Archive for September, 2010
September 26th, 2010
Credit: Kate Spencer, Randy Kochevar via GreatMarlinRace.org
The Pacific blue marlin is one of the largest billfish to swim the open ocean. Just how far can they swim, and where exactly are they going? Scientists are tracking the movements of 10 marlin as part of this year’s Great Marlin Race, and showing the results on the Internet. Last year, three marlins swam across the equator, from Hawaii to the Marquesas Islands, a distance of more than 1,8… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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September 26th, 2010
Elephants and impalas are both doing well in Uganda. Photo by frederic.salein via Flickr.
In 1999, poaching had reduced the number of impalas, a type of grazing antelope, in Uganda to just 1,600 animals. Today, there are more than 35,000 — and populations of many other species have soared as well, thanks to successful efforts to reduce the amount of poaching in the country’s protected areas…. Read the full story on TreeHugger
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September 26th, 2010
Image: Still from teaser for Eco-Volunteering Documentary: “Volunteer”
When was the last time you drank Kava with a group of Fijians in their remote village? Or gathered in fear with a community under the threat of a tsunami warning? Played with a 15-foot python? Tickled a chimpanzee? And, anecdotes aside, when was the last time you opened yourself to a challenging, broadening experience beyond the safety of your usual horizons? When was the last time you served as ambassador from your culture to learn, share, and teach among peop… Read the full story on TreeHugger
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September 26th, 2010
Blue Sky Homes, maker of modern, green, steel homes, recently announced a new infusion of funding and, with that, a new website, new pricing, and new projects slated for construction this fall.
The California company first built a modern home in Yucca Valley, which by the way is open for reserved tours on October 23, and now has a pipeline of subsequent homes in various stages of construction.
The new website makes it clear that Blue Sky Homes sells homes to the general public and also makes its building system available to architects and developers who want to do their own thing.
Pricing has been updated for a finished, turnkey, catalog home. Slab on grade pricing begins at $171 per square foot, while off-grade pricing begins at $245 per square foot. These figures include architectural and engineering fees and appliances and exclude site-specific costs like permits, utilities, surveying, etc.
[+] More info on Blue Sky Homes.
Credits: Blue Sky Homes.
September 26th, 2010
Swisstrax, a company out of California, makes an interlocking recycled content floor tile called Ecotrax. Made with PolyDyne Engineered Rubber Powder, or recycled rubber tires, Ecotrax — according to the company — is durable, strong, and 100% recycled. Also, to close the loop, Swisstrax takes its products back to be recycled into future products. It's available in gray colors, various patterns, and two sizes, 13” x 13” x ½” and 15.75” x 15.75” x ¾”.
[+] More info on Swisstrax Recycled Flooring Tiles.
Credits: Swisstrax; noticed at GAB Report.
September 26th, 2010
Public Architecture, the firm behind Scrap House, just published a free primer on the topic of material reuse. The Design for Reuse Primer, funded by the USGBC, includes 15 case studies of all sorts of projects — civic, education, residential, office, retail, interpretive, religious — calculated to show that "material reuse represents one of most creative, exciting, and effective approaches to building green."
The Primer starts off by distinguishing "recycling" from "reuse." Both involve the removal of material from the waste stream, while the former also includes significant processing and conversion of the material into something new. The latter does not.
With reuse, there's an opportunity to avoid the environmental impact associated with raw material consumption, landfill waste, and energy use (through manufacturing and transportation).
Public Architecture explains that they found several common lessons in examining various projects: be strategic with contracts, factor in time, get team buy in, think reuse from the start, test it out, share the story, etc.
The most common reuse material is wood, though other materials include brick and metal, as well as more exotic materials, such as airplane flaps, granite slabs, HVAC units, and marble toilet partitions. You owe it to yourself to download a copy and read how teams have used reclaimed materials in innovative ways.
September 26th, 2010
The folks at GreenovationTV and Old House Web are working on a net-zero energy renovation of a 100-year-old home. Through the process, they're posting helpful videos, including this one on insulating uninsulated spaces. This kind of information is on the money for anyone living in an existing home, especially if you're like me and you own an old house from 1958!
According to the Department of Energy, having the right insulation system is "one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to use a whole-house approach to reduce energy waste and make the most of your energy dollars."
In the above video, for example, the house has no attic insulation (other than a layer of old newspapers), no wall insulation, and insufficient basement insulation. To rectify the insulation situation, a team seals all the air leaks, adds blown cellulose to the attic and wall cavities, and applies spray foam to leaky areas in the basement.
You may be wondering how to add insulation to uninsulated walls. Here, the contractor removes a single piece of siding and fills each cavity with the cellulose. Certainly, if you're replacing old siding, it would be a good idea to add insulation at the same time.
If you're not sure how much insulation is necessary, check out this Zip Code Insulation Calculator provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Also, keep in mind that you may be entitled to various federal, state, and local incentives for adding insulation to your home.
September 26th, 2010
This curvy work pod was designed by Thomas Biggs and features interior furniture elements — lift-open cabinets and a Murphy bench — from Tony Carr. Biggs and Carr offer these eco-friendly pods for sale through Sustainsia, Inc., with the hope of providing an at-home work environment that's nothing like the typical cubicle. Green elements include rooftop solar, R30 insulation, and eco-friendly materials, while pricing could be anywhere from $10,000, according to East Bay Express.
[+] More on Sustainsia from Biggs Group Architecture.
Credits: Sustainsia, Inc; noticed at Lifework.
September 26th, 2010
You don't have to read Nieman Journalism Lab to know the publishing world is in shambles. Particularly in the shelter magazine category, where available titles shrink from one month to the next, there hasn't been much going on. But in the past few months, I've noticed some new activity — perhaps this is an inflection point. In any event, if you're looking for fresh green design inspiration, here are three new titles to keep in mind.
1. Pure Green Living Magazine
Pure Green Living Magazine is a bi-monthly online publication for stylish green living and design. The first issue was published in July and the newest issue features a healthy dose of reclaimed materials and homes.
2. Standard Magazine
Interior designer Kelly LaPlante created Standard Magazine, also an online publication, to show that "green is a standard, not a style." The manifesto: "design should be captivating, timeless, built to last and, of course, produced in a way that honors people and the planet."
3. Green Building & Design Magazine
Green Building & Design recently published its first print magazine and, every other month, will focus on innovative firms in the country "embracing sustainable practices in profitable, innovative, and responsive ways."
Where do you go for fresh green design inspiration?
September 26th, 2010
A guest post by Anne Maertens from EnergySavvy.com.
Have you started closing your windows at night? That’s a good sign that it’s time to start getting your home ready for fall. An important part of your fall preparations should be weatherizing your home so you can enjoy a comfortable abode without having to sign over your paychecks to your natural gas, propane or oil providers.
Spend less than a hundred dollars on easy projects you can finish in a few hours, or invest in long-term solutions for your home’s energy efficiency shortcomings. Either route will give you a return on your investment in the form on energy and financial savings.
Quick and Dirty DIY
Doors – Use weatherstripping around your exterior doors. Not sure if you need it? Look at the cracks around your door. If you can see daylight through the seal, close up the cracks to prevent air from flowing in and out of your living space. Weatherstripping materials are available from hardware stores for less than $20 per door.
Windows – Right next to the weatherstripping in your hardware store, you should find window film for a comparable price. This clear plastic acts like a low-cost, temporary storm window. And all you need to install it are a pair of scissors and a hair dryer.
Other Leaks – Unwanted airflow can usually be found around older chimneys and electrical outlets on exterior walls as well. The best way to find leaks in your home is to have a professional energy auditor perform a blower door test, but if you’d like to try your hand at finding air leaks, hold a lit match near the area in question on a windy day. If the fire dances or blows out, you might have a problem. Depending on the leak, you can use caulk or weatherstripping to close the gaps. Don’t use caulk on movable parts.
Get Professional Help
The next three measures will not only have a big impact on your bills and comfort, but they will also qualify for the federal residential tax credit for energy efficiency, which is set to expire after December 2010.
Duct Sealing – If you have non-insulated ductwork located in your crawlspace or attic, you should have a professional energy auditor perform a duct pressure test to analyze how efficient your HVAC system moves heat through your home. If the only material sealing the gaps between your duct connections is duct tape, you’re probably spending a lot of extra money each winter to heat your attic or crawlspace, not to mention picking up dust and dirt and blowing it into your living space. Once your auditor has identified the leaks, a professional will be able to seal up and insulate your ductwork to help you heat your home up to 20 percent more efficiently.
Insulation – Properly installing insulation in your attic or crawlspace is one of the most cost-effective measures you can take to making your home more comfortable and affordable. However, the key to high-performance insulation is to make sure it is properly installed because if there are any gaps in the insulation, the overall R-value efficiency rating will drop significantly. If you can only afford to insulate one area of your home, insulate your attic. Not only will this have the greatest impact, but also attics are generally the easiest for insulators to access, which can also affect the cost.
New Furnace – About half of the energy you consume in your home is used for heating and cooling. If it’s time to replace your current heating system and you can afford the upfront costs of a 95 percent efficient (AFUE rated) furnace, you will see big long-term savings on your heating bills, especially if you combine the installation with the insulation and duct sealing mentioned above. A couple other quick and easy ways to keep your furnace running efficiently are to install a programmable thermostat and to change your air filter once a month during the heating season.
Besides the federal tax credit, which is equal to 30 percent up to $1,500 of the cost of energy efficiency improvements, you may also qualify for local rebates from your state and utilities. My company, EnergySavvy, provides a localized list of rebates as well as a free online home energy analysis to give you an idea of how much money you can save by improving your home’s efficiency. Or you can ask an expert about a project you have in mind.
This guest post was contributed by Anne Maertens with EnergySavvy, a nationwide company that provides a free online energy audit tool and a list of energy efficiency rebates and tax credits.