Hemp can make a cement-like substance that is stronger & lighter than traditional cement.

This new handbook provides a detailed reference for environmentally concerned purchasers of building products, Invaluable for the speifier, this handbook will be useful to all interested in finding greener ways of designing and building.

List Price: $ 99.95

Price: $ 68.08

By David Leonhardt and Corey Rozon

The environment is in the media daily, from the Kyoto Protocol, Global Warming to the icecaps melting. If things don’t change soon, the future looks bleak, if you listen to the experts.

What no one seems to be discussing is the advancements in the construction and industrial sectors, namely the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

“LEED certification will provide challenges to the industry including the need to ensure an understanding of a new generation of materials properties and developing the practices and processes needed to ensure specifications and finished products meet the standards of green building. I am especially exited to be part of this process and in making a contribution towards shaping new building technologies.” Ken Moscrip, President of Paramount Roll and Forming – one of Southern California’s most prominent metal rolling companies.

Consisting of a clear set of environmental performance criteria organized into six categories, the Canadian version of LEED, which is very similar to the USGBC version, is listed below:

Sustainable Sites

Water Efficiency

Energy and Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Innovation in Design

“Building Green is not a new thing it is the right thing, and we always strive to use the most environmentally neutral building practices and materials. However, construction debris is always an issue, by ordering what we need and using it when we need it, it has helped us to divert as much as possible from the local landfill. There are tradeoffs which we all must take, however protection of our future and wise stewardship of our planet must be one of our utmost priorities.” Justin Linden, President of ServiceBlocks Inc – a home renovations company in Ottawa, Canada.

Benefits of Building Green

Sustainable buildings considerably lower operating and maintenance costs, and these financial benefits are realized over the life of the building:

Reduced energy costs

Reduced water usage

Reduction in resource consumption

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

For the construction industry, building green will continue to grow in importance, whether it is because of consumer demand, regulatory requirements, or the cost of energy.

“The LEED process guides designers and builders to make technically superior decisions in a manner that is environmentally responsible. By embracing this process, they are showing commitment to their clients, their profession and the world community at large. It allows them to provide the best design solution for both the owner and the environment.” Vipul Acharya, Durisol Building Systems Inc., a leader in ICF green building materials.

For further information on LEED certification contact:

In Canada – Canada Green Building Council www.cagbc.org

In United States – U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org

The best way to demonstrate that a building is “green” is by achieving LEED certification.

Given the new emphasis placed on environmental issues, sustainable design is becoming increasingly important. LEED is at the forefront of the environmental industry, and can also be used as an excellent marketing tool. LEED can easily be incorporated into the environmental design of buildings themselves, from residential and commercial industry right down to industrial practices.

With high electricity bills and concerns for the environment, many people look for alternative sources of energy. One of the most popular and easy to install is a wind generator.
But how do wind turbines work?

The process is quite simple, really, and looks a lot like the old grain windmills with, of course, a lot of technology advances added over the years. The basic process on how wind turbines work goes like this:

the wind blowing moves the blades the blades turning move a rotational shaft the energy produced goes to a generator to turn it into electricity the DC electricity is then stored in batteries a cable drives it to a DC/AC inverter so you can use it for your AC appliances

As you can see, it’s an easy process, which is a reason why so many people have had no difficulty in building their own wind generators with a basic understanding on how do wind turbines work.

Nevertheless, before starting on your wind generator project, here is some information you might find useful.

First, keep in mind that it is a good thing to verify different locations where you’re planning to install your wind turbine(s). Checking the strength of the wind and its direction will allow you to find the best and most efficient location for you.

Also, it might be beneficial to get this information at different heights, as the wind blows usually stronger on higher grounds. It’s pretty easy to adjust the size of the pole holding the wind turbine to fit what suits you best.

Keep in mind that, depending on where you live, the Government might allow grants or some type of tax benefits to people building alternative sources of energy. Making some research on the subject might enable you to build your wind turbines at a fraction of the cost and is well worth the effort of looking for information on the subject. Oh, and look for the information yourself; don’t rely only on a friend or neighbor telling you about it, as he might have been misinformed.

Finally, know that a basic knowledge on how do wind turbines work is almost all you need to get started. And the good news is that many DIY kits are available, explaining you in detail how to proceed to build your own wind turbine, making the project easier to do than ever.

A word of caution, however: not all guides are created equal. In order to save you time and money, it’s a good idea to check some reviews made by professionals and consumers alike. It’ll make the experience much more agreeable, knowing you’ve chosen the best guide available. So get started today, and you’ll find yourself looking forward receiving your electricity bill with a broad smile!

The latest trend in building, both residential and commercial, is green construction.  Earth friendly, sustainable construction is being hailed as the way of the future.  Major changes in the way buildings are constructed as well as in the materials used are becoming a priority for many people.

Green homes can be vastly different from traditional homes.  Several trends have become industry standard and are helping make the homes more energy efficient and healthier.  Here are a few of the major features you are likely to find in a green building.

Steel frames, which are stronger and more sustainable than wood are replacing the traditional wood framed models.  Steel is also impervious to mold, making it a healthier choice.

Heating and air conditioning systems are now coming with HEPA filters installed.  The filters can reduce many of the allergens found in our homes.

Special energy efficient windows have greatly reduced the amount of air exchange, making the homes easier to heat and cool.  These windows also block out UV rays.

Kitchen and bathroom sinks are being fitted with filters, purifying municipal water supplies that are dropping in purity.

Traditional carpeting and vinyl flooring is being replaced with ceramic tiles or hardwood flooring.  Carpets are notorious for their off gassing and are extremely difficult to keep clean.

A green house can be slightly more expensive during initial construction, but the energy savings can make up for the costs rapidly.  Long term benefits make the homes appealing to many people.

If you currently have a home and aren’t planning on building a new one, there are several improvements you can make on your current home to make it greener and more efficient.  Here are some of the most popular.

Cotton insulation can be installed in place of traditional fiberglass types.  Cotton is just as effective but much safer and more Earth friendly.

If you must replace your roof, opt for redwood shingles that are reclaimed from old lumber.  These shingles prevent the destruction of thousands of trees each year and are beautiful.

Traditional smoke detectors use radioactive materials which are certainly not Earth friendly.  New models avoid these impossible to dispose of isotopes.

Improve your home’s air quality by replacing ordinary heating and air conditioning filters with HEPA filters.

When it comes time to replace that old, dirty carpet, replace it with ceramic tiles.  These are the trend in modern design and are much healthier, especially for those who suffer from allergies.

The green movement is here to stay.  Even if you aren’t overly concerned about global warming, the health benefits gained from modern construction methods can make green right for you.

Hemp Construction Info: www.Hempcrete.ca Green News & PR www.Hempr.com

The USGBC recently held a competition for the design of an affordable, single-family house with between 720 and 880 square feet that meets the requirements of LEED Platinum certification.  Local chapters chose 49 designs and a national jury picked two professional finalists and two student finalists.  These four designs will be built in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans by enviRenew.

The Little Easy (Emerging Professional)

The Little Easy was designed by FreeGreen.com and ZeroEnergy Design for an elderly resident on a fixed income. The energy-efficient home features and open kitchen and living room, a chair lift and spacious front patio, and rainwater harvesting for the vertical garden and planter beds.

RAMPed UP (Emerging Professional)

The RAMPed UP house was designed by a team from Buro Happold Consulting Engineers and Rogers Marvel Architects. The home features a rainscreen facade, building integrated shades, and several elements aimed at accessibility.

E.A.S.Y. House (Student Team)

The E.A.S.Y. House – Efficiency, Accessibility, Safety, You – was designed by a single Carnegie Mellon architecture student, Wuijoon Ha. The home features operable skylights, a green roof, and a wheelchair lift.

Greenboy Design (Student Team)

The Greenboy Design was designed by a team from the University of Hawaii and features a side entry that splits the home on each side and a design that incorporates passive ventilation.

[+] More on the USGBC 2010 Natural Talent Design Competition.

Images via Open Architecture Network.

Jetson Green

Building a better than zero carbon house with industrial hemp. More on hemp may be found at www.hemp.co.uk Hemcrete is one of many excellent ways of using the industrial hemp crop for positive uses. Please, sit back and enjoy!

In a move that combines California environmentalism with aid to communities in need, the state has taken .2 billion from the California Solar Initiative (CSI) to fund solar panels on low-income housing.

Through a program called MASH, for Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing, the city of San Diego aims to make solar energy so ubiquitous that it’s even found on the homes and apartments where the city’s poorest live.

This 2010 award, the first to use virtual net metering, put 96 solar panels on the roof of the Hacienda Townhomes, an apartment complex in the heart of downtown San Diego in the East Village, east of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Until the late 1990s, the East Village was mostly warehouses and vacant lots. Then came a wave of gentrification that brought in families but failed to eradicate the dive bars and drug addicts. The Hacienda complex is adjacent to an intersection known locally as “Crack Alley.”

Not the ideal place to live, perhaps, but to the tenants of Hacienda, who call the place home, the solar panels – which will reduce carbon emissions by 595 tons and deliver 34.7 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity – spell the same kind of “greening” as in the luxurious La Jolla development to the northeast.

But the affordable solar train won’t stop there. As the New York Times reported, MASH plans to spend 8 million, or about 3 percent of the .2 billion allocated under the CSI, to put solar panels on other low-income communities across the state. The goal is to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 33 percent renewable-energy sources like solar and wind by 2020 – a mandate directed at the state’s utilities.

For the residents of Hacienda, it’s a little slice of an eco-friendly pie that detractors (like consumer watchdog group Utility Reform Network) say has benefited the wealthy and completely bypassed the poor. It has also cut one resident’s electric bill from to , which may be a pittance to the wealthy but represents needed medications or milk for children to the poor.

Administered by local utilities Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison, and by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, this uniquely Californian MASHup provides funding at two levels: Track 1, for fixed solar energy rebates (.30 per watt); and Track 2, a competitive award process that offers variable rates.

In 2009, MASH’s Track 2 funding went to install solar panels at the Las Serenas affordable housing development. The 63-kilowatt (kW) solar array saves tenants more than 0 on their yearly energy costs by reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid.

Photos via Flickr CC: Bruce & Port of San Diego

Solar Power Digest

Dave Brach, architect of the first Passive House in Utah, and Benchmark Modern, builder of this modern LEED home, are working on a new project in Park City called Zevon.  The home, which is under construction right now, is being built – for the most part – to Passive House standards and will seek LEED Platinum certification when completed.

Specifically, Zevon should meet the airtightness, cooling demand, and total energy demand requirements of Passive House, though it will come up a little short on the heat demand requirements, according to Grassroots Modern.

I had the opportunity to talk to Garth Hare of Benchmark Modern about the project and got the feeling Zevon is on the cutting edge.  The Sungazing House, also in Park City, is seeking both Passive House and LEED Platinum certification, so these two homes, Zevon and Sungazing, should make for some interesting talk in the area.

So far, we know Zevon will have Warmboard radiant heating, a Zehnder heat recovery ventilator, and some ultra-efficient windows.  Below is a link to Benchmark Modern’s blog documenting construction progress, if you’re interested in more detail.

[+] Follow construction progress via Benchmark Modern.

Credits: Brach Design.

Jetson Green