Reap the Rewards of Proper Attic Ventilation

I recently participated in a forum about how to achieve adequate attic ventilation/insulation to allow your attic to expel excessive heat buildup in the summer and I thought, with summer right around the corner, this would be a good time to share this information.

New energy codes require attic insulation to be min R-38 which is approx. 12” of batted or blown insulation. Most older homes built prior to 1980 have R-19, or 6” of insulation above the ceiling. Read more of this post

Taking Green Awareness to the Next Level

It was such a great privilege and an honor to see Robert F Kennedy Jr. speaking Friday at Sacramento’s Greenwise Conference.
It soon became obvious why he was named one of Time Magazine’s “Top 100 most influential people of the year” in 2008. As well as Time Magazine’s “Heroes of Our Planet.”

His flight to Sacramento arrived late which forced Mayor Kevin Johnson to keep the audience entertained while stalling for Mr. Kennedy to arrive. But the wait definitely paid off. I don’t think I’ve ever been so inspired by any speaker in my life. His passion for the green movement and promoting green awareness is unparalleled. His ability to bring a clarity to the impact of the green movement was eye opening.
Mr. Kennedy’s standout quote- Read more of this post

More Green Things to Know

Indoor Air Quality
Can be affected by many of the products used in the construction of your home as well as products used for cleaning and maintenance. Careful product selection during construction can significantly reduce dangerous off gassing by materials with a high voc content.
Proper ventilation can be a huge factor in a homes performance. Poor ventilation can lead to moisture build up or condensation which can cause mold and other unwanted growths. This can have adverse effects that can cause respiratory ailments and other illnesses. Read more of this post

Green Things To Know

As technology advances in the world of Green Building, many products that used to be cost prohibitive have suddenly become affordable alternatives. Low and zero VOC, (volatile organic compound), paints are now a standard feature in my projects as the quality and affordability are par with conventional paints and finishes.

A little about Volatile Organic Compounds. Read more of this post

A Collaborative Effort for Green Building Awareness

I recently posted on twitter about how I wished that there was more collaboration between Contractors, Suppliers, Manufacturers, and Sub Contractors in promoting green building awareness. It really needs to be a concerted and collaborative effort.

When green building first started there was a lot of confusion about the concept. There were also many misconceptions about what was truly green and the effects and implications of building more energy efficient, sustainable buildings.

When new trends arise they are often greeted with skepticism and apprehension. As they evolve there are sure to be mixed interpretations and opinions. When these trends start to break into the mainstream and become more accepted then all of the sudden everyone’s slapping green labels on their products and the concept becomes diluted with false claims. As the dust begins to settle and the practice matures, which is where we are now,  we should hope to bring more clarity to the industry and the consumer. Narrow down the regulators so we can all have consistency in our teachings. Those people who have yet to embrace the ideal owe it to themselves to get on board and start learning and promoting.

Green is definitely here to stay and there’s no denying it. And the sooner we all embrace it, practice it, and educate others, the better. Live responsibly and make this world a better place for those who follow.

Phil Vanderloo

Weighing out the cost of building Green

Here’s an interesting article from the National association of Homebuilders web site about upcoming trends and cost effectiveness of building green. http://bit.ly/7Lc6eu

Why Build Green

I thought I’d share this great page on some of the advantages of green building and remodeling.

Here’s the link http://www.builditgreen.org/homeowners-homebuyers This is also a fantastic site for information and resources related to building green.

source-builditgreen.org

Green Building

Advanteges of building/remodeling green

Green Home Construction

I have always advocated keeping yourself informed in whatever profession you choose to be active in. In trying to stay on top of all of the new trends, technologies, products, and services available in Green Building, Read more of this post

Searching Out Available Stimulus Funding

I’ve been reading a lot lately about certain Govt. entities having to return stimulus funds because they aren’t being utilized by the proposed deadlines. Read more of this post