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53 of the Best Green Building Products

June 8, 2009 in Green Building by Jennifer | No comments

Each year Building Products assembles an annual Top 100 list, which ranks products that the most readers of Building Products, Custom Home, Builder, and Remodeling requested more information about via the reader service cards found in each issue. This year was extra cool because of the top 100 products, over half were green. The list includes top picks for items like solar panels, tankless water heaters, and other resource-efficient materials.

Some of the specific cool picks include:

  • Ready Solar. A prefab, modular solar electric system with frame mounting, that’s a good alternative to custom (and expensive) photovoltaic systems. Plus this pre-assembled solar system can be customized and is compatible with any roof surface.
  • Lighting Science Group. Edison-based LED lamps that fit into traditional recessed cans and other sockets, plus come in various shades of white, and last longer than incandescents, halogens, and CFLs.
  • GE tankless water heater. Tankless gas water heaters that are smaller than most making them ideal for small spaces, such as attics and closets. Two flow rates and up to 25% savings on water-heating costs annually.
  • IceStone. IceStone indoor and outdoor surfaces, made with 100% recycled glass in a cement matrix, and come in twenty-seven standard colors.
  • Universal Forest Products. A white, wireless, sun-powered light that can be used to accent deck posts and fence posts with ambient lighting.

This list is a great way to catch up on what’s hot in green building and green home additions. See the entire list of 53 top green building products at Ecohome.

Cons of Building or Buying a New Green Home

May 21, 2009 in Green Building by Jennifer | No comments

This month we’ve been sorting out which is better: remodeling green or buying or building a new green home. So far we’ve looked at…

Today the last part of our series – the cons of building or buying new. However, stay tuned because soon I’ll post some resources that will help you out, no matter your final decision.

CONS OF BUILDING OR BUYING A NEW GREEN HOME:

The obvious first con of going with a new green home is cost. Green homes can cost more at the start than conventional. In the long run a green home will save you money, but start-up costs can stop some people cold. According to CNN Money, if you went as green as possible, a green home might cost you 20-30% more than a traditional home, but don’t forget there are shades of green in-between as well. You’ll also get tax credits. Green Prefab can also be an affordable way to build or buy green.

Side note: I built a green home and the costs were not more than a traditional home – but keep in mind that we built small as well (also a green feature). Additionally a piece at Ecomii notes that green costing more is a myth. According to this piece; “The chief complaint most people have with green building is cost… This is not true — but it’s a common misconception promoted by ignorant architects and contractors who are afraid of building in a different way. Good architects and contractors know how to save their clients money. The client sets the budget, and a project should come in at or below that budget. With a clear direction of budget, there is no reason you can’t build a green building for the same price as, or less than, a traditional building.” Read more.

OTHER CONS:

Read the rest of this entry »

Is There an Ideal Sustainable Home?

January 30, 2009 in Sustainable Building by Jennifer | No comments

Sustainable housing is not a new idea, but there are many different ideas surrounding the term sustainable building, some of them always changing (think LEED). People have varied sustainable plans when designing a house, but in reality you can narrow sustainability down to some basic ideas.

The best sustainable housing is…

Sustainable at each level. From choosing a site and clearing the land. Your choice of materials and your building ethics (i.e. recycling waste). Your energy system and landscaping. At each level of the planning and building process there are sustainable aspects you can consider.

A sustainable home has a light footprint and takes up less space. You can sort of build a green McMansion but that majorly defeats the true purpose of sustainable design.

The best sustainable materials are locally acquired, efficient, and recyclable. You can go further by choosing materials that have been reclaimed and by using only what you need. For example, two sinks in the bath, may be overkill.

Sustainable housing requires less fuel to heat or cool and maximizes natural vs. non-renewable resources for energy. Wind, solar, proper landscaping, window quality, and more are all ideas surrounding sustainable energy for housing.

Sustainable housing makes the most of water use with things like water efficient appliances, rainwater systems, and low-water landscaping.

Interior design is also a consideration. Non-toxic paints, clean air techniques, reclaimed floors, sustainable furniture, and more all contribute to overall sustainable design.

In my opinion, sustainable design also adds to the land integrity instead of claiming aesthetics from said land. This is not an across the board idea, but it makes little sense to overtake nature with design.

To learn more about sustainable design read:

News Worth A Read – Remodeled LEED Rating System

December 9, 2008 in Green Building by Jennifer | No comments

In case you missed it, a couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Green Building Council voted on the revised LEED 2009 standard. The new standards will incorporate “More than eight years of feedback from architects, developers and building materials manufacturers.”

I think this puts LEED in a better position now. It’s been tough, with green standards all over the place, and no long term feedback. The new standards will hopefully highlight what architects and designers have learned about green building over the last decade.

According to ENN, “Key changes to LEED include higher baseline requirements for reducing energy use, language that addresses mixed-use projects, and expanded options for using roof materials that reduce the urban heat-island effect.”

Read the whole story: Revamped LEED ratings emphasize climate, energy conservation

Where To Find New Green Homes for Sale

October 3, 2008 in Green Your Home, Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 3 comments

If you’re looking to buy a new or existing green home, rather than build or remodel green, it can seem frustrating. As mainstream as green living has become, there’s still not a ton of publicity about green homes and where to find them. Still, with the right help, you can find what you’re looking for.

A really fun way to find green homes is to take part in one of the many green home shows or tours popping up all over the country. Not all states have green home shows or tours, but many do. At a green home show, you can meet builders and merchants of green homes and green home goods. If you attend a green home tour it’s even more fun, because you get to see some beautiful homes and learn about green home options. Check with your local chamber to learn about green home events in your area.

For an eclectic collection of killer green homes for sale visit Green Homes for Sale. This is one of my favorite drool worthy sites on the web. You can search by location (U.S. (all the states), Canada, Nicaragua  and Puerto Rico), ID number, or watch fun slide shows. These are lovely homes and stats about their green attributes are listed.

Look for green communities in your area. Usually these are all new developments in a walkable area and green spaces. One downside of green communities is that the homes tend to be clustered closely together, but there are still perks, like energy savings and non-toxic materials.

Other ways to find a green home to purchase include:

Questions for A Green Home Remodel

September 29, 2008 in Sustainable Building by Jennifer | 1 comment

If you’re thinking of a green remodel for your house, there are some basic questions to consider.

General home questions:

What don’t you like about your current home?

What do you adore about your current home?

Do you have enough space? Too much space?

How efficient is your current insulation solution – is your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer without having to use huge energy drains?

Is there mold in your home? Other problems? Before a remodel, you do need to plan for the costs of taking care of current problematic issues.

What sort of alternative energy options appeal to you – how much work are you willing to put into alternative energy upkeep?

Window questions:

How much natural light does each room receive?

Is energy efficient glass used for all your windows?

Is it even feasible to change window placement if you choose – can skylights or solar lighting be implemented?

Are windows properly placed with roof overhang, or other sun blockers?

Outdoor living:

How can you bring more of the outside environment indoors?

Can you green renovate your landscaping during your remodel?

Money issues:

How much can you afford to spend on green renovations?

How are you spending now on utilities?

Will green renovations cost as much to build a new green home or relocate to a green home? If so, which choice is best for you?

How much money will green renovations save you in the long run – and how long until you recoup your costs.

What eco-benefits will a green remodel have and does that increase the worth of the remodel to you?

This is just a start. These questions will get you thinking, but the best thing to do if you’re considering a remodel is to speak with a green remodeling professional or a builder who has green know-how.