FYI SUSTAINABLE STRUCTURES: At the Body ecology Retreat, one of the presentations is about sustainable structures. Part of our mission is to live lightly upon the land and to be good stewards of this Earth starting with our own homes. Green Practices apply to EVERYONE EVERY WHERE. DOING EVERYTHING!!! We say that we want our decisions to benefit our children out to the next seven generations. We know that the lifestyle that we are living here in America is BOUND to run out or down or something but it cannot continue to consume so much of the Planet’s resources. We have lived this “good” life just long enough to be removed from the body of knowledge that sustained our ancestors since time immemorial. All has not been lost. A few have taken the time and effort to even expand upon past practices with modern science and have validated previous practices with modern science. Let us be human repositories to preserve the knowledge for our children. Who knows what the future holds for them or even for us. Like Pharaoh & Joseph who were given AMPLE warning and plenty of material to work with, we too have time and money to position ourselves such that our children continue to prosper in every good way come what may. When the electricity goes off what do you do? For 1 hour, for 1 day, for 1 week, for 1 month, for 1 year for 1 lifetime. What about indoor plumbing, natural gas, gasoline, Supermarkets, laudromats, etc… What if we have to suddenly evacuate. Would you panic or would life go on pretty much as usual? Think of the folks in Baghdad who had their electrical system bombed out by the US over 2 years ago and still have yet to get it back. What about the Earthquake survivors? What would you do? What would you tell the children? “ I wish I had taken that trip to learn how to live, but it wasn’t a high priority at the time.” Woulda coulda shoulda. What if the Body Ecology folks get so discouraged that they don’t offer it to us again at this great price. Failure to plan is planning to fail. Other folks triumph over our folks time and time again simply by PLANNING and working together. How long will it take us to LEARN HOW TO BE FREE and in CONTROL of our DESTINY instead of being blown haphazard by the winds of certain change??? What does this all mean? Let’s do a GOOGLE search and see what comes up. Some of us are proficient at book learning, but nothing beats a hands-on living the life practicum. Get your monies in NOW for the Body Ecology Retreat in NC/VA. Aug 7 is the liveline. http://globalgreen.org/programs/building.html Did you know...? * Excessive consumption is largely responsible for the depletion of natural resources worldwide and the acceleration of global warming. * The construction and maintenance of buildings are responsible for 40% of U.S. energy use and 30% of wood and raw materials use. * Buildings are a main contributor to global warming by generating 30% of U.S. CO2 emissions (the most significant climate change gas). APRMAY04: Sustainable Building Sustainable Structures by Marcus Renner and Myrick Rozier http://www.newlifejournal.com/aprmay04/renner_0504.shtml Sustainable construction involves assessment that includes considering the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the built environment. Factors that need to be addressed are energy efficiency, material selection, construction waste reduction, indoor air quality and the general health and well being of the occupants, to name a few. The statistics coming out of the building sector are staggering. Energy efficiency becomes an economic concern given the Rocky Mountain Institute estimate that $15 billion a year is wasted on heated and cooled air flowing out of leaky buildings. Material selection becomes an environmental concern when it is realized that the average 2000-square-foot home built in America requires approximately 1 acre of forest which equals about 44 trees. Approximately 1.5 million homes are being built a year, providing enough framing lumber to stretch to the moon and back six times. Every year 136 million tons of construction waste is sent to the landfill, almost a ton per house. The social effects of buildings arise as a health concern with the estimate that Americans spend ninety percent of their time indoors. This number, coupled with the facts from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: on average, indoor air is two to three times more polluted than outdoor air, which prompts an imperative to change the way we build. Green affordable housing directly benefits individuals and families in need by lowering utility costs and creating healthier living environments. Project developers and operators gain both directly and indirectly through higher quality, more efficient, and more durable projects. Working with local green building and affordable housing organizations, GG USA provides information and education on the practices and components of green affordable housing, cost issues and financial strategies, and relevant policy initiatives. For more information on scheduling a workshop or presentation, please contact the RESCUE program. Public Housing Authority Energy Efficiency Toolbox - The newest addition to Global Green's website provides public housing authority managers with clear and concise information on energy and resource efficient strategies and technologies. Includes step-by-step guides, manufacturer information, calculators and case studies. 2. GREEN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE A green school, also known as a high performance school, is a community facility that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green schools protect occupant health, provide a productive learning environment, connect students to the natural world, increase average daily attendance, reduce operating costs, improve teacher satisfaction and retention, and reduce overall impact to the environment. The Need for Green Schools: Schools districts in Southern California are embarking on a major wave of facility construction, planning to build approximately 200 new schools in the next several years. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) alone has plans to construct 150 new schools. How these schools are built will have a tremendous impact on student performance, teacher and staff working environment, district operating and maintenance costs, and the region’s environmental quality for decades to come. Green schools lessen the impact of building construction on the environment and set an example for future generations that environmental quality is essential to our long-term well being. They also have benefits in several key performance areas: * Protect Student and Teacher Health – Schools designed with attention to proper ventilation, material selection, acoustical quality and other indoor environmental factors, can expect improved student and teacher health and higher attendance; * Better Student Performance – Attention to site planning and adequate daylighting has been shown to heighten student performance by as much as 25%; * Lower Operating Costs – Operating costs for energy and water can be reduced by 20% to 40%, allowing more money to be used for teacher salaries, textbooks and computers; * Provide a Unique Educational Opportunity – When advanced technology and design in new schools are made visible, buildings can become teaching tools and important features of science, math, and environmental curriculum. for more information on the Green Schools Initiative or to join the Green Schools Coalition Contact Hillary Gross @310.581.2700 x106 3. LOCAL GOVERNMENT GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVE Global Green USA works in partnership with local governments and other public entities to demonstrate the benefits of green building, outline options for establishing green building programs that protect local quality of life and the environment, provide training for staff and constituents, and encourage the development of incentives for green building projects. Current and past partners include San Mateo County and the Cities of San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Santa Clarita, and Irvine. 3. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY The goal of the Sustainable Energy Initiative is to build a sustainable energy future through increasing conservation, improving efficiency, and raising the percentage of renewable energy in the nation's overall energy portfolio. The initiative includes public outreach on energy-efficient practices for homes and businesses, promoting green power, working to establish rigorous energy efficiency standards for federal and state agencies, and advocating for increased investment in renewable energy technologies at the state and federal levels. About Green Power. Energy Roadmaps Global Green USA worked with commercial property owners to create a tool ("Roadmaps") to assist them in deciding how best to incorporate energy-efficient techniques strategies, and equipment in the upgrading of their buildings. The Roadmaps help building owners and managers to more fully understand the wide range of opportunities and implications of working with consulting energy engineers and Energy Service Companies (ESCO's). For more information, contact the RESCUE Program office: Global Green USA 2218 Main Street, 2nd Floor Santa Monica, CA 90405 Phone: 310.581.2700 | Fax: 310.581.2702 Walker Wells, AICP, LEED AP | Ted Bardacke, LEEP AP TOP 20 No or Low-Cost Green Building Strategies ENERGY 1. Orient building to maximize natural daylighting Description: Natural daylighting is usually available to the east, south, and west facades. Benefits: Maximizing natural daylighting reduces the need for artificial light, thus reducing energy consumption and utility bills. Dwellings that have good natural daylighting are also more pleasant for the residents. 2. Place windows to provide good natural ventilation Description: Natural ventilation systems take advantage of prevailing winds and thermal convection to ventilate living spaces. Benefits: Placing windows to take advantage of natural ventilation reduces the need for air conditioning, saves money on energy bills, and can make homes without air conditioning more comfortable. 3. Select a light-colored "Cool Roof" Description: Dark roofing materials absorb heat, making the house warmer in summer months, whereas light colored roofing reflects heat away from the building. Benefits: Light colored roofing reduces heat buildup through the roof, thus increasing occupancy comfort and decreasing air conditioning bills. Light colored roofing can also last longer because it does not thermally expand and contract as much as darker colors. 4. Provide overhangs on south-facing windows Description: Overhangs or screens on south-facing windows are one component of a natural cooling system. Benefits: Shading south-facing windows reduces heat gain by screening the summer sun during the hottest periods of the day. 5. Install whole-house fans or ceiling fans Description: Whole-house and ceiling fans improve interior comfort by circulating cold and warm air. They can be adjusted to either draw warm air upward during summer months or push it downward during the winter. Benefits: Fans can reduce the need for air conditioning and heating by circulating air effectively, and on average uses one-tenth the electricity of an air conditioning unit. 6. Eliminate air conditioning Description: After the refrigerator, air conditioning is the second biggest consumer of electricity in an average household. Benefits: Eliminating air conditioning will significantly reduce a household's electricity bill. 7. Provide combined-hydronic heating Description: Combined hydronic heating uses hot water stored in the water heater to operate radiators typically installed in baseboards. Benefits: Combined-hydronic heating saves energy by using hot water already produced and stored in the water heater, and eliminating the need for a separate furnace. 8. Install fluorescent lights with electronic ballasts Description: Interior fluorescent bulbs and fixtures produce light quantity and quality that is comparable to incandescents, while expending less energy. Electronic ballasts also improve efficiency and reduce flickering. Benefits: Energy efficient lighting reduces energy consumption and lowers utility bills. One compact florescent bulb will pay itself back over ten times over the course of its life through reduced energy use. 9. Install high R-value insulation Description: Insulation provides a continuous thermal barrier to minimize heat flow through the walls, ceiling and floor. The higher the R-value, the greater the material's ability to insulate. Benefits: Installing higher R-value insulation improves comfort, decreases demand for air conditioning and heating, saves money, and makes the home quieter. 10. Select Energy Star appliances Description: Refrigerators and freezers are among the largest users of electricity in most homes. They can account for up to 25% of household energy use. Energy Star appliances use 10-15% less energy and water than standard models. Benefits: Energy Star refrigerators can save over 10% of the total annual electrical bill in a home. Check with the local utility company for rebate programs. WATER 11. Design water-efficient landscapes Description: Low-water landscape designs (such as xeriscape) reduce water use by emphasizing native and/or drought tolerant plants, eliminating turf areas, and minimizing maintenance. Efficient irrigation systems, such as drip and micro irrigation, place the correct amount of water directly at the base of each plant, thus reducing water use and waste from overwatering. Benefits: Water efficient landscape and irrigation systems help plant growth and overall health by eliminating overwatering or excessive drying. They also lower water bills and reduce impacts on water supply infrastructure. 12. Install water-efficient toilets and fixtures Description: New toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush compared with old toilets that require 5-7 gallons per flush. Flow reducers fit into the aerator at the tip of the faucet and reduce the rate of water flow through the faucet. Low-flow showerheads replace standard showerheads. Benefits: Low-flow toilets can save up to 22,000 gallons of water per year for a family of four. Flow reducers can cut water usage of faucets and showers by as much as 40% with little noticeable effect. 13. Use permeable paving materials Description: Permeable paving allows stormwater to percolate into the soil. Benefits: Permeable paving allows on-site percolation, thus reducing the volume of polluted water that flows into rivers or bays, while replenishing soil moisture and local aquifers. Additional benefits include reduction in irrigation requirements and a lower risk of flooding. MATERIALS 14. Use 30% - 50% flyash in concrete Description: Flyash is a byproduct of coal burning power plants and can be an inexpensive substitute for 15% - 40% of the Portland cement used in concrete. Benefits: Flyash increases the strength and durability of the concrete. Using flyash also reduces the amount of cement needed, thereby decreasing the overall environmental impacts of cement production (mining and energy consumption). 15. Use engineered wood for headers, joists, and sheathing Description: Solid sawn lumber in sizes of 2X10 or greater typically comes from old growth forests. Engineered lumber products, however, come from small-diameter and fast growing plantation trees. 2X10 and larger dimensional lumber is typically used for floor and ceiling joists and some seismic applications. Large size lumber can be replaced with engineered lumber (microlam, paralam, gluelam) in most applications unless required by seismic codes. Solid sawn 4X6s are often used for headers when smaller dimension lumber would suffice, such as double 2X6s, unless solid 4X6s are required by seismic codes. Wood I-Joists are an alternative to 2X6s or 2X8s used for floor and roof joists. Benefits: Reducing demand for large dimensional lumber decreases pressure to cut down old growth forests. Engineered lumber uses wood fiber more efficiently that conventional lumber, resulting in stronger and higher quality homes. 16. Use recycled-content insulation, drywall, and carpet Description: Recycled-content insulation, drywall, and carpet are made from recycles paper, recycled plastic and glass bottles, recycled wool or recycled cotton. They don't differ in appearance or performance and the prices are comparable to conventional products. Benefits: Recycled-content materials save resources and divert waste from landfills. Approximately 40 two-liter soda bottles are recycles per square yard of carpeting. Recycled-content insulation may contain up to 30% recycle glass. INDOOR AIR QUALITY 17. Use low- or no-VOC paint Description: No-VOC paint does not emit odors related to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products like paint, adhesives, cleaning supplies, etc. No-VOC paint is used exactly like conventional paint. No-VOC paints are most suitable for indoor use. Benefits: Use of low- or no-VOC paint can eliminate the eye, nose, and throat irritation, loss of coordination, and potentially damage to the liver and central nervous system caused by VOCs. Outside, VOCs can bond with other pollutants and create ground-level ozone. 18. Use formaldehyde-free or fully sealed materials for cabinets and counters Description: Particleboard typically contains formaldehyde, which can offgas for 10-15 years. EPA ranks formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen. Exposure can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, skin rashes, headaches, nosebleeds and nausea. Benefits: Elimination of formaldehyde-based materials reduces exposure to residents, particularly children, who are most susceptible. Sealing with a flat, latex-based primer or other suitable material can prevent the offgassing of formaldehyde. 19. Vent rangehood to the outside Description: Steam, gases, smoke and other combustion by-products (such as unburned hydrocarbons) can result from cooking. Stovetop range hoods expel these by-products to the outside. Benefits: Range hoods improve indoor air quality, prevent overheating and reduce moisture build-up. 20. Install carbon monoxide detector Description: Carbon monoxide detectors monitor the level of this gas in individual dwelling units. Benefits: Detectors can reduce harmful human health effects of carbon monoxide, a common indoor air pollutant created by the combustion of natural gas from stoves and heaters. Straw http://www.sustainable-structures.com/ Sod http://www.plainsfolk.com/bowman/sod.htm thatched roof http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/thatchrf/thatchrf.htm yurt http://www.rdrop.com/~glacier/yurt.htm geodesic dome marries the yurt www.redskyshelters.com/uses.html Bioshelters http://www.vsb.cape.com/~nature/greencenter/bioshelterarticle.html compost heated greenhouse http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/compostheatedgh.html composting toilets http://www.compostingtoilet.org/ Here are some books and movies for all ages…. Quilombo, Waterworld, the Day after Tommorow, Farmhams Freehold, Swiss Family Robinson, Hatchet, Boy Scout Handbooks.