Earth Day 2017

Let's protect the world's forests:

Since '90- loss of 1,000 football fields/hr-1.3mm square km; get involved; do your part.

Indonesia lost 39mm acres in last century, per Univ. Maryland & World Resources Institute

Brazil did a good job between 2004-14 reducing Amazon forest deforestation by 70%.

However, Brazil from 7/15 to 8/16 cut down 2 million acres of forest -not good; write to Brazil to stop this deforestation.

Let's do our share - get involved

Deforestation and forest degradation cause surges to greenhouse gases into atmosphere - support organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International.

Trump Presidency & Green Energy Projects

Needless to say, the early signs of a Trump presidency and how it may relate to the green energy, alternative energy, renewable energy and green building is up in the air.

Green Jobs

He claims to promote he will bring jobs to America -well, these industries are not only creating jobs, high paying jobs, and are moving America away from reliance on BIG OIL.

We will see how much the Trump administration caters to big oil, coal and other areas that we would like to see reduced in impact to the environment and society.

As we know, the building industry is cyclical - the industry has been in a growth spurt for several years. Shaking up this momentum may turn back the clock for years. Please support these industries and not the short sighted approach/talk coming from president-elect.

Please review this article from the LA Times on Trump and green energy projects - read it HERE.

A 2016 report called “World Green Building Trends" revealed the latest trends in environmentally sound, people-focused construction and building.

1. Energy Net-Positive Homes

The gold-standard for green homes in terms of energy production versus consumption used to be what's known as "Zero Energy". This means that the building produces whatever energy it needs to function, thereby consuming "zero energy" from other sources. Today, however, that paradigm has been replaced by an even more noble and daunting objective: "Positive Energy" buildings, meaning they produce even more energy than they utilize.

Net-positive energy homes use solar power to create more energy than the home consumes. Excess power is then either used to power additional electrical items, like hot tubs, electric cars, or yard tools, or sold back to the public energy grid.

2. Water Preservation & Reclamation

As many states around the U.S. experience repeated, enduring droughts that decimate land and livelihoods, conservation and more efficient water usage methods gain increasing urgency. Among the techniques and technologies being employed to address this growing need, include:

• drought resistant landscaping
• efficient irrigation technologies
• greywater reuse
• rainwater harvesting
• water conservation fixtures

A new innovation called Xeriscaping has also turned yards drought-resistant. By starting with drought-resistant plants planted in the right soil in areas with limited or no grass, Xeriscaping uses drip irrigation systems to combine effective landscaping with efficient water conservation. The result is yards that are both beautiful and drought-resistant.

3. Health-Conscious Workplaces

More and more businesses are employing green building techniques to create workplaces more supportive of their workers' health and well-being. Vertical gardens and rooftop sky gardens provide aesthetically-pleasing, oxygen-rich spaces for breaks while producing healthy whole foods that can be served in the employee cafeteria.

Building designs that encourage people to take the stairs rather than the elevator are also becoming increasingly popular in offices where employees traditionally spend many hours at a desk.

Ample energy-efficient windows and lighting are also staples of health-conscious workplaces, as are sufficient air circulation and climate controls.

4. Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is being used to create insulation and paints that are non-toxic and more efficient than their traditional counterparts. According to the report, nano insulation is 30% more efficient than standard insulation. As an alternative to traditional paints, nanocoatings are self-cleaning, and they clean the air by removing air pollutants and then breaking down those toxins.

Nanotech solar technologies, meanwhile, now allow windows and awnings, instead of just rooftops, to incorporate solar cells.

5. Tiny Houses

More and more people are occupying less and less space, with a growing trend in shrinking floor plans. One of the most effective ways to minimize one's environmental impact is certainly to occupy less space, thereby consuming fewer precious resources.

Tiny homes take fewer resources to build and fewer resources to maintain. That's why so many people are switching to tiny houses to reduce their carbon footprint. Advancements in green building techniques have made tiny homes "smarter" and more energy-efficient than ever before. Using recycled materials, smart technologies, and creative storage solutions, tiny houses are currently being built into miniature green mansions.

In fact, all the trends mentioned in this article--net-positive energy construction, water preservation and reclamation, health-conscious spaces, and nanotechnology--can be incorporated into tiny homes to increase their sustainability.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Econoheat., the world’s #1 leading waste oil heaters manufacturer.

We recently met with TechniSoil and really believe in their product offerings. We will highlight a couple of products in their line.

TechniSoil G3 Commercial Surface (G3-CS)

TechniSoil G3 Commercial Surface (G3-CS) is a commercial grade liquid polymer stabilizer for durable, dust-free surfaces using decomposed granite (DG) or crushed stone materials. This eco-friendly stabilizer bonds crushed aggregates and fines to create walkways and patios.

For more information on the TechniSoil G3 Commercial Surface (G3-CS) Click HERE

TechniSoil G3 Pathway Stabilizer (G3-PS)

TechniSoil G3 Pathway Stabilizer (G3-PS) is a simple solution for creating custom pathways and patio areas. This eco-friendly liquid polymer stabilizer for decomposed granite (DG) and crushed stone materials yields a durable, dust-free surface in only a few basic steps.

Both of these products offer:

• Reduces tracking of loose materials
• Improves surface stability
• Easy to apply using standard equipment
• Minimizes dust, weeds, and erosion
• Eco-friendly

We recommend TechniSoil for consideration in upcoming building and landscape architectural projects.

For more information on the Click HERE

www.TechniSoil.com

PACE's services are worthy of review since it offers financing for projects in all categories. Laws can be reviewed per state and each program has limited funding.

What is PACE?

PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a simple and effective way to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades to buildings. PACE can pay for new heating and cooling systems, lighting improvements, solar panels, water pumps, insulation, and more for almost any property – homes, commercial, industrial, non-profit, and agricultural.

Property owners across the US are using PACE because it saves them money and makes their buildings more valuable. PACE pays for 100% of a project’s costs and is repaid for up to 20 years with an assessment added to the property’s tax bill. PACE financing stays with the building upon sale and is easy to share with tenants. State and local governments sponsor PACE financing to create jobs, promote economic development, and protect the environment.

Commercial PACE

PACE is an innovative program that makes it possible for owners of commercial and industrial properties to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy-efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects.

PACE statutes authorize municipalities and counties to work with private sector lenders to provide upfront financing to property owners for qualified projects, and to collect the repayment through annual assessments on the property’s real estate tax bill. The term of PACE financing may extend up to 20 years, resulting in utility and other cost savings that exceed the amount of the assessment payment. PACE legislation for commercial property has been adopted in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

Residential PACE

PACE may prove to be the most effective way to pay for energy improvements for homes. Available now throughout California, PACE is saving money for homeowners, creating jobs, and helping local governments achieve important environmental goals.

PACENow supports and encourages new residential PACE programs that can help home owners and local governments achieve their goals. We endorse programs and PACE service providers that are meeting marketplace needs at high standards that protect the interests of all PACE stakeholders.

PACENow provides advice and guidance for those interested in starting residential PACE programs. We recommend a number of PACE best practices, many of which were developed in conjunction with the US Department of Energy in 2010.

To learn about various laws per state, please click HERE.  To learn about CA PACE laws, SB77, please click HERE. For more information about the PACE program, please visit [email protected] or visit www.PACENation.us.

Daltile - Greenworks Overview

Daltile showed off its extensive line of tile products at the PCBC show in San Francisco. There are products and programs for all builder budgets, styles for architects all with sustainability in mind.

Daltile is keenly focused on working with green builders and retains the core principles of green building:

• Site design
• Energy efficiency
• Water conservation
• Indoor air quality
• Environmentally preferable materials
• Operations and maintenance

Daltile's products can help qualify under many of the industry-leading green building programs, in addition to local and state green building initiatives. Among others, the company can assist architects and builders in two areas including indoor air quality and environmentally preferable materials.

Indoor Air Quality

Except for the walls, floors usually account for more surface area than anything else in a house, so they have a greater effect on indoor air quality. Adults, children and pets walk, play and sit on them, wear them down and breathe in what they emit for many years. Most tile glazes are water based and use minimal amounts of solvents. Once fired, the tile and glaze are completely fused and there is no possibility of volatile gas emissions.

Daltile's manufactured tile products have been tested and are compliant with the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Low-Emitting Material Standard.

Environmentally Preferable Materials

The choice of building materials is important for sustainable home building because of the extensive network of extraction, processing and transportation they require. Recycled-content materials reuse waste products that would otherwise be deposited in landfills. And use of local materials supports the local economy and reduces the harmful impacts of long-distance transport. 

• More than 97% of Daltile's manufactured products contain pre-consumer (post-industrial) recycled materials.  
• Daltile's eight manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico provide the opportunity for our products and raw materials to be closer to more building projects, thus conserving fossil fuels required for transportation.

Daltile's eight manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico provide the opportunity for our products and raw materials to be closer to more building projects, thus conserving fossil fuels required for transportation.

Daltile offers real-time information on recycled materials content and information on whether or not your home or project falls within a 500 mile radius of one of our plants, making it easy for you select the material that best meets your needs.

For more information, please visit www.daltile.com.

Cofair Deck Flash Barrier

One of the products Green Project Marketing will be representing includes Cofair's Deck Flash Barrier.

DECK FLASH BARRIER is a flexible polyethylene waterproof flashing
and barrier material, with a rubberized asphalt mastic adhesive.

Joist, Post and Ledger Board Protection

When applied to the top of joists, around posts, and over ledger boards, Deck Flash Barrier creates a waterproof membrane that prevents wood rot and decay caused by moisture coming in contact with both treated and untreated lumber. Deck Flash Barrier's "Super Grip" rubberized asphalt adhesive self-seals around screws and nails, blocking a primary pathway for water infiltration into deck joists. By blocking moisture and preventing wood rot, Deck Flash Barrier maximizes the life of your new deck.

Corrosion Barrier

When Deck Flash Barrier is placed between ACQ, CA-B, or ACZA treated lumber and metal surfaces, such as galvanized metal and aluminum, it creates a physical barrier that prevents the corrosion of the metal surface caused by contact with the chemicals in treated lumber. It can be used to protect metal flashings and hangars at deck plates and sill plates, and anywhere treated lumber is used.

For more information and to place an order, please contact Michael Stevens at 800-260-6001 ext. 301 PST or mstevens (at) greenprojectmarketing (dot)(com).

QuietWalk

Another product we viewed at the IBS show was QuietWalk.

QuietWalk® laminate floor underlayment smoothes out little sub-floor imperfections while quieting impact sound and floor to ceiling noise. Not only does it dampen ambient sound in the room it is installed in, but it also inhibits sound from traveling into the room below.

The recycled fibers that comprise QuietWalk® are randomly air laid which offers the best cost-effective foundation and premium sound control for laminate floating flooring in the marketplace today.

Key features of QuietWalk include:

Sound absorption

QuietWalk’s filaments are randomly air-laid creating a capillary
affect to cushion the floor, absorb sound, and help make laminate
floors sound more like real wood.
Impact Insulation Class (IIC) = 71
Field Impact Insulation Class (F-IIC) = 60
Sound Transmission Class (STC) = 66 & 54

Moisture protection

When installed properly, QuietWalk can wick sub-floor or incidental
perimeter moisture and disperse it through the pad. Moderate
amounts of moisture will eventually dissipate over time by perimeter
or sub-floor evaporation, provided the source of water such
as a leak is stopped.

Smoothing out minor sub-floor imperfections

QuietWalk is firm enough (density=11.04lbs/ft3; compression
resistance @ 25% = 9.5 psi) to support the overlaying floor, but
flexible enough to form around sub-floor surface roughness that
may otherwise cause laminate panels to “rock” or lay unevenly.

Insulation value

QuietWalk will add an R-Value of .58 to the floor system.

Approved Substrates

• Dry, completely cured concrete (at least 28 days old)
• Concrete and masonry blocks
• Cement backer units (CBU)
• Cementitious screeds, leveling coats and mortar beds
• Waterproofing and crack-isolation membranes
• Wood, plywood, or OSB subfloors that meet NWFA Subfloor
• Guidelines and Specifications, and meet applicable building codes.
• Cement terrazzo floors

To learn more about the product, please visit www.quietwalk.com.

Panasonic WhisperSense-Lite

It's the only ENERGY STAR rated vent fan to incorporate dual motion and humidity sensors for moisture control.

Dual Motion and Humidity Sensor Technology

WhisperSense 80CFM fan features exclusive, dual motion and humidity sensor technology. SmartAction® motion sensor automatically turns fan on when you enter the room. Humidity sensor detects rapid rise in relative humidity (RH), turning fan on to remove moisture and help prevent mold and mildew. Can be used to comply with the latest codes and standards.

To learn more about the product, please click HERE.

Energy Efficiency

Per Build Direct, Energy efficiency, environmental impact, and occupant health have been main concerns of the construction industry for many years. The trend for the coming year is that these aspects are increasing in importance for builders. Customers want healthy homes with low operating costs, things that affect them directly.

2016 Green Building Trends

Net positive homes

A home that uses all the energy it produces, a net zero home, has been the goal of many green builders for a long time. Renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and geothermal, are used in tandem to provide the energy needs of the occupants.

Net zero is now going one step further. A net positive home produces more than the energy necessary to operate. The surplus goes back into the grid or powers electric cars, equipment, and tools. This is not a new concept, but it’s clear why it will gain in popularity.

Hemp insulation and energy efficiency

Building insulation is green in itself, because it cuts cooling and heating bills. Some types are more effective and efficient than others. Some off-gas or have dirty supply chains making them not-so-green.

Nano insulation

On the high-tech front, nano insulation should see a rise in popularity, too. This is a water-and-silica based material that is sprayed on in a thin layer. It can cover roofs and walls to stop heat transfer, due to the tiny air pockets, or pores, created by the formula. It can be applied to windows to cut heating and cooling usage while still allowing more than 90% light transmission. It is non-toxic, being water based, and may cut energy use up to 25%.

Cool Roofs

Cool roofs can provide energy savings of 7-15% of total cooling costs and reduce temperature fluctuations on the interior of a home.

Recycled Steel Framing

A 2,000 sq. ft. home requires 40-50 trees to build the home. A home framed with recycled steel can reduce assembly time, greatly reduce waste and may lower overall line item costs.

Eco-Friendly Flooring

Using products such as bamboo, cork, recycled glass, metal, ceramic, stone and recycyled wood make sense.

To view more trends, please click HERE: