SanJoseGreenHome.com

Considering building a new patio or deck to enjoy a lovely weather but want to be mindful of the environmental impact?  Millions of homeowners across the country continue to use”standard” patio materials like asphalt, concrete and cement to support their patios because they’ve proven their worth time and again but is it time for new awareness?

Problems With the Status Quo

Unfortunately, your asphalt, concrete or cement patio is liable to be among the least sustainable elements of your property. In fact, standard patio-building materials present several key problems for environmentally conscious homeowners.

For starters, these surfaces all contain synthetic or petroleum-based components that require huge amounts of energy to fabricate. The amount of energy that goes into a given product’s production is known as “embodied energy,” and it’s one of the main factors that contribute to its overall environmental footprint.

Asphalt, concrete and cement also contain toxins that can leak into your lawn, groundwater and pool during bouts of rain. What’s more, these nonporous “hardscape” surfaces can direct rainwater in concentrated streams and cause surprising amounts of damage to your yard. In the long run, this runoff could even eat away at your home’s foundation.

You don’t want to find out what that looks like.

A Gentler Way

Fortunately, there are several sustainable alternatives that feature lower levels of embodied energy as well as a more sustainable product life cycle. Some of these alternatives are “natural” materials that incorporate locally sourced or low-impact raw materials like soil cement. Others are reused materials like (more…)

Home builders are taking an active role in trying to make homes more sustainable and lowering the carbon footprint of the structure by using local materials and technological advancements. What many people don’t realize however, is that the physical footprint of the building – the foundation – often has the largest carbon footprint associated with it.

A common myth is that concrete is environmentally friendly already. It’s easy to see why from a homeowner’s perspective. It’s long lasting, durable, and often unseen in the finished product which falls into the category “out of sight, out of mind.” In a nutshell, concrete is made from sand, gravel, cement, and water which sounds harmless enough, but cement is a huge greenhouse gas producer and all of the products in concrete have to be mined, refined, and transported.

Problems with Cement

Cement is the binding agent in concrete with the most common type being Portland cement. If you think this makes it “green” because it’s associated with the trendy capital city of Oregon then you made the same mistake I did. Portland cement was actually made in Britain in the 1820s and, as far as I know, isn’t directly associated with skinny jeans or mustaches.

Cement takes a tremendous amount of energy to produce, and the world demand for cement and concrete keeps rising exponentially as developing countries continue to expand their economies. Cement production is accredited with producing (more…)

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Trends in housing are turning more and more to sustainable living. Many home buyers are looking for ways to incorporate little changes into their homes that not only saves them money, but also helps them to do their part in reducing their own carbon footprint. Here are several things that are trending in home designs that are really starting to catch on.

No Yards

While this may not be a new trend, it is one that seems to be catching on more and more these days. Certain parts of the country have already made it trendy to not have a lawn because the water supply is so limited. This is very common in desert states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and part of Utah and California. This doesn’t mean that these home owners do nothing with their yards, it is actually the opposite. By using rocks and desert-friendly plants, there are a lot of ways to make yards look appealing and well cared for without being high maintenance and water-laden.

Harvesting Rain

Depending on some city ordinances, this option is not available in all areas. When building a house, adding a large cistern under the house is a great way to recycle water. The process is fairly (more…)

Ever wonder how long we’ve been trying to define “Green Building?” I first heard the term in 2005 and thought, as a residential contractor, I should probably explore the concept, just in case a homeowner had some interest. What I thought could be a passing fad has redefined my business model.

Yet it’s been a struggle over the years to get the various parties involved in the construction process to agree on what it takes to create a “Green” building. Homeowners, architects, designers, building officials, suppliers and product manufacturers all seem to have their own ideas. Some of these ideas are based on a real desire to improve our built environment and the quality of life for the people in those buildings. Others are snake oil from people trying to make a quick buck.

Of course, that’s true in all walks of life.

To make green building concepts more accessible, various organizations across the nation have developed checklists to ease the way. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, begun in 2000 by the US Green Building Council, was out front early with strategies for non-residential buildings. Build It Green, established in 2005 here in the bay area, compiled an action plan for residential buildings that has been adopted by many municipalities throughout California. Individual jurisdictions have even developed and adopted their own green building requirements.

These various approaches, though well intended, have proven to be a little confusing, as well as intimidating, to many consumers. Each has their proponents, as well as detractors, but their frameworks are similar (more…)

Solar Panel Supply Will Far Exceed Demand Beyond 2012 – Forbes Mag

The cost of a residential solar system has come down 33% since 2008 improving financial payback¹.  However, have you ever asked yourself about the energy payback of the solar panels?  Energy payback refers to the length of time it takes a solar system to produce, or payback, the same amount of energy required for its manufacture, transport and installation.  A 2011 study² found that it took about one year for a solar system to generate the same amount of energy required to manufacture, transport and install that solar system.  Seven years earlier, in 2004, the US National Renewable Energy Lab³determined that it took three to four years for energy payback.  In just seven years the energy payback is significantly faster.

We can expect the future energy payback time to be even better.  For example, recent manufacturing breakthroughs could reduce the amount of pure silicon used in a solar panel by up to 90%.  Creating pure silicon is an energy-intensive part of making a solar cell, so reducing the amount of silicon used results in a faster energy payback. 

The energy payback calculation also depends on the location of the installed solar system.  In the 2011 study, the PV system was assumed to be in a climate similar to the Midwest or East Coast.  In the Bay Area a solar installation with little shade can be expected to generate about 20% more energy per year.  So the energy payback for a solar system in the Bay Area would be closer to 10 months.

The useful life of a solar PV system is (more…)

The mkLotus prefab green home - the latest design by Michelle Kaufmann Designs

Prefabricated homes aren’t really that new of a concept in the building market. For many decades now, modular prefabricated homes have been built and sold as a less expensive alternative to buying a home on the market. The difference today is that prefab has become trendy. With a bit of an aesthetic facelift and a rebranding scheme, modular homes have become the hot new thing in home building and buying. As statistics on unemployment, a failing economy, crippling debt, soaring college costs, and so much more bombard our views, the thought of owning a house is almost impossible. Many young professionals struggle to pay off college loans well into their adulthood and years after they have completed their degrees. This causes major adult life steps like getting married, buying a house, and having children to get pushed back further and further. But, the prefab homes that are on the market today may be just the answer. Keeping many modern-day issues in mind, prefabricated eco-friendly homes have a lot of offer the young home buyer.

1. Inexpensive

One of the most enticing things about prefabricated homes is that they can really cut back on the price of purchasing and owning a home. Though not all prefabricated models are a cheaper option than buying an existing home, they can offer many aspects of financial relief. For one, many prefab eco-friendly home companies are focused on using reusable and highly efficient materials. By working hard to create the most energy efficient constructions, prefab homeowners can actually save a lot of money in the long run. Builders (and therefore owners) save money on materials using (more…)

QUESTION:

During my work with High Energy Homes, I’ve run into several homes with radiant floor heating. Most seem to use quite a bit of energy due to various factors from insufficient thermostat programming to poor insulation. Does anyone know of a contractor who can do an audit of this type of system?

ANSWER:

There are many companies that can do an audit, but none can actually make the radiant heat itself more efficient if it is the embedded concrete type. There, typically the pipes are closer to the ground than to the room – and contrary to common belief – heat does not rise. It follows the shortest route is.

One of the best things to do with these systems is insure the boiler is efficient, that the pipes are clean and not leaking. But the most productive change that I have found was getting a smarter thermostat. Basically it takes nearly 3 hours for the typical radiant heat system to actually warm the room after the thermostat says it is too cold. So a timed thermostat is essential.

It takes some experience figuring out how best to use these. You need to know the (more…)

When you are looking to spruce up your floors, there are several quick and easy updates that can increase your property value without causing you a lot of time and money. One of the main renovations that brings the best return on your investment is flooring.  If you are concerned of not being eco-friendly, you are in luck. There are a quite a few green flooring options available on the market that are pretty, durable, and that any future buyers will love.

Hardwood Floors

One eco-friendly alternative for hardwood is a salvaged wood floor. People are known to throw away old crates and barrels or to send to the dump remnants of older buildings like farmhouses. Instead, this wood can easily be cleaned, sanded and repurposed as a hardwood floor in your home. Once installed and sealed, these floors not only add character to your home, but they add the  beauty of the seasoned wood grain. Old wood can be found rather inexpensive at salvage yards.

Concrete

Most homes have a layer of concrete under their existing flooring. This concrete or a recently poured top can be turned into a great looking natural stone alternative. Etching and acid staining can color and seal the concrete into just about any shade desired. Concrete also works well installed over underfoot radiant heating systems.

Bamboo

Bamboo is great for floors. Depending on the way the graining lays, bamboo flooring can look just like wood floors, or it can have a neat textured or patterned feel. They are hard and resilient, and bamboo is grown like wheat, quickly in a short amount of time. Bamboo is also mildew-, mold-, bacteria- and water-resistant.  Make sure to look into the VOC levels of the bamboo floor and opt for the lowest possible, no need for breathing fumes from an “eco friendly’ product.

Cork

Cork is normally seen in bottles and as bulletin boards or sign hanging places on walls. Cork is designed to be resistant to mildew, bacteria, and mold. It also naturally repels moisture. The best part is cork floor is soft and warm on bare feet, which makes getting up in the morning a little easier and oh so pleasant.

Glass Tiles

Glass tiles make great floors. They are hardy and durable. They can be very slick, but texturing makes them less slippery. Many glass tiles are made from recycled materials, including bottles and jars. Just look for recycled written on the packaging.  Glass tiles make a beautiful, green choice.

Cork, bamboo, glass tiles, concrete, and salvaged wood are great eco-friendly flooring options. These are easily installed, and when you are selling your home, buyers will love the looks of them. Whichever flooring option you use, these environmentally friendly choices will add value to your home.

If you had to imagine the greenest home in California, what images would spring to mind?  Would it be some clay, dome shaped structure perfectly exposed to solar angles, or maybe an ultra chic, boxy looking modern beauty with massive windows facing a valley?  What if I told you that this home sits on a pretty standard residential street in Santa Clara and an untrained eye wouldn’t even notice any “greenness” about it if they drove by?

Meet the “Bluebird” residence.  This Earth Bound Home’s show house  is also the personal residence of founder David Edwards.  Rated as the Greenest Home in California by Build it Green organization, the original 1400 sq. ft. ranch style home was added to and remodeled, creating a 3100 sq. ft. 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with an office and workout room.   Awards range from Acterra’s Business Environmental Awards Built Environment Award to Build It Green’s South Bay Best New Home award for the 1996 Green Home Tour. Come with us on a video tour to explore all the ingenuity, design and careful choice of materials that went into this project.  (Also see a list of “green” features below the video.)

This home’s many green features include:

• Small 2.7 kw Photovoltaic solar electric panels provide all of houses electrical needs
• Solar thermal renewable energy systems
• An inexpensive and no maintenance Grey water system waters the only plants in the entire landscaping that require water, the clumping Bamboo.
• A 1400 gallon underground rainwater cistern collects rainwater every winter
• All FSC wood framing and FSC certified Brazilian Cherry Flooring
• Home built with Structural Insulated Panels(SIPs)
• 65% more efficient than Californias’ Title-24 Energy Efficiency requirements
• $155/year gas bill, $4/year electric bill, $132/year water bill
• 93%  recycling and reuse of building demolition debris
• Half of all windows were purchased from salvage yards, saving over $10,000 over new windows
• All doors on the first floor were salvaged, saving $3,000.
• All trim throughout the house was salvaged from old redwood decks, fences and the siding on old houses. It was milled on site and the shavings used as mulch on the landscaping.
• New One Lawn Synthetic Lawn contains no heavy metals and requires no maintenance or water. None of the landscape requires supplemental water and saves approx. 50,000 gallons of water a year.
• House uses 31,285 gallons of water a year, for 5 people. This is approx 84% less. than the average household uses(~110 gallons per person/day- including irrigation)

Photo and home description courtesy of Earth Bound Homes

When most people think “green” homes they imagine solar panels and fancy energy saving gadgets.  It doesn’t have to be this way.  We invite you to explore with us a passive solar home in Saratoga (Bay Area) designed by a local architect Hari Sripadanna.  The home has achieved a LEED Gold rating and truly stands as a model for sustainability in our community.  After all, Hari bought parts of his house on Craigslist! 

Obviously, we could not cover all the fascinating details in the video so if you want to learn more, please read Hari’s comments and see design plans right below the video.  Enjoy.

by Hari Saripadanna (parts of the article was originally posted on the GAB Report):

With increasing popularity of green building and passive solar design, it is important to understand that sustainable design is more than a collection of credits. The key is to create synergy between building systems and practices that multiply each other’s benefit. One can create more value simply by choosing two or more complimentary sustainable design elements that play off of each other. The combined effect is more than the benefit when these design elements or systems are used alone. 

I would like to share with you some synergistic concepts used in the design of my house and show you how (more…)