LeedUser

Blog

Wind energy in the Times

by

A wind turbine ad on the New York Times homepage! Sure, Web ads are relatively cheap, but it still looks like a sign that alternative energy is hitting the big time. And the day after this ad ran, the Times ran a page 1 story (in print as well as on the Web) about wind power, exploring concerns that while some say wind could provide as much as 20% of the U.S. electricity supply, the existing grid isn't up to the task of transmitting power from the often remote places that have the best wind resources to the populous regions that need it.

Toilet paper is major emitter of bisphenol-A

by

As a key component in polycarbonate plastics such as those used for reusable water bottles, baby bottles, canned-food liners, and some building materials, bisphenol-A (BPA) has become the new chemical to fear. Despite that, I had to track down a paper from the Transactions of the Wessex Institute on research conducted at Dresden University to understand better what may be the next problem area to e

Foam-in-Place Insulation

by

Installing Air Krete foam insulation.

In recent columns, we've looked at cellulose insulation as well as fiberglass and other batt insulation The other option for filling wall and ceiling cavities is foam insulation that is sprayed into the cavity. There are several such materials that are used for this application, all installed by professional insulation contractors.

Learning From Ancient Fertilizer Factories

by

Talk about appropriate technology. They cooperate with nature on all levels — the design, the materials, the function... and gorgeous to look at besides. How would we build something like this today? This is very sexy stuff, even if it's all about pigeon poop.

Medievel Nanotechnology?

by

Finding an energy-efficient air purifier technology that actually works can be a tricky proposition. Most purifiers use ionizers that generate ozone or have HEPA and carbon filters that require inefficient fans that run constantly. Oh sure, you could try to keep toxins out of the house in the first place, but if you should find yourself living with a cigar-smoking roommate with a humidor made from non-CARB-compliant urea-formaldehyde particleboard (and, honestly, who hasn't?) and happen to be searching for a purifier, what are ya gonna do?

Teardowns and McMansions

by

Across the nation a teardown epidemic is wiping out historic neighborhoods one house at a time. As older homes are demolished and replaced with dramatically larger, out-of-scale new structures, the historic character of the existing neighborhood is changed forever. Neighborhood livability is diminished as trees are removed, backyards are eliminated, and sunlight is blocked by towering new structures built up to the property lines. Community economic and social diversity is reduced as new mansions replace affordable homes.

Planet Earth goes online

by

This press release just came through; sounds like it will be a pretty great resource. It's not up yet though — check it out in a few days.

LEED 2009 is an action hero — and open for public comment

by

The U.S. Green Building Council has announced that LEED 2009 is open for a second public comment period, from now until September 2, 2008. LEED 2009, according to USGBC's update, is "a new version of the rating system that delivers against key environmental and human health impacts" (emphasis added).

Batt Insulation: Fiberglass, Mineral Wool, and Cotton

Although not as green as cellulose, batt insulation makes sense under certain conditions.

by

Last week's column addressed cellulose insulation, which is the greenest and one of the most effective insulation materials available. But it isn't always practical or affordable to install cellulose. To insulate walls with cellulose, it's usually necessary to hire an insulation contractor, and if the job is very small--bumping out and reinsulating one wall of your home, for example--the cost may be prohibitive for that small improvement. This is where batt insulation makes sense.

Headlines from the year 2020

by

Here's a fun exercise that a group of architects, designers, and others completed today as part of the Designing for a Living World symposium that I'm attending, hosted by Interface at Shelburne Farms in Vermont. It's a little thing I call... "Headlines from the Future." Here's the deal.

Wishful (Magical?) Thinking on Products and LEED's Materials Credits

by

In my years as chair of LEED's Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group (MR-TAG) I've gotten lots of questions and comments about interesting interpretations and claims from product manufacturers. Most manufacturers are sincere in their efforts to understand the credit requirements and present their products in a positive light. Sometimes they just don't go far enough in studying the credit language before making their claims.

Heating with magazines

by

BuildingGreen recently cleared out about 75 shelf-feet of periodicals -- Architecture and PanelWorld and Ecological Restoration and Mold and Moisture Management and lots more. The recycling area outside the office was getting overcrowded with them and we still had more to remove. Then I remembered that our neighbor, Steve Benson, at J.S Benson Woodworking & Design, had told me he could use paper in his briquetter. I gave Steve a call, and he happily accepted our old magazines.

Cellulose Insulation

by

Workers blowing cellulose insulation onto a wall.

Insulation is our number-one line of defense against high heating costs, and my favorite type of insulation is cellulose. Along with its effectiveness at slowing heat flow, cellulose insulation is a green product--made mostly out of an abundant waste product: old newspaper.

How the LEED AP exam is scored

by

7/1/09 Update: The LEED AP exam has significantly changed, and the following sample exam has not been updated to reflect this. By the way, if you are looking to learn about the LEED 2009 rating systems, there's no better tool out there than our own LEEDuser.com. Eighty multiple choice questions, a score range of 125–200, a passing score of 170.

Insulation Materials – The Basics

by

SNOW ON THE ROOF IS A GOOD THING. It proves that the new insulation does exactly what it should--it keeps the heat inside the house..

There is no component of a home more important in minimizing energy costs than insulation. Insulation is the material used in walls, ceilings, roofs, and foundations that slows the flow of heat.