Conventional Wisdom Wrong
Green Building Not More Expensive
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
There is no statistically significant difference between the cost of green and non-green buildings, according to a recent report.
The July 2007 “Cost of Green Revisited” report updated an influential 2004 study of the cost of green building by Lisa Fay Matthiessen and Peter Morris of Davis Langdon. The authors concluded that there are so many huge cost factors in construction that it is not possible to detect any cost difference between sustainably constructed and conventional buildings.
Based on an analysis of the budgets for 221 projects, the report concludes that “buildings cannot be budgeted based on averages,” leaving open the question of whether a green approach affects cost.
Go With the Flow
Hands-Free Faucet Saves More Than Water
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
With this faucet you can be hands-free and conserve water and energy. The SOLIS solar powered, sensor activated electronic faucet from Sloan has pre-tempered or hot and cold water options, an aerator to regulate water flow, and an integrated side mix for temperature control and sensor comfort.
The first solar-powered electronic faucet can use any light source. And if the lights go out, the battery backup can last up to 10 years. With no moving parts, the faucet is almost maintenance-free. And it’s good-looking!
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Green Remodeling
Changing the World One Room at a Time
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
This is deservedly one of the most popular books on remodeling using sustainable resources. It treats the home holistically, showing how one element affects the others and how it affects the environment at large. We see how our choices for door or window materials for example, affects not only our health and well-being inside the home, but the home’s systems and the impact on the environnment from logging to transportation.
Room-by-room, with the aid of checklists, anecdotes and advice from other experts, author David Johnston shows us how to achieve healthier, more energy-efficient living spaces.
Breathe Easier
Formaldehyde-Free Plywood
Monday, August 13, 2007
Columbia has converted all of its hardwood plywood and particleboard facilities to a proprietary formaldehyde-free manufacturing system called PureBond. Cost-competitive with the similar urea formaldehyde (UF)-made hardwood plywood, Columbia’s PureBond formula is derived from soybeans, then enhanced with a proprietary resin, giving it particularly strong bonding and water-resistance qualities. It enables Columbia to completely eliminate formaldehyde from its standard veneer-core decorative panel production.
The panels are also compliant with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
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Bargain Bamboo
Saving Pennies While Saving the Planet
Monday, July 09, 2007
If you like the look and the green rating of bamboo floors but think it’s beyond your budget, Ikea has come to the rescue.
The company’s Kvist flooring is just $2.88 per square foot. It can be laid on concrete or over any existing flooring except wall-to-wall carpet. It’s easy to install, the 5-inch wide planks joined together with plastic strips for a visible or invisible joint. The flooring is surface treated for easy cleaning.
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Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House
Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Have you thought about making your next home safer, healthier, greener?
No need to wait! “Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House” makes clear that you don’t have to build new in order to enjoy a green home. You can reap many of the benefits through a remodel.
Carol Venolia and Kelly Lerner balance the philosophical underpinnings of green construction with the technical information required to implement the concept. It’s packed with great ideas, gorgeous photography and, you’ll love this, resource lists. No matter the extent of your remodel or the size of your budget, you’ll find something useful here.
The book is a finalist for the 2007 Nautilus Book Awards, which recognize literary works that embrace spiritual and ecological values such as compassion, sustainability and simplicity.
