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Energy Efficiency Upgrades, Pt. 2: Savings In The Long Term

June 24, 2011 By 2 Comments
energy efficiency light blubs

Upgrading a home in order to cut your utility bills, while also making the most out of the power you do draw upon is a part of what it is to be a savvy homeowner. In part 2, and the last, in his series about his own household energy upgrades, writer and homeowner Ryan Boots weighs in on some strategies he considers to be long-range strategies for energy efficiency as it relates to a reduced energy bill. *** As I explained in my previous post about energy efficiency upgrades, I have owned … [Read more...]

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Green Building An Entire Town?

December 4, 2009 By 2 Comments

In recent years, natural disasters have caused untold damages to both properties, and to people's lives all over the world.  With tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, earthquakes in China, and Hurricane Katrina that laid waste to New Orleans and the surrounding area in 2005, it is clear that nature has a way of reminding us that we as a civilization are only a small part of a larger global context. But, these disasters also bring out the best in people, including the drive and creativity that helps to … [Read more...]

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Olympic-Sized Green Building

November 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Here in Vancouver, the city is abuzz with pre-Olympic enthusiasm, as the 2010 Winter Olympic Games brings our athletes, and our city, into the international limelight.  It should be said that not everyone is on board with the Olympics, some arguing that there are more important issues to look at, and toward which to spend municipal and provincial monies.  Yet, for me, the events represent more than just a two-week tourist attraction. The Olympics is a tradition that is many thousands of years … [Read more...]

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Passive Design and Modern Green Building

October 20, 2009 By 4 Comments

Before being introduced to the world of building materials and construction, it never really occurred to me to think that the process of designing and constructing a building  should be any different from location to location.  Well, I suppose there is a question of greater heat retention in a place like Winnipeg, or North Dakota, where winters are more severe than they would be in, say, Palm Springs. Yet, even in these cases it is assumed that we've got large scale HVAC systems to account for … [Read more...]

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Green building is not just for big developers

August 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Recently, I read this green building article that focuses on a privately built residence in Belleville Illinois, and the goal to make it a silver-level LEED certified building.  Up until recently, it seemed to me that LEED certification was mostly in the province of the large developer.  Not so, it seems. In summary, here are some of the measures which the property owners took to reach their goal of a silver-level LEED certification: Hired LEED-certified builders, and architect Ensured … [Read more...]

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Video about green building

May 21, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Here's a video which hits some essential points about green building, including the idea that the idea is still a pretty fuzzy one.  For instance, certain materials like bamboo floors are sustainable. Yet, they need to be shipped in from China to other parts of the world which uses quite a bit of fossil fuel. Therefore, is it green? The answer this video gives is that it depends on your perspective, and your priorities. It's an interesting discussion. In any case, here's the video, which raises … [Read more...]

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NAHB National Green Building Standard: Not Here Yet

November 13, 2008 By Leave a Comment

A clarification here for anyone reading Floor Covering Weekly's October 13 2008 supplement "The Green Guide."  A story on page 12 suggests the National Home Builders' Association Model Green Building Guide has already been declared a national standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The story says, "At the 2008 International Builders show, the NAHB launched its biggest initiative to date: the National Green Building Standard (NGBS), a joint effort of the NAHB and the International … [Read more...]

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Green Remodelling: Key To Economic Recovery?

November 10, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Here’s a link to a video on Green Remodelling.  It has several good ideas in it for the Do-It-Yourselfer or building contractor who wants to “go green” in a home renovation project. There are two approaches mentioned in the video.  One is energy efficiency which focuses on things like good insulation and windows that fit tightly.  The other approach is to use materials that are reclaimed or have recycled content or come from rapidly renewable resources like bamboo flooring. These … [Read more...]

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LEED and FSC: Too Close for Comfort

October 30, 2008 By 1 Comment

LEED is currently the best known acronym in the green building industry. As a branding success, its meteoric rise is nothing if not phenomenal. What does it stand for? Unless you’re a LEED accredited professional (LEED AP), you probably can’t remember (and don’t care) if it stands for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design or if it’s the other way around, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (it’s the latter). The important thing is that it’s the major certification needed … [Read more...]

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