Archive for the ‘Green Living’ Category

Years ago I was visiting a friend in Tokyo and was astonished that she took water from the tap for tea, and it was too hot to drink. This was way back in 1979. I was amazed that all the hot water for the home’s kitchen and bath came from a heat-on-demand water tank powered by natural gas. Later that year, I saw passive solar water heating systems on the roofs of homes just outside of Tel Aviv. Thirty years later I’ve yet to see these systesm in widespread adoption around the states.

Then you consider that tank-less, heat-on-demand systems are available—with models that just heat your teapot, while others power the shower—they’re still a ways off from popular use around the states.  You’ll probably remember (or still have) one of those tea elements for plugging in and using electrical power to heat coffee. That’s as far as most of us go.

The Savings?

You might save a hundred dollars a year in energy bills from an on-demand system. But if you’re considering buying an on-demand heater to cover all your hot water needs, be sure to consider the size of your family, the cost of installing a system, the tank capacity, and the amount of hot water you need every day. The Department of Energy says a majority of systems can generate 2-5 gallons a minute, depending on the fuel source. From your own experience you know that gas-fired heaters are quicker to raise your water to the right temperature than electric ones.

Tax Credits for Tank-less  Water Heaters

You can read up on the 2009-2010 tax credit at the Alliance to Save Energy website.  In essence, your potential credit for installing a tank-less unit for the credit depends on your finding a system that can heat the water to efficiency standards based on source (electric, gas, oil, propane). An acceptable energy factor may be hard to find. The credit may only be $300, but pennies saved by energy efficiency can add up.

According to the Department of Energy, the energy factor is determined by  fuel consumption and the speed of recovery,  and how much heat is lost in the cycle of briefly storing and pumping out the water. When shopping around, examine units for a high-number energy factor, meaning the most-efficient for home use.

Dedicating a tank-less heater to appliances, spas, or as a secondary power source can prove a wise choice if there’s no constant or huge demand.

Laundry rooms are designed for utility, not decor. But so many laundry rooms become catch-all enclosures for clutter, storage, and other pack-rat activities. After a while, they can become home to hazardous chemicals or firetraps with over-extended electrical outlets, or danger zones for young children.

If you’re going to remodel your laundry room, consider replacing outdated or worn parts on your washer and dryer, as well as electrical and plumbing features that are either in disrepair or require efficient upgrades. And a nice coat of paint or wallpaper can make this often dingy room more pleasing to the eye.

Basements Are Best
If you currently have your laundry in the basement, you should consider keeping it there. The small convenience you gain by moving your laundry room to an upper floors is easily offset by the potential water damage to your home from leaks or flooding. One insurance company reports $170 million in water damage from washing machine hose failures.

A simple laundry room remodel project can include new flooring, expanded cabinets with utility drawers or storage, shelving, new lighting, and, if there’s a window, fresh treatments.

Size Matters
If you need more space, think before breaking out a wall.  There are stack-able and compact washing machines that may be more cost-efficient than breaking out walls. That’s if those models can serve your family.

You may also need to consider room for a new sink or ironing space. Installing new cabinets can double your existing storage and add comfort to working in the room.

Safety First
Using 2002-2004 data, the U.S. Fire Administration division of FEMA reported 15,600 fires, resulting in 15 deaths and 400 injuries-–attributed to faulty clothes dryers. That means, in addition to renovating your laundry room, you should renovate your maintenance routine on washers and dryers.

If you have foil or plastic ducting attachments to the dryer, replace them with modern, fire-resistant corrugated metal to increase the air exhaust. Make a habit of not only cleaning lint traps on the dryer, but cleaning behind the traps and behind the entire unit.

Go Green
And if you want to save energy costs when replacing your washer and dryer unit, shop for Energy Star appliances that can cut your water and energy costs in half. By washing in warm or cold cycles you can also slash your electric bills.

Another tip: Paint your renovated laundry room in light colors so you won’t feel like you’ve been banished to the cave whenever you do the wash.

It’s time to revisit the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and its energy improvements section.  In sum, Section 1121 of the act was created to offer a $1,500 tax credit for materials applied towards an energy retrofit of windows, skylights, doors, insulation and roofing.

Homeowners can earn the credit up to a 30 percent ceiling on materials. However, if you’re working with heating and air conditioning, you could receive a credit up to 30 percent of the cost and installation for a solar- powered water heater or biomass stove.  Another provision of the legislation creates a no-repay $8,000 tax credit to a first-time homeowner.

Tax Rules and a Quick Warning
The provisions of the stimulus  tripled the size of credits for upgrading your home. But you must meet Federal requirements to successfully file for the credit or return. All new HVAC systems or new windows, skylights, doors, etc., have to be installed between  January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010.

If you’re planning on taking the credit, you must buy products that meet Federal energy efficiency requirements. Even a product identified on its label as an Energy Star certified item may not meet the regulations. New compliance levels have been set based on National Fenestration Council (NFRC) ratings for  U-Factor and Solar Heat-Gain-Coefficient values.

There are varieties of insulation products that meet lifespan and warranty requirements that you can add to your materials checklist. And roofing materials that meet Energy Star requirements may also qualify.

Insist on Paper
For each purchase you want to apply to your tax return, you’ll need the receipt, the product tag verifying its energy-efficiency ratings (Manufacturer’s Certification Statement), and a separate form provided by the retailer indicating the sale of an qualifying item.

Don’t confuse your contractor with your tax attorney. Look carefully at advertising from contractors who claim that they’ll match your $1,500 tax credit.  That’s assuming that you can qualify for one.  Remember, only certain energy-efficient renovations qualify for tax credits and include labor costs. Review the list at the Energy Star website.

Also, don’t take a contractor’s word that the materials meet the provisions unless you see the actual manufacturer’s certification tag. Any contract or work-order you arrange with your installer should itemize materials costs in a separate breakout from labor. You’ll need to save all the documentation you can for your records.

It’s worth a note that the law also set aside $5 billion in funds for weatherization assistance to qualified low-income households.

It’s beginning to be the height of summer, the temperatures are reaching above 90 degrees and every morning I thank god that I get to leave my house and go somewhere with air conditioning. 

But, when I get home, I realize my yard isn’t so lucky and my lawn, especially, is suffering. What was lovely and green in early spring is now dry, patchy and looks like straw. It’s impossible to give my lawn enough water to get through the season looking perfect and green. Even if I did, I don’t know if it’s the most environmental choice. 

So, when reading Sunset magazine recently and saw an article on fake grass it got me thinking about whether or not I would really consider getting rid of the real thing for something else. 

The appealing thing about fake lawns is that you save water, since you don’t need to give it water to survive and look nice. This is especially appealing in areas prone to drought like Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, to name a few places. In order to maintain a healthy green lawn in the summer months you need to give it at least an inch of water a week – that’s a lot when the name of the game should be conservation!

There has been a lot of development on these lawn alternatives since the days of Astroturf, and you’ll likely be shocked about how real the new options look: 

(Synthetic Sod from Eco Waterless Grass)

(photo of AGL Grass)

One commenter in the Sunset article pointed out that you may save water with this kind of alternative but you’ll be creating waste. These products generally have a lifespan of about 10 years, and when you’re done it’s possible that you’ll find your product is not bio-degradable, so you’re saving water but creating waste. Not to mention, that you’ll still need to use water on your fake lawn to wash it off, so how much are you really saving? Make sure to check with the manufacturer of the product you choose about disposal after use. 

While all these alternatives are nice, I, like many other Portlanders, usually try to have the best of both real lawns and eco-consciousness. When you drive around in summer, it’s obvious we’ve all given up on trying to water our grass. In the wetter months our lawns thrive without extra help from our hoses, and in the summer we go ahead and let them get a lovely golden brown so as not to waste water, happy knowing that they’ll thrive again in a few months time after our beautiful, but always too short summer season. 

It’s Earth Day today, and in fact, it’s the 40th Earth Day to be celebrated since its inception.

In the past forty years we’ve come a long way in changing our ways to protect the earth, but as much progress as we’ve made we still have a lot of work ahead of us. Remember Al Gore on the scissor lift pointing out the spike in data? We need to make sure he doesn’t have to reach any higher than he already is to show our impact.

The inconvenient truth about getting on board with greener practices is just that, it can be slightly inconvenient to abandon our old routine and commit to a new one. It can be inconvenient to buy products that may cost more money. It can be inconvenient to actually think through all of our actions beforehand. But, in the end, if everyone took more time to consider their actions, maybe the end result would be a healthier planet for us and for our future.

Here are some of my resolutions for the coming year to help out the Earth, maybe you’ll want to add these resolutions to your list too:

1. Avoid “hypernesting”:  Hypernesting is a term I recently read about from the Apartment Therapy book The 8 Step Home Cure by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan. It’s the perfect name for the increased interest homeowners have of buying more and more things to outfit their home. With all the buying going on, and not a lot of getting rid of anything we are faced with an overload of “stuff,” hence, a constant need to “organize”.  But, as Gillingham-Ryan suggests, it’s not so much that homeowners “are in need of more organizing; we need to manage our consumption, let go of our stuff, and learn how to restore life to our homes.”

Managing our consumption is the key. Stop buying simply to buy. Just live simply. The less you consume, the less waste you’ll produce and the less waste that will go to landfills. Every time I go to Target or Ikea, I’m going to re-think my impulse purchases to make sure they are actually things I really need.

2. Make My Home More Energy Efficient: While my home could do with a new set of windows, I’m not sure my budget is going to allow for it. But there are other smaller things I plan on doing like lessen my use of vampire power, run of all of my laundry on cold, turn of lights when I’m not using them, and researching other tricks for reducing my energy use little by little.

3. Start Composting : Ok, all I have to do for this one is get the appropriate receptacles and convince the people I live with that it won’t smell. I grew up with a compost heap and have always felt guilty living life without one ever since. I think this year it’s time to get back into the habit, especially since I’ve been working more on gardening than ever before.

Composting is a great way to keep bio-degradable waste such as fruit and veggie scarps out of the landfill and back into the earth. Here’s a helpful government website to get you started.

4. Use Green Cleaning Products: I’ve already started purchasing greener products such as Seventh Generation cleaning supplies for my home. But, I really want to look into more options, Such as baking soda as an all purpose cleaner, and a lemon slice as an anti-bacterial agent for cleaning cutting boards.  I’m sure there are so many more of these eco-cleaning tips that are just as easy and affordable.

5. Consider a Rain Catchment System: I would love to be able to set up a rain catchment system at my house to have a water source for gardening, or even washing my car. Check out my previous post on these cool systems.

6. When Doing Home Improvements Use Eco or Recycled Products: If you’re going to be remodeling, think about the impact of your materials. While there is an array of beautiful, new recycled and sustainable materials, you may also want to consider re-using older materials. At the Rebuilding Center in Portland you can find hundreds of reusable windows, doors, and even sinks and bathtubs. Instead of adding to the landfill, why not re-purpose something so it never becomes junk in the first place.

For more about green building and an eco lifestyle check out our Green Living Section.

I’m always looking for ways to save.

Whether it’s killing off vampire power with items like the Smart Strip power strip, or trying to use the least amount of paper products in my kitchen that I can get away with, I am a person who likes to save money and the environment.  It’s a powerful combo, and one that is catching on with more and more homeowners.

Lots of small household upgrades pack a double punch of money savings and eco savings. Your front door for instance. Did you know that replacing exterior doors can save you money? By upgrading your exterior doors to steel or fiberglass you will gain five times as much insulation as with an older, dated door. Better insulation means you don’t need as much energy to heat and cool your home. These doors generally also include built in weather stripping, another great way to trap in heat and stop drafts.

Last but not least, if you upgrade to an EnergyStar approved exterior door you can apply for a tax credit of 30% of the cost of the project for up to $1,500.

Looking for other ways to save? Here are some other tips: 

Green Building with Joel Fraley of The Neil Kelly Company
Energy Efficency: Put Your Refrigerator to the Test
Falling Rain = Falling Utility Bills: Rain Catchment Systems

Seems that everywhere you look green building is the talk of the construction industry. While some contractors and companies just talk about it, others have dedicated years to learning about the industry and growing with it. 

The Neil Kelly Co. based in Portland, Oregon has been dedicated to the green movement for many years. Spearheading a green construction focus in the West, the company can claim to have built the first LEED certified building in the West.  Being a model for green excellence takes a dedicated team, and I’m lucky to be able to feature an interview from one of them, Joel Fraley. Joel is a great person to interview on this topic since he has both experience in the field and knowledge from being an active member in professional associations for the green building movement.

Joel has been a designer with Neil Kelly Co. for the past four years. Prior to that he ran his own business designing and building custom furniture and interiors. He first got involved in green building in the late 1980s as a carpenter working on historic renovation projects. Joel is currently on the Steering Committee for the Portland Metro HBA (Home Builder’s Association) Green Building Council. He has also been a member of the US Green Building Council since 2001, showcasing his dedication to the movement.

If you’ve been wondering what going green in your home is all about, Joel has got your answers:

1. How do you define “green building,” and why do you think it is so important? 

The definition of green building is to significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of homes on the environment and on the homeowners. Green building continues to increase in popularity and importance as we deplete our natural resources and energy costs continue to increase.

We have also learned the importance of a healthy indoor environment as it relates to our overall well-being. Many construction products contain chemicals that can be harmful to people with environmental allergies and decrease indoor air quality.

2. What are the best ways that a homeowner can make green choices during their next remodel?

Focus on ways to improve energy efficiency, first and foremost. Concentrate on sealing air infiltration and improving indoor air quality, improving insulation and the efficiency of your mechanical systems. We offer a Home Performance audit that will spell out the costs and benefits of these projects in great detail. This is the best way to make a direct impact on your energy bill.

When it comes to specifying products for your project, do your homework and make sure that you are choosing products with a proven track record of environmental responsibility. Due to the increasing popularity of green building, many manufacturers are marketing their products as “green” simply to increase sales.

(Neil Kelly Co. Custom LEED Home - Photo via Green Talk)

3. Many homeowners think that choosing green materials and techniques will only add money to their budget. From your experience, is this a true statement?

No. Many projects that were considered cutting edge a few years ago now enjoy mainstream acceptance. Examples include compact fluorescent light bulbs, no formaldehyde added building products, recycled content tile and countertop materials, cork and Marmoleum flooring, dual flush toilets and many others. Public awareness of these products continues to increase demand and lower prices. You can make a real commitment to sustainable products without affecting you overall budget. 

4. What is the most interesting green building project you’ve worked on?

Our “company retreat” outside of Telluride, Colorado was a vacation cabin built entirely of construction materials salvaged from other projects, which would normally end up in the landfill. I also worked on several Earthships, which use passive solar, old tires, aluminum cans and other recycled materials for their construction. 

(Neil Kelly Co. Custom LEED Kitchen)

5. What green products and materials for the home do you use or recommend?

Neil Kelly cabinets are made using responsibly forested woods, no-added formaldehyde agriboard case/drawer materials and low VOC glues, adhesives and finishes.

Whenever possible, we will often reuse existing materials or fixtures and work them into the new design.

Other products we specify include Marmoleum and cork flooring, recycled concrete or porcelain countertops, quartz countertops, dual flush toilets and many others. We also use a lot of salvaged woods for countertops or trim.

6. What is the best piece of advice you can give a homeowner considering starting on their first green home improvement project?

First and foremost, concentrate on the improvements that will add the most long term value to the house. Consider getting a Home Performance audit so you can address the specific areas that need the most work. When it comes to choosing products, buy local whenever possible to support your local economy and reduce transportation. Do your homework and make sure the products you select are truly sustainable and have a proven track record.

Thanks for sharing all your green expertise, Joel.

Got green building on the brain? Here are some past “green” posts you might like: 

Falling Rain = Falling Utility Bills: Rain Catchment Systems
Green Home Gift Guide
Breathe Better: Home Air Quality

Ever wondered just how much your different home appliances cost you each year in terms of energy costs? Well, now you can.

Energy Star has created a site dedicated to helping homeowners understand the impact of their refrigerator on the planet and their options for lessening that impact. By submitting some simple information about your home’s refrigerator you can find out the annual actual cost.

The site also offers information on state recycling programs, Energy Star refrigerator models and much more. The state by state break down of rebates is helpful. For example, if I upgraded my refrigerator, and recycled my old one, I would get a $30 rebate from the state of Oregon.

A refrigerator is often seen as the biggest electricity culprit in the home. Because of this, some brave people have decided to ditch their fridge altogether. While you may think it’s an impossible task, some claim that it’s not as daunting as one might think. I’m not convinced, and for now I’m keeping my fridge…no matter what the cost.