Green has gone main stream

2012 Earth Day is a day to celebrate all things earthy. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate freebies, contests and coupons in the name of improving your green home life.

Here’s a sampling of some of my favorite promotions available for 2012:

1. Recyclebank- Rewards people with discounts and deals locally and nationally when you take everyday green actions.  Earn over 500 points when you get your ”Passport to the Planet” [throughout April]

2. Verde – FREE Verde Energy Audit App for iPad  (org. $4.99) until Earth Day.  Enter your electrical usage, along with your local kWh electricity charge, and Verde calculates your total energy consumption. It also suggests ways to save money by saving energy.

3. Earth Responsible Products To win $100 Gift Certificate for Conservationist Ed Begley’s Earth Responsible Cleaning Products, just click anytime before the end of April.

4. Organic Farm products. Cascadian Farm Earth Day sweepstakes Five people can win a year’s supply of Casacadian Farm products; another 100 winners will win a bag of organic goodies.

5. Free Greenery and Scenery at the National Parks – FREE Admission from 4/21 – 4/29 to tons of parks! Click for National Park Directory.

6. Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees Initiative. Feel good knowing it only takes a  mere $1 to plant a tree with The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees Initiative. The rain forest — and the planet — will thank you.

The first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts.

Feel free to share any other cool green home and garden freebies here.

One recent renovation project house was built the same year as the U.S. oil crisis, so you would think the attic insulation would be nice and beefy, right?

Guess again.

Turns out, the ceiling insulation only met ‘minimum code’ standard back in 1973 and hadn’t been upgraded since.

In North Carolina, high efficiency residential ceiling insulation should be R-38. Given the settling and moisture content of the loose-fill fiberglass, I estimate this home’s ceiling was only insulated to a factor of about R-17.5.

And that’s not even the worse news….

The really bad news was that neither the attached garage nor porch ceilings had a single bit of insulation!

Now keep in mind this is one continuous attic space. So for 39 years, these unsuspecting homeowners had a thermal hole greater than the size of a car in their roof!

All told, the uninsulated portion consumed over 25% of the total home area. And sadly, this is a very common situation.

How could this happen?

The minimum building code requires insulation for heated and cooled space, not for unconditioned space.  So literally, the conventionally installed insulation was placed only above the conditioned rooms, despite the fact that both conditioned and unconditioned rooms share the same attic.

This of course makes no thermal sense. Unchecked solar heat radiates inside the attic, while precious air conditioning and heat from below, continually streams to the outside.

In green building, this entire attic is treated as a single unit and will be 100% insulated, regardless of the room type below. High performance homes have continuous and tight thermal envelopes.

A well insulated home is one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy and reduce heating and cooling bills. Plus, the thermal resistance and sound dampening is greatly improved in your home.

Turns out the uninsulated portions were a blessing in disguise. The new home owner opted to foam insulate the roof deck, which allows us to totally remove the yucky fiberglass all together!

I wonder – when was the last time you checked your ceiling insulation?  Does it only meet ‘minimum standard’ too?   If so, I strongly urge you to beef it up before the cooling or heating season.

In a conventionally built home, 40 percent of your cooling and heating typically escapes out of your roof.

If you’re curious to know what your r-value per inch of existing insulation is, please see the insulation table in my Sneaky Solar Strategy video.

You can share your insulation findings here.

How to attract toads and frogs to your garden

It’s Leap Day so let’s talk about bug control using frogs, toads and tree frogs.  Like ‘em or loath ‘em, these little hoppers can eat up to 1000 insects in one day from a flower bed or vegetable garden.

You can combat declining frogs and toad populations by easily transforming your yard into a neighborhood refuge using this eco-friendly ceramic toad house.  It is virtually maintenance-free and dark color fades unobtrusively into the damp shadows (where the little toady’s like it best!)

It is sized wide and low, about eight inches round and four inches high – A perfect dimension for your toads, frogs and even tree frogs that have just finished their bug feast.

If you would like to see who is in residence, the house is easily lifted up.  Toads and frogs live a long time if your garden conditions are right.

Consider the size of your garden and to a frog or toad, that’s some wide open spaces for finding dinner. You can help these hard working little yard soldiers by placing inconspicuous shelters throughout the garden.

Toads and frogs are attracted to yards that are pesticide-free. These amphibians are very sensitive to chemicals because they breathe and drink through their skin.  Before spraying, please reconsider an organic alternative.

No need to wait for Leap Day to get your toad abodes ready.  Late winter is a perfect time to prepare for hosting your new garden friends!

I wonder if you have any favorite toad shelters you’d like to share?

When you’re trying to find a house at night, there’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to find the address numbers.

Whether you’re expecting guests or waiting for a food delivery finding your address could be made way easier with this solar powered address sign.

Here’s why:  It is internally lit. The font type is easily read at a glance. High contrast white on black grabs our attention.

Skip the electrician because the sign requires no wiring. Simply mount the solar address sign on a vertical surface, or place it in the lawn with its 16 inch theft-resistant stake.

Just four hours of sunlight powers the solar address sign to run for three nights. That means it won’t cost you a dime in power bills since the solar panel absorbs clean renewable electricity!

Don’t worry if your chosen spot isn’t ideal, because an eight foot wire allows the detachable solar panel to be strategically positioned in direct sun.

The lamps never need replacement, and the cover easily lifts off to customize your address numbers.

I’m seriously thinking about giving this sign as a gift.  At night, my parent’s house numbers are virtually impossible to read.  I worry that, if heaven forbid, they have a nighttime emergency, the fire department or ambulance can’t easily find them.

With this solar address sign, they won’t be wasting energy or feel guilty with the sign lit all night.

It’s clean, it’s safe, and it’s reliable.  Now that’s peace of mind!

Thoughts?

Sophisticated design for exterior garden rooms

Admired gardens have focal points that support a garden room theme.  Within that area, you then showcase its best features using focal points.

Focal points can be created using splashes of color. They direct views toward desirable spots, and distract the eye from focusing upon unsightly things.

Red color accents create happy, vibrant, energizing feelings.

Here is a summary from the video (below) of five ways to use red for garden focal points:

1. Celebrate the passage of time by placing plants with red berries, leaves or flowers in strategic places. In Feng Shui, red is considered a fire element, so winter is a perfect time to create warmth by locating a native winterberry holly [Ilex verticillata 'Spriber'] in a strategic location viewed from inside. Welcome spring by choosing red flowering native plants, or even red-twigged natives such as Arctic Fire red twig dogwood [Cornus stolonifera 'Farrow'].

2. Pave with darker red bricks or pavers to create structure within the garden. Since we’re used to moving upon hard ‘floors’, our eyes easily ‘find’ path edges and paved surfaces. We’re attracted to the deeper clay reds because we know them from other natural landscapes.   In color science, red paired with its opposite, but complementary, green is always a winning combination.

3. Design hidden focal points that appear as you walk around your garden rooms. A dynamic garden doesn’t have a single view, but many views.  Each appears as you move through your spaces. Delightful red focal points create curiosity and fun surprises that subconsciously urge us to look for more.  A whimsical red-accented ceramic frog acts as a surprise focal point just around the corner from a garden pool.

4. Add red accessories such as pillows, rugs, vases, chairs, and flags. Who said chair cushions all needed to be identical? When you bounce an accent color around your seating area, an energy is created that excites both your visual and physical senses. Red solids and patterns are terrific for accomplishing this effect.  Try to vary your treatments in different yard areas in order to highlight particular features.

5. Accent with Yard Art. With the resurgence of glass gazing balls and availability of any number of sculptural pieces in quality garden centers, seriously consider placing a very large piece of art somewhere on your property. As the season’s change, it’s really fun to watch your art emplacement change.  Your visitors will certainly be impressed and remember their visit to your yard long after they return home.  Just remember to think Big, because the landscape swallows up items and their effect is less than impressive if the scale is out of proportion with its surroundings.

Aim to balance all of your individual elements for an overall harmonious effect.

A busy garden full of too many colors creates visual chaos.  Sophisticated spaces use multiple tones of a few colors.

Just remember: a little red gives you a Big result so use it sparingly.

Video: Great Garden Design with Red

How have you used red in you home and garden?  Feel free to leave your thoughts here…

Do you want the ambiance of a fireplace but don’t have an existing fireplace or chimney? One option favored by green builders is an electric fireplace.

They are pre-fabricated units sufficiently insulated to be installed safely within close range of walls or wood framework without requiring a masonry foundation. They also don’t require a vent or flu because no fumes are emitted.

These so-called zero clearance fireplaces are easier, quicker and much cheaper to install than a traditional masonry fireplace. This is also a better option for all-electric homes because you can avoid the expense of running a gas line just for a fireplace.  All you need is an electric connection.

They tend to be more energy efficient than a traditional fireplace. The average open masonry style is only 15 percent efficient whereas some zero clearance fireplaces have an efficiency of up to 70 percent or more.  With electric fireplaces heat doesn’t escape up the chimney; it all goes out into the room.

The heater can also be switched off so you can enjoy just the atmosphere of a fire all year round.

Dimplex CFP3920bw

Traditional wood fires impact air quality. An open fireplace does not get hot enough to completely burn the pollutants it produces so some wood ash flies around outside leaving the rest for you to shovel away in the firebox.  Open wood fires deplete indoor oxygen and cause uncomfortable drafts.  Electric fireplaces produce no carbon monoxide or other emissions.

This popular Dimplex CFP3920bw 20-inch electric fireplace includes a burnished walnut case with a 3D flame and remote control.

Planning for an Electric Fireplace

Consider your room dimensions when sizing a zero clearance fireplace.  A general rule for every foot of room space measured an inch should be added to the width of the firebox opening.  Your goal is to strike a balance between under and overheating that room. Electric fireplaces are not designed to heat an entire house.  120Volt heats about 400 square feet; whereas 220V covers about 800 square feet.

Unless you have a backup power source, an electric fireplace will not operate during a power outage.

Living rooms traditionally have fireplaces, but the flexibility of zero clearance units expands your options of adding status, grace, comfort and appeal to master bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms.   Whatever your personal style, you will be able to find an electric fireplace to match your needs because there are a large variety of designs on the market.

Imagine your furniture attractively arranged in your target room.  Position the fireplace so it is easily viewed but not in an area of the room that gets the most traffic as that could become a nuisance.  These units are flexible enough to place above floor level or inside alcoves, so have fun thinking non-traditionally.

Dimplex DFi2310

Electric fireplaces are virtually maintenance free and work by way of fan blower motors directing the warm air outwards into the room. Cool to the touch, you will not be burned and you can leave the fireplace on its own to heat.  Some models operate with LED lights and remote controls.

You can retrofit an existing standard fireplace with a built-in insert such as this popular Dimplex DFi2310 23-inch black insert. This model heats up to 400 square feet with three settings: full heat, half-heat and flame-only.

Always look for a certificate stating that the unit has been properly tested and inspected.

Always consult your local building codes before installing an electric fireplace.  As a minimum, a building permit may be required.

Here’s a fun video of one model of electric fireplace that I saw in a new EnergyPlus home. Enjoy!

Which electric fireplace is your favorite?

New bulbs, new standards push out Incandescents

Starting January 1, 2012 new light bulbs must work more efficiently. Compact fluorescent (CFL), light emitting diode (LED) and some halogen bulbs, meet that requirement.

133-year-old incandescent light technology doesn’t because Mr. Edison’s bulb is an energy hog.  Less than 10 percent of the energy it uses produces light.

The federal Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires most screw-in light bulbs to use at least 27 percent less energy by 2014.

First up for energy saving upgrade are the 100-watt bulbs, then 75-watt in 2013, and a year later 60- and 40-watt light bulbs. Watts measure energy use; lumens indicate brightness.

All bulbs lose brightness over time, including old-fashioned incandescents. To replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb, Energy star recommends 1,600 or more lumens.

To get the familiar soft white light, use a Color Rendering Index (CRI) of 80-85.

When comparing types, consider the life time cost (not just bulb cost).

CFL Lightbulbs

• Will provide best energy saving for light output; Energy Star qualified
• Will last typically up to 10 to 20,000 hours
• Will work outdoors not exposed to moisture
• Won’t dim (but pin-style lamps can)

Recommended: Feit Electric ECObulb Plus 100W BPESL23TM/ECO $2.35. + up to 10,000 operating hours

Halogen Lightbulbs

• Light CRI tends to be slightly whiter
• Will brighten instantly and retains brightness over time better than CFL
• Will dim; works in motion sensors, electronic timers, and photocells
• Won’t last nearly as long as a CFL
• Won’t save nearly as much money as a CFL

Recommended: Philips Energy Saver 100W T60 Halogena  $5.50 + 3,000 operating hours

LED Lightbulbs
Major manufacturers hope to have a 100-watt equivalent LED bulb available later in 2012.

As you switch to more efficient bulbs , I’d like to hear your questions or comments. Leave your thoughts here.

Folks have been asking for a 12 Great Breaks Summary
Simply Click on this coupon for your own copy to enjoy!

Click to Get all 12 Great Holiday Breaks

Click for all 12 Great Holiday Breaks Video

“And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!”

- Samuel Clement Moore

This is the final tip in our 12 part series. Simply combining green values with green building can be very rewarding.  It’s my hope that by using these ideas, you’ll have received better overall value during the holidays, and struck better environmental balance in your neighborhood. And I predict going into the New Year, those are great reasons to make you feel really good!

When Santa isn’t using your chimney, here’s an easy to install, almost-invisible fireplace plug that stops your valuable heat from escaping outside.

Open or Poorly-sealed Chimney Dampers are Costly

On average, you spend a third of your yearly costs heating the house.  Then, you lose it mostly because of air leakage.  One common mistake homeowners make is forgetting to close the damper after a fire.  The fire place then becomes a wide open hole to quickly funnel your precious inside heat outdoors.

Even new dampers may not close tightly. After the first hot fire, dampers can become warped and ill-fitting.

The Draft Stopper by Batticdoor is a relatively inexpensive way to insulate and seal your fireplace between uses.

For less than $60 the Draft Stopper comes in round and rectangular shapes to fit in almost all fireplaces. Made from tough layers of plastic, the pillow fits beneath the fireplace flue, and can be easily removed and reused hundreds of times. An inconspicuous adjustable height pole holds the pillow tight up against the damper.

For a large inflatable rectangular pillow 16 in x 38 in fits masonry fireplaces.

For a smaller round pillow 18 in round fits metal zero-clearance fireplaces.

Should you forget to remove the balloon before making a fire, it will automatically deflate within seconds of coming in contact with heat.

After your fire, close the flue.  The flue must be totally cool before re-installing the Draft Stopper.  To ready the chimney for the summer or if you never use your fireplace, clean your chimney flue before inserting the stopper to ensure a tight and effective seal.   That minimizes the amount of soot falling upon the stopper and you when it is removed again.

Energy loss through a fireplace happens year round if special measures are not taken to prevent it. Dampers aren’t air tight so heat loss happens when the fireplace is not being used. In summer, your cool air conditioning leaks out through the closed, but not sealed damper as well.

Stocking stuffer idea: Give a CO detector!  It will give you great peace of mind to locate it in the hallway outside your bedrooms closest to the fireplace. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends it.

Here’s more info about carbon monoxide detectors.

Click Here to View all 12 Ideas

The occasion, special. The fire, delightful.

On this ‘almost-complete’ edition of our 12-part series, set the mood with your fireplace and worry less about pollution and impacting your neighborhood air quality.

Soon families will be snuggling up in front of a roasting fire to open gifts. (Got those stockings hung yet?) If you want to avoid messy dirty cord wood, your eco-friendly firewood alternative is man-made compressed logs.

Engineered Fire Logs

Alternative fire fuel isn’t’ a new idea. Brown coal lignite bricks, for instance, have been burned in Europe for generations.  Today, the basic principles remain the same: leftover wood, sawdust, nutshells, and agricultural fibers that used to be treated as waste is mixed with wax and/or compressed into bricks, ‘split wood’ or logs.

While they produce heat, engineered fire products are not quite as hot as regular cord wood, but they burn much longer. Compressed logs for example contain about the same btu content as a cord of Douglas fir or Pitch pine.

American-made fire logs may be burned in all types of open-hearth fireplaces and are UL Classified for use in UL Listed factory-built fireplaces. Others may be burned in wood stoves or wood furnaces.

Here are some improved earth-friendly choices:

• Long burning, Brightest Flames Log: Duraflame Gold Biggest, brightest flames for 3 to 4 hours. Listed by maker as an accepted product with the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
• Crackling Fire Log:  Duraflame Stax Shaped like split wood and can be used in wood stoves. Burns with the same charred appearance and crackling sounds of a wood fire but produces half the pollutants of an equivalent wood fire. Start with two then add another log later to prolong the life of the fire.
• Carefree wood stove/furnace use: Eco-Bricks are pressed hardwood sawdust briquettes or bricks that burn longer than the same weight in firewood logs.
• Campfire and Cooking logs:  Duraflame Roasting Logs burn 60% cleaner than firewood. Made of wood charcoal, recycled sawdust and bio-wax. One 5 lb. bundle of 4 logs compares to a typical 24 lb. bundle of firewood.

Compact to Store and Less Mess

Overall, engineered fire logs are easier to light and take up less storage space. Much cleaner to handle than dirty, bug-prone cordwood, these products don’t require seasoning and are ready to burn right away.

Bricks and Crackling Fire Logs start best when you kindle a fire under them just like any fire wood. While they do produce creosote, very little ash is left behind.

Cleaner Air

Fire logs are more efficient and burn more completely than firewood so significantly fewer pollutants are emitted than a comparable wood fire. Makers claim 80% less fine particles; 75% less carbon monoxide; 90% less hazardous air pollutants.

One Clean Air Agency enlisted scientists at Omni Environmental Services to test Duraflame logs air emissions against Douglas fir cord wood. They found the engineered logs emitted less than half as much volatile organic compounds (VOC), less than a quarter of carbon monoxide, and one-third of total particles as did the fir-fueled fire.

Part of the Christmas magic for me as a kid was laying in the dark under the tree by the fireplace and watching the lights dance across the ceiling. It was pure holiday delight for me!

What fireplace memories do you have?

Click Here to View all 12 Ideas