Article Title: One writer finds it's not easy building green

Excerpt: But the roadblocks put up to stop residential green building (some on purpose, some accidental, some absurd) are keeping Americans and Vermonters from investing in eco-friendly homes.

Excerpt: Let's start with financial lenders. Though big banks will readily lend money at high risk to sub-prime home buyers, there is astoundingly little money available if you're building green — no matter how good your credit.

Excerpt: Next roadblock: building codes. Many electric, water and septic rules preclude green building.

Excerpt: Next conundrum: builders. Many contractors won't touch a green building project because it means teaching old dogs new tricks, and new tricks take time to learn, and time is money.

Excerpt: Another key area of neglect is research. Instead of billions in federal dollars going to the fossil fuel industry, why not put some of those already available tax dollars into setting up regional research institutes for green home building.

Article Title: 'Green' bandwagon will need brakes

Excerpt: With opportunity come the risks born of the allure of a fast buck. Like the dot-com era and the more recent residential real estate boom, there will be shortcuts taken, superficial due diligence and scams. Marketing departments are jumping on the "green economy" out of opportunity and necessity. Some are really improving their products and operations, and some are not. It is purely market forces.

Excerpt: Irrational exuberance will take hold of the market and then, in a few years, we will experience the inevitable crash. As we have seen with the speed of the residential real estate and the dot-com bubbles, investment trends are accelerating into pop-culture fads. The instantaneous flow of information and the near frictionless movement of money contribute to an investment cyclone that mirrors our microwave lifestyle.

Excerpt: So, let's all hop on for the wild ride, but let's put some of the steering systems, gas pedals and brakes in place to manage the trip and enjoy the scenery while we attempt to save it.

Article Title: Standards set for 'green' home builders

Excerpt: Building "green" took a major step last weekend to become mainstream, said John Wesley Miller, a downtown Tucson housing developer. Miller, considered a champion for environmentally sensitive homes, voted Sunday at the National Association of Home Builders board of directors meeting to create a national green home building program.

Excerpt: The NAHB program will be voluntary, but it will give builders standard guidelines to build green so that homebuyers anywhere in the country can be assured that a certified home meets a uniform standard. Presently, local home building associations and cities have individual green standards that can vary from place to place. Green building refers to incorporating features such as solar power, water conservation and energy-efficient building materials.

Article Title: The Enertia House

Excerpt: For nearly 25 years, Michael Sykes has been honing his design of an energy-efficient wood home that heats and cools itself. The History Channel has honored his efforts by awarding the Youngsville builder the $25,000 grand prize in its Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge.

Excerpt: "I started building log homes to help pay my way through school. I enjoyed it, so I stayed with it. In 1973, I built one for a friend in Wake Forest, and I just wondered why it was more energy efficient. I started to tweak it. ... I wanted it to be totally energy efficient."

Article Title: Developer shows historic and 'green' can go together

Excerpt: When he bought a historic home in San Antonio's King William district, developer Roy Pachecano knew just what to add to his new investment: lots of solar panels. But a 2,000-square-foot solar array on top of an 1899 home wasn't quite what the neighborhood or the city's Historic and Design Review Commission had in mind.

Excerpt: In the end, Pachecano got his environmentally friendly green home by adding loads of insulation and limiting the placement of solar panels to a new addition to the home and on top of a chimney where no one can see it.

Excerpt: For those determined to live in a historic district, the conflict between preservation and remodeling can sometimes make it easier to build anew in a vacant lot within historic boundaries than to make major additions or changes to a historic structure, Chandler said. But it doesn't all have to be a conflict, he said. The very idea of living in a historic home and improving it is, by definition, green.

Article Title: Straw house built to stand

Excerpt: Considering Buffalo’s harsh winters, a greenhouse made mostly of bales of straw and mud might sound like something out of a fairy tale.

Excerpt: Once it is completed in about six weeks, supporters hope it will inspire a trend toward using alternative building materials that do not exhaust the environment or contribute to pollution. “It’s the first straw structure in the city,” said Kevin Connors, a UB architecture instructor whose students designed the 495-square-foot building.

Excerpt: What its designers really like about the $5,000 structure, financed with donations, is its minimal use of building materials that harm the environment when they are being produced and then transported, usually over long distances.

Excerpt: “So we’re using a lot less concrete, and the production of concrete is a major source of [carbon dioxide], the gas that we’re so concerned about that causes global warming,” said David Lanfear, owner of the Buffalo company Bale on Bale Construction. With routine maintenance, the greenhouse, he says, will last indefinitely.

Article Title: Legacy of female engineer

Excerpt: An extraordinary green building will soon rise on the campus of the University of Western Ontario and carry the name of a woman who has left an indelible mark on engineering in Canada.

Excerpt: Western received a $5-million gift that will help build an engineering research facility dedicated to investigating climate change and the environment.

Excerpt: “This is a building that we anticipate will influence both the architectural and research landscapes of Western and southwestern Ontario,” said Western President Paul Davenport. “Today’s lead gift comes in honour of an incredible individual — a leader who exemplified the power of one individual to create change.”

Excerpt: “My mother believed in our responsibility to promote change that could build a better world,” said Christian Lassonde, a graduate of Western’s Faculty of Engineering and son of the late benefactor. “At the core of this, she believed engineers have a responsibility to create or transform discoveries to bring about a better life for people. She believed the role of engineers should be as much based on humanism and social responsibility as in technology. This new building, named in her memory, is a perfect tribute to her ideals.”

Excerpt: The Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion will also be a showcase for all things green. Western will, in the coming months, invite proposals from companies interested in providing green construction materials, furnishings and other environment-friendly effects for the building.

Article Title: Adobe headquarters awarded highest honours from U.S. Green Building Council

Excerpt: "With the certification of Adobe's Almaden and East Towers, Adobe has again raised the bar for other companies seeking to introduce sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices into their facilities," said Rick Fedrizzi, founder, president and CEO of the USGBC. "The USGBC is honored to congratulate Adobe on its substantial achievements. Not only has Adobe achieved the highest environmental honor for a commercial building with the West Tower Platinum certification, but these two additional certifications make Adobe the only company in the world to have three LEED Platinum buildings."

Excerpt: To achieve Platinum certification of the East and Almaden Towers, which opened in 1998 and 2003 respectively, Adobe invested approximately $650,000 for energy and environmental retrofits since 2001. These retrofits have resulted in approximately $728,000 in savings to date, for a total return on investment of approximately 115 percent. Working with facilities management firm Cushman & Wakefield, Adobe implemented a variety of projects, including: installation of drought tolerant landscaping, installation of an irrigation system linked to local weather stations which automatically adjusts according to real-time weather conditions; and use of sensors to monitor carbon monoxide levels and adjust operation of building exhaust fans accordingly. Adobe also increased its use of outdoor air and enhanced the overall maintenance of its air systems, resulting in better indoor air quality.

Article Title: Harley dealer will move to energy-efficient digs

Excerpt: Frieze Harley-Davidson's new shop on Green Mount Road in O'Fallon is expected to be one of the most technologically advanced, environmentally-friendly buildings in the metro-east, according to architect Gary Karasek.

Excerpt: The building will include: • Solatube lighting, a lighting system with sunlight collectors on the roof that diffuses the light through tubes inside that are similar to traditional fluorescent lights. The Solatubes supplement the building's normal lighting system and a computer automatically dims and brightens the electric lights as needed. • A sensor system will make display cases light up when a person is nearby. When they walk away, the lights slowly dim and go off. • A heating system that burns used motor oil. • Bamboo flooring, which is better for the environment than wood because while trees are cut down and killed to make flooring, only the top is cut off to harvest bamboo and the rest of the plant still grows. • -A water recycling system that filters used water and sends it to be reused in washing bays or in toilets. • A wind turbine could eventually be in the works to produce additional electricity for the building.

Excerpt: "Being a family-oriented business makes you think about what you have to pass down to future generations," Frieze said. "It will cost a little more up front. But we will save money in the long run because we will use less energy."

Article Title: THE GREEN MACHINE

Excerpt: government, along with private business backed by environmental activists, have begun to seriously consider the upside of building green, which brings not just increased energy efficiency to a new building but significant tax benefits as well. The State Department of Environmental Conservation has put together a tax credit plan for developers that builds such energy efficient buildings that have provided more than $50 million in benefits so far.

Excerpt: With options ranging from recycled construction materials to planting full gardens on a building’s roof to save energy, green development is fast becoming big business. And policy wonks like Carey are not the only ones who see this, as elected officials have also begun to notice that a building boom in their communities will require a more energy efficient development model—a fact especially true given the rising cost of oil and the City’s already stretched-to-capacity power grid.

Excerpt: “We can no longer ignore the responsibility of pursuing environmentally sustainable development. As we continue to grow our cities, we must understand that economic viability and environmentally friendly are not mutually exclusive,” says Carrión. “We must create a set of conditions in which future generations will enjoy cities that are both economically strong and environmentally sound.”

Excerpt: “There is a unique opportunity to merge economic growth with environmentally friendly building practices,” says Carrión. “We must make green development not only good for the environment, but good for the wallet.” Carrión adds, “It may not be easy being green, but in today’s world it is a necessity.”

Article Title: It isn't easy building green

Excerpt: You'll find dozens of contractors and installers familiar with more traditional materials and systems but who are, well, green when it comes to building green. Though it's true many home builders and contractors are leaning green, consumers often discover that old ways die hard. That's why the burden for going green is on the consumer, says Setauket, N.Y., architect Peter Caradonna, president of the Long Island chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Excerpt: So, just what is green building? Also called sustainable building, it results in structures that are designed, built, renovated or operated in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings protect the health of people who live and work there, use water, energy and other resources more efficiently, and reduce the overall effect on the environment.

Excerpt: Nationally, green is winning over more builders. A recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders and McGraw Hill Construction reveals that since last year, there has been a 20 percent increase in builders dedicated to green issues. The climb is expected to continue to 64 percent by 2007, according to the survey.

Article Title: Go green, sure, but go find green builders

Excerpt: When Josh Daniels, 34, set out to renovate his home in Carmichael (Sacramento County) in 2003, he spent hours researching biodegradable paints, countertops made from recycled paper, and other planet-friendly products. But the one thing his research didn't turn up was a builder experienced in working with them.

Excerpt: The difficulties of finding materials led Daniels and his wife, Joy, to start Green Sacramento, a retailer of sustainable building supplies, last year. But the contractor problem remains: In Sacramento, as in many cities, demand for green remodeling projects is growing, but most remodelers aren't keeping up.

Excerpt: "The consumers are far ahead of the contractors," said Dan Taddei, director of education for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, which represents 5,000 remodeling companies, most of which do not emphasize green building. Although green projects make up only a small minority of renovations, he said, growing consumer interest, along with a lack of expertise among remodelers, spurred the association to start a pilot training program this fall. It plans to introduce a certification by spring.

Excerpt: "In Portland, almost all the builders who know green building are very fully booked," said Beth Meredith, owner of Living Spaces, a Portland company that consults with homeowners on green remodeling projects. "So your choice is to find someone who's willing to learn. In that case, it's going to take more time, more money and you're going to make a few more mistakes."

Article Title: He wrote the book on building green

Excerpt: Wilson is president of BuildingGreen, one of the nation's leading organizations that constructs environmentally friendly buildings.

Excerpt: He founded Environmental Building News, a monthly newsletter on environmentally responsible design and construction that is the leading resources for building green professionals around the world, and he's involved with a number of other publications and magazines.

Article Title: Builders try ‘green’ homes

Excerpt: Here are some of the construction methods and features of the Earth Craft Homes that ABC Construction & Development is beginning to build in Floyd County:

* Full sealing, insulation and air-conditioning of crawl spaces, basements and attics improves the efficiency of the heat and air system - the target is 50 percent or better.

* Construction waste material is ground up and recycled on site - scrap lumber and siding for mulch; scrap shingles and drywall for underlayment under the driveway.

* A vent pipe from the basement or crawl space carries radon or other harmful gases that might seep out of the ground up to the roof.

* A "hot water on demand" recirculation system reduces the waste that results from waiting for water to get hot.

* The use of foam insulation and "advanced framing" techniques at corners, T-walls and window and door frames make homes more airtight and energy efficient.

* At least 25 percent of trees on a lot are kept when developing for a home.

* The use of 30-year architectural shingles reduces the frequency of roof replacements, which cuts down on waste going into landfills.

* The total sealing of crawl spaces, basements and attics also aids in humidity control, reducing the potential for mold spores to grow.

* Houses are tested for air leakage in the ductwork and the home's outer surface to ensure optimal energy efficiency.

* Homes are fitted throughout with Energy Star-approved appliances, fans, light fixtures and light bulbs.

Article Title: How To Choose a Green Architect / Contractor

Excerpt: Homes affect resource, human health, and ecological integrity. Besides basic health and safety measures outlined in the building code there%u2019s no requirement to minimize these impacts. A remodel or new home is an opportunity to create a physical representation of your commitment to earth stewardship, health, and a vital and engaged community. Given the sheer number of houses across our country, individual actions add up quickly. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that if we upgraded our current stock of homes just with efficient windows, the US would save $7 billion in energy costs over the next 15 years! Imagine what we can save by approaching building design and construction more holistically.

Excerpt: The process of designing and building green is fundamentally different from conventional approaches. Its integrated, holistic nature requires early and ongoing involvement by all parties (owner, architect, contractor, landscape architect, and any specialists or engineers) to brainstorm innovations, agree on the design, and avoid potential obstacles. Hiring an inexperienced professional may cost less up front, but these savings may quickly erode by the costs of getting the architect or contractor up to speed on green concepts, and paying to correct mistakes down the road.

Excerpt: You’ll find pretty quickly once you tap into the local design community that there are a few firms that have garnered reputations for being green. Upon closer examination, you’ll see that within the general category of green each firm or architect will have its strong suit. Some focus on healthy building, others on energy efficiency and/or renewable energy, still others on green materials, natural building techniques, or “not so big” homes. Seek out a professional that has applied experience in the green building elements you want to see in your project.

Excerpt: 1. Look for demonstrated experience.
What is the architect or contractor’s experience with green building? Can s/he point to specific projects in their portfolio, and provide references you can talk with? Does his schooling include green design, or has he followed up with additional training? Beyond making sure he is licensed and bonded and understanding his fee structure, is he a member of green design organizations or participated in any programs? Has the contractor purchased green products and know how to work with their variable availability and lead times? Does the contractor follow construction practices that minimize contamination and protect indoor air quality and enhance worker health and safety? Look for direct experience in the areas that are most important to you.

2. Look for evidence of past research on the subject of green building.
Does s/he have green design books, product information, or materials samples in his office? Ask for a tour of the architect’s library, and whether he has subscriptions to green design journals or access to online green resources. Ask for a list or an online tour of his favorite environmental design and construction web sites.

3. Don’t assume.
When in doubt (and even when not), ask questions and check in frequently, especially during active design phases and construction. Once the walls are covered up and the paint cans are put away, it’s hard to make sure that your design was carried out the way you intended. Make sure you’ve laid out a process with the contractor that requires your notification and approval of any material or product substitutions that may be necessary.

4. Make sure s/he practice what s/he profess.
How is his business operated? Does he recycle in the office as well as on the jobsite? Are green design elements evident (e.g., environmentally responsible materials and office supplies, energy efficient lighting, fixtures)? Are alternative transportation options encouraged (showers for bike commuters, bus pass reimbursement, telecommuting)? With a contractor, ask what sort of program exists to ensure worker health and safety on the jobsite.

5. Make sure green concepts are built into the contract documents.
Architects have standard specifications (“specs”): boilerplate contract language that lays out the marching orders for everyone involved in building the house, down to how the paint is applied and what quality of materials are selected for the cabinets. These specifications are usually customized by each firm, and further modified for each project. Specifications are a powerful tool in green building. At the same time, they’re a legal document, and can be tedious to review. Ask to have a tour of the specs for your project, and make sure they cover all the bases. You may want to keep a copy of the specifications on file for future repairs or touch-ups.

6. Recognize and respect the social element.
The interpersonal element should not be underestimated. Do you like the person? In the case of the architect, you’ll be working with him for most likely over a year, and depending on how involved you want to be, you’ll be interacting rather frequently. Building a green home requires involvement from the outset, and consistently throughout the process, from early design through final inspection. This doesn’t mean you have to be friends; in fact it’s advisable to keep a businesslike relationship at the forefront. But you should have a fundamental respect for him. Do all parties communicate well? Do you feel heard? Are your ideas, wishes and requirements incorporated into the program?

Article Title: Concrete Walls Save Lives, Property from Devastating Fire...

Excerpt: The concrete walls did just what they were supposed to do. They held up the roof over the house and they did not burn. The fire was contained in the garage, an office at the back of the house, which did not have concrete walls, and the attic. The concrete walls kept the ceiling from collapsing into the house.

Excerpt: "Insurance companies should give people who build with Reward ICFs a discount on their fire insurance," Anderson said. "We spent everything that was allowed for rebuilding the house, because we had to tear everything out to the concrete walls. But we didn't use very much of the amount allowed for personal contents reimbursement because we were able to save nearly everything."

Excerpt: "Reward structures are widely known for their safety in tornadoes and hurricanes," said Kelvin Doerr, P.E. Reward Wall Systems' vice president of engineering and technical services. "Of equal importance is safety in case of fire and Reward walls offer unprecedented fire safety." The three-hour rating for the Reward 11-inch and the four-hour fire rating for the 13- and 15- inch, forms gives homeowners time to get out of burning structures, saving lives and property.

Article Title: Homes on overdrive: Bungalows are bulking up

Excerpt: An environmental nonprofit, the Energy Trust of Oregon, was a major sponsor of the show, and the Oregon Dream was "Energy Star for Homes" certified -- meaning it uses 15 percent less energy than a standard "code" house of similar size.

There was just one fly in the ointment: The size is about twice that of the typical U.S. home. At 4,624 square feet, the house is like a hybrid SUV -- efficient only in comparison to other behemoths. Despite the Energy Star label, the house has two full-size water heaters.

It's a perfect demonstration of the battle between two major trends in American housing. In the past few decades, houses have gotten greener, but they have gotten bigger, too, leaving questions: Is supersized housing defeating conservation efforts? Can McMansions truly be green?

Excerpt: Decidedly cheaper are the homes of people such as Kathy Dolphin and Tim Johnson. Dolphin has shared a 600-square-foot San Diego house with a husband and daughter for decades; Johnson lives in a 200-square-foot house -- with three kids half the time -- on a Missouri prairie. The two are worlds apart but have a lot in common.

They love the challenge of living small, making every restriction into a puzzle. They proudly cheat the electric company with solar panels. And they don't like debt. Dolphin paid off her mortgage early, and Johnson built his house for the cost of parts.

Article Title: A straw house

Excerpt: Straw bales and mud will be key components to the house, but that won%u2019t make it a primitive structure. Norman architect Dave Boeck designed the home as a post-and-beam structure. A concrete foundation recently was poured, and the house will have sheet rock, plaster and interior cedar posts that are quite artistic for support.

Excerpt: Fletcher and Boeck say straw provides oustanding insulation from noise and outdoor weather. Architects measure insulation by a scale called R-value, and Boeck said the straw-bale house will measure better than R-50.

“The standard requirement is R-19 for the home and R-32 for a roof,” he said. Put another way, “Normally, it would take about $200 a month to heat a house this size, but this could cost $20 to $30.” For Fletcher, a widow on a fixed income, saving that much on energy would be a huge benefit.

Article Title: Future looks green for California dealer

Excerpt: A green contractor won't use wood from endangered forests but will seek better-sourced products instead. A dark green contractor will refuse to build fireplaces because they adversely affect air quality. Both shades tend to be custom homebuilders who use their laptops as much as their power tools. They're willing to tolerate some material delays, and they expect to pay a higher price for certified products -- but only to a point.

Excerpt: Before launching his green division, Hayward hired Michelle Randall, who recently earned a master's in business administration specializing in environmental studies, to research the idea, develop a business plan and cultivate contacts in the environmental community.

Article Title: Developers see dollar signs behind green ratings

Excerpt: The University of Victoria has received gold-level LEED status for its $12-million, 43,000-square-foot Medical Sciences Building. The school has two other LEED projects registered. "A real goal of the university is to increase enrolment without increasing our footprint," says Tracy Corbett, director of campus planning and sustainability.

It's part of being a good neighbour, and a frugal consumer. The Medical Sciences Building, for example, uses recycled water from an aquatics research facility for toilets and urinals. The system saves 2 million litres of potable water each year, Ms. Corbett says. The facility also has an outside pond that helps filter water run-off.

Excerpt: There is a marketing aspect in going green, too. The University of Victoria is a research school with emphases on environmental studies, climate change and ocean health. "So we need to walk the talk," she says.

It is also getting easier to build green, she says. "A couple of years ago, it seemed kind of an esoteric thing, and people who did it were doing it more for marketing or they just happened to be really cutting edge.

Article Title: Living efficiently

Excerpt: About 70 percent of exterior irrigation comes from gray water or rainwater. The home's shower, sink, bath and laundry provide the gray water through pipes for directed landscape usage.
Gray-water recipients include a cherry-tomato plant that has evolved in the gardens of Nichols and his father during the past 45 years.
"It is desert-acclimated and extraordinarily hardy," says Nichols.
In the side courtyard, a 750-gallon cistern collects rainwater from the building's roof. This water nourishes a raised vegetable garden through drip irrigation.
Photovoltaic panels on the garage roof capture the sun's power for about one-third of the building's energy needs. The solar-reliant, instant hot-water system saves both energy and water.
Nichols also has a 50-watt Solar Chill evaporative cooler. This uses about the same energy as a computer monitor, he says.
A toggle switch allows the change to air conditioning, when needed. The cooling duration, up to 12 hours, is timed.
Natural illumination enters the kitchen and master bathroom through an energy-efficient tubular skylight. All light fixtures hold compact fluorescent bulbs, which require less energy and last at least five times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Nichols' yearly electricity bill averages $75 monthly. That figure includes usage by adult family members, who often stay with him.
By the kitchen sink, a tap dispenses water from the rooftop solar water still. It eliminates reliance on bottled water by producing about one gallon of solar distilled water daily for cooking, coffee and tea.
The horizontal-loading washing machine uses one-third the water of a top loader and works in tandem with LaundryPure, a new appliance from Tennessee-based EcoQuest International. LaundryPure, which costs $747, injects oxygen, peroxides and other gases into the wash line, removing the need for detergent, hot water and sorting clothes.

Article Title: Builders going gangbusters filling green home demand

Excerpt: Everything green, from energy conservation to healthy living, has become more than just a new-age fad. Environmentally responsible building in America increased by 20 percent in 2005 and is expected to rise an additional 30 percent this year, according to statistics from the National Association of Home Builders.

Article Title: globeandmail.com: Green building takes root in new condos

Excerpt: He began to deconstruct the human impact on environment 35 years ago as a mechanical engineering student in London, where he wrote an idealistic undergraduate degree thesis on the effect of automobiles on urban environments, concluding that little good would come of it if the car continued to dominate the road.

Mr. Baghai isn't the only builder turning green. Green buildings have hit the condominium market full force this year, with 16 currently on the market and more to come.

Excerpt: The project, comprised of two condominium mid-rises and 23 three-storey townhouses, will feature a combination of wind, solar and hybrid power generation that will enable the community to reduce its consumption of electricity drawn from the standard power grid. This includes a series of batteries to store power in the event of a grid failure.

Article Title: Vanguard puts its greenest building in north Scottsdale

Excerpt: The three-story, 125,000-square-foot building is believed to be the first new commercial building in Scottsdale designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's silver standard.

Liberty will seek the council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or LEED, designation for buildings that meet criteria for environmentally responsible construction.

Excerpt: Among the features that make Vanguard's new building environmentally friendly:

• Multistory parking garages, which reduce the heat island effect.

• Shielded outside lights, which minimize light pollution at night.

• Overhangs and vertical fins that shade windows, reducing heat.

• Showers and lockers for employees who walk or cycle to work.

• Occupancy sensors that automatically turn lights on and off in break rooms and conference rooms.

• Paint, carpet and fabrics chosen for low gas emissions.

Article Title: Building for the future

Excerpt: Ask architect Rick Alfandre why he's an environmentalist and his answer is simple: "For the children."

Alfandre, who is president of Alfandre Architects in New Paltz and accredited as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professional, said building energy-efficient green homes saves natural resources and money on the home's operating costs. But, he added, the real value of such homes is the healthy climate they provide for those who live in them and their surrounding communities, today as well as tomorrow.

Article Title: Green construction on display in Floyd

Excerpt: Generally viewed as waste good for little but lining stalls, straw is a popular building material with environmental advocates because it can be obtained locally, spares trees from being felled for lumber, and provides great insulation, reducing the amount of energy needed for heating or air conditioning.

Excerpt: Comparing the cost of straw homes to those built of other materials is tough because the former are almost universally custom jobs, and the owners often do much of the work themselves. Straw is cheap, but building with it is labor-intensive, said several people who have built homes with the material.

Article Title: Building to embody green ideal

Excerpt: Environment school professor Marian Chertow FES '00 said she is enthusiastic about the way the Kroon building is paving the way for green building and energy conservation. The environment school is striving to be a leader in sustainable architecture both for the University, which has many large, inefficient buildings, and in the discipline more widely, Chertow said.

Excerpt: The Kroon building plans meet the platinum rating for the Green Building Rating System of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Kellert said Hopkins Architects, the London firm in charge of the project, designed the structure with strict environmental objectives in mind, especially climate neutrality, energy efficiency, renewable energy production and minimal pollution. The architecture will do much of the work in terms of lighting, heating and cooling, he said.

Article Title: Energy-efficient house moves off utility grid

Excerpt: The three-bedroom, 1,240-square-foot, single-story house is set on a windswept hillside, overlooking four acres of prairie and 14,000 trees he planted. The straw bales were purchased from a Suamico farmer for $2 apiece. Straw can be seen through the truth window, a small area where plaster has been removed so the material it is covering can be identified.

Excerpt: Cretney has discovered there are a number of funding sources that he can tap that help him meet expenses.

For example, the solar-panel system cost about $25,000, but $5,000 came from a state-funded grant that rewards alternative energy initiatives.

Also, if his home can meet some energy-efficiency targets, Cretney could be in line for a one-time $2,000 credit on federal income taxes.

And in the future, if he is able to pursue his goal of adding radiant heat in the floor, he could qualify for a state grant of up to 25 percent, he said.

Article Title: Keeping it 'Green' With Panels and More

Excerpt: To create a national standard, the United States Green Building Council recently started a certification program for houses. Called LEED for Homes (the acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), it is a spinoff of the council%u2019s commercial program.

Excerpt: To date, only about a dozen homes in the country have been certified under the building council’s criteria, intended to set the bar higher than local or regional programs that already exist in many states.

Excerpt: Despite major growth in the last five years, residential green building is still a niche market for small and medium-size builders, though large companies are trying to cash in on the trend. DRHorton Homes, one of the largest home builders in the nation, for example, is seeking council certification for every unit in a 100-home subdivision in Sacramento.

Article Title: Daring to be Green?

Excerpt: Buildings are among the biggest guzzlers of natural resources; the Worldwatch Institute estimates they consume 40 percent of the world's energy and materials. So in 1998, the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C., came up with a checklist for a green building certificate, called LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Article Title: AlterNet: Debunking the Green Building Myth

Excerpt: The net effect is troubling. Despite widespread use of efficient technology, a new study by scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory shows that from 1985 to 2002, total residential energy consumption per capita climbed eight percent, and residential consumption for the nation -- the figure most relevant to global effects like carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions -- climbed 32 percent.

Article Title: Green homes get state aid

Excerpt: Their 2,500-square-foot residence in Gardiner is being equipped with a photovoltaic system to generate electricity through solar power, allowing the couple to take advantage of the agency's New York Energy Smart PV Incentive Program that reduced the system's installation cost from about $60,000 to $30,000.

Excerpt: Here, consumers taking out a Federal Housing Authority-approved mortgage to purchase a home may be eligible for a supplementary energy-efficient mortgage to pay for improvements they're going to make in the residence to increase its energy efficiency, including things such as windows, insulation and furnaces.

Article Title: Sustainable building takes a lot of practice

Excerpt: Initially, she wanted as many "green" systems as possible, including geothermal heating, a composting toilet, solar thermal heating, a greenhouse and a greywater recycling system.

Excerpt: Even though Weier received $45,000 in grants, tons of free advice and volunteer labour, she herself could not afford all the features she would like. She received support from Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation, Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg Housing and Homelessness Initiative, The U of M faculties of architecture and environment, the Spence Neighbourhood Association, as well as friends and family, particularly her stepfather, Gerhard Wiebe.

Article Title: One man's trash...

Excerpt: "There%u2019s low maintenance," said Karl Holik, president of Rastra Corp., which will establish independent licensee Rastra Ohio Inc. "You don%u2019t have any mold, termites don%u2019t attack it, and polystyrene, once it%u2019s coated with cement, it becomes a noncombustible product."

Article Title: New York - Going Green. It's Rastra, Mon - Europaconcorsi

Excerpt: Or to be more precise, it is made of Rastra, a composite of recycled polystyrene, cement and concrete that, thanks to the growing attraction of green living, has become one of the hottest building materials in the United States. More than 6,000 structures - ranging from a traditional three-bedroom house in the Poconos to a four-story block of loft apartments in Portland, Ore. - have been built in the United States using Rastra, the vast majority of those in the past five years. (Rastra was created by a group of European engineers in 1972, but it has taken a long time to catch on here.) The material is popular among the environmentally conscious for two reasons. All the polystyrene foam used in its production is recycled. And because foam accounts for 85 percent of its volume, Rastra is a remarkable insulator, greatly reducing energy costs.

Article Title: Today's News-Herald: News

Excerpt: Lamont said Lake Havasu City has more days of sunshine than Phoenix in a typical year. Today, solar energy users can tap directly into the regional power grid. PV panels, usually installed on rooftops, capture light from the sun and send what is not used at the time to the grid. In fact, many utility companies compensate the homeowner for doing so in the form of a credit.

Article Title: Green card

Excerpt: There are advanced systems on the market which actually increase the "R"(insulation) value while sealing,D Lange said. %If we can make our homes tighter, we can reduce the heating and cooling system sizes. This makes the home more economical to build and saves on monthly utility bills for the consumer.