Home Improvement Done Right

According to studies conducted for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential construction and demolition projects accounted for 58 million tons of waste in 1996, and as much as 90 percent of this waste is recyclable. To help address this problem, the American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council recently released a set of guidelines for best practices in sustainable home improvement projects (see the related links).

With a little reading and advance planning, you can reduce the environmental impact of your next project—whether big or small—by adopting these strategies:

Reduce. Begin by thinking about the most efficient use of the available space and daylight, what materials or systems you can reuse, and how you can minimize the scope (and cost) of your project. You might even consider taking advantage of renewable resources such as solar energy (for electricity or water heating), wind power, geothermal energy (via a heat pump), or a combined heat-and-power system.

If you’ll be working with a contractor, choose one who is willing to recycle and work with recycled/reused or “green” products. The EPA recommends that a contractor’s bid be accompanied by a plan for reducing, reusing, or recycling construction waste as well as a description of the contractor’s experience with similar projects and references from those projects. The best possible option is a contractor or architect who has LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification—but be sure to ask for proof.

Deconstruct. When renovating an existing space, think “deconstruction” rather than demolition. Most things can be reused or donated, including flooring, siding, windows, doors, bricks, plumbing and lighting fixtures, ceiling tiles, unused roofing materials, leftover paints and varnishes, hardware such as nails and screws, and structural components.

Reuse. Before heading to the lumber yard or hardware store, look for a materials exchange such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores, which may offer both new (surplus/overstock) and used materials and building components.

Recycle. Take whatever items you cannot reuse to a local recycling facility or materials exchange (see the related links). The EPA identified more than 1,000 asphalt and concrete recycling facilities nationwide as of June 2004, as well as 700 wood-waste recycling facilities and 300 “mixed-waste” recycling facilities that accept demolition debris.

http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/greentips/

Vertical (Diagonal?) Farm from Work AC in NYC

We love vertical farms and while they may not be as practical as green roofs, the idea of food being grown right in the city doesn't get any more local than this. New York magazine asked four architects to dream up proposals for a lot on Canal Street and Work AC came up with this. “We thought we’d bring the farm back to the city and stretch it vertically,” says Work AC co-principal Dan Wood. “We are interested in urban farming and the notion of trying to make our cities more sustainable by cutting the miles [food travels],” adds his co-principal (and wife) Amale Andraos. Underneath is what appears to be a farmers market, selling what grows above. Artists would be commissioned to design the columns that hold it up and define the space under: “We show a Brancusi, but it could be anyone,” says Wood. ::New York Magazine

When you go to the site, you will see other plans, some very beautiful...

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/vertical-diagonal-farm-in-new-york.php

Innovative Tower To Feature Atrium Of Wind Turbines

The “Clean Technology Tower” is a highly efficient building which will be constructed in Chicago. The tower will have wind turbines positioned at the corners of the building, to capture wind at its highest velocity as it accelerates around the tower. At the apex, where wind speeds are at a maximum, a domed double roof cavity directs the wind towards an array of wind turbines. The negative pressure created by the turbines will be used to ventilate interior spaces. The dome itself is shaded by solar cells that capture the southern sun.

The complex includes over 1.8 million square feet of office space as well as a 300,000 square foot hotel, a spa and street-level retail.

It was designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, the same firm who designed the recently featured solar Masdar Headquarters.
This tower in Chicago is an evolution of the Pearl River Tower which both Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill were responsible for while at SOM. Where Pearl River used the face of the building to funnel wind into two large turbine zones this design uses an array of smaller turbines at the corners of the building to catch the wind at its highest velocity.

http://www.metaefficient.com/architecture-and-building/innovative-tower-to-feature-atrium-of-wind-turbines.html#more-1268

Habitat for Humanity Sees Affordability in Energy-Efficient Homes

Builders of energy-conscious homes have always known that lower utility bills more than offset the additional costs of efficiency upgrades. That makes energy-efficient features a natural fit with affordable housing. Now one of the nation's largest home builders, Habitat for Humanity, wants local affiliates to make energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly construction a priority in all its projects.

"Our goal is to help our affiliates to become leaders in their communities on these issues," says Frank Purvis, Habitat International's director of environment. "Our training programs educate affiliates on what has to be done for their homes to become more energy-efficient in a way that doesn't raise the total cost of housing." In addition to sending out printed materials and putting on local training seminars, the organization is assembling a nationwide network of volunteer experts to help local affiliates meet efficiency and environmental goals. These experts give advice on design, site issues and specifications. They help develop lists of materials and make sure house plans meet energy codes. They also review current construction methods and show the affiliate what changes need to be made.

"We plan to build 50,000 houses over the next four years," says Purvis, "and we want each one to be energy efficient and environmentally responsible."

One affiliate that has taken the challenge seriously is Houston Habitat for Humanity. In a recent high-profile project, the Houston affiliate joined the Alliance to Save Energy, Houston Light and Power, and local builders to complete the "Energy Affordable Home." This energy- and resource-efficient house was featured at the 1996 National Association of Home Builders' annual convention. But the project was more than a one-time event. Executive Director Mike Shirl says that all of Houston Habitat's homes now include improved window shading and orientation, energy-conserving duct design, water-conserving fixtures, increased ceiling and wall insulation, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, natural ventilation and energy-efficient lighting. Not only must these homes meet or exceed the requirements of the CABO Model Energy Code, but according to Shirl, Houston Habitat was the first non-profit builder in the country to be named an Energy Star Builder by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Shirl found that the shift to building more efficiently wasn't a dramatic one. "It evolved naturally as we looked for ways to make home ownership more affordable," he says. "The main difference in how we operate is that we now look at long-term benefits as opposed to short term ones." The impact on volunteers that build the homes was also minimal. Shirl points out that the "Energy Affordable Home" was built with readily available technologies that can be easily adopted by any builder. "We have to train our volunteers to foam and caulk chases, windows, doors and the like," he says, "but we can typically do that in about 30 minutes."

Maximizing Savings
While Habitat's focus is making home ownership affordable for low-income people, the organization has an extra incentive in that it also serves as the mortgage company for the homes it builds. Lowering monthly operating expenses, says Shirl, reduces the chance that buyers will default on mortgages. Energy is the second largest monthly cost of home ownership, and average monthly utility bills for Houston's hot and humid climate range from $90 to $110. Efficient design and construction methods can reduce these costs by $25 to $35 per month. The home's energy package adds around $1,800 to the mortgage, but because home owners save more money each month than they pay to finance the energy improvements, they enjoy a positive cash flow from the first month. Within eight years, savings will pay the entire cost of the improvements and the owners get to pocket the savings.

The Houston affiliate also educates its home owners on how lifestyle can affect utility bills. In fact, studies by the Alliance to Save Energy of low-income weatherization recipients have shown that home owner education can increase energy savings by up to 50 percent, while helping the savings to continue over time--a winning formula for home owner and lender.

For more information contact: Habitat for Humanity International, 912-924-6935 or Houston Habitat for Humanity, 713-521-2816


Houston Habitat for Humanity's "Energy Affordable Home"
An energy-efficient HVAC system: 12.0 SEER air conditioner, programmable digital thermostat, upgraded duct insulation, and duct sealing with mastic.
Improved insulation: R-30 ceiling and R-16 wall insulation. Exterior rigid foam with taped joints. Insulated exterior doors with weatherstripping and airtight thresholds. Insulated, weatherstripped attic access ladder.
Energy-efficient appliances: Refrigerator, washer, dryer, and water heater meet or exceed the minimum national appliance energy standards.
Enhanced solar shading: Covered front porch with full shading of front door and windows. Two-foot roof overhangs and solar window screens installed for significantly reduced solar gain. White vinyl siding and light-colored roof shingles.
Efficient lighting: Fluorescent lights in kitchen. Exterior security lighting using photocell controls and lower-wattage bulbs.
Environmental: Low VOC interior paints and floor coverings. Water conservation through low-flow shower heads and faucets. No-lead fixtures.Houston Habitat for Humanity's "Energy Affordable Home"

This article appeared in Energy Source Builder #48 December 1996,
©Copyright 1996 Iris Communications, Inc.

http://oikos.com/esb/48/habitat.html