New House!

I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but a few months ago we bought a house. We took possession at the beginning of June and have been getting it ready for our move-in date which is fast approaching. When I went looking for a house I had a few criteria (my real estate agent would beg to differ, and say that I had MANY criteria). A friend of mine once told me that when looking for a house, write down ten points that make up your dream house, and when a house has seven, you have a winner. I think I’m able to count nine of ten items with this house, so it’s worked out well in that respect. Although originally I wanted a “fixer-upper” so I could use as many of the materials I’ve written about as possible, in the end, I discovered there was a premium for fixer-uppers in Montreal. So, we ended up with a house that will need a new furnace and a new kitchen. It’s actually my dream scenario: all the difficult work has been done (new windows, new plumbing and new wiring), and all the prettying-up has been left for us. Part of that prettying up involves making the house our own through the use of paint.

So, needless to say, I searched out paints that were better for our health and the environment than standard paint. I spoke with experts in the field from painters to distributors to manufacturers and then, finally I narrowed down my choices to three different kinds of paint: a zero-VOC* acrylic, a clay-based paint and a lime-based paint. Originally I was going to try several of the paints I’d written about, particularly Green Planet, AFM Safecoat and Homestead House acrylic. Unfortunately, none of these paints are available in Montreal and I would have had to order them through stores in Ontario. Not only does this add shipping costs, but if I didn’t like a colour I’d ordered, or the way it went on the walls, I’d have to invest more time and money choosing a new one or abandon the idea altogether. Because we are painting the entire house, using locally available paints was really important.

Mythic Paint: Mythic is a zero-VOC acrylic paint available in over 1200 colours with colour matching to other manufacturers’ colours too. They bill themselves as being a “non-toxic” paint. I felt uneasy with this self-declaration, after all, acrylic is liquid plastic and one would have to assume that because plastic is made of petroleum-based ingredients it is toxic — if not to humans, then to the environment. I contacted Mythic to ask them about their declaration and received a response from Vic Barnhill, Ground Support Leader, at Mythic. His response to my concern is quite detailed and better to let him speak for Mythic than my paraphrasing:

As far as durability goes, we are as good if not better than any conventional paint brand on the market. Like most paint you can paint over it with another brand.

All paints are made with chemicals and binders. It does not matter if it is a “green” paint or conventional. All water based paints are made of water, dirt, glue and what I call 11 secret herbs and spices. The water is the solvent in the paint. It holds everything together and keeps it from drying out in the can. The dirt or minerals give toughness, sheen uniformity, color and also take up space so the paint is opaque. The glue or binder is what holds everything together and on the wall after the paint dries. It also helps with durability. The secret herbs and spices are the raw materials used to thicken the paint give it flow and leveling, help with durability and other properties that we look for in paint. These are trade secrets due to the fact that we have done over 10 years of research to find alternatives to more conventional toxic materials. We would lose our competitive edge if we let everybody know what they are. Any company that says they are only made of plant materials and minerals is not telling the whole truth.

The reason we are able to make our claim of non toxic is based on the following;

1. We are Master Painters Institute (extreme Green), Green Wise, Pharos Project, MAS, CHPS and Regenerative Networks certified.
2. All of these certifications are verifiable, independent third party testing groups.
3. None of our products contain any material found on the Pharos Project “Red List”.
4. We are California Proposition 65 chemical compliant and do not have to put this warning on and of our products.
5. Our interior products are tested and certified by Materials Analytical Services. These products display the MAS Certified Green mark and meet or exceed environmentally determined testing standards and are environmentally preferred over traditional paints and coatings.
6. These products are compliant with the CDPH emissions standard specified for low-emitting Paints and Coatings under the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) and the LEED programs. As such, qualified project uses of the compliant paint and all our interior paints are eligible for 1 credit point each under EQ 2.2.2 for Paints and Coatings under the CHPS program, and 1 credit point each under IEQ 4.2 for Paints and Coatings under the LEED for Schools Program.
7. All of our claims have been vetted in the legal arena and found to be truthful and accurate.
8. It should be noted that the founder of the Green Building Council, LEED certification program and a founding member of Regenerative Networks, David Gottfried, picked and used our products on his own home and Mythic Paint is the only paint manufacturer chosen by the U.S. Regenerative Network as part of their sustainability and resource sourcing efforts in the US.

We go to great lengths to makes sure that are claims are true and verifiable.

There are certain advantages to this paint (and zero VOC acrylic paint in general) that are not in natural paints’ properties. For instance, if you live in an older home that has layers and layers on the walls (our “new” house was built in 1928), a good zero VOC acrylic primer will seal in those extra layers of paint and prevent any off-gassing, assuming that the paints are still off-gassing.

Acrylic paint dries much faster than natural paints, so if you’re only doing a small room, you may find it more convenient to use acrylic than natural paints.

There is a wider variety of colours available, as well as colours from other paint lines can usually be matched by competitors.

One thing I’ve written about before is that a paint can become a low-VOC paint (as opposed to a zero-VOC paint) once pigment is added. It had been difficult for paint manufacturers to get the VOCs out of the pigments. However, from what I understand, progress has been made in this area by most paint manufacturers. If you’re concerned about VOCs in pigments, ask the paint retailer.

Acrylic paint is available in a variety of finishes from flat to semi-gloss. Adding a little sheen to the paint makes the painted wall easier to clean. Our walls are being painted in eggshell, while the trim is being painted in pearl finish.

Disposal: The best way to dispose of these paints is through your municipality’s household hazardous waste program, or if there’s only a little paint left in the can, let it dry thoroughly and dispose of in the garbage.

So far, my painter, who has never used Mythic before, loves this paint. He finds it very easy to work with, enjoys a completely odourless environment, and believes it will be very durable over time. It spreads over the walls and ceilings evenly and dries quickly.

In Montreal, Mythic is available through City Paints.

*VOC stands for “volatile organic compounds.” These are compounds which evaporate into the air (off-gassing) from all kinds of objects. Pollution Probe has done a study indicating that indoor air quality is more than ten times as bad as outdoor air quality, in part due to the off-gassing of these VOCs. They are found in most new items we bring into our home from glues, adhesives and paints found in new furniture, carpets, fabric, to household cleaners. To give yourself cleaner indoor air quality, open your windows on warmer days and let the air circulate throughout. In addition, use less harmful cleaners, and try to stay away from MDF or pressboard made with VOC filled adhesives, or seal exposed edges once it’s in your home (Note: there is a zero-VOC MDF board called Nu-Green). 

Related posts:

1. Mythic Paint — Zero VOC, 1200+ Colours, Great Price!
2. Homestead House — The Only Canadian Milk Paint Manufacturer
3. American Clay: A natural alternative to paint

Chris Magwood, Executive Director of  The Endeavour Centre sent me a note letting me know that Canada’s Greenest Home is now complete and up for sale. As he mentions in his blog post on the subject, being the greenest home is not a brag per se, as those people working in the green construction industry tend to work cooperatively rather than competitively. I had a long list of questions about the home that I sent Chris’ way, and he answered each one with significant detail.

If you’re not familiar with the Endeavour Centre, is an independent school that teaches green building skills and techniques. People in the program spend half their day in the classroom and the other half building a house, getting that hands-on practical experience they need.

Using criteria from both LEED and Living Building Challenge certification systems, the team at Endeavour built what is likely to be one of the greenest homes on the market today. Not only was it built with end-use in mind, it was built with materials that have a low embodied energy. For the most part, materials come from close to home, and are made, as much as possible from renewable resources.

The house is a spacious 2300 square feet of living space on two floors. There are three bedrooms (including a Master-ensuite) on the second floor, and two bathrooms. On the main floor there is another room which can be used as a fourth bedroom, den, playroom, office, etc. in addition to the kitchen, living and dining rooms and another bathroom.

Shell: The east and west walls for both the first and second floors are made from NatureBuilt straw Structural Insulated Panels. The south side of the building is “double-framed dense packed cellulose” and the north wall is site- strawbaled. Chris estimates that the SIP walls have an R30 value, the roof has an R-80 value, the basement floor has an R-16 value, while the basement walls, built from Durisol blocks are  R-16. This is a very tight shell despite its vapour permeable walls, with an air exchange value of 0.63 ACH/hour at a standard pressure of 50 Pascal Pressure. Ross Elliot from Homesol Building Solutions  performed the energy audits throughout construction. Chris noted that the floor joists were constructed within the structure so there is no issue with having thermal bridges around the joists. Needless to say, this is a very tight building envelope!

The windows and doors were manufactured by Inline Fiberglass. They are triple glazed (ie., three pieces of glass), argon filled with fiberglass frames. Fiberglass is one of the best materials you can use for windows and doors as the glass and fibreglass expand and contract at the same rate meaning the seal remains tight.

Because the building envelope is so tight, the house is equipped with an Air Source Heat Pump made by Mitsubishi, and an accompanying Energy Recovery Ventilator. Newer ASHPs work even in cold climates such as ours as they can find the heat in air that is -30C (provided the building envelope is tight enough). The ERV recovers heat not just from air, but also from moisture in the air so it is doubly efficient. Chris told me he wouldn’t worry about moisture in this house in any event. Because the walls are made of natural materials (straw, lime plaster, clay and wood), they are breathable and therefore can absorb moisture from the air and dry without worry of mou

Ross Eliott has estimated that with average consumption patterns the annual cost to heat the home should be about $325, taking into account average Time of Use rates in Ontario. In addition, there is a 5 kilowatt PV solar system on the roof which should generate some extra income for the homeowners as part of the microFIT program. In theory, Ross estimates that the home should run at a surplus, and that because the home is so well-insulated, it shouldn’t have any need for air conditioning (although it’s included in the ASHP). No fossil fuels are needed to run this home, and in the event that the homeowners draw more electricity than they produce, they have a contract with Bullfrog Power, a green energy retailer.

Exterior cladding is FSC pine from PurePine and are treated with Sansin stain (water-based) in the factory, and the cedar shingles were sourced in Madoc, Ontario.

Water use: There is no sewer hook-up for this home. The toilets come from a composting company in Sweden called Clivus Multrum. The system only uses 0.1L of water per flush. I’ve looked at the diagram on the Clivus website and asked Chris about it. To be honest, I was a little leery about a composting system within the home itself. The system comes with a fan, and a drainage system that separates urine from excrement and by the time the compost reaches the front of the system it is only about 10% of its original size and ready for use (it takes one to two years to reach the front of the system). My two reservations with this system are sanitation and smell. However, Clivus has been in existence since the 60s and in North America since the 70s, so maybe my reservations are unfounded. Chris noted that they have installed this system in two houses before with great success.  Despite my reservations, I can see a system such as this one being a great way for progressive cities to entice new buildings and retrofits to not use the city sewer system — provided there is a lot of training and some sort of certification system in place to make sure proper safety/sanitation measures are taken.

Because there is no need for water for the toilets, there is also no gray water system. There is a rainwater harvest system in place which can be used for any household uses including watering the garden. An overflow system lets excess rainwater  onto the front garden.

Interior finishes are a variety of materials including non-toxic acrylic paint from Mythic, AFM Safecoat Naturals paint, a homemade Clay finish, lime plaster and Kreidezeit clay. There are no toxins in this house!

Is this Canada’s Greenest house? It is durable, made of low-embodied energy, local and attractive materials, with exceptionally low running costs, that doesn’t tax the municipal sewer or electric system. Further, it blends in with its neighbours, is a reasonable size and offers typical functionality all of which are important factors in creating any “green” house. The market will decide how desirable this house is. And desirability is a key ingredient in any green house.

Related posts:

1. Canada’s Greenest Home to be Built in Peterborough
2. John Bell’s Green Home — Host of World’s Greenest Homes Greens His Own Home
3. 3 Bedroom “Green” Chicago Home for sale: $129,900 (and you thought a green home had to be expensive)

Tereska, Shawn and their children, Danika and Luka

In addition to their core business of building and planting raised bed gardens, Urban Seedlings also offers a variety of seasonal workshops.  The workshop I attended, given by Tereska, took away the mystery I’ve always considered gardening to be (despite the fact that I have a B.Sc. in Biology and technically know how everything is supposed to work). The even better news is, if you are a novice, but are determined to grow your own vegetables, they’ve got a crew of gardeners available to you for support throughout the growing season.

In fact, Urban Seedling offers several levels of service from full service where, they build, set up, and plant your garden in spring, summer and fall, to medium service where they can set it up for you in the spring, and put it to bed in winter.  For the DIYers in the crowd, the workshops are for you. They will teach you how to build your own raised beds and plant your vegetables, even if you happen to live in a condo and only have a balcony.

I had several questions about raised bed gardening, all of which were answered during the workshop:

Why raised bed gardening?: There are several advantages to raised bed gardening, but drainage is probably key. By building a bed above the earth, proper drainage is ensured. Further, by filling in your own mix of earth, compost, peat moss and vermiculite, you can ensure that you have the best soil mix that will promote maximum growth.

The raised bed: We were shown how to construct and plant a 10′x3′ bed. Using cotton twine or pieces of wood, the bed is divided into 30 1′x1′ squares, with each square dedicated to one vegetable — you can, however, plant as many squares of the same vegetable as you want.  The exception is squash: it needs a large area, so when it comes time to plant it, four squares are taken up and the seeds are planted at the intersection of the four squares. In addition to the bed itself, it’s important to provide a trellis at the long, preferably, north, end of the bed  – away from shadow casting plants. It’s also a good idea to erect a short fence that will keep squirrels and other animals out of the garden. Tereska noted that if you don’t put the fence in soon enough, and the animals in the area have tasted your yummy vegetables once they’ve sprouted, there is next to no way to prevent them from getting through. So, put the fence up as soon as you’ve planted your spring seedlings.

When are the vegetables planted?: There are three plantings during the growing season, assuming your first planting is no later than the last week in April. Admittedly the weather this year has been a little less cooperative than last year, when they were able to start planting the first week of April.

By planting new vegetables three times a season, you not only increase the variety of foods available, but also, you can maximize the number of vegetables one bed can offer. For example, peas,  spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula (roquette), and broccoli can all be planted in the spring. A few of those, such as kale and arugula will also continue to grow all season long, providing you with fresh, flavourful veggies throughout the growing season. Lettuce and peas, however, are replaced with summer plants because peas stop or slow production with the hot weather and lettuce gets bitter.

By late May, to the latest, mid-June, summer and a few fall vegetables are planted. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and other climbing vegetables are planted in the last row so they can climb up the trellis. Other vegetables are introduced such as peppers, squash and beans.

In late August, the (almost) last planting is completed: new lettuce, spinach, beets and carrots are planted. In November, the beds are prepared for winter, but it’s also the time when garlic is planted.

Seedlings started early in the season inside the warehouse. They’ll go to the greenhouse next.

 Seedling Placement: Knowing where to place your vegetable seeds or seedlings is important. Tereska suggested that if there is no way to access your raised bed from behind, it’s best to keep it to a 3×10 size. According to one of the group members, who is a client of Urban Seedlings, a 3×10 bed produces plenty of vegetables. Climbers such as peas, tomatoes and cucumbers need to be planted at the back near the trellis, the middle rows tend to be saved for the plants such as kale and arugula that stay the full season, and the front row is dedicated to changing plants.

In the spring as well, Tereska pointed out that it’s important to plant tallest to shortest so the tall plants don’t block the shorter plants’ sunlight. By summer, however, they’re all tall, so it doesn’t matter as much.

How much does it cost?: prices vary by service, from full scale to DIY workshops for $20 so you can take matters into your own hands. See their price list for specifics.

Tereska also offered us a few words of advice about the garden in general:

1. The place where you are planting your raised bed must receive at least 6 hours of full sun per day.

2. You need to check on your garden every day. This is important for a few reasons: one, because as it grows you’ll be able to tell how the garden is progressing and whether it’s healthy or if pests have discovered your veggies. Weeds need to be pulled daily and squares need thinning once seedlings have sprouted. One of the advantages of raised beds is that there tend to be fewer weeds in them.

3. Planting a bee-friendly flower and herb garden close by helps encourage pollination and vegetable production.

4. Your garden needs to be watered every day, so if you’re planning on going on vacation, arrange for a neighbour or Urban Seedling to come in and tend it for you.

You can find out more about Urban Seedling’s products and services by visiting their website. One of the things I really appreciated was that their catalogue of seeds has been put together specifically for the Island of Montreal’s climate.

You can also visit them at their new location in Ville Émard, where they’ve set up a greenhouse and have seedlings for sale as well as everything else you need to make your own vegetable garden.

Greenhouse filled with seedlings

Related posts:

1. Using Less Water in the Garden
2. Urban Tree Salvage Uses City Trees to Create Beautiful Furniture
3. Urban Green Energy Provides Effective, Durable, Small Wind Vertical Turbines

Carson Arthur, Landscape Designer

Carson Arthur, Landscape designer and TV personality writes about how to tackle your outdoor spring clean-up. Carson sits very much in the green camp and encourages the use of non-toxic products and conserving water in our outdoor activities.  Thanks for you contribution Carson!

When the warm weather arrives, every homeowner has an inventory of outside chores:  cutting the lawn, weeding the garden, washing windows and cleaning the eaves are at the top of every list, including mine.   This year however, I’m adding some new ‘must-do’ items to make the outdoors more enjoyable.

1. Top dress the lawn.  I’m taking top-dressing a step further and reseeding my entire lawn this spring!  Every July when the hot weather hits, I have yellow patches in my grass.  I’ve been told slugs or hot dry weather are the culprits.  The truth is…most of our lawns are Kentucky Blue Grass which naturally goes dormant in the heat and but also needs a lot of water.  By moving Canadians away from the  ‘all consuming’ Kentucky Blue grass and into the rye grasses, we will see less water consumption but also less pesticides and fertilizers. Check out this new seed which I am a fan and spokesman for. www.rtfwatersavercanada.com I will add this grass seed, a rye fescue, because it stays green all season long and uses 30% less water.  Do this by adding a 2-kilogram bag of seed to a 20-pound bag of top soil, mix them in a wheelbarrow, and spread across your existing grass.  The ‘seed-to-soil’ contact is what makes this work!
2. 

   Cleaned using Concrobium House and Deck Wash and Mold Stain Eraser

   Remove the Mold.  As an allergy sufferer, getting rid of the mold that forms in damp, warm weather is extremely important.  Washing the outdoor cushions is only one part of the equation.  Mold can form on decks, furniture, siding and eaves troughs.  I use a two-step process to effectively remove the mold. First I wash away all the surface dirt, grime and mildew with a product called Concrobium House & Deck wash. Not only is it safe around the plants, so I don’t have to cover all my shrubs, it doesn’t contain bleach so it won’t damage the deck. I also have old stains that are deep in the wood so the second step I take is to use Concrobium’s Mold Stain Eraser product that removes just the staining without damaging the wood. I also love that it doesn’t require any scrubbing. Now my siding is spotless, everything made of plastic looks new again and I can finally get rid of those mold spots on my wooden deck.

3. Wash the Salt.  I never use salt outside my home but it still gets tracked onto the path and driveway from city streets and sidewalks.  Salt damage to plants and grass happens as the snow melts or as rain carries the deposits into the yard.  This build up in the soil can be very damaging and can increase after every winter.  One of the best ways to remove the salt from damaged areas is with a mild vinegar-water solution.  A half teaspoon of white vinegar to one litre of water makes a great rinse for removing salt from concrete or asphalt.  I use a stiff bristle boat mop to make the job quick and easy.
4. Mulch Late!  Mulching in the spring is very important but most people do it too early.   I’ve always tried to mulch when the snow melts to conserve water by keeping the ground moist.   Unfortunately, this slows growth in my gardens.  Mulch acts as an insulator, protecting the plants from the elements.  However, if you spread it before the soil is completely thawed the mulch keeps the ground colder for longer!  The best time to mulch is when the ground is 5-7 degrees C.  You can measure ground temperatures by completely burying a thermometer in a re-sealable bag.

Our time outside is short in Canada so everyone wants to be outside as much as possible.   My tips will help keep your spaces looking their best all summer long!

Before

After: Using Concrobium Mold Stain Eraser

About Carson: Carson Arthur started his television career as a behind-the-scenes prop coordinator for a national garden call-in show.  Very quickly, Carson turned an opportunity to host his own show into a landscape design staple.  With international coverage, Carson has become a voice of environmentally friendly landscape design on a global scale.  By addressing outdoor challenges with a keen sense of style and a passion for eco-consciousness, Carson continues to reinvent the definition of gardening.   With his first series, Room To Grow, Carson created inspired outdoor spaces for homeowners and taught a generation of viewers how to increase their own living spaces by expanding outside.  Following on the heels of his first success, Green Force provided Carson with the opportunity to take on some of the largest challenges associated with urban living.  Carson and his team travel throughout a large urban center and tackle some of the most depressing, under-utilized, and forgotten spaces around us turning them into parks and beautiful art installations while using environmentally friendly techniques and products.

 Carson takes pride in where he lives and what he does.  As the spokesperson for RTF WaterSaver Grass seed, PureRain North America, and Black and Decker Canada, Carson has made the most of his television career to date by being active in helping to develop a better understanding of green living within a social context.  When not in the dirt; Carson stays busy building, planting, writing or designing as a featured guest on CityLine, Steven & Chris, and as a contributing writer for Wal-Mart’s upcoming retail magazine.  Look for Carson as the newest guest expert for The Shopping Channel as he roles out amazing new products for the great outdoors in 2013. Carson is also now the outdoor expert for Better Homes and Gardens Dream Team. 

Related posts:

1. Spring Cleaning? How to keep your stuff out of landfill
2. Gloves Off Cleaning Products: Powerful cleaners that are easy on you and the environment
3. Beautiful Teak Outdoor Furniture from Huntsville, Ontario

Granite Scraps, normally sent to landfill

In keeping with my theme of writing about products made from waste material, I was contacted by a company called Green Stone Granite, based in Guelph, Ontario. Green Stone Granite is a new enterprise that takes leftover granite from building jobs and turns it into new products. Dana Laferriere, my contact at Green Stone explained to me that after counters or flooring or tiles have been made from granite, the off-cuts are usually sent to landfill. According to Green Stone’s estimate, 30-40% of granite is “waste”, as in off-cuts and scrap, and is sent directly to landfill. Green Stone has asked local granite manufacturers  (Guelph and surrounding area) to send their scraps to them instead of landfill.

Green Stone Granite’s goal is to become a zero waste facility. Dana said,

We need to get our name out there to educate the public that there are different uses for granite, and now the option for recycled granite. Once we do that and our business grows, we will be able to put the money into achieving a zero waste facility. Currently we are able to re-purpose on average 70% of the granite that comes to our facility. Our goals for the future is to start producing landscaping material with the remainder including aggregate which would bring that to 100%.

Split Stone granite tiles for kitchen

Feature Wall made from split stone granite scrap

Their most popular product is the split stone. It is rough, like any natural stone in its finished form.  The split stone has many applications from kitchen backsplashes, fireplace surrounds to outdoor uses such as pavers and for outdoor kitchens. They also create cutting boards/cheese trays and are in the process of developing granite ice cubes (whiskey stones).

Cost: The cost is comparable to a marble or glass backsplash.

Delivery: They are able to deliver the product to the Toronto area, and are currently speaking with eco building stores about carrying it directly in Toronto.

Installation: Installation is similar to installing traditional tile, however the stones are dry stacked so no grout is required. The benefit to our product is every project is unique and there are endless possibilities of colour combinations.

For more information on Green Stone Granite, visit their website.

Related posts:

1. Eco by Cosentino Countertops contain 75% recycled material
2. Crossville Tile’s New Porcelain Tile with Recycled Content
3. HeronLED Personal Task Light Made from 89% Post Consumer Recycled Plastic, Great Design

Red Rock Waterfront Centre, Red Rock, Ontario

In green building circles it is generally acknowledged that prefab or modular homes are more environmentally friendly than traditional stick built on site homes. Walls are constructed inside a warehouse so the materials aren’t exposed to the elements, which helps keep the materials dry; there is less material waste because excess materials from one job can be used on the next one; There is less waste on site because walls were constructed elsewhere and homes go up faster because they are already partially built.

Straw bale houses are also becoming increasing popular because of their properties of low embodied energy (straw is the waste product from wheat, the “chaff”), combined with excellent insulating properties with R-values ranging anywhere from R-20 to R-50, depending on the thickness of the wall. They are strong, durable, and the majority of the material is biodegradable at end of life.

So now imagine a building made of prefab straw bale houses. These houses combine the insulating and durability advantages of straw bale, with those of prefab, producing less waste and being built in a faster period of time. Here in Canada, staw bale SIPs (structure insulated panels) are being produced by the team at NatureBuilt Walls. The walls were the brain child of  Chris Magwood, who runs the Endeavour Centre in Peterborough, and Ian Weir, who’d taken the green building course at Fleming College. They are now joined by Neeraj Jain, and Ryan McLaughlin, who bring additional specialized strengths to the company.

I had a lot of questions about the walls, so I contacted Neeraj and we talked about these SIP walls and all of their properties. (Note that the interview has been condensed and I am paraphrasing Neeraj’s answers):

Straw Bale SIPs being transported to built site

 1. What are the SIPs made of?

The SIPs are made of straw bales, FSC wood for the frame and are covered with an inch of concrete on either side.

2. What is the expected lifespan of the SIPs?

There are straw bale houses in England and the US that are still standing today that are well over 100 years old, so I’d say our homes will also last over 100 years.

3. What is R-value of a Nature Built SIP wall?

We are in the middle of testing the exact R-value of our walls through a research project being carried out at Queen’s University, but we estimate that our R value will be between 35-40.

4. Can they be used for roofing as well?

No, they are too heavy. One 8′x8′ panel weighs about a ton.

5. Given that it’s an organic product, how do you protect against mould, rot and pests?

The straw bales are packed very densely, it’s like having a wall of solid wood, so there are no pockets or cracks for animals to infiltrate. Further, the straw itself has no nutrition value, so pests would not recognize it as a food source.

With respect to water infiltration, like any wood-based product, it’s how you well you seal the straw to protect it from water. Our walls are completely covered with an inch of cement on either side, so it would be hard for water to find a pathway. But, even if water did infiltrate, because the walls are breathable, there is a way for them to dry out so mould and rot won’t start.

Exterior Walls, Straw Bale SIPs.

Interior walls, Pickering Project

6. Is the straw used for the SIPs waste straw or is it grown for this purpose?

No, the straw used is the leftover stalks from wheat production. Straw is primarily used as bedding materials for animals, so it is generally considered a waste material.  Also, by putting it inside walls, it is another way to capture and store carbon.

7. Which type of windows and doors (brand and/or material) are best to use with your walls? Or does it matter?

It doesn’t matter which type of windows and doors are used. After quite a bit of experimenting we now design our panels around the openings, instead of cutting openings within the panels themselves. So, for instance, we will make two panels that will stop four feet apart, and the opening will be where the door will go. To fill the area above the door frame, we can do a variety of things such as add straw bales on site, or use different insulations such as Roxul mineral wool. There are a lot of options. We also build long narrow panels that can be used along the bottom of the house, then windows can be built in resting on top of the panel.

Construction of timber frame home

Straw Bale SIPs used in Timber Frame home

8. Does the wall provide any type of thermal mass for the building?

Absolutely. As I mentioned, these walls are incredibly heavy. They are also about 16″ thick when cement is applied to both sides, so there is a lot of thermal mass there to help regulate a building’s internal temperature.

9. Can you custom spec the walls or do they come in just one size? What is the largest wall that can be specified? Can you stack them for two stories?

Right now our only consistent requirements are height and depth. Walls are usually 8′ or 9.5′ high and the depth is always 16″. Lengths can vary depending on the design, however, because the walls are transported to the site on a flatbed truck, we like to limit the wall length to about 10′.  Our residential designs can be up to three stories high. To build higher structures, the skeleton needs to be built in steel.

10. How thick is the final wall when it’s completed?

The wall is 16″ thick which consists of an inch of concrete on either side of an interior filling of 14″ thick straw bales.

11. How do you install wiring and plumbing behind the wall or is it best done through interior walls?

We don’t install plumbing on exterior walls, but we can make conduits for electrical wiring on the exterior walls. While it’s easier when we have the electrical plans when we’re building the walls, we can also add the conduits for the wires after the walls have been constructed.

12. Do you plaster directly over the walls, or do you apply studs and drywall? 

The wall is as it is. It can be finished further, if desired, but it’s not necessary. The trick with these walls, especially on the exterior is covering the seams. One of my favourite examples of how this was done well, was our project in Red Rock, Ontario, near Thunder Bay. The architect who designed the building incorporated some architectural trim that was simple, cost effective and also covered the seams.

On the inside of the house it’s not usually much of an issue because the seams tend to line up where the rooms divide. Even if the seams are exposed, as in one of our projects, drywall can be applied directly onto the cement using drywall mud. No studs are necessary.

13. What kind of paint can be used on a Nature Built wall, which I assume is a breathable wall.

A silicate based mineral paint needs to be used on these walls particularly on the outside. Our advisor, Chris Magwood, figures it’s not too important to keep the walls breathable on the interior of the house, but it’s essential to stop mould growth and rot, to keep the building breathable on the outside in order for it to dry out.  We can actually apply the paint in the factory so it’s already done by the time it gets to the site.

14. Can you please define a “breathable” wall for our readers?

A breathable wall is one that has no vapour barrier. Let’s say that water is traveling down a wall, even without the actual water infiltrating the wall, the water vapour can. If there is no way for the water to get out, it will eventually produce mould. A breathable wall such as ours, allows for water vapour to evaporate and keep the interior walls dry.

Related posts:

1. Canada’s Greenest Home to be Built in Peterborough
2. Fischer SIPS — Superior Insulation, FSC OSB also Available
3. Thermapan SIPs From Fort Erie Ontario

This year’s focus is water cooperation. Around the world, there are 276 transboundary river basins. Actions taken by any country regarding water use can affect downstream water flow and quality. Cooperation is essential among nations to ensure peace and the best water management. The UN has a page of facts concerning water consumption and the effect of increasing populations and climate change. It’s pretty scary, but can be managed if approached in a coordinated, rational manner (Source).

World Water Day’s objective is to highlight water concerns around the world. While we Canadians count ourselves lucky to have an abundant supply of fresh water, we should probably stop short of patting ourselves on the back. Crumbling urban infrastructure means that many cities are having difficulty dealing with sewage and water treatment. Further, a report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has estimated that it will cost about $80 billion to replace waste water treatment plants and pipes, drinking water delivery pipes and storm water pipes that are in “fair” to “very poor” condition across Canada (Source).

Canadians are the second biggest water users per capita of all OECD countries (Source). To make matters worse, many OECD countries have been decreasing their water consumption per capita (including the US), while, since 1980, Canadians have increased water consumption by 25%.  Part of the reason that Canadians are water hogs is because a realistic price hasn’t been attached to the water we use. In many municipalities a flat rate is charged, which, of course, doesn’t lead to conservation behaviour. If you view something as a low-value resource, then you will treat it as such. Leaks will go unfixed, faucets will be left on to brush teeth and do dishes, there is no incentive to buy water efficient appliances. Moreover, if there isn’t an effort by city hall to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation through public policy, people won’t see it as an issue of concern.

As Canadian cities’ populations increase, the need for potable water will also increase. Demands on cities’ water infrastructure will be tested to their maximum, which is why implementing water conservation measures is more urgent than most people realize. Water conservation at business, institutional and residential levels will give municipalities some time to upgrade their water infrastructure and pricing water fairly is the easiest way to motivate people to think about conservation.

I’ve written many articles on products that will help you conserve water. I’ve written about low-flow fixtures, rain barrels,  and gray water systems. Look in the Water Efficiency section of the Resource Guide for products and information on water efficiency. But there are other ways to cut water use that you might not even consider, and, in fact, you can make an even bigger dent in water conservation by altering a few of your weekly purchases. The infographic comes thanks to Loch Ness Water Gardens in South Carolina. Some of the stats are surprising. You might have already been aware that beef production uses the most water of any meat production (1850 gallons (US) to produce 1 pound of beef), but did you know that your morning coffee needs 2500 gallons of water? It only takes 8 gallons of water to produce a pound of tea. The infographic also gives you suggestions on how modifying your behaviour will help you save water, such as switching out your high flow shower head to a low flow fixture, or switching from drinking milk to beer (?) — great excuse for the legal-aged drinkers in the crowd, but maybe not so helpful for the kids (I can hear my teenagers now: “But mom, it’s better for the environment”).

Courtesy of: Loch Ness Water Gardens

Related posts:

1. Brac Residential Graywater Systems Can Conserve Up to 40% of Your Water Use
2. Elmvale, ON Water Festival This Saturday (August 21st, 2010)
3. Fix a Leak Water Week, Emphasizes Water-Saving Fixtures

• It is a hygroscopic, or water loving, material. The insulation can absorb up to 40% its weight in water and still not feel wet to the touch and eliminating condensation in interior spaces filled with the insulation. This action in turn, prevents mould growth and/or rot.
• Wool is an excellent acoustic insulation.
• Memory. Wool maintains its shape and therefore its R value over time.  Because of the natural kink in the fibre, when fibres are side by side tiny air pockets are created which prevent heat from travelling across the insulation.
• Flame resistant.
• Treated with borate, it is also pest resistant.

The two brands that Living Rooms carries are:

1. Oregon Shepherd Natural Wool Insulation:This product is excellent for attics and underfloor insulation, wherever loose fill insulation is required. It has an R value of around 3.6/inch. Installation: Although it can be installed by hand, using a blower will allow for maximum effectiveness of the insulation, particularly since it arrives tightly packed in plastic bags. John mentioned that they prefer the FibreForce blower by Intec for the best application.

Oregon Shepherd Sheep's Wool Insulation, loose fill

Oregon Shepherd Loose Fill Insulation, Wall Cavity Installation (netting applied across studs)

Cost: $4.45/lb, although discount pricing may be available for volume orders. It’s best to call to confirm prices. (Prices are at time of writing, March, 2013.)

Certifications: The loose-fill insulation has the following certifications:

Black Mountain Sheep's Wool Insulation, available in batts

Contents: 92% sheep’s wool + 4% polyester binder made from recycled polyester (for maintaining shape — polyester made from recycled material) + 4% borax salt. Can be recycled, incinerated for additional energy, or composted to biodegrade.

Cost: $1.88/sqft for the 3.5″ thick batts and $2.55/sqft for the 5.25″ thick batts. Again, best to call for a quote. (Note: current pricing as of March, 2013.)

Related posts:

1. UltraTouch Natural Cotton Insulation
2. Benefits of Wool Carpeting
3. Heatlok Spray Foam Insulation: Soy and Recycled Plastic

It seems that whenever you find one “new” product, others come out of the woodwork soon after. In this case I’m referring to the plant-based paint brand, Green Planet Paints, which I wrote about in December. You see, now that paint companies have tackled the problem of paints emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air with their low, ultra-low and zero VOC lines, the more obvious problem is that paints not only use a significant amount of energy to be made, they are a petroleum-based product and contain an awful lot of other highly toxic chemicals. Enter paints that made from plant-based and mineral materials, and suddenly you’ve got some real alternatives to traditional paints.

When I was in Kingston, Ontario touring Living Rooms, John Sinclair introduced me to a few new-to-me brands of paint which are petroleum free made from plants and minerals. These paints can be a little trickier to use. They have longer drying times, which means professional painters may not be too keen on using them as they can only apply one coat per day. If the job is big enough, or if they have enough jobs that are geographically close together, it may not be an issue, but it is something to consider.

Allbäck paint comes from Sweden and made from  pure organic linseed oil. The company sources all of its linseed oil from locally grown (in Sweden) flax. One of the remarkable things about this paint is that it is extremely durable. Allbäck claims that it will last for 50 years. For maintenance purposes, the company suggests that once every 10 to 15 years the paint be renewed with an application of linseed oil or linseed oil wax to restore the colour.

The paint can be used on almost any surface including wood, plastic, metal. To use on drywall and plaster, a sealant such as pure shellac needs to be applied first.  (Note: pure shellac is a natural ingredient excreted by the Lac bug, which is found in India and Thailand.) Normally, the resulting shellac flakes are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to form a liquid which can be applied to a variety of surfaces. Allbäck has developed a method to suspend the shellac flakes in water so there is no off-gassing of alcohol.

Allbäck Pure Organic Linseed Oil paint. It is available in 32 premixed colours, which tend to go along historic colour lines. This paint can be applied to just about anything from wood to plastic to masonry. It can be diluted with linseed oil to apply it as a stain, or with water for use on masonry. John explained to me that adding 30% water for masonry applications helps the masonry absorb the paint better. The paint dries to a low-gloss finish, which is especially nice on woodwork. He noted that there are no visible brush strokes after the paint has dried.

Linus is a wall paint that dries to a flat finish and is available in 13 pastel colours and black. A flat finish for walls is great for hiding imperfections, however, with low quality paints a flat finish is often not scrubbable, but John says this paint is very durable, and like the Pure Organic Linseed Oil line, also lasts 50 years. In addition to linseed oil and earth pigments, Linus also contains cellulose which acts as a binder and creates a nice texture on the wall. This is ideal for walls that tend to crack as the cellulose can prevent the cracks from occurring. One of the other characteristics about this paint is that it is considered “fire safe” — which means no toxic chemicals are emitted if a room should ever catch on fire.

Application: Contrary to modern petroleum-based paints, layers should be applied as thinly as possible. The linseed oil will penetrate porous surfaces such as wood so surfaces should be properly prepped before use. The advantages of penetrating a surface, such as wood, means that the paint won’t chip or peel off in the future.  On old wood, old paint and any rotten wood or mould and mildew should be removed before this paint is applied.  While a natural bristle brush is recommended for use with this paint, John also sent over a link of a fellow who applies it to woodwork using a microfibre pad; even a rag will work for application.

http://stylewithabrush.com/2012/11/28/cabinetry-painted-with-allback-using-a-micro-fiber-pad/

The paint usually needs two layers for full coverage, even if applying white over a dark colour. No primer is needed and paint can be applied directly to new wood surfaces that have not been treated. (Again, a sealant needs to be applied for porous surfaces.)

Coverage: While the website notes that surface coverage is approximately 600 square feet per gallon, which can be up to twice as much as a standard paint. However, it’s important to note that coverage varies depending on which surface you are applying it to and whether you are diluting it with water or linseed oil. John told me he thinks the company’s coverage estimate is conservative. It tends to cover more on surfaces that don’t absorb the paint, such as metal, plastic and sealed drywall and plaster, so coverage is greater than 600 square feet /gallon.

Cost: While the paint is on the pricey side, it’s important to note that along with it comes long-lasting durability and better coverage. The paint is sold in litres, not in gallons and comes premixed. These prices below are taken from Living Rooms website and are for the pure organic linseed oil paint only. At the moment they don’t carry the Linus line, but they are planning on carrying it and the new pure shellac sealant in the future.

200 ml: $16.50  (Tester size or for painting a small object)

1 litre: $53.o0

3litre: $153.00

Available through Livng Rooms in Kingston, or direct from Allback’s Canadian and American websites:

www.solventfreepaint.ca

www.solventfreepaint.com

Related posts:

1. Green Planet Paints – Zero VOC, Petroleum Free
2. Mythic Paint — Zero VOC, 1200+ Colours, Great Price!
3. Homestead House — The Only Canadian Milk Paint Manufacturer

On yet another monotonous drive down the 401 (thank goodness for audiobooks!) from Montreal to Toronto, I broke up the trip with a stop in Kingston. Living Rooms, owned by two brothers, John and Michael Sinclair, is a mixture of healthy lifestyle products and green building materials.

The brothers  had started their professional lives as painters. But the more they interacted both with the paint and with clients who were becoming concerned about what they were putting on their wall and breathing in the air, the more research the brothers did, the more they sought out alternatives to traditional paints. They started searching for paints that were less toxic to human health with little to no off-gassing of toxic chemicals. Fast forward to the present and low and zero VOC paints are so yesterday. You won’t find any petroleum-based paints in their store, rather, they’ve sourced some really interesting alternatives.

When they began developing their store concept, they worked not on the philosophy of supplying green building products, but rather, they source products while living by standards developed by Bau-Biologie and Permaculture. Bau-Biologie was developed in Germany and is all about creating a healthy indoor environment. The movement focuses on using building materials and home products that don’t off-gas toxic chemicals. Permaculture (which I have written about before), recognizes that all biological systems are closed so that one living thing’s waste product is another’s food source. To that end, on their website they note that their store is not so much about green building materials as it is about sourcing products that are low impact, responsibly-made and better for your health as well as that of the planet’s. In other words, they stay away from a lot of what might be considered electronic green gadgets. The kind of items they stock focus on healthy sleeping, healthy eating and fresh interior air.

Building products: In addition to paints, there are several other better building products to choose from. To name a few that I’ve already written about, there is American Clay, Log’s End flooring (timber salvaged from the bottom of the Ottawa River), IceStone, PaperStone, (for counter tops) Nature’s Carpet (100% wool carpet), Safecoat paints and sealers, Ultratouch cotton insulation….

BUT, they also introduced me to a few new and intriguing products such as insulation made from leftover sheep’s wool, paint made from linseed oil, an intriguing exterior stucco-like product that’s made in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and a new concept: modular built strawbale homes. I’ll discuss each of these products in future posts.

Because they are located in a building which also has artisans and trades, they can also set you up with cabinetmakers and contractors who will take care of any building project work you want done in the Kingston area. Their objective is to source better building and living products as locally as possible and to use local trades and craftsmen to complete their customers’ projects.

Lifestyle products: Another aspect of this store that is the selection of lifestyle products they offer. When John took me around the store he was most enthusiastic about Xtrema, the ceramic cookware and baking line they’ve brought in. He explained that the problem with ceramic cookware in the past has been that it can’t be used over direct heat or it will crack. The manufacturers of this line have solved that problem and Xtrema cookware can be used directly over gas or electric elements (However, it can’t be used with induction cooktops, which use a magnetic pull between cookware and energy source). The cookware is also reasonably priced compared with high-end stainless steel pots and pans. A 24 piece set sells for $530.

Also within the kitchen category, there were tea and coffee makers, and my personal favourite was Presso, a manual espresso maker — perfect for cottage living (although you still have to heat the water).

There are plenty of products that focus on sleep as well. A buckwheat pillow by Eco et Eco, is as local a product as you can get. Except for growing the cotton, all parts of the pillow are made in Quebec. Apparently, buckwheat is a great material for people who sweat a lot around the head and neck area at night as the buckwheat wicks away moisture and heat and allows the sleeper a more even body temperature.

Other bath and sleep products include organic cotton towels, mattresses and mattress pads, and duvets.

In the household cleaning category, Living Rooms carries natural coco scrub pads, natural luffa sponges and soap nuts. Soap nuts look a bit like acorns and are the fruit (called a drupe) of the Sapindus genus of bushes and trees, which grow in tropical climates. The drupe produces a natural soap substance that can be used as a laundry soap. Soapnuts are very versatile and can also be used to make household cleaners, shampoo and even toothpaste! Usually soapnuts can be reused four or five times before they lose there effectiveness. At end of life, they can be composted.

To explore the products they offer on line, visit their website.

If you’re in Kingston or surrounding area,  Living Rooms is located at:

12 Cataraqui Street
Kingston, ON
K7K 1Z7

613.766.6821

info@livingrooms.ws

Related posts:

1. Sustain Eco Store, Sustainable Building Store in Huntsville, Ontario
2. EcoInhabit — Earth Inspired Living in Meaford, Ontario
3. A Visit to The Cork House in Oakville, Ontario