News Room : Archives : April 2010

Solar Coalition Calls to Install Solar Panels on the White House

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

Some of you probably know that President Jimmy Carter installed an array of solar panels on the White House roof in 1979. You also may remember that they were unceremoniously removed in 1986 — about the same time that President Ronald Reagan allowed President Carter’s solar power tax credits to expire. Well, now a coalition of solar power companies led by Sungevity are calling on the American people to sign a petition to convince the Obama Administration to have a solar panel system permanently reinstalled on White House roof — one that would lower White House utility bills by 81%.

Sungevity and their coalition of solar companies are offering up a sweet energy deal to the President — they’ll install the entire system for free. In the event that he doesn’t want the freebie, they’re also offering to lease the system to the American Public for $537 per month with free maintenance and a full warranty. They’ve done the math and think the White House will require a 17.85 kW STC system. Including the monthly lease payment, the administration would save a whopping $1,610 in utility bills each month.

The Obama Administration has been offering tax incentives, rebates and programs to help the American public rely more on renewable energy in the last year, including yesterday’s “Retrofit Ramp Up” announcement. It’s about time they heed their own advice and get some clean green power on the most prominent of their structures. Powering the White House on the sun would not only save the country just over $19,000 in utility bills each year, but it would provide the most fitting example for the rest of us to follow suit.

Go to www.SolarOnTheWhiteHouse.com to sign the petition!

Original article by Brit Liggett, Inhabitat

Green Remodeling Workshops Coming to a Town Near You

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

Ever since the premier of USGBC’s two-day REGREEN workshop in Phoenix, AZ at Greenbuild last November, Annette, Rob, and I have been gearing up for a slew of green remodeling workshops across the country — the REGREEN Roadshow. The REGREEN workshops are a lot of fun to teach (and take) for two reasons: one, the blend of builder/remodeler with interior design perspectives is completely refreshing; and two, the substantial and substantive group work woven into the workshop makes for an energetic and invigorating approach. 

Now you might be saying to yourself: What? Interior designers and hard-core building science-builder types making sweet music together? You would be surprised at how well these perspectives can inform each other. Here is just one example: 

Your clients TELL you they want new replacement windows. But what they actually want is to keep the way their windows currently look, not spend too much, and get real performance improvements (in terms of energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and daylighting — without overheating during the summer). Whew. So you sit down with an interior designer, and all of the sudden you need to compare about a dozen options — sash replacements, window films, cellular shades, awnings, shutters — all with real (but different) advantages. What started as a rather simple choice ends up to be quite a puzzle, based on a weaving of sometimes competing aspects: energy efficiency, lighting, views, privacy, cost, comfort, even noise. It’s just as much about interior design as it is hard-core remodeling. 

Green remodeling is a really cool topic and REGREEN is a great approach to it. It’s definitely worth checking out the REGREEN Roadshow schedule. Although only Atlanta is up at this point, look for stops in places like Austin, Boston, Denver, New Orleans, San Francisco, and DC coming soon. 

GBA Representative Remodeling Projects: (The first two are featured case studies in the REGREEN workshop)
 

Original Post from Building Green.com

Simonton Products Can Now Be Ordered to Meet New 2010 Energy Star Guidelines

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – On January 4th, 2010 the Energy Star® program introduced new criteria to improve energy performance levels of windows and doors for all regions of the country. As an Energy Star partner for the past eleven years, Simonton Windows® is prepared for the changes and has introduced Energy Star zone-specific packages for each product the company produces.

“We have made sure that every Simonton product line has an Energy Star specific glass package that can be easily ordered for each of the four climate zones within the program,” says Tony Eschmeyer, senior product manager for Simonton Windows.

Named for each Energy Star climate zone, (Northern, North-Central, South-Central and Southern) Simonton’s new Energy Star glass packages provide the optimal balance of thermal efficiency and value. Each package is optimized for the particular product line and geographic zone in which the window or door will be installed. Selecting the right glass package is as simple as:

1. Specifying the Simonton windows and doors you want.

2. Stating that you want ENERGY STAR qualified products.

3. Indicating your climate zone.

The simplest way homeowners and building industry professionals can gain information on ordering 2010 Energy Star qualified Simonton vinyl windows and doors is by visiting www.Simonton.com/EnergyStar. “Our dedicated web site makes it fast and easy for people to gain information on Simonton Energy Star qualified products,” says Eschmeyer. “We even offer a free climate zone identifier list download (by U.S. county), along with Energy Star consumer brochures to assist homeowners, remodelers and builders.”

Simonton also supports the 2010 Energy Star guidelines and pending legislation that would tie them in with the current federal energy tax credit program underway through 2010. “Different areas of the country experience different weather extremes,” says Eschmeyer. “It makes sense that windows and doors should be constructed and rated to handle the unique weather conditions in northern climates versus the southern coastline.

“The 2010 Energy Star guidelines are a positive step toward designating energy performance levels for all regions of the country within the four-zone Energy Star map. At Simonton, we’re ready to supply top-quality windows and doors that meet the 2010 Energy Star guidelines no matter what region a person resides in throughout the country.”

Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. For the second year in a row, Simonton ranked “Highest in Builder and Remodeler Satisfaction among Residential Window and Patio Door Manufacturers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Builder and Remodeler Residential Window and Patio Door Satisfaction StudySM. Simonton was also ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best-In-Class Awards from Market Research Associates.

Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and security business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-winning products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States. For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.

Read the original here:
Simonton Products Can Now Be Ordered to Meet New 2010 Energy Star Guidelines

Recent Survey Suggests Brick is Siding Of Choice

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

I found the following suvey very interesting, because brick is very prevelent in the Atlanta market.  Using a life cycle costing approach on this type of exterior clading, it is clearly the top choice in the homes that I build. 

Roswell, Ga. (Dec. 18, 2009) – According to a recent survey conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Boral Bricks, 59 percent of all homeowners with a siding preference would choose brick for their homes. The study was commissioned by Boral Bricks, Inc. to determine current consumer preferences for siding.

The survey, conducted in October, asked participants which type of siding they prefer on a home. Possible answers included brick, vinyl, stucco, fiber cement/composite and other; participants were allowed to choose more than one option. For the 1,144 homeowners with a siding preference, brick was the leading choice with nearly two of every three respondents selecting it. Vinyl came in second (37 percent), followed by stucco (19 percent), fiber cement/composite (14 percent), and other (11 percent).

“This research shows brick is still the overwhelming choice for homeowners who have a say in their exterior cladding,” said Bob Kepford, president, Boral Bricks, Inc. “Coming out of the recession, homeowners will likely be in their homes longer than in recent years, and they should insist their builders use the most sustainable siding option to ensure it holds up to the elements. Brick has also proven to help homes increase in value, which is important with slower real estate appreciation expected in the future.”

According to U.S. Census data on siding for new homes, builders have increasingly opted for lap siding products over the last ten years. These products may provide more ease of installation; however, they don’t offer the consumer benefits homeowners appreciate with brick – including the fact that it is virtually maintenance free, extremely durable, locally sourced and sustainable.

Australia Has The Biggest Homes in the World

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Chart: CommSec

The recent discussion on the size of living space, both for New Yorkers and TreeHugger writers reminded me of a report out last month indicating that Australia has now overtaken the United States in the size of new homes. In figures obtained by CommSec (the country’s Australia’s largest discount stockbroking firm) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that “the average floor area of new homes hit a record high of 214.6 square metres (2,310 sq ft) in the last financial year.” Whereas, for the first time in decade American homes are apparently getting smaller, with new homes coming in at 201.5m2 (2,169 sq ft).

The ABC report CommSec’s chief economist Craig James saying, “Our newly built homes are 7 per cent bigger than those in the US, double the size of those in Europe, and triple the size of those in the UK.”

Table: Commsec. Photo: UK Housing by Warren McLaren / Inov8

It seems Australians weren’t content with just being the world’s largest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases. Being a competitive, sports-loving nation, we had to up the ante.

Interestingly though, the number of inhabitants appears to be rising. Back in 1911, when Australia completed its first Census there were 4.5 people in each house, but almost a century later this had nearly halved to 2.4 persons. Yet this might be now trending upwards with ABS estimates for 07-08 suggesting 2.56 persons per home.

Chart: CommSec.

Thoughts for such figures include that the population is getting older, younger generations are staying at home longer, and that people are moving house less, choosing instead to increase their existing homes. The Australian Reserve Bank, for instance, observed that “alterations & additions [...] now account for around half of all investment (spending) on dwellings.”

Referring again to the ABC article, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, Professor Stuart White, said, “The increased size of houses … [will] very often … increase the energy taken, sometimes also the water take of those houses so the environmental impact as well as the social impact.” He further suggests that many Australians aspire to larger housing as they are concerned about their status relative to the rest of the community.

According to Professor White urban sprawl results from the extra land required to accommodate larger house. This then puts pressure on public transport services and infrastructure.

So, if the housing trend continues, looks like we stand a good chance of also retaining that crown of world’s best carbon emitters. Oh, well, if the possible funding cut for Olympic athletes eventuates, maybe the nation can focus instesad on being world champion energy and land gluttons.

:: CommSec Housing market trends (PDF)

Original Post by Warren McLaren, Tree Hugger

Complaints about mold and bacteria in front-load washers

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

When you buy a new washing machine, you don’t expect it to stink up your house. But that seems to be a common problem for people who own high-efficiency front-loading washers.

Rae Lembersky of Seattle likes her front-loader. It saves water and electricity and gets the family’s clothes clean. But she hated the smell.

“Imagine that you’re in one of those movies where there’s a swamp monster and it’s that kind of swampy, musty, sort of yucky smell.”

“It just gives me the willies,” she says. “I don’t like the thought of mold in my washer.”

Desperate for relief, she hired technician Scott Wiseman to remove and replace the disgusting rubber gasket. Once he took the washer apart, Wiseman found mold inside the machine, too. The job cost $300.

“It’s a very common problem,” Wiseman tells me. “I get calls about this all the time.”

What’s going on here?
After a while, all washing machines can have some odor caused by mold, mildew or bacteria.  But the problem seems to be worse with front-loaders because they are designed differently from top-loaders.

Front-loaders are tightly sealed. Close the door after removing the laundry and any moisture inside the machine will be trapped inside. With a top-loader the water is more likely to evaporate.

Having the tub on its side, rather than up-and-down, can also create problems.

“Even after it spins everything out, there’s still going to be some water that ends up landing on the gasket. And water sitting on rubber is not a particularly good situation,” explains Consumer Reports deputy home editor Celia Kuperschmid Lehrman.

Consumer Reports subscribers from across the country have complained about smelly front-loaders. In fact, the editors have received so many complaints, they now warn about the problem when they review washers.

I contacted the appliance industry to find out what manufacturers think is causing the odor problem. In a statement, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers suggested one more contributing factor:

“Over time, changes have occurred in consumer laundry habits including the use of less bleach, more fabric softener, and more frequent cold water wash cycles. These habits may impact the accumulation of bio-film and other residues, increasing the potential odor, mold and mildew.”

When you buy a new washing machine, you don’t expect it to stink up your house. But that seems to be a common problem for people who own high-efficiency front-loading washers.

 Rae Lembersky of Seattle likes her front-loader. It saves water and electricity and gets the family’s clothes clean. But she hated the smell.

“Imagine that you’re in one of those movies where there’s a swamp monster and it’s that kind of swampy, musty, sort of yucky smell.”

Lembersky could see what was causing the stink. She found “black, gooey, slimy stuff” growing inside the rubber gasket which goes around the glass window on the washer door. That was quite a surprise because she regularly cleans the machine and runs loads with bleach and hot water.

“It just gives me the willies,” she says. “I don’t like the thought of mold in my washer.”

Desperate for relief, she hired technician Scott Wiseman to remove and replace the disgusting rubber gasket. Once he took the washer apart, Wiseman found mold inside the machine, too. The job cost $300.

“It’s a very common problem,” Wiseman tells me. “I get calls about this all the time.”

What’s going on here?
After a while, all washing machines can have some odor caused by mold, mildew or bacteria.  But the problem seems to be worse with front-loaders because they are designed differently from top-loaders.

Front-loaders are tightly sealed. Close the door after removing the laundry and any moisture inside the machine will be trapped inside. With a top-loader the water is more likely to evaporate.

Having the tub on its side, rather than up-and-down, can also create problems.

“Even after it spins everything out, there’s still going to be some water that ends up landing on the gasket. And water sitting on rubber is not a particularly good situation,” explains Consumer Reports deputy home editor Celia Kuperschmid Lehrman.

Consumer Reports subscribers from across the country have complained about smelly front-loaders. In fact, the editors have received so many complaints, they now warn about the problem when they review washers.

I contacted the appliance industry to find out what manufacturers think is causing the odor problem. In a statement, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers suggested one more contributing factor:

“Over time, changes have occurred in consumer laundry habits including the use of less bleach, more fabric softener, and more frequent cold water wash cycles. These habits may impact the accumulation of bio-film and other residues, increasing the potential odor, mold and mildew.”

Original post by Herb Weisbaum, MSNBC news

How to use solar power without installing a solar panel

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Photo courtesy of London Permaculture

Under new Federal laws, you can get tax credits for 30% of most solar panel installations. Some states have additional incentives, and many utilities are also encouraging customers to install solar panels so that they don’t have to build new coal power plants.

Even with these incentives, photovoltaic panels are pricey. In these tough economic times, it’s important to remember that there are many other ways to take advantage of energy from the sun. Here are a few low-cost options:

Install a solar water heater – Passive solar systems cost a fraction of what solar panels cost and they are much more efficient at heating water (because they generate heat directly, without the need for inverters or battery storage of energy). Solar water heaters are also eligible for a 30% tax credit, the same amount that photovoltaic panels can earn. There are many different designs for solar water heaters, and some are more suitable for different parts of the country.

Use a clothesline – For the cost of a sturdy rope and some clothespins, you can unplug your electric clothes dryer. Even on a cool day, a gentle breeze will suck the moisture out of clothes. Clothes that are dried on a clothesline last longer (there’s less wear and tear from tumbling in the dryer), they smell better, and they’re naturally sterilized by UV light from the sun. Switching to a clothesline can cut your electric bill by 10-15%.

Turn out the lights – When the sun is shining, there’s no reason to keep the curtains closed. Instead of using a couple of hundred watts of electricity to power lightbulbs, turn off those lights and let the sunlight in! If Peeping Toms are a worry in your neighborhood, install slats or polarized window coverings for privacy. These window treatments will also filter out UV light and reduce carpet fading. Or, you can plant a window box full of kitchen herbs and obscure the view with tall plants while still letting in natural light.

Build to take advantage of the sun – When drawing blueprints or choosing a place to live, remember that a building’s layout can make a major difference in the amount of air conditioning and heating that’s needed. One thing to consider is orientation – building short walls on the east and west sides reduces the surface area that’s exposed to early morning and late evening sunlight. Another thing to consider is solar massing – using thick, heat absorbent materials like adobe can insulate a building against hot weather during the day and cold weather during the night, cutting heating costs by up to 65%.

Use trees – Trees provide wonderful natural shade, and they also capture solar energy the old fashioned way, by converting sunshine into firewood. Tree choices can also complement the way that buildings capture sunlight in the winter and block sunlight in the summer. One popular landscaping choice is to plant deciduous trees on the east and west sides of a building. That way, the leafy trees block sunlight in the summer (when leaves are full) and let sunlight through in the winter (after the leaves fall off).

Try a solar cooker – Sunlight is a great way to boil water and cook food. It’s easy to focus sunshine with collectors, and simple solar cookers can be made for less than $15 using just about anything and aluminum foil. Here are instructions for making a solar cooker out of a used pizza box. There are compact solar cookers tailor made for camping and larger models suitable for crock pot cooking.

In many developing countries and off-grid locations, solar cookers are reducing indoor air pollution by replacing firewood, charcoal, propane, and other fuel sources. These solar cookers can save thousands of lives each year, while also reducing deforestation and reducing conflict over limited resources. Since sunlight is free, solar cookers drastically cut the cost of boiling water for sanitation purposes. If you want to take advantage of sunlight without buying a solar panel, here’s a great recipe for Solar Baked Brownies!

Photo courtesy of AIDG