11: Carbon Offsets - November 24
Greenstep 12: Deconstruction - December 8

Links to the videos can be found at http://www.aia.org/walkthewalk/.

Historic Portland Hotel Gets New Green Look

Dawn Killough — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:31:32 +0000

The Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon, a member of the Carino Collection and Historic Hotels of America, recently remodeled all 155 of the hotel’s bathrooms, maintaining the standard of luxury that the hotel is famous for, while lowering its environmental footprint. Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects designed the remodel with the goals of being locally responsible, sustainable, and efficient.

Some of the features of the remodel include:

Preserving existing teak trim, mirrors, stone vanities and tubs.
Using Forest Stewardship Council certified wood that adheres to all the practices of the Smartwood Rainforest Alliance.
40% recycled content tile on the walls and floors.
Use of LED lighting custom designed by Eleek Lighting and Design.
Shower heads that reduce water usage by 10 to 20 percent.
Toilets that will reduce water usage by 50 percent.
Approximately 95%, by volume, of the debris from the bathroom demolition was donated to Portland’s ReBuilding Center, the largest non-profit building materials resource in North America.

The Heathman is not new to sustainability and conservation. It was one of Portland’s first hotels to receive incentives from the Energy Trust of Oregon for energy efficiency upgrades. It also participates in Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program, purchasing 30 percent of its electricity from Blue Sky renewable sources. Chris Erickson, the Heathman’s general manager, said, “We are thrilled to team with AMAA (Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects), a company that shares our sustainable values and commitment to community. They’ve helped to take our existing sustainability efforts to the next level.”

The Heathman’s guests are invited to see, and experience, how luxury and sustainability can coexist.

Non-Profit Provides Green Homes for Injured Veterans

Dawn Killough — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:21:19 +0000

Homes for Our Troops builds specially adapted homes for injured veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, free of charge. Thanks to a recent grant from The Sierra Club, these homes will now be built green. “This grant will allow us to incorporate state of the art building techniques and materials such as geothermal heating system[s] and photovoltaic solar panels to give our veterans the long-term economic and environmental benefits of green building,” says Homes for Our Troops President and Founder John Gonsalves.

Homes for Our Troops is a non-profit organization, founded in 2004, that has already completed 28 specially adapted homes across the country for veterans of the current conflict. Two dozen homes are currently underway, and they plan to build 100 more homes over the next three years. They raise donations of money, building materials, and professional labor, and coordinate the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility. All of this is done at no charge to the veteran.

With the current grant from The Sierra Club, new homes will be built with environmental and energy conservation concerns in mind, participate in the Energy Star program, and the LEED for Homes program established by the US Green Building Council. These new homes will provide long-term economic and environmental benefits to the veterans and their families.

Homes for Our Troops will also incorporate outreach into its new home program, educating the home construction industry and the general public on the benefits and importance of green building. They hope to promote a greater understanding of the benefits of the green building movement.

As the wife of a (thankfully) healthy returning veteran, I fully support this effort to give back to those who keep us safe and free. I urge our readers to visit the Homes for Our Troops website and donate to this worthy cause.

Weighing the Value of Concrete Housing

Philip Proefrock — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:20:13 +0000

A South African company called Moladi is promoting their system for quickly building homes. Using their system, the exterior walls for a single-family dwelling can be built in a matter of just a day or two, and it can be done using unskilled labor. But, while their goals are admirable, it’s a question whether or not this is a really green method of building.

The system uses lightweight formwork panels, much like those used for poured concrete walls. Once erected, the forms are filled with mortar (concrete without stone) which can be hand-mixed and hand-placed, or which can be mechanically mixed and pumped into place. Typically, the formwork can be removed the day after the mortar is poured. The result is a smooth finish material, little more than a roof is needed to complete the building.

On the downside, this material uses 250 kilograms of portland cement per cubic meter (about 420 pounds per cubic yard), making it fundamentally the same as a concrete building with an enormous carbon footprint stemming from the extensive use of cement in these buildings.

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Light LEED Opens at Arterra SF

Keith Rockmael — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:55:17 +0000

With new owners set to move into the the LEED light Arterra we throughout that we’d pay a visit to San Fran’s newest LEED certified condo. Arriving on bikes, we discovered that no bike racks exist for those wishing to inspect the demo models. Thus we had to pull out bikes into into the sales office. Walking though the corridors to the demo unit, we couldn’t help but smell the VOCs rising though the air. Kind of disappointing for a LEED-NC building.

Once we arrived at the demo unit, we felt sad to see granite countertops in both the 1 and 2 bedroom units. We asked the salesperson about the “Green” aspects of the condo and he didn’t know much about the Green aspects but he thought that most of the Green attributes (aka LEED points) weren’t located in the condos but we more part of the overall building. Give that man an organic cigar as most of the LEED points came about in the low hanging fruit (landscape, location and other interior elements) as the green aspects hardly appear in the living spaces. We noticed the dual flush toilets and triple pained windows but aside from that we didn’t note many green offerings.

With buyers scheduled to move in today or tomorrow, hopefully they don’t believe that they are moving into the greenest of the green condos. We’ve heard that the Arterra folks don’t really care about the whole LEED system other than using it as a marketing ploy. Too bad, as the sales figures for the Arterra sit at around 54% sold. Maybe people see it the Arterra for what it is, a very light Green housing option with a favorable price tag.

Showing the Green Building Process

Philip Proefrock — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:22:10 +0000

What does it look like to build a house with lots of green features? We see pictures of the finished buildings, and we read about the features that make them green. We know about the importance of good insulation and reducing electrical loads and choosing efficient equipment. But what does it look like while it all goes together?

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Structural Bamboo

Dawn Killough — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:51:40 +0000

There is a new material touting itself as a structural element in the construction industry: bamboo. It has been used for years in Asian countries, and is now making its way to the western world. In fact, it has been certified by the ICC Evaluation Service to be a legitimate structural element.

Bamboo can be used in wall, roof, and floor trusses, or as individual studs. The poles generally range in size from 2 ¾” to 3 ¼” in diameter and 10 to 14 feet long, so they will easily fit into standard western construction. According to the ICC report, they can be used in Type V non-fire-resistance rated residential and commercial construction. In commercial construction use is limited to one story and a maximum floor area of 2000 square feet.

Bamboo makes an excellent substitute for traditional wood framing because of its rapid growth cycle. The largest species, timber bamboo, grows to a whopping 120 feet with a 13 inch diameter in just three years. The stalks can be cut, then left to grow again without replanting. Growing bamboo is good for the soil as well, as it deposits minerals into the ground, and serves to prevent erosion.

The down side of this new product is the cost of transportation. Currently the only bamboo certified for structural use comes from Vietnam and must be treated with borate. Bamboo can be grown in almost any climate, so costs could be reduced as more is grown in the U.S. Locally grown bamboo would also help sales of other bamboo products such as wood flooring and veneer.

To see a building in Mexico City build from structural bamboo, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomadic_Museum.

More on bamboo products: www.bambooliving.com

More information on structural bamboo: http://www.toolbase.org/Construction-Methods/Wood-Framing/structural-bamboo

To see the ICC Evaluation Service report, visit http://www.icc-es.org/

Low Impact Living: Are Geothermal Heat Pumps For You?

Low Impact Living — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:37:26 +0000

Over the past few months we’ve noticed quite a bit of interest in geothermal heating and cooling amongst our site visitors, and in particular in geothermal heat pumps. We’ve also had many questions from people about exactly what they are and how/if they should consider them as an eco-friendly heating/cooling option. If this describes you, then read on - these systems ARE incredibly promising technologies to heat and cool your home, but they’re also more complicated than your typical AC or furnace unit. We’ll try to help clear the air!

We get into quite a bit of detail below, but before you get into that here’s a very quick summary of geothermal heat pumps:

Geothermal (or ground source) heat pumps can be incredibly efficient, delivering 3-6x as much energy for heating and cooling as you use to power the equipment;
They are in some ways a renewable energy system, since they use the heat contained in the earth to provide heating / cooling;
They do require extensive installation work, including excavation or drilling to install subsurface pipes; and
They are more expensive than traditional heating/cooling equipment, but the payback period is less than five years almost everywhere in the country due to their greater efficiency.

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The Costs of Not Building Green

Joel Bittle — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:24:57 +0000

Despite the narrowing gap in cost between green building and traditional “to-code” building, most builders and home buyers still perceive the green option to be significantly more expensive. The reality is that due to increased builder education and an influx of affordable green building products, a building can be built green within the same budget as a non-green building. According to Clark Wilson, CEO of Austin based Green Builders, Inc., “It’s our job as builders to find those green products that don’t drive up the price of the home.” Rick Hunter of the St. Louis green building firm Sage Homebuilders agrees: “With proper planning and a little experience, building green, even certified green, can be done for about the same cost. We are building certified green homes at the highest levels of certification for less than 1% cost increase.“ For an informative breakdown on how green buildings cost from 0 to 2% more than non-green buildings, check out “The True Costs of Building Green” from the folks at Buildings.com.

Now that green building is an affordable option, it’s time to change the way we frame the affordability debate. Too long have supporters of green building been on the defensive, forced to justify the costs of building more energy efficient, healthier, more sustainable homes. Instead of focusing on the costs of making your building green, let’s talk about the costs of not building green.

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Low Impact Living: Green Condos in the West

Low Impact Living — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:34:42 +0000

A couple of weeks back we did a feature on the great trend of green condo developments taking off all over the country– and we covered many developments in the East and South. Click here to learn about Green Condos in the Eastern U.S.

A green condo can be a wonderful alternative for (the vast majority of) those of us who cannot afford to build a new green single-family home. We want sustainable design, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and so much more, but we can’t afford to build. Viola– the green condo!

This week we cover many of the excellent green condos available in the Western United States. There are so many to choose from it’s tough to pick just a selection to highlight here!

In the Los Angeles Area

Evo South is an exciting development in the heart of downtown LA. It is an urban tower of steel and glass– 23 stories with 311 residences. They are in the process of seeking LEED certification for the building. The units feature such eco-friendly elements as Bosch Energy Star appliances, low-flow water fixtures, Nature’s Choice carpeting and more.

If you prefer the beachy side of life, Green On 19 is a cool townhouse development in Santa Monica. These townhomes are the first of their kind in Santa Monica, and there are five units in the development. Architect Jesse Bornstein has integrated modern style, light and sustainability into his design. The units meet Energy Star New Home standards and feature solar power, bamboo and concrete floors, LED landscape lighting, xeriscape landscaping, and more.

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Cargo Shipping Containers are an International Salvage Resource

Kristin Dispenza — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:24:29 +0000

When we think of recycling in association with the construction industry, we generally focus on construction and demolition waste materials. Recycled content has become popular for certain building and finish materials, as well. But the Sienna Architecture Company is experimenting with recycling on a different scale for their project for the Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The sorority, an organization of two hundred and fifty college-educated women who are committed to public service, is expanding its June Key Delta House in North Portland.

In 1993, the sorority purchased an abandoned service station and, using volunteer labor, made it into a functional gathering space. Expanding the building will create additional meeting rooms, as well as areas for after school programs and daytime programming for senior citizens. The community center will serve as a demonstration project, using 50-70% recycled materials. In addition to using salvaged and recycled materials obtained from companies and businesses, the building will incorporate surplus metal cargo shipping containers into its structure. The Portland Office of Sustainable Development explains, “Once products are shipped across the ocean, the steel containers that keep materials safe are usually left behind at the port to be recycled or reused for other applications.” And according to literature made available from the sorority, “Metal cargo shipping containers are an international salvage source that can be used for environmentally sensible building materials.”

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Energy Efficiency Tops with Green Home Owners

Dawn Killough — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:50:51 +0000

“Greater energy efficiency drives consumers to choose a green-built home,” according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. With the cost of fuel skyrocketing, and consumers looking to fuel efficient cars to help at the pump, it is no surprise that they would also be looking for energy efficiency from their buildings.

According to the survey, which polled 800 registered voters about how important certain features would be in their decision to build a green home or remodel their current home to be more green, 64% said that energy efficiency would be the most important feature, the healthier environment of green homes came in second at 55%, and 49% percent believed it would be the right thing to do for the environment.

Home builders and designers who can provide energy efficient homes will have a better chance of surviving the recent housing slump. While general home sales are down, recent studies have shown that the sale of green homes is remaining steady. Green houses also tend to be worth more.

The one concern most consumers have is the cost of green homes. While tax credits and rebates help, home owners should be looking at the long term benefits of owning green. With lower energy and maintenance costs over time, the additional premium is worth it. Also, as technology and building techniques evolve, construction costs will come down.

In today’s volatile fuel market, energy efficient buildings are going to be all the rage, and delivering quality homes at a reasonable price will help many builders rise above the slumping market.

Low Impact Living: My Solar Hot Water Experience

Low Impact Living — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:40:11 +0000

Editor’s note: this piece has been contributed by guest blogger Kevin Hughes. Kevin was generous enough to share his own experience with installing a solar hot water system on his home. Thank you, Kevin!

I live in Los Angeles and I prefer the ugly one! Please don’t get me wrong, my wife is very beautiful, but when it comes to solar power, I prefer the ugly one.

Let me explain, for the past few years there has been huge interest in Solar Electricity (photovoltaic’s, PV, or solar panels), there are lots of incentives at both a state and federal level, there are often photo opportunities for politicians, gazing towards the future over a vast array or solar panels. But there are problems with this vision: solar electricity is expensive to purchase and install; it has a long pay back period; it converts sunlight to usable energy fairly inefficiently, and because of that, you need quite a lot of roof space or land to put up enough panels to power your home.

The ugly one that I prefer is solar thermal, specifically solar hot water, a much older technology. It is also much cheaper to install, much more efficient, and has a much faster pay back. It can even be a do-it-yourself project if you are reasonably handy. As for the payback, that’s easy: you don’t have to pay for 70-100% of your hot water heating costs, and with a clever tweak, you can save 10-15,000 gallons of water annually, and reduce your water and electricity costs.

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