LANDSCAPING: Saving Water and $’s w/ automatic sprinkler shut-off sensors
August 31, 2007
You are driving down the street, it is raining, and THEIR sprinklers are on! Or…I am driving down the street, it’s raining, and YOUR sprinklers are on!!
What can you do about it? You’ve left for work, it started to rain, and the automatic sprinkler systems does what it is supposed to do - it turns on at 7:30am. Well there is a solution for you, and it is called an automatic rain shut-off sensor, or moisture shut-off sensor. Craig Borglum of Lawn and Garden Irrigation discusses the technology and savings in his short article about automatic rain shut-off sensors for sprinkler control systems. Craig also discusses the potential water savings in terms of $$’s as well.
If you are looking for a rain sensor…Hunter Industries Incorporated offers their Mini-Clik rain sensor. Price point is about $25. Rain Bird Corporation also offers a sensor, the RSD Series Rain Sensor, for about $27.
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LANDSCAPING: Looking for eco-friendly backyard playstructure equipment?
August 29, 2007
How do we talk about leaving the planet the way we found it? The next generation inherits what we leave behind, so as we are looking to build a better tomorrow for them, lets use responsible materials for them to play on today.
There are several manufacturers of backyard playground equipment that are leading the eco-friendly way. These manufacturers are using FSC Certified wood and 100% recycled plastics materials. Let’s take a look at a few that we found:
Kompan
The KOMPAN NATURE line is suitable for children aged 2 to 12. All KOMPAN Nature play equipment is produced from FSC certified hardwood. They claim their wood comes from forests which have been assessed to be well managed according to strict environmental, social and economic guidelines.
“Children at play want challenging equipment. Keywords are quality, safety and a long life and that applies just as much to the natural environment and the people who live there. That’s why KOMPAN has opted to process only timber from well-managed forests. The FSC certificate is the only one to provide that guarantee. We are incredibly proud that, in a period of 4 years, we have succeeded in being able to offer playground equipment made entirely from FSC certified timber.” Willem van Veenendaal
Managing Director KOMPAN BV
Pros: Great use of FSC Certified wood
Cons: They are located in the Netherlands
Play Mart, Inc.
The Play Mart team has taken the time to give you the blow-by-blow on all the materials used in their products. The plastic used in the posts, decks and structural supports of their playground equipment is made from 100% recycled structural plastic (RSP). An average Play Mart playset recycles 25,000 milk jugs (nearly 7 jugs/lb of RSP). And are you looking for Read more
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COUNTERTOPS: Eco-friendly concrete countertops - are they for you?
August 24, 2007
Most will agree that concrete, and its many varient colors, make it a beautiful and stunning alternative to the ever so popular and less sustainable granite. The science behind concrete countertops is advancing every year, new ceramic ingredients are making it stronger, lighter and potentially less expensive for homeowners.
Inevitably during the countertop decision buying process you will ask yourself, what about the maintenance and upkeep behind concrete? How often do I have to seal it? Doesn’t it stain? Yes, and yes…but the answer is yes for many other surfaces as well.
What concrete offers over a granite alternative is patina. Patina is the fading, darkening or other signs of aging which is natural and unavoidable to some surfaces. To draw an analogy from the kitchen (and one of our employees), patina for a concrete countertop is like the seasoning of an iron skillet. The aging and use of a concrete countertop gives the surface character, beauty, while at same time capturing memories. Capturing memories you ask?
Owners of concrete counters are quick to share the patina of their tops. As one owner put it, “…here are the glass marks from that memorable get together two years ago where everyone celebrated with tequila shots and limes.” And Stephen Rosenblatt remembers, Read more
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ROOFING: Is it shake? No it’s Enviroshake, an eco-friendly roofing option
August 19, 2007
It’s been available for sometime, and we wanted to bring it to your attention. Wellington Polymer Technology, Inc. offers a composite roofing product that resembles the look of an antique cedar shake roof. The product is called Enviroshake®.
The company claims Enviroshake is “predominantly” made from reclaimed materials such as post industrial plastics, recycled rubber elastomers, and cellulosic fibre materials. The composite formula is designed for durability, UV protection, wind and hail resistance combined with superior mold, mildew and insect resistant properties. Wind rating on the product is approximately 110 mph. The product does not require any maintanance and carries a 50-year limited warranty!
Enviroshake comes in one color. It starts out as a brownish grey color and ”weathers” over 3-6 months to a silver-grey color that resembles cedar shake. The product does not require breathing like a cedar shake roof, so it can be applied to the same plywood that exists under your present asphalt roof for example.
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REBATES: The DSIRE comprehensive list of energy rebates & incentives
August 18, 2007
While you are caught up in your remodel whirlwind, remember that there are likely Federal, State, Local, and Utility provider incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Virtually all the products we discuss on GetWithGreen.com have some form of incentive attached to them by one of these parties (or the manufacturer).
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is one of the best and most comprehensive sources on the web for finding incentives and rebates. DSIRE is an ongoing project of the North Carolia Solar Center, and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The names and logos above should not fool you — this database goes beyond North Carolina to cover the entire U.S., and it goes beyond solar to cover interest free loans, appliances, and more!
To leverage the database we recommend you to start browsing by State. At the State level you select either…
- Federal Incentives: Here you will find all of the Federal Incentives available. As a homeowner you need to look for “Applicable Sectors: Residential”. By clicking on each incentive you will quickly see if the incentive is Commercial, Industrial, or Residential.
- Homeowner Incentives: Here you will find all of the incentives, from local entities such as your State, County, City, and Read more
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Andersen, Pella, Marvin, Kolbe Windows - Which one would you choose?
August 13, 2007
With the release of the J.D. Powers and Associates Report on Windows this morning, we wanted to present to you the questions again about your favorite windows, or those windows that you would recommend, or not recommend and why? Before we do that here are how your favorite brands faired:
Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)Points  Brand
796 Pella
794 Andersen
788 Milgard
782 Weather Shield
780 Loewen
780 Industry Average
762 American Craftsman
756 Marvin
754 Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork
753 JELD-WENThe inaugural study measures customer satisfaction among consumers who purchased new windows or patio doors, based on performance in six factors (in order of importance): ordering and delivery; price competitiveness; operational performance; appearance and design features; operational features; and warranty and replacement. Respondents may have installed the windows or patio doors themselves or with help from family and friends; hired an independent contractor or remodeler; used an installation service provided by a home improvement retailer; or used an installation service provided by the product manufacturer.
Pella ranks highest in customer satisfaction with windows and patio doors, achieving a score 796 on a 1,000-point scale. Pella performs particularly well in operational performance — which includes ease of use and operation, energy efficiency and ease of cleaning — and in ordering and delivery. Following Pella closely in the rankings is Andersen with a score of 794, performing well in operational features — which includes the number and variety of energy efficiency options offered — as well as in appearance and design features. Milgard ranks Read more
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ROOFING: Grass roof?? Here are more practical eco-friendly roof materials!
August 12, 2007
What can you do for roofing that is a bit greener and eco-friendly? Performing a Google search will have you growing Kentucky Bluegrass on your rooftop. I don’t know what neighborhood or climate that is practicle in, but I haven’t seen a house growing a lawn on their roof around our offices here in California. So we decided to highlight some green alternatives that are more in line with familiar, traditional, and practical roofing options that we are most familiar with — the shingle roof.
Fiber-Cement Composite Roofing
Fiber-cement roofs are long lasting, fireproof, and often use recycled wood fiber in their composition. At the end of the life of this product, it can be ground up into sand so it is recyclable. According to sources, these roofs do well in wet or humid areas, but not so well in freeze-thaw climates - check with the manufacturer for where their warranties apply.
Re-Con Building Products
Naturals product fall under two brands, Rustic Shake and Quarry Slate. These cement composite roofing products are simulated shake and slate products respectively. Both products carry a 50-Year Limited Warranty, and they are warrantied against wind damage, breakage, and appearance - read the details of Naturals’ warranty. The products have a high concentration of recycled materials in their ingredients. All carry a Class A Fire Rating, Class IV Hail Rating, and a wind rating up to 200 mph. Their products are resistant to moss, mildew and of course termites. No maintenance is required with this roofing material according to Re-Con Re-Con is a subsidiary of Stone Mountain Holdings.
Metal Shingle Roofing (yes metal shingles)
Metal shingles have a high concentration of recycled materials that contribute to the eco-friendliness in the roofing category. These shingles have come a long way in their resemblance to wood, tile and stone. In most cases they are light weight and can be applied over two layers of asphalt that may exist on your roof already - saving tear-off, installation and the landfill waste (National Association of Home Builders Research Center reports 20 Billion pounds of asphalt shingles are dumped into U.S. landfills each year). And noise? The roofs are designed in a way so that Read more Print This Post
LIGHTING: CBS Early Show discusses solar lighting options
August 12, 2007
How many times do you want to add that extra sensor light for safety, and realize there is no electrical available? There are solar Flood Light options for you to take a look at!
This short article from Wednesday morning’s CBS Early Show takes a quick look at solar lighting for the backyard.
Solar Lighting Options from CBS Early Show
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FLOORING: Eco-friendly efforts & carpet from Mohawk Flooring
August 8, 2007
What are your eco-friendly carpet options? We will put that list together for you soon. In the meantime, we wanted to deliver some news from one carpet and flooring manufacturer that is publically calling attention to their efforts to ease pressure on the environment: Mohawk Industries. They have started some early hype around what looks to be some further eco-friendly carpet and flooring options that will be available this Fall.
Historically, Mohawk is/has been a supplier of flooring for both residential (and commercial) applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of carpet, ceramic tile, wood, stone, laminate, vinyl, rugs and other home products. These products are marketed under the brands Mohawk, Karastan, Ralph Lauren, Lees, Bigelow, Quick Step, Dal-Tile and American Olean.
Mohawk Industries, focuses on environmentally friendly business practices that benefit Read more
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COUNTERTOPS: More on EnviroGLAS & IceStone eco-friendly countertops
August 7, 2007
Since our first postings, many of you have written and asked us about the difference(s) between the EnviroGLAS and IceStone countertop offerings. (Note these are the products we’ve discussed previously in our EnviroGLAS and IceStone article). After short discussions with both manufacturers, we wanted to provide you further information on these great eco-friendly stone alternatives for your kitchen and/or bathroom remodel!
The EnviroSLAB from EnviroGLAS is made from 100% recycled glass, and this glass comprises 75% of the total countertop. An ‘agricultural-based epoxy resin binder’ bonds the materials together and makes up the remaining ingredients. The countertop requires no sealing. When no sealing is required then there is less effort at installation, and less maintenance over the life of the product. EnviroGLAS in manufactured in Texas, and recycled materials the U.S. The EnviroGLAS team has done an independent assessment of their products, and you can the read the LEED report here. EnviroGLAS’s EnviroSLAB retails for $50 per square ft. for the materials, and installation varies depending on your local contractor rates.
The IceStone residential countertop surfaces are made from 100% recycled glass, and like EnviroSLAB this glass makes up 75% of the product. Cement bonds the glass together, and thus requires sealing - IceStone recommends annually on their website. The product is plastic free and VOC-free. The product is Petrochemical free, and IceStone is working to on using soy-based lubricants in all of their manufacturing processes in their U.S. based factory in New York. As far as green certifications and processes, IceStone has gone a green step further, and received MBDC’s Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification* for the IceStone durable surface, and the production processes used to produce it. IceStone compares their pricing to mid-to-high end granite, and notes that fabrication and installation very depending on your local contractor rates.
More on McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC): MBDC is a private consultancy recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as providing a legitimate tool to help architects and designers select building and interior products that impact/impact less on human health, on the environmental and on life cycle attributes. Cradle to Cradle Certification is now included within USGBC’s LEED Green Building Rating System, and eligible for earning “Innovation in Design” points.
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