renovations

Occupational Safety in Sustainable Building Renovations

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:37:51 +0100

--The most sustainable materials are often recycled materials. The same can be said for buildings in some cases. But it is important to realize that when cleaning up an older building you often run into unsustainable materials that can be hazardous to contractors during renovation. Our friends at Asbestos.com have delivered a featured blog post to share some of the hazards of renovating a building.

As the “environmentally friendly” movement continues to gain popularity, sustainable building renovations are also taking up an ever-increasing percentage of construction projects.

Some sustainable renovations are simple, like adding rooftop solar panels or installing new light shelves. However, other renovations that can enhance a building’s “green” factor can damage asbestos-containing materials, posing an exposure threat to the workers.

Sustainable renovations that might release asbestos into the air include:

Tuning up heating or cooling systems (often insulated with asbestos)
Clearing out boilers (also insulated with asbestos)
Tearing up carpet to expose terrazzo flooring (asbestos was once an ingredient in carpet glue)
Replacing old windows (asbestos has been found in wall cladding and window sills)

During these renovations, or any other renovations where older construction products are disturbed, workers must make asbestos safety a priority. Asbestos is a natural material, but it can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer if it is inhaled or ingested. Construction (both on traditional and sustainable projects) poses one of the largest risks for asbestos exposure.

Reducing Asbestos Risks during Renovation

Unfortunately, the presence of asbestos is almost guaranteed in buildings that were constructed before the 1980s, and handling asbestos-containing materials is sometimes unavoidable. However, asbestos safety procedures can reduce the risk of releasing asbestos fibers into the air.

Before performing any construction activities on a potentially asbestos-containing material, workers should send samples of the item in question to a laboratory, where its asbestos content can be confirmed.

If a product is found to contain asbestos, workers can employ wet-removal techniques (or dry ice techniques when dealing with certain asbestos adhesives) to reduce the chances of asbestos entering the airspace. Any debris that is released during the construction process should be treated with care and vacuumed up by a machine equipped with a HEPA filter before the construction crew leaves the site.

While performing these sustainable renovations, construction workers must wear appropriate safety gear as provided by their employer. Personal protective equipment recommended for asbestos-contaminated jobsites include disposable coveralls, eyewear, boots, gloves and full-or-half-face respirators with a HEPA filtered cartridge.

Author bio: Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center. She combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.

Energy Efficient Curtains and Blinds

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:19:15 +0100

--Thermal insulated window treatments act as a similar energy efficient retrofit as low E window films.

In a recent post, the use of low E residential window films was discussed as a viable opportunity to reduce solar heat gain. Solar heat gain is perhaps one of the largest contributors to high cooling costs in warmer months. In addition, UV rays entering your house can cause furniture to be destroyed. There are plenty of undeniable reasons why solar heat gain can be devastating to a home's ability to be energy efficient; the question is what can be done to reduce or prevent it?

If low E residential window films don't seem to be a practical solution, or if you are looking for additional protection against solar heat gain, one should consider the use of energy efficient curtains or blinds.

Mostly all windows in a home or office that look directly into occupied spaces need curtains or blinds for privacy at night and to shade the interior when not as much direct sunlight is desired. When shopping for curtains and blinds for these instances consider options that use liners or materials that reject UV rays that cause solar heat gain and damage your furnishings. Here are some great selections that are stylish and energy efficient.

Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtain
by Best Home Fashion
$64.99

These curtains come in a variety of colors and are sold in pairs at 84 inch length and feature a sleek, contemporary look with solid grommet top fittings that slip right over any standard or designer curtain rod. Laboratory testing concludes that these curtains will block 100% of UV rays and will insulate against heat and cold. Also available in 63" length for $59.99.

Imperial Matchstick Bamboo Roll-up Blinds(30 x 72)
by Radiance
$31.97

These indoor/outdoor blinds filter harmful UV rays, offering energy efficient insulating qualities. Use these blinds on your windows and notice a decrease in your home or office's energy demands. Also available in 36" and 48" widths.

Low E Residential Window Films

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:31:37 +0100

The sun's energy is one of the most overlooked contributors to the high energy costs that homeowner's face every month. Solar heat gain is used to refer to heat from the sun that enters your home through windows and skylights even when they are closed. This heat must be removed by your air conditioning making it work harder and costing you more money. A very cost effective way to control this heat and help keep your energy bills down is to use residential low E window films.

These easy, sustainable, DIY protective coatings use the same spectrally selective glass technologies that are used in some of the most energy efficient skyscrapers and commercial buildings. Spectrally selective window films help to manage the sun's energy all year round; keeping 55% of winter heating in your home and reflecting 70% of solar heat gain in the summer. At a negligible investment compared to new windows, you can see the return on your investment through lowered utility costs in as little as a few months!

One of the best and most affordable window films is the Gila LES361 Platinum window films. In addition to energy savings, this low E residential window film can offer several other priceless benefits. By reflecting 99% of harmful UV rays you are protecting your interior furnishings from fading. The Gila window film also rejects 67 percent of glare, filling your interior spaces with more pleasant natural light that does not heat up your home and drive up energy costs.

Remember to be smart when installing your low E window films! It is possible that protective coatings are not necessary for every window in your home to see results. In the northern hemisphere the south facing sides of homes are responsible for most of the solar heat gain. Coating these windows will allow effective natural light in, while rejecting unwanted heat gain. North facing windows will not see much if any direct sunlight and therefore may not need to be coated. Realizing this will help cut down the initial investment without reducing savings in energy costs!

The Gila window film is a great product for your next sustainable DIY renovation project. This product is manufactured and packaged in the USA to ensure that it is produced to the highest standards in sustainablility and quality.

Home Energy Audit Tools

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:30 +0100

Residential energy audits are the first step in cutting energy costs. Before eliminating energy loss in your home you must first identify where your house is losing the most energy. Using this information you are more capable of effectively cutting energy costs without wasting time and money on projects that may not produce as valuable results.

Another way to save money and increase the return on investment for your energy efficiency projects is to perform the energy audit yourself. While a professional home energy audit provides a thorough analysis of all energy loss in a home, a DIY energy audit can be just as effective if done correctly. These tools can be used to perform your DIY energy audit at very little cost compared to a professional audit.

The Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector is very easy to use and is useful to perform seasonal energy audits. The thermal leak detector is a dramatically cheaper alternative to a thermo imaging camera used by professionals. Thermo imaging cameras start around $1,500 dollars and take radiometric images to locate air leaks. The Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector detector is a similar looking device that retails for $64 and provides the same results. The thermal leak detector works using an infrared thermometer to take a thermal measurement at different points along a building envelope. By reporting the temperature at different points along a wall the user can locate hidden energy leaks. It is very useful in revealing leaky windows, doors, uninsulated walls, pipes, ducts and more.

When performing a DIY energy audit using this tool, you can identify which walls to insulate and which windows and doors to replace. This allows you to maximize return by only replacing windows and doors that leak energy.

Another very useful tool in performing a home energy audit is a Kilowatt meter. The EZ Electricity Usage Monitor helps homeowners recognize which appliances are drawing the most power on any given day. As the cost of electricity increases it is more beneficial than ever to cut back on electric usage.

More often than not homeowners don’t realize what really makes a difference on your energy bill. Typically, a homeowner’s first action is to turn off the lights when not in use. While this is a good idea, it is not necessarily the most beneficial. More often than not appliances, computers, cable boxes, and other electronics that are constantly plugged in draw the most power throughout the day. Whatever the cause, the KILL A WATT EZ Electricity Usage Monitor will help you find what is consuming the most electricity in your home and help you cut the cost of your monthly utilities.

Smart Home Renovations

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:01:46 +0100

Respect the Environment while you improve your home

A sustainable home renovation can range from upgrading windows and insulation to replacing the flooring with eco-friendly materials. The first tenet of green building is to conserve energy in every way you can: through the course of the renovation and in your daily living, the way your home uses and saves energy will determine just how sustainable your living space has become.

When renovating, you should use materials that have been recycled, re-purposed or harvested from a renewable resource, but a truly green living environment must take some other things into consideration. For instance, the energy and materials that go into recycling, production and shipping can negate the environmental concern that went into the product design, so you'll need to shop with some background knowledge and a careful eye.

Insightful Designs for a Greener Home

If you're making a few small upgrades, choose wisely when replacing each type of fixture, structure or decoration. Low-flow plumbing fixtures, no-VOC paint, recycled wood floor planks and tight fitting, low energy replacement windows are all better choices than their conventional counterparts. Whichever material you decide on, make sure to look a little deeper than the buzz words on the label: supporting harsh chemicals, extraneous packaging and companies that are merely riding the green building wave without living up to their manufacturing responsibilities will counteract your best intentions.

Is Wood a Wasteful or Prudent Choice?

If you're planning a big renovation like an addition or an overhaul of the interior, you'll probably need a good amount of wood. While new wood can be environmentally destructive, some wood is actually a very sustainable choice: products created from farmed wood are often more eco-friendly, as many of these companies will plant a tree for each one that they take from the ground. Alternatively, you can opt for a hardwood substitute like engineered wood, cork or bamboo that has been grown organically in order to reap the rewards of wood without the negative environmental effects.

Supporting environmentally-sound tree farming is a step in the right direction, but there is a more sustainable wood source available. Reclaimed wood is growing in popularity, and for good reason: not only is old wood durable, rustic and unique, but taking it from riverbeds, old barns and rediscovered furniture has virtually zero impact on new growth and the land around you. If you're having trouble finding the wood you need, why not visit a construction site where they will cast aside perfectly usable pieces, or else visit a farm and ask about any old barns or sheds that have been dismantled. A little searching can go a long way, so commit some time now to enjoy a greener home in the future.

CONSUMERS BEWARE: the truth about sustainable materials

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:23:48 +0100

Sustainable construction materials are becoming more widely developed and produced. While this is great for the industry these new materials and products for sustainable renovations and new construction must be assessed by consumers and contractors on many different levels. The problem with the advancing market is that companies start producing items that appeal to green consumers because they merely have to in order to stay in business. But are these green building products and materials really sustainable?

Truly unique sustainable materials and products are produced locally by companies that are founded on environmentally sound principles. For example, it is not sustainable to buy bamboo flooring that is manufactured in china, loaded with high VOC epoxy resin and shipped half way around the world. Bamboo flooring is a sustainable material because it is durable, and grows rapidly in abundance, but supporting a company that harms the earth in such a manner does more harm than good.

So how does a consumer decide which sustainable renovation materials to choose?

When choosing sustainable materials, spend a good amount of time researching the companies that are producing and providing the products. As a consumer you can only account for a small percentage of trees that are cut down for your cabinets or flooring. So mathematically, buying 100 square feet of Brazilian Maple hardwood flooring is negligible when it comes to destroying the rainforest. And besides, the trees used to make that hardwood flooring have already been cut down when you place your order. However, by supporting the company you have now given them more money to go out and cut more trees down.

Remaining on the topic of sustainable flooring, consumers can look for reliable certifications that label certain companies and products that are sustainable. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a respected certification service that identifies wood products that come from controlled sources, usually companies that farm their trees, growing as many as they cut down. One particular type of wood flooring that consistently gets FSC certified is engineered wood flooring. This flooring is made using a thin lam wood on top of multiple layers of ply. It dramatically reduces the amount of trees needed to achieve a desired aesthetic in your home and is also very durable,

To summarize, search for sustainable materials and products that not only bring a sustainable asset to your home, but also support sustainable businesses that are caring for the environment in the same way; not just trying to pull in green consumers’ money.

Prefab Home Additions

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:41:34 +0100

Prefabricated structures (prefab) are sustainable because they limit any material waste, can be assembled in a significantly shorter period of time, and can often be disassembled and moved if necessary. I have elaborated on each of these points and more in a recent post about steel prefab. However, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce prefab in the renovations blog.

The reason being is that many new prefab start ups are designing and building sheds to go in back yards that serve as extra rooms for a home. Popularly used as offices and work spaces, these structures range from 100 to 1200 square feet and can also serve as guest rooms and playrooms.

Two companies worthy of mentioning are Modern Cabana and Modern Sheds. Both start ups are products of the west coast and specialize in energy efficient prefab design that focuses on environmentally friendly products. Modern Cabana prices start around 85 dollars/ sq. ft., while Modern Shed pricing is generally 100 dollars/sq. ft.

(Top to Bottom: Modern Shed, Modern Cabana)

Radiant Floor Heating Sustainability

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:33:05 +0100

A radiant floor heating system can be used with a couple different sources of heat sources. The most popular is a hydronic source running off of a boiler but the most sustainable is a geothermal heat pump. However, the application of a radiant floor heating system is debated as a sustainable heating option. It has been experimented in with commercial and residential buildings, also in cold, moderate and warm climates. The most popular debate is based on its use as retrofit system or in new construction.

Radiant floor heating systems are installed under subflooring and floor finishes such as hardwood or tile. It is completely hidden, consisting of tubes embedded in a concrete or gypsum slab. The tubes are filled with water or gas as necessary that is supplied by the heating source. The space above the floor is heated by radiation and also convection through the floor. An equivalent level of comfort can be achieved compared to air induced heat by setting the thermostat 4-8 degrees cooler.

At first glance this may seem like a sustainable energy efficient system for moderate to cold climates. However, it is not appropriate for many green homes because it contradicts and interferes with other systems and technologies. A highly insulated home designed for energy efficiency would become too hot with a radiant floor system. A person’s feet could heat up the slab through convection to warm up the room. Also, any passive solar design could warm up the space additionally as well. So in the case of a home demanding low heating loads, a radiant floor heating system can be considered over-engineered.

Economically, the use of radiant floor systems may be more of an expense than needed. The sources required to heat the system are expensive to install. This is an unnecessary expense considering heating bills that only cost a few hundred dollars a year.

So what about using a radiant floor system for an energy retrofit? There are several aspects to consider when deciding to retrofit a home for sustainability and energy efficiency. Will you upgrade the building envelope, energy systems, or a little bit of both. This varies from home to home depending on location and existing circumstances. One should have an energy audit completed on their home to determine specifics.

The use of a radiant floor heating system can be a wise decision for many homes that see a fair balance of all four seasons and are not designed with highly efficient building envelopes. Goals in a sustainable home retrofit should eliminate air leaks in the home such as walls, roofs, windows and doors. If considering investing in radiant floor heating, it makes the most sense economically to fix the larger air leaks without investing too much money on completely new insulation or EIFS systems. Finding a fair balance of minimal building envelope upgrades and a radiant floor heating system will provide optimal sustainable return on investment.

Sustainable Kitchen Inspiration and Ideas

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:53:53 +0100

If are thinking of doing a kitchen renovation and need some ideas of where you can go green, look no further. The HGTV green dream home giveaway consisted of a green home in California that features many sustainable materials and products. Some highlights of the kitchen include quartz countertops, engineered wood flooring, energy star appliances, and glass tile back splash.

Okay, so the Green Dream Home is not the most sustainable house featuring the most sustainable kitchen but it was built with good intentions and with the environment in mind. And unfortunately I’m sure HGTV built it with money in mind as well. Most of the features are donated by companies looking to get their products showcased in the home. With this in mind, I will highlight further sustainable alternatives in the captions of these photos.

Here are some pictures to hit you with some ideas for your sustainable kitchen renovation.

Engineered wood flooring throughout gives the kitchen a sustainable and unique look. Other popular alternatives include cork or bamboo flooring.

CeasarStone quartz countertops are made by an “eco-friendly” company but are not the most sustainable countertop. Quartz countertops still come from mined rock. See several more sustainable alternatives here. The Kenmore “smart” dishwasher shown here saves water by detecting how much it will need first.

Stainless Steel Kenmore cook top and oven is Energy Star rated. This electric cook top turns on only when a pot or pan is detected on it. It also turns off automatically, saving more energy.

Kenmore also produces a line of sink hardware with low flow aerators installed to conserve more water in your kitchen.

Lumboo: A sustainable failure

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:06:53 +0100

calibamboo.com

The capabilities of an $8 stick of lumber and where it could be used in sustainable construction.

Cali Bamboo has introduced a line of engineered dimensional lumber that is made from 100% compressed bamboo. The marketing points for this new product are a “stronger more durable wood that is affordable and green.” Stronger and more durable? Maybe, but it hasn’t undergone any formal testing for code regulations and is only sold for fence posts. Affordable? There are cheaper options then an 8 dollar 2x4 if you didn’t know. And green? Sure bamboo is green, but that is not the bottom line here. It is manufactured in China using hydraulic presses and phenol-formaldehyde adhesive. Basically, you pay 8 dollars for a 2x4 that has been injected with a toxic resin, pressed in a factory, and shipped halfway around the world.

So with all these considerations taken into account, what is bamboo lumber good for? I guess they pretty much nailed it with the idea to use it as a fence post, but there is no testing data to back up the durability claim. Maybe it could be used for interior carpentry but what does it look like when it is beveled or chamfered. Apparently it splinters easily when cut with the grain. It is extremely high density and wouldn’t sand well. It also can’t be nailed. Instead, it must be predrilled and screwed. Cali Bamboo plans to sell bamboo decking and even framing lumber. I can’t imagine someone pre drilling and screwing every connection in a stick-framed home. The entire idea of bamboo lumber seems impractical.

From a business standpoint, I guess their reasoning for producing bamboo lumber was to capitalize on the green fad that made bamboo so popular. I can see its use being very selective in sustainable construction; only demanded by very specialized features that are architecturally desired.

If a sustainable lumber is what you are looking for, consider FSC certified lumber that is locally harvested by responsible forestry practices.