Are you interested in learning all you can about building a net zero home? Maybe you're about to embark on a home building project of your own, and you've come to realize that it would be a very wise move to reduce your carbon footprint by building a home that is an energy miser. There is a very cool, virtual tool available that can give you a jump start in your quest to build a net zero home. Builder magazine, KB Home, and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia combined forces to put together … [Read more...]
Green Homebuilding
Net Zero Homes: The New American Dream
The home building industry is designing and building net zero homes in increasing numbers for customers throughout the nation. No, it's not widespread...yet. But I've read about net zero homes being built more and more. That is great news because energy costs will only continue to rise. Did you know that buildings account for 40% of energy use in the U.S. and a similar percentage of carbon dioxide emissions? That's more than the transportation or industrial sectors. It's true. (source: … [Read more...]
Sideways: An Engineered Hardwood Flooring With A Different Look
Smith & Fong Plyboo produce some great flooring products. The different types of engineered wood flooring they produce are great for many reasons: Unusual materials are used in some of their flooring products, such as sugar palm and coconut palm. Their flooring is beautiful to look at. Most of their flooring contributes to LEED credits in one way or another. Sustainability is incorporated into their thought process. They pay special attention to grain patterns, configuring … [Read more...]
Eco-Friendly PaperStone Countertops Are Hard To Beat
PaperStone countertops are one of the few eco-friendly, sustainable paper countertops on the market today. It is similar to Richlite, ShektaStone and EcoTop in many ways.What sets PaperStone apart from competing paper countertops is the type of phenolic resin used during the manufacturing process. First and foremost, their resin is non-petroleum based. They have their own laboratory and manufacturing plant to produce a cashew nut shell liquid-based (CNSL) resin.Believe it or not, CNSL has … [Read more...]
Eco Friendly Countertops: Are Paper Countertops A Good Eco-Friendly Choice?
The answer is a solid YES! Finding an eco-friendly countertop that also looks great is much easier than you might think. There are a few different types of eco-friendly countertop materials on the market: Terrazo - crushed stone and glass that is set in a cement or epoxy substrate and then buffed until smooth Recycled Glass Tile Re-purposed Stainless Steel Recycled Plastic - made from a variety of materials such as yogurt containers, among others Wood - if sourced locally from … [Read more...]
Coconut Palm Flooring: A Beautiful, Eco-Friendly Alternative
There are quite a few alternative eco-friendly flooring options on the homebuilding market these days. If you're looking for flooring that is beautiful and rich-looking, while at the same time eco-friendly, then coconut and sugar palm flooring could be your answer! I recently acquired some coconut and sugar palm flooring samples from alternacorp, and I was floored (pun intended) by how they looked. This is some really beautiful and exotic-looking stuff. There are all sorts of positives to … [Read more...]
(Formaldehyde-Free) Bamboo Plywood Is Ready For Prime Time
Bamboo flooring just keeps getting better and better. But did you know that you can also purchase bamboo plywood? There are lots of great new products -- and more choices -- on the market today and one of them is made by Smith & Fong. The trade name for their product is Plyboo. … [Read more...]
Aluminum Tiles Made From Aircraft Cladding Create A Unique & Sleek Kitchen Backsplash
Looking for luxuriously exotic tiles, backsplashes or bathroom tiles that will set your home apart from the rest? CoveringsETC produces an all-aluminum tile called Bio-Luminum that is made from post-consumer recycled aluminum from reclaimed airplane parts (retired aircraft cladding). How cool is that? … [Read more...]
Water Saving Shower Heads: How To Find The Best Water Efficient Shower Head
Let's face it, most of us want to conserve water when it comes to showerheads, but we don't want to pay extra for water saving plumbing products in order to do so. Nor do we want a low flow shower head to give us lackluster water pressure, requiring us to spend longer periods of time in the shower rinsing soap and shampoo off our bodies either. That would defeat the purpose of water conservation, would it not?! … [Read more...]
Green Roofs: How To Choose A Green Roof For Your House
What are your best choices when it comes to green roofs for your home building needs? It seems to be an ever-changing industry, which is good, because change is good. Change is good because there is a steady increase in: Homeowner awareness Inquiries regarding what is affordable Better technology What will bring you the best return on investment (ROI) in a new roofing system Fortunately, Uncle Sam has a program called Energy Star to give you most of the information you need to … [Read more...]
