Everyone is talking about using compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs to reduce our electricity needs. However, I often hear people say they are too expensive for what energy they save. So I decided to do the math to find out for myself whether my recent investment in CFL’s was worth while financially.I had a feeling [...]
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Did you know that true Linoleum is Green? That’s right, it’s true, you heard it right here, linoleum is considered a green building material. Linoleum is made from solidified linseed oil, jute and other natural, rapidly replenished ingredients.Linoleum has lost it’s market share over the years for more aesthetically pleasing materials like engineered wood and [...]
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Green construction comes with many different approaches but one of the fundamental issues is building with energy conservation as the cornerstone. So you spend lots of money building an energy efficient house; but do you really know if it’s energy efficient? The best way to test your home for energy efficiency is to perform a [...]
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Specifying concrete that uses fly ash is another way of building green. Fly ash has been used for years as a partial replacement for Portland cement in the production of concrete. Fly ash is a residual created by the combustion of coal and is typically considered a waste product.Fly ash is captured from chimneys in [...]
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The production of Portland Cement, the key ingredient in concrete accounts for nearly 5% of the worlds CO2 emissions. Cement is produced by heating limestone to over 1450 degrees Celsius. China, India and the United States produce over 900 million metric tons of cement each year with a total world production approaching 2000 million metric [...]
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Over on my other blog, Home Construction Improvement, I’m going to be running a series of articles over the next few months documenting the construction of a new house. That house will have several Green Construction details that I think you’ll find very interesting. So keep an eye on New House Construction Series for updates [...]
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Over at my other blog I’m documenting the progress of a new home that has some green construction details. Check out the latest post, New House Energy Efficient Details, which talks about using spray-in-place cellulose insulation and energy efficient triple pane vinyl windows. I think you’ll enjoy watching us build this new home and hearing [...]
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Today I wrote about the ZIP System Wall and Roof Sheathing on my other blog. This exciting new sheathing product is sure to be a big component in many Green Construction projects.The ZIP System combines a resin based OSB sheathing with moisture barriers applied to the exterior surface. The moisture barriers eliminate the need for [...]
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If you’re looking for a very easy to read, concise, book about green building and remodeling then you should buy Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies. The whole green building industry can be very vast and confusing at times and this book can really help you cut through all the technical jargon and find out [...]
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One of the biggest safety issues with older homes is the presence of lead paint. Taking proper lead paint safety precautions is an extremely important step in any construction or home improvement project. Today I wrote Home Improvement Lead Paint Safety on my other blog. You should check it out and remember to check for [...]
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