“Green Building” can mean more than just building environmentally-friendly or energy-efficient structures – clean energy and green techniques can also be used during the construction process itself. This videos show how 150 construction workers in Binghamton, New York are on the job without a single conventional generator in use. Instead, their entire project is powered by wind and solar energy systems. Needless to say, the final products of their work will be energy efficient as well.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• Straw Bale Construction (0)
• Solar Energy Payback (0)
• Las Vegas to Promote Green Building? (0)

The following are related sites that you might find interesting and useful. If you have a related website or blog which you think would provide useful information to our readers, please contact us and let us know if you’d like to exchange links.

Frugal Zeitgeist – Frugal and resourceful living.

Environmental Blogs - Blogs at Action Spark provide comprehensive information on environmental sustainable development.

Effective Survival – Homesteading, self sufficiency, emergency preparedness, and natural living.

Source and Resource – Green and sustainable living with optimum uses of existing resources.

Green Gadget – News and information on the latest in green and eco-friendly gadgets and equipment.

The Green Bean Blog – Green and nontoxic living for the home and family.

Nontoxic Living – Chemical-free and healthy lifestyles, for a better future.

San Diego Solar Installer – Solaria Energy Systems helps reduce or even eliminate the need for outside energy resources for people in San Diego and all over Southern California using its Solar installations.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• Las Vegas to Promote Green Building? (0)
• Battery Park City: Leading the way with LEED (0)
• Introducing the i-house. Thank you Warren Buffet. (0)

You already know why utilizing solar energy to power your home is an awesome decision:  it reduces the need for nonrenewable oil, diminishes greenhouse gas pollutants, and ultimately puts money in your pocket by not being dependent on the utility provider.

Unfortunately, solar panels are like hybrid vehicles: right now most owners are those who have dispensible income and and a concern about the environment.  Installing a photovoltaic system (in Greek, “photo” means sun and voltaic refers to power) for the eventual monetary gains is usually not the primary reason people go solar—for most people its more about the environment than anything.   The average time period for making back the money you put into the installation is about 10 years, depending on the system size and the state you live in.

But here’s the key:  right now most states have incredible public incentive programs that you should absolutely take advantage of.  Federal stimulus money has boosted these programs, yet the real spur is the changing attitude among planners and politicians who finally see the need for a renewable energy future.  States are drafting plans that mandate the use of a certain percentage of renewable energy within the next five or ten years and there is real momentum in the political arena to encourage citizens to install photovoltaic systems on their homes.

In New York State, for example, the NYS Research and Development Authority is responsible for administering funds to homeowners, businesses, and municipalities.  If your application is accepted (which in most cases is almost guaranteed), then your incentive package can cover up to 50% of your total installation cost.  On top of that, you can get up to $5,000 in federal tax credits!  Municipalities and non-profits have slightly better incentives than homeowners and businesses, yet they are all quite substantial.

What are the limitations for solar incentives from NYSERDA?   For residential applications, you cannot get funding for any system larger than 10 kw.   That’s okay though, since the average American home doesn’t usually require a system much bigger than that.

But should you procure a system that covers your buildings entire energy load?  That depends.  You must have enough available roof space with no shading issues.  However, you can always get a ground mount if you have ample space in your yard.  It is more economically and environmentally effective to go for the larger system, but keep in mind your incentives probably have a cap.

One reason that homeowners might choose to install a system that covers their whole load and then some, is that you can sell back excess energy to the grid.  That’s right, with net metering, if you generate more than you use, the utility company pays you.   In most cases, you cannot have a grid-tied system that produces more than 110% of your load, so the utility does have some discretion.

A few more reasons to take advantage of such incentives: You will rarely have to maintain or clean your panels (maybe once a year, or if they’re accessible in the winter to brush off the snow) and most come with at least a 30 year warranty. They’re virtually indestructible.   The only cost to you is the initial installation price, which varies but on average is in the $10,000 to $50,000 range for an average homeowner.  Remember, with state and federal incentives, that number can be cut in half.  Incentive money does run out, so plan accordingly.  Solar installation is easier than every before and is on its way to becoming mainstream as people recognize the benefits.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• The US-China Clean Energy Research Center (0)
• The Net Zero Energy Home (3)
• Biomimicry Lets Nature Take the Lead (2)

Maximizing energy efficiency starts with large south-facing windows, which help to naturally heat your home in the winter and keep it cool in the summer.    Also known as passive solar design, this is a key element in new homes that are working towards zero carbon emissions. Natural sunlight controls temperatures and also reduces your building’s lighting requirements and can therefore cut back on your electricity bill.

But what if you have an existing non-south-facing home and you want similar effects?

While retrofitting existing buildings to utilize passive solar design tends to be difficult, there are some easy ways to capitalize on small changes.

• When possible, retrofit your home with skylights to allow natural light to penetrate.
• Replace your existing windows with double-paned glass.  This prevents heat loss during the winter and keeps out the heat during the summer.
• To keep your home cool during summer months, install awnings or low-emissivity blinds over windows.
• Plant deciduous trees on the southern and western sides of your home.   They’ll shield the sun in the summer, and with the loss of leaves in the fall and winter will still allow light to access your windows.
• Really take advantage of the sun:  install a solar hot water system to heat your hydraulic radiant floor!

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• The Net Zero Energy Home (3)
• Can the average person really afford to build green? (0)
• Should I Use Earthen Plaster: the Pros and Cons (0)

Trying to figure out how to heat your house without wasting energy? Try installing direct heat beneath the floorboards or in the wall panels.  Known as radiant heat due to its transmission of thermal energy from one object to another (i.e. heat flows from the floor directly to objects and people), this type of system is more efficient than traditional baseboard heating since much less heat energy is lost in the piping system.  The other environmental advantage of radiant heat is that it is often electrical or hydraulic, meaning that it is possible to use solar and wind generation to supply the energy.  No fuel burning necessary.

This method of heating usually involves pipes or coils in rows directly beneath the floor.  Of the three basic types of radiant heating systems (air, electric, and hydraulic), the hydraulic seems to be the most economically justifiable.  They are usually cheapest to install.   Moreover, water is thousands of times more efficient as a conductor than air is.  Make sure not to use copper piping, though.  PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) tubing is a much better alternative due to its high insulating qualities.   Install a solar hot water heating system on your roof to power your radiant heating, and you can reduce your energy usage even more.

Installing a radiant heating system can help qualify you for LEED credits for your new home or remodeling.   The Radiant Panel Association has been working with the US Green Building Council and National Association of Home Builders to promote the connection between energy efficiency, economics and the environment.   Besides increased efficiency, radiant heating systems also may reduce the materials needed for traditional ducts.   The Association also notes that people with severe allergies have a more comfortable lifestyle with radiant heating since there is no air coming out of ducts into your living spaces.

Efficiency is awesome.  Especially when it involves renewable energy.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• The Net Zero Energy Home (3)
• Sustainable Suite Design Competition (0)
• Soybeans for your Home? Bio-based Insulation (1)

Thinking of the sprawling, materialistic metropolis of Las Vegas can send shivers up the spine of any environmental advocate: excessive water use, unsustainable urban planning, and unnatural buildings in the middle of a desert.  Over 50 green, manicured golf courses in an area that shouldn’t have one.  The ostentatious display of water flowing in monumental fountains, combined with a car-dependent population and enormous energy inefficient buildings, will leave anyone doubtful of sustainable developments in the building sector any time soon.

Yet new legislation is being considered in Las Vegas that will jumpstart the green building movement.  At least we hope.  As of March 2009, the debate continues over increasing tax credits for sustainable buildings throughout the state.  The outcome looks good, as stimulus funding is flowing from the federal government to jumpstart the green economy.    What’s more, the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0 was held in Las Vegas this past Monday, August 10th, a sign that things might be changing in this desert oasis.

Meanwhile, some developers have decided to take matters into their own hands by creating a 62- acre “eco-development.”   Spearheaded by MGM, the city’s new CityCenter is expected to be complete by the end of this year and perhaps become the nation’s largest LEED-certified project.  There is talk of other developers following suit.

The developers hope to reduce utility bills, decrease energy use, and foster a healthier environment for guests and employees.

The increased attention being paid to Las Vegas as a potential center for environmental leadership will help make green building mainstream.  While Nevada may lack water, it certainly does not lack sun.   As the National Clean Energy Summit leaders remarked, “Nevada has abundant clean energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and efficiency technologies that could be developed to meet its future energy needs. The question is whether Nevadans—and all Americans—will shift to a clean energy economy.”

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• Soybeans for your Home? Bio-based Insulation (1)
• EPA is slowly figuring it out. (0)
• Sustainable Suite Design Competition (0)

When it’s time to replace flooring, think outside the big box stores.  Sustainable flooring is both durable and beautiful.

Cork
Cork is made from the peeled bark of Cork Oak trees, which can be sustainably harvested every nine years without harming the tree.  It is naturally resistant to fire, insects, and microbes.  Cork is available in snap-together floating floor systems or adhered tile.  Showercork is made from ¼” slices of wine cork adhered to a paper backing.  It’s designed to be grouted in place and then coated with urethane finish, so it’s especially appropriate for wet areas.   Cork flooring is foot-friendly, sound-dampening, and durable.

Earthen Floors
Earthen flooring is earth mixed with fibers, compacted by hand and trowel, and then coated with a natural sealant like hemp or linseed oil.  Very high traffic areas may require a flagstone inset.  Earthen floors are durable, easily repaired, and kind to feet.  Because they are made primarily with materials straight from the building site, their resource impact is near zero.  Earthen floors are most often installed over a bed of gravel, but they can be even be layered on top of pre-existing flooring such as concrete or wood, as long as the structure can support the weight of the earth.  Because of their high thermal mass, they are ideal for the passive solar home.

Linoleum
Natural linoleum is a sustainable alternative to vinyl flooring and requires little maintenance apart from regular sweeping and mopping.  A linoleum floor will last 30-40 years, compared to 10-20 years for vinyl flooring.  At the end of its lifespan, it is fully biodegradable.  Marmoleum, the most popular brand of linoleum, is made of linseed oil from flaxseeds, rosin from pine trees, wood and cork flours, limestone, metal-free pigments, and jute, in a waste-free process.  Natural linoleum is available in a rainbow of colors in sheet, tile, or click-style flooring.

Local, Sustainably Harvested or Reclaimed Wood
Want a wood floor?  First check with local green builders, who may know locals harvesting their wood sustainably.  A local builder may also know sources of reclaimed materials close to home.  If you’re looking for a rustic look, try aged wood from barns.  Reclaimed wood tells a story, whether it’s maple from a factory floor or flooring from an old bowling alley.  Very often, the same dealers who sell reclaimed wood also sell sustainably harvested wood.   Forest Stewardship Council certification gives you a starting point for learning about how wood is harvested, although there is the predictable controversy about whether or not their standards are stringent enough.

Bamboo

Bamboo’s advantage over

wood is its fast renewability.  It is a grass ready for harvest within three to six years that regenerates without replanting and requires little chemical input.  However, due to the recent popularity of bamboo,

corporations are clearing forests in China to plant it.   Monocrops of bamboo decrease biodiversity and increase erosion in these clearcut areas.  The more industrial bamboo farming becomes, the more chemicals are used to manage the crops.  The lesson here is that not all bamboo is created equal.  Look for companies like Teragren, who explicitly detail their commitment to sustainability.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• DIY at White Hawk Ecovillage (0)
• The Net Zero Energy Home (3)
• Las Vegas to Promote Green Building? (0)

Cob is an ancient building technology being rediscovered for today’s green home.  A gob is a clump of dirt and fiber that can be tossed from builder to builder on a cob work site.  If throwing mud isn’t enough, try squishing it between your toes.  Cob is traditionally made by mixing sand, clay, straw, and water with bare feet in a labor-intensive yet rewarding process for the do-it-yourselfer.

Building with cob (also called earthen building or natural building) is easy to learn, requires few manufactured resources, and no power tools.  Cob walls are very forgiving, and the material is nontoxic, so kids can help with the project.

Because cob homes are hand-sculpted, they lend themselves to unusual shapes and curves.  They are a good fit for passive solar design because their one to two foot walls provide impressive thermal mass that keeps the interior temperature stable.

Pipes and wires are laid directly in the wall, and there is no need for vapor barriers, sheetrock, or painting.  Different mixtures of the same basic cob materials can produce plasters, floors, and interior structures like sleeping platforms.

Cob builders are typically aware of the benefits of building with local and natural materials.  They often incorporate recycled and locally salvaged materials into dwellings that are both beautiful and affordable.  Check out these cob homes handbuilt by  MudGirls Natural Building Collective.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• Earthships: The Sustainable Dwelling System (2)
• Straw – The New Brick (1)
• Should I Use Earthen Plaster: the Pros and Cons (0)

Termites build elaborate and highly effective ventilation devices.  Swarms of bees communicate without centralized control.  Nature works harmoniously all on its own, so why not let it be the primary inspiration for technological design?

This concept is the foundation of biomimicry, the science of using nature as the basis for technological design.  AskNature, a project of  The Biomimicry Institute, provides fascinating examples of real-world technology inspired by nature.
The Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, was inspired by the efficient cooling methods of termite mounds.  This shopping center and office building is passively cooled through thermal mass and ventilation.  The structure requires no fuel-based air conditioning, saving building owners $3.5 million in equipment costs alone.  Mimicking termites’ efficient use of air shafts and thermal mass to maintain a consistent internal temperature, the Eastgate Centre uses 35% of the energy of similar buildings.

Blue mussels have taught scientists how to make a formaldehyde-free adhesive.  In order to attach securely to rocks in rough water, blue mussels produce a sticky protein.  By observing the mussel, scientists have produced technology that uses soy protein to mimic this underwater adhesive.    Columbia Forest Products now uses this nontoxic adhesive in plywood.  This is a major step forward for indoor air quality, as formaldehyde offgassing contributes significantly to the toxin load in homes.

The Biolytics water filter takes its cue from the way microorganisms work together to break down matter in soil.  The Biolytics system treats raw sewage, wastewater, and food waste, with the end product of water suitable for irrigation.  Solid waste is removed and composted into humus, which then acts as a filter for the water.  The Biolytics system uses 90% less energy than other waste treatment methods with no harmful byproducts.

Swarm insects such as ants and bees thrive because they are flexible, resilient, and neither centrally controlled nor locally supervised.  Researchers have observed that the third attribute, self-organization, is the basis for the first two.  EnviroGrid controllers from REGEN are based on swarm logic technology.  The EnviroGrid system connects machinery in a wireless network to promote most efficient electric use, saving businesses 5-10% on their electric costs each year.

Dye solar cell technology was inspired by the process of photosynthesis.  This new-generation solar technology replicates photosynthesis in each cell with an electrolyte, a layer of titania, and ruthenium dye.  When light hits the dye, the titania absorbs electrons, generating an electric current.  Dyesol, a new company dedicated to this technology, opened its pilot production facility in Seong Nam, South Korea, on July 13.

Thunniform swimming fish teach us how to harness power from the ocean. The bioStream tidal power system mimics the movements of tuna, sharks, and mackerel, who swim long distances with efficient and powerful propulsion.  The bioStream system is designed to deliver utility-scale renewable energy out of sight beneath the surface of the ocean.  BioStream is currently being tested by Hydro Tasmania in Australia.
What’s next?  The land snail’s ability to produce a membrane blocking evaporation can help manage water supplies in the desert.  Studying the flexible, strong scales of the pangolin might lead to more resilient (and therefore less wasteful) roofing materials.  The bull kelp’s suction cups could provide solutions for better load-bearing capabilities and less resource use in construction.  There are many nature-based innovations yet to come.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• Solar Energy Payback (0)
• What color is your roof? (0)
• Three Types of Roof Garden (0)

How does a $0 electric bill sound?  Read on to find out about homes that earn their keep.

A net zero energy home produces its own electric power and is efficient enough that it actually produces more than it consumes, resulting in no overall electric cost.  These models of efficiency are not just limited to new construction.  Older buildings can often be upgraded to peak efficiency.  With the addition of renewables, they become net zero energy buildings.

In the middle of winter, even the most efficient home will consume more energy than it can produce from a rooftop solar system.  This is where the grid intertie comes into play. The net zero energy home pulls from the grid at times of low energy production and pours energy back into the grid during times of high production.

Many of the net zero energy homes touted in the media top $1 million dollars, leading the rest of us to believe that we’ll just need to slog along with our polluting energy sources.  Not so.  Ideal Homes of Norman, Oklahoma, constructed a zero energy home featuring geothermal energy and photovoltaics for under $200,000.  Net zero energy is far more about smart efficiency and balance than it is about the price tag.

A net zero energy home doesn’t have to have all the sexiest, trendiest green products available.  In fact, it can be quite simple.    The first step in turning an ordinary home into a Net Zero Energy home is tightening up–mainly through insulation and high quality windows and doors.  Then the focus is turned on energy efficiency within the home, namely appliances and lighting.  The third step is the addition of renewables, like solar electric and hot water systems.

You can take your first step toward net zero efficiency today by doing something as simple as insulating your hot water tank and making sure all your lightbulbs are compact fluorescent.  A new energy-efficient refrigerator is far cheaper than a photovoltaic system but will have a significant and immediate impact on your electric consumption.  Incremental steps over time will yield an impressive cumulative effect.

What if you’re designing a new home?  Keep in mind the benefits of passive solar orientation and thermal mass.  Thermal mass like a concrete slab or masonry stove will keep your interior temperature stable, while southern exposure allows you to make the most of the sun’s heat and light. Design your own or find plans at http://www.zero-energyplans.com.

Additional posts you may be interested in:

• South-Facing is Best—But What If My Home Is Already Built? (0)
• Solar Energy Payback (0)
• Green Flooring Options (4)