tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10065054452054693062024-03-13T01:39:19.524-07:00Green Building with Square One DesignRead about green building through posts in this blog or at my website www.squareoneplans.com.Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-41837218101721697412012-08-10T11:25:00.001-07:002012-08-10T11:25:35.529-07:00Electric Lawnmowers Discout Program<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWOhWmZfpdHI3iXvtZ8XsohdcabMXI70fOOIf6oF3NXnq6Wcd6MJdBdaQhnW48CGRR6_oZOIBnNkII74qDIJvNFIxe2IyP_1sB41bJLYR4d7l9i35Mkph1kQNBjcNERZR9YBeCqrmJg/s1600/LawnmowerExchange_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWOhWmZfpdHI3iXvtZ8XsohdcabMXI70fOOIf6oF3NXnq6Wcd6MJdBdaQhnW48CGRR6_oZOIBnNkII74qDIJvNFIxe2IyP_1sB41bJLYR4d7l9i35Mkph1kQNBjcNERZR9YBeCqrmJg/s320/LawnmowerExchange_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you're building a new home in the Columbia area,this is something you might want to check out! For a couple of years, our friends at DHEC hace had a program where you could trade in your old gas powered mover for a discount on a new "green" electric one. They say that gas lawnmowers put out lots more pollution than the elctric ones. I say that if you have a smaller yard, keeping up with the mowing is a lot easier and quieter with an electric model. And no gas can to keep refilling. Now through an initiative by the Columbia Homebuilders association, or local green council <a href="http://www.columbiagreenbuilders.com/">www.columbiagreenbuilders.com</a>, and DHEC these mowers are available at a discount for those guys interested in building a green home. You don't even have to have a trade in! I recently checked out all the models and the discounts and they have a good selection by several manufacturers. Even some cordless ones for the ultimate moving experience! Also had good deals on the other lawn equipment stuff like edgers, trimmers, blowers, stuff like that. Go to the Columbia Green Council website at the link above and check it out. Start mowing green today!Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-60528477811781700422012-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:002012-01-30T12:13:57.679-08:00Certify Green at the lowest cost!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bctsJNIqCOIJuh0p_fAUS90IOxbJdqIawdwiBLCRwrRzCeTwxvEaAfVbL0WgKXMNZ4pTWH5kQllXxoK_cjWY_6hpSF4EGhmUWF6TD_EQT8ivgePDF9GYvZs6JqkFhxK-i2JfywVa_Q/s1600/CertifiedCircle_363U_1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4bctsJNIqCOIJuh0p_fAUS90IOxbJdqIawdwiBLCRwrRzCeTwxvEaAfVbL0WgKXMNZ4pTWH5kQllXxoK_cjWY_6hpSF4EGhmUWF6TD_EQT8ivgePDF9GYvZs6JqkFhxK-i2JfywVa_Q/s1600/CertifiedCircle_363U_1b.jpg" /></a>My clients often wonder how much more it costs to build their next home green. My builders are always trying to get the best green product at the lowest end cost. That's the way it has been and that's the beauty of green. Competition helps drive prices down! As a member of the Homebuilders Green council (Columbia SC) we are always working to make going green as inexpensive as possible. To that end we have re-developed our own local Green building and remodeling program. Our program is now based on the NAHB Green building Standard ICC 700-2008. With this system you can get as green a home as any of the other nationally administed programs, but a reduced program cost. That's how we roll in South Carolina, making green as affordable as possible! You can now get your home certified through this program for as low as $50 in administration fees! And if you've looked around at programs, that's incredibly cheap! Now you still have to build a green home and go through testing and verification to qualify, just like the other programs, but we feel like lowest cost is a good motivator. If you agree and are interested in this program contact Bin at <a href="http://www.columbiagreenbuilders.com/">www.columbiagreenbuilders.com</a> to get your green project started! You can contact me at <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">www.squareoneplans.com</a> also!Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-64842059909591358082011-08-10T13:54:00.000-07:002011-08-10T13:54:09.551-07:00Womack home takes shape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWnDczPZpdkGP2Hf8_nu8JBCCuTz_ZGFmH955GYiGmRzqTBvG4hBBSkLgOHKw5qK8tmoY96ynyvqvqps8GGm0DxhoqfZU0KZzo3rBju7UOVZg6lTiOqwXOhS-WKAwomPDZYsimyMbxQ/s1600/Wom1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWnDczPZpdkGP2Hf8_nu8JBCCuTz_ZGFmH955GYiGmRzqTBvG4hBBSkLgOHKw5qK8tmoY96ynyvqvqps8GGm0DxhoqfZU0KZzo3rBju7UOVZg6lTiOqwXOhS-WKAwomPDZYsimyMbxQ/s320/Wom1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It's nice when I get to ride by one of my designs as it is beginning to take shape. Even more fun if it's a green home. This one is in Manchester Park section of Lake Carolina. Even though this is Tuttle construction's first "green" build, my rater Joseph Gilmore says they have taken to this like a duck to water, so to speak. Should be a real comfortable energy saving home. And maybe finished in a little over a month. The home just looks great. And from what I've seen on the jobsite so far, I don't think this builder will build any other way again.Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-44908595653490221232011-07-02T06:13:00.000-07:002011-07-02T06:54:05.410-07:00Great green article<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3ChEfLdGEHeOCYY9aVp9criqgpbZsfepGQSQT5WBuBJkMCo3soEjwW1J-vJmndgONiuXAW0Bz66gvloG5FfC96uVaLVpn5J8SRXx1CKLgUcxRj3FcBH3fx8HdUZQoaNrajOlVC5wUQ/s1600/bizmonthly.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624745105458138978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3ChEfLdGEHeOCYY9aVp9criqgpbZsfepGQSQT5WBuBJkMCo3soEjwW1J-vJmndgONiuXAW0Bz66gvloG5FfC96uVaLVpn5J8SRXx1CKLgUcxRj3FcBH3fx8HdUZQoaNrajOlVC5wUQ/s320/bizmonthly.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 242px;" /></a><br />
<div>Got interviewed for a great article last month for Columbia Business Monthly on the topic of Green building in our area. Best in depth look at the progress we are making to date. I think the majority of the public will soon be exposed to how green building is giving us the tools to build and renovate homes in amazing new ways. Read the article and see how some of the front runners in this field are building vastly superior houses. After getting a feel for how well these new homes perform, maybe you will want a better performing home for your family! See the article at <a href="http://sctrend.net/">http://sctrend.net/</a></div></div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-18128943342114950702011-07-02T05:44:00.000-07:002011-07-02T06:53:04.581-07:00Green spec. homes selling faster<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzO5YQT6kN9zXDHq9kEaQzNvubIlEXhlt1W65uRQ6IGCEEFyeKgmjWxLOhx5PyfhGjSkqJCm9YUH4nP3SRpsdVnVh3T49AMYwaQWmACKb0WRK8Gfj-nKJ0BVnA0cVa7I7_AyFm810KQ/s1600/159SRC2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624739933676540578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzO5YQT6kN9zXDHq9kEaQzNvubIlEXhlt1W65uRQ6IGCEEFyeKgmjWxLOhx5PyfhGjSkqJCm9YUH4nP3SRpsdVnVh3T49AMYwaQWmACKb0WRK8Gfj-nKJ0BVnA0cVa7I7_AyFm810KQ/s320/159SRC2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 294px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div><div>Well at least the last one I drew did. A great builder I know was looking to update his product line for a specific market in the Columbia area. He had a great lot in a great neighborhood, just needed a great home plan. The fact that he's one of my greenest builders didn't hurt either. He called to tell me that he was under contract before the windows were installed. He was excited. I was too! I went to take a few pics, and they were textbook green construction. Sealed crawl space, trusses and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tji</span> floor joists, sealed shoe at exterior walls, great insulation job, tech shield sheathing on the roof,and zip wall sheathing for the walls. Energy star windows correctly flashed and sealed, and tight <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ductwork</span>. Of course I'm super proud of the plan I drew him, but just as proud of the construction job he did. The new homeowner will easily have half the power bills of his neighbors! (more pics posted on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">facebook</span> page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Square-One-Design-Service/227662113916039">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Square-One-Design-Service/227662113916039</a></div></div></div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-14321915078133419892011-04-12T06:26:00.000-07:002011-04-12T06:56:00.582-07:00Green is changing the way we build.Green building is having a huge effect on the way we build homes in South Carolina. Smarter <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">home buyers</span> are realizing that homes with energy saving features built in can save them tremendous amounts of operating and maintenance costs later on. Builders are realizing that buyers are really beginning to value superior construction again. I guess it took a little time, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">savvy</span> buyers are learning that all homes are not created equally, and builders are learning that better built homes do sell better than their energy inefficient counterparts. I am seeing this trend more often in the upper end market where I'm doing most of my work. Buyers have always looked for quality and have been willing to spend what it takes to get there. It the past, all you could buy was better trim, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">counter tops</span>, cabinets and finishes. Nobody had the knowledge or the tools to measure the energy efficiency of a homes construction. We just did what the code said to do, and figured that was good enough. Now things are different. Programs such as Energy Star, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">LEED</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">NAHB</span> Green have taught builders and designers how to assemble the parts better resulting in energy savings sometimes as great as 50% lower power bills. That's really great considering that most of the time we're using the same materials and paying the same installation costs that we were before, we're just doing a better job at quality control, and getting a vastly superior performing home for about the same cost as before. The better builders are recognizing that attention to detail doesn't necessarily drive up the cost, but yields a vastly superior product. The buyers are agreeing with their pocketbooks. Smart <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">home buyers</span> are opting for the better built and performing product. How do you get in on the action? When you are looking for a builder, look for a builder who has experience in "green". He has the extra knowledge and training to build a home that performs to a higher standard.Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-91537889529176621132011-02-28T11:25:00.000-08:002011-04-12T06:59:12.304-07:00Home repair fix #1 Change your light bulbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7HG5PEvEup5Q3YsOeF0rnGg5LUa55j7jQ73lmg8HZHzteZoSzaZ0GmgSpmNbcDKpKP0ry9sKTkHedLj1L6opvIiUYBxnYrPPi9b8lIeqxD5g_L76iBIVIIJA0iOZH0LI5UVlEBzPCg/s1600/compactfl.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578827778633359282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7HG5PEvEup5Q3YsOeF0rnGg5LUa55j7jQ73lmg8HZHzteZoSzaZ0GmgSpmNbcDKpKP0ry9sKTkHedLj1L6opvIiUYBxnYrPPi9b8lIeqxD5g_L76iBIVIIJA0iOZH0LI5UVlEBzPCg/s320/compactfl.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>The easiest way to save power in your home is to change the way you think about light bulbs. To be honest when the compact fluorescent light bulb came on the scene I was not a big fan. But that was only until I read what was on the box. It said 13 watts=60 watts. That's the same amount of light for 22% of the power used. That's a lot, folks! Not only do you use less power, you get less heat, and that makes your air conditioner run less. So why would you not check this out and start saving money. They make lots of types, regular swirly bulbs, can light replacement bulbs, lights for your vanities, and lamps, even dimmable bulbs (although they don't dim all the way down yet.) You can get also get CFL lights for your floodlights outside. They make different colored light options too, I like the soft white ones at the home depot, because they are closest to the color of my old bulbs. I replace almost every bulb in the house with a couple of exceptions. I left the light over the master bath vanities alone, we don't leave them on when we're not in there. But I did do the kid's bathroom and closets because they leave lights on all the time. So if you can't change you kids, change their light bulbs and everybody will be happy and your power bill will be lower too!</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-18726971983474004492011-02-28T11:06:00.000-08:002011-04-12T06:59:46.636-07:00Home repair tip #2 Missing or unsealed insulation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Lf41W2DZTld5VTtCRkFJIi11GxAM9PRWjdRMlULqSsrMw3gMZ7bYpfWbRiGSRk6WWDYKzgkYsj8tKVEjMoTVZ0tDYPeSzpek_IftnmUNsJzrKgm1Pu1H749UXYMdofCROaf3jNQarg/s1600/wallseal.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578822780794090754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Lf41W2DZTld5VTtCRkFJIi11GxAM9PRWjdRMlULqSsrMw3gMZ7bYpfWbRiGSRk6WWDYKzgkYsj8tKVEjMoTVZ0tDYPeSzpek_IftnmUNsJzrKgm1Pu1H749UXYMdofCROaf3jNQarg/s320/wallseal.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Of course older homes in the south are poorly insulated as a rule. If your home is an older one you might need insulation installed beneath your floor or some insulation added to your attic. Now, that said, you guys with insulation can still have some problems by today's standards. One of the coolest things I learned about insulation is the "sealed on six sides rule". When insulation goes in your walls there's usually only 3 1/2" of it. This insulation works a lot better if it's sealed on six sides. The top, bottom, sides, front, and rear. In a regular wall this happens normally. What you need to look for is places where this does not happen naturally. Places like "knee walls", bonus room walls in the attic, unfinished rooms, places like that. If you can go in your attic and see unfaced insulation on the walls in places, then you have this problem. The wind blowing around in your attic could cause this insulation to not properly do its job. To fix it you need to seal the backside of your insulation in these spots. You can do it with 1/2" foam board, 1/8" plywood, or even a roll of housewrap. Just seal it up so it's enclosed on all six sides. (I wouldn't use plastic sheeting for this, as moisture problems can arise in certain situations.) Once your wall insulation is sealed up tight it will begin to do its job properly and your power bills should go down!</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-32435196630449900952011-02-28T10:54:00.000-08:002011-04-12T07:08:02.651-07:00Home repair fix #3 Window and Door leaks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-o_rN7xXvLabk2ZXZeuCYFiFEwy_XvDdE6ZlSQTTKuR5_dWKoXivv-9Pvp4YEvBvB6nkRcraVpi52fLy_lrlwqFYVBKWTpedk28Dwj3f19PyuBRGpMYt9xH231Zc97CoVZmH-gZATQ/s1600/window.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578818914303172226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-o_rN7xXvLabk2ZXZeuCYFiFEwy_XvDdE6ZlSQTTKuR5_dWKoXivv-9Pvp4YEvBvB6nkRcraVpi52fLy_lrlwqFYVBKWTpedk28Dwj3f19PyuBRGpMYt9xH231Zc97CoVZmH-gZATQ/s320/window.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Lots of people think they need new windows. Sometimes they do, but lots of times they may not. Replacing your windows is a big budget item for sure. When looking for leaks you have to remember it's not just the window, it's also how well the window or door frame fits in the wall. When they built your home chances are that the rough openings for the windows was an inch or more larger than the actual window unit. In the new green homes this space is sealed with spray foam for a tight fit, but on the older ones this is a major source of air leaks. While I don't recommend taking off the window trim to seal it up, at least run a clear bead of silicone around the edges. The sides are usually caulked well, but the top and bottom are usually overlooked by the painter and lots of air can come in there. Also check the door trim, the door frames and how well the doors seal up inside the jambs when the door closes. Might have a little work to do here as well. If the operable parts of the windows have leaks it might be time for some new windows, but lots of times it's not the window itself but how well it's sealed in the hole.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-48980487772924265172011-02-16T07:14:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:45:33.082-07:00Home repair fix # 4 Chimney flue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrvJs79JUixMjuMcsxU8HqrXQEQSoox4B0R4s6vmTx0zqar-wfbVeyaONgsU3ayWAwbJ1Q9jogro53EvByYbdaEVqW9aiT7uPs-F-t2RQiHKKeVoJgdJm-hw5sVCckg1sWUoDkcDjSA/s1600/fireplace.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574307912586482578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrvJs79JUixMjuMcsxU8HqrXQEQSoox4B0R4s6vmTx0zqar-wfbVeyaONgsU3ayWAwbJ1Q9jogro53EvByYbdaEVqW9aiT7uPs-F-t2RQiHKKeVoJgdJm-hw5sVCckg1sWUoDkcDjSA/s320/fireplace.jpg" style="float: right; height: 274px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
<div>When we <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">hook the blower door up to homes for a test</a>, lots of times the fireplace is the first problem area we find. Sometimes the damper has been left open. Sometimes it leaks. Some older homes don't have a damper at all. That's a problem. Find a way to seal up your fireplace when you're not using it and you can save a lot of money on your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">HVAC</span> bill. I've seen a cool fireplace cap with a chain <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">attached</span> that seals it from the top. I've seen some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">inflatable</span> bags that seal things up also. For those small coal burning fireplaces with a small flue you could even inflate a beach ball in there to close it up. Find the solution that works for your application and get started on it today. The less ways for air to get in and out of your home the lower your next power bill will be.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-91708122808679828622011-02-16T07:07:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:46:28.944-07:00Home repair fix #5 Plumbing penetrations<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJiQ6bWrDKN6vW_Latfjmp7mN17PTAkpkxt5B_GrK0XzTzpMbFVpWbl8LY_MRmdQPeT17bvxuHwz0r3Wq3v8ndhht3FmDI2brqHEAOy-p_YRkIR8V00r0iVsuL3yfbaHpuVIrOgQjrg/s1600/plumbing.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574305771060834706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJiQ6bWrDKN6vW_Latfjmp7mN17PTAkpkxt5B_GrK0XzTzpMbFVpWbl8LY_MRmdQPeT17bvxuHwz0r3Wq3v8ndhht3FmDI2brqHEAOy-p_YRkIR8V00r0iVsuL3yfbaHpuVIrOgQjrg/s320/plumbing.jpg" style="float: right; height: 318px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Another place air leaks in and out of your home is places where the plumbing pipes go through the walls or the floor. If you can pull back the little cover, spray some foam in there to seal up the penetration. That's good for toilets and sinks where pipes go through the wall. For your tub you might have to crawl up under the house. When they put your tub in they probably cut a big square hole for it. Air can get in and out. Take some foam and maybe a piece of styrofoam cut to size and seal that thing up. While you're down there look around for any other pipes or wires going up through the floor and seal that stuff too. Your home will be a lot <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">tighter and use a lot less energy</a>.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-62380182479765459892011-02-15T13:39:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:47:16.749-07:00Home repair fix #6 Sealing your outlets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h1kxYPueAcpM6DrWeC5C1jqW818DVCAD_BsOv-sgfiCIbbOTwIjTmDMw_1qBlW6sLMs4jkEra7Rurl3HgcVURmm3ecQAUPNIjI4tvYx59NMkJm9uUu0q2p7qahGbn7kiqw7PZvxnZQ/s1600/electrical.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574037444236419394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h1kxYPueAcpM6DrWeC5C1jqW818DVCAD_BsOv-sgfiCIbbOTwIjTmDMw_1qBlW6sLMs4jkEra7Rurl3HgcVURmm3ecQAUPNIjI4tvYx59NMkJm9uUu0q2p7qahGbn7kiqw7PZvxnZQ/s320/electrical.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 294px;" /></a> <br />
<div>What we've found about insulation is really cool. Insulation sealed in a box (six sides) works really well and insulation in a space where air blows through works really poorly. Now whatever the situation in your walls sealing up the holes makes them work lots better. You can't always get to the outside of the wall, it has siding or brick, or something in the way. But what you can do is seal up the holes on the inside. Outlets and light switches, and ceiling fixtures are places where air can and does come in and out when the pressure changes in your home. The fix is relatively easy, even for do it yourselfers. Got to the home depot or lowes and get some outlet gaskets. Take off the covers, put the gaskets in and you're good to go. Then take some clear silicone caulk and <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">seal up around your leaky light fixtures</a>. I've seen how much these things leak during a blower door test, and the good thing is that it's an easy fix.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-46466267953071734532011-02-15T13:26:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:47:56.731-07:00Home repair fix #7 Sealing "can" lights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUsPFZ9C_hnHBXqardZbORkUMglhmKfi_CY_TmnV8E0EH17dJQJwOsadEyJtQ1oZoX1JVdiz8dfEVNYQUNxhtPaH1E-btkw1AfeSifIXd49BxhyphenhyphenxeFykxY3Vvf5Gz9r0oHE5KfEH7iQ/s1600/Cans.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574034035649823202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUsPFZ9C_hnHBXqardZbORkUMglhmKfi_CY_TmnV8E0EH17dJQJwOsadEyJtQ1oZoX1JVdiz8dfEVNYQUNxhtPaH1E-btkw1AfeSifIXd49BxhyphenhyphenxeFykxY3Vvf5Gz9r0oHE5KfEH7iQ/s320/Cans.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 298px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Man when I figured this one out I stayed awake for four or five nights wondering how we could have been so stupid for so long....<a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">Recessed or "can" lights can be notorious energy wasters</a> because only recently has there been available anything like a "sealed" can light fixture. The new "green" homes like mine have them but I bet you don't. And depending on how many you have in your home, it could be leaking air like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">swiss</span> cheese! I've fixed these <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">leakers</span> two different ways. For the ones that you can get to in the attic, we use a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">styrofoam</span> minnow bucket, about $3.00 at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wal</span>-mart. Cut a slit in it where the electrical wire comes out, then foam it into place, and seal up the slit you cut also. Works like a champ! For the other ones, like in a floor or a vaulted ceiling, I've taken them apart from the bottom and sealed up all the holes with that aluminum duct tape. After you get done with each method I'd recommend changing out the bulbs to a compact <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">fluorescent</span> version. They look the same, but don't put out any heat like the old bulbs do. And they use 25% of the energy of the old bulbs too. You can spend about $12 a bulb instead of the $6 for the regular ones and get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">dimmable</span> if you need them. They don't dim all the way, but they do dim about half way. And you fixed one of the biggest potential leaks in the house!</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-15301371316199273212011-02-15T07:35:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:48:29.809-07:00Home repair fix number 8 Bonus access door<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyja4pO2NIvhZqRTIoPtMorcih77swK250kCQNQQUrAOEt4HbOOGyZkG4ADbj0H-7KUtiZDcc5QlMqUAyR4trRK4OrCVfcEc1yDZ0QtJ3s_8u4yWLf-0F2mN7dRCVV_zXdWKMFFtlBpQ/s1600/access.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573942031578664370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyja4pO2NIvhZqRTIoPtMorcih77swK250kCQNQQUrAOEt4HbOOGyZkG4ADbj0H-7KUtiZDcc5QlMqUAyR4trRK4OrCVfcEc1yDZ0QtJ3s_8u4yWLf-0F2mN7dRCVV_zXdWKMFFtlBpQ/s320/access.jpg" style="float: right; height: 334px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Do you have a bonus room in your home (some guys call it a FROG finished room over garage). There are usually some attic access doors up there and they usually are <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">big energy wasters</a>. Here's what to look for. Check to see if they have gasket material around the edges to seal them up. See if they have insulation on the back. If they don't you can easily apply <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">styro</span> board to the back by gluing it on. Use spray foam or some construction adhesive that goes in your caulking gun. Last, check to see if the latches work right and hold the door tight when the wind blows.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-91006738751193019882011-02-15T07:26:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:48:55.932-07:00Home repair fix #9 Attic Stair or Attic Fan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1-UZBiKNpJSH3H1jh-3DCCMSVg3ucx3-sEkSlHuSpSbr8OWbDlAF4XJ-Gsxnnz3Dfx1oJ62iBizbit-aNtkTcIFrc6lVsxaulJ1TUmEaT8nq4CUSLhNkLRzx75_ifzsH8-KybshAgA/s1600/atticstr.jpg"><span style="font-size: 0px;"></span><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573939854934134978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1-UZBiKNpJSH3H1jh-3DCCMSVg3ucx3-sEkSlHuSpSbr8OWbDlAF4XJ-Gsxnnz3Dfx1oJ62iBizbit-aNtkTcIFrc6lVsxaulJ1TUmEaT8nq4CUSLhNkLRzx75_ifzsH8-KybshAgA/s320/atticstr.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 418px;" /></a> <br />
<div><a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">One of the worst leak offenders in your home is your attic stair</a>. Does it shut correctly? Probably not. Does it have a gasket? Probably not. Insulated? Probably not. Big energy waster. Fix it by building a syrofoam box over the top. Put a handle in it so you can seal it tight from the bottom. You can glue the pieces together with foam, or caulk. If you have a whole house attic fan build a box for that too. You can remove the box if you ever want to use the fan, but when you aren't, it isn't leaking huge amounts of air into your attic. And by not removing the fan altogether, you don't have to fix the hole in the ceiling either.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-71880762567526392662011-02-10T13:00:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:49:24.869-07:00Home repair fix # 10 "Leaks in the ductwork"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1JP-Dlwoj5oe40yV4U2fokdVjDzgkdntffaHpw5A28_hvzwv2zgLXx-xHH1m8BAb76NM9foIUtpqcQIqGtLkOyW8OMUZlZyg28dQYSDnn2iIO3HvkgyOQtrumASyRK3u8xFfQxnLdw/s1600/hvacleak.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572174662734511970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1JP-Dlwoj5oe40yV4U2fokdVjDzgkdntffaHpw5A28_hvzwv2zgLXx-xHH1m8BAb76NM9foIUtpqcQIqGtLkOyW8OMUZlZyg28dQYSDnn2iIO3HvkgyOQtrumASyRK3u8xFfQxnLdw/s320/hvacleak.jpg" style="float: right; height: 222px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Your heating and AC system is the biggest power user in your home. Lot's of focus on replacing that "old" unit with a better, more efficient one. <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">But did you know that a poorly installed HVAC system could be losing 20% of the air due to duct leakage?</a> No wonder your unit can't keep up. Before you even think about replacing the unit have someone take a look at your ductwork for leaks. Places to look are where the unit is connected to the supply and return ducts, all of the joints, and where the ducts connect to the registers. Look for duct mastic, that's the thick grey goo that seals the joints. If your ducts don't have it you probably have a problem. Other places to look at are uninsulated trunk lines, joist pans,(that's where they make a duct out of your wall cavity, or floor system, instead of a four sided duct), and leaky air returns. Open where your filter grill goes, if you don't see mastic on the joints you could have a big leak. Fixing your HVAC ductwork might be the biggest step you can make toward fixing your power bill. Have your energy rater do a duct leakage test as soon as you can to find much your's may be leaking!</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-64581001119640738602011-02-10T12:45:00.000-08:002011-08-12T13:49:58.719-07:00Top 10 ways to lower your power bill 50%<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK6gW6D-P_H9Ni-X3tH1PUotvsdGh6PDWv19lLHhFUb7YDzkAvgWG9XYS0cT3hvJKEUliKDyc0dhwTUSIFicQrgqxtySKKXs8xbV1TWt00VX4CBAGbHV5Tvt6GGa8k91FzAijRR6lTg/s1600/top10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572168489161120946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK6gW6D-P_H9Ni-X3tH1PUotvsdGh6PDWv19lLHhFUb7YDzkAvgWG9XYS0cT3hvJKEUliKDyc0dhwTUSIFicQrgqxtySKKXs8xbV1TWt00VX4CBAGbHV5Tvt6GGa8k91FzAijRR6lTg/s320/top10.jpg" style="float: right; height: 251px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Staring a new series today, talking about things I've learned while helping people lower their power bills. Ive got 10 different things you can do to your home to turn it into an energy miser. Each day or so I'm going to post one on this site untill we've covered all ten. Some are things you can do yourself, and some are things that you might want to get outside help with. Everybody's home might not need everything on this list, but I bet you need at least a few to get your home comfortable and your power bill where you'd like it. The best way to find out which ones you need are by an <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">energy inspection and an energy audit</a>.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-41326300535823959992010-07-15T06:26:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:11:52.694-07:00Sealing your ductwork<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FkL3ihYvRtLXRITZefo8RvRWFb1knsrKvHuKmG9HhQ6gmToBU7owHUuMPCGjI1TbydnT8WGIPUkhQpi4HZGwwceLg_7OyEjGK4s7J3TdHqJ5THWx-AcMM4a2HwkevDVWs8Kl4zkpg/s1600/Sealed+registers.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494130140458748450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FkL3ihYvRtLXRITZefo8RvRWFb1knsrKvHuKmG9HhQ6gmToBU7owHUuMPCGjI1TbydnT8WGIPUkhQpi4HZGwwceLg_7OyEjGK4s7J3TdHqJ5THWx-AcMM4a2HwkevDVWs8Kl4zkpg/s320/Sealed+registers.jpg" /></a> I have found that the biggest savings on your electrical bills can come from the simplest things. Every time you turn on the media these days there are ads that tell you to upgrade to a more efficient HVAC system. There's a lot to be said about investing in a better unit. What's not mentioned so much is the ductwork for the unit. But when you want to save money that's the place you want to look first. I'm not sure about the rest of the country, but there's a lot of leaky A/C ducts around Columbia, SC. Everytime a friend of mine complains about the power bill, I suggest that we look. Some of them have the ductwork under the house. We open up the crawl space door and stick out heads under there. Cool under here isn't it? That's your air conditioning leaking out of the ducts. Usually I get an incredulous stare. What? That's not the real reason my A/C isn't working right is it? Can't be! For you guys that have your ductwork in the attic, crawl up there and have a feel around the joints while it's running. You might actually feel the air coming out of the cracks. Now think. If the air is leaking out up here, and the return air comes from inside the house, and there's not quite enough.... then the extra would get sucked in from .... outside. Viola! Now you realize that the best HVAC system that leaks maybe 15% of the air into the wrong place, is at least 15% less efficient than it's suppossed to be. Horrifying, but fixable. They make a mastic that the HVAC guy uses. Just start painting it around the leaks in the pipes. Don't forget the inside of the return where your filter goes, and the gaps around where the ducts enter the conditioned part of the house, either in the ceiling or in the flooring. If you really want to get serious about it, an energy rater can test the integrity of the ductwork with a ductblaster test. A trained HVAC guy can seal it up, and then they test again to see how much better it is. Best money you may ever spend.Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-13616317860868717552009-11-03T13:15:00.000-08:002011-04-12T07:12:33.917-07:00Taking the first step to green.Lots of people have been asking me about green lately. Almost everyone I <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">design a home </a>for says to me "if it saves me money on my power bills I'm interested." Then they start reading all of the stuff and become at least a little overwhelmed. So many choices. So many new ideas. Which ones work the best and which choices are more cost effective. You're gonna need some help and advice so you can spend your money the best way. A couple of great sources are your <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">designer </a>(like me), your builder of choice, and your energy rater. That's the guy who does all of the energy calculations for your project, and inspects the work for compliance along the way. I can tell you the path I took to go green, and your builder can tell you how they take the path to green, but the rater can compare different strategies to tell you the most cost effective path to green and that can be a great help. He can calculate before hand how much energy you'll save with a certain amount of fiberglass insulation vs a certain amount of spray foam insulation. When you compare that kind of information along side the builders price quotes for going either way the green path for your project starts to emerge on its own. The same concept can be applied for all of the green choices along the path. Window selection, appliances, HVAC equipment, all of that stuff. Remember to involve your energy rater early on and use his expertise and the expertise of your <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">home designer</a> to help you make decisions that will save you money. That's part of what you're paying him for.Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-49910600435918359942009-07-13T11:16:00.000-07:002011-08-12T13:40:15.707-07:00Sealed fireplace units.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe3S3o2hI2AU2301iLjef_m86LuXvA0DV2nmqllbg1732GPz6MQSyAaBe9f8awgTINKLEBrEDa0NWB1nOsUYmcZgRZUwhJf-E6xGSkr0y4N0fTe2A5AQ167bDTDNwmRu_d0wsEtuIMw/s1600-h/Fireplace.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358014771275444802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTe3S3o2hI2AU2301iLjef_m86LuXvA0DV2nmqllbg1732GPz6MQSyAaBe9f8awgTINKLEBrEDa0NWB1nOsUYmcZgRZUwhJf-E6xGSkr0y4N0fTe2A5AQ167bDTDNwmRu_d0wsEtuIMw/s320/Fireplace.jpg" style="float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 211px;" /></a> <br />
<div>Those old woodburning fireplaces we grew up with sure were pretty. They made nice flames and a good crackle, but most of the heat went up the chimney. They also used oxygen from inside the house, which wasn't really a big deal, since there were lots of places for it to seep back in. Things are different nowadays, with a <a href="http://www.ensavr.com/">tight home</a> you don't want anything taking the oxygen from your inside air. That's why they make sealed combustion units now. I got a great one by Majestic. It really looks great with a large opening and nice logs that run on propane. It's a sealed unit too, with a coating on the glass that makes it virtually invisible. Lots of people have tried to reach right through it! The outside air intake makes for sealed combustion and nice big flames. My wife just loves it.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-88437591235600488122009-07-13T11:05:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:13:27.896-07:00Introducing fresh air<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNlVzFKR5KJG9PN_blWYLn0yf_nH0Jz3orDzymvJ9QbeFdodEXHNrFsgZSq47QW9shAiMA0e3meDa2caiqSEmrt-z3Qw41Zdqc0IGrCIIhCyWkw5a3UTi5LzkD_59tj1NElXM8A0PQQ/s1600-h/Hvalve2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 261px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358009638533609954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNlVzFKR5KJG9PN_blWYLn0yf_nH0Jz3orDzymvJ9QbeFdodEXHNrFsgZSq47QW9shAiMA0e3meDa2caiqSEmrt-z3Qw41Zdqc0IGrCIIhCyWkw5a3UTi5LzkD_59tj1NElXM8A0PQQ/s320/Hvalve2.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Another key component to green building is the periodic introduction of fresh air into the living space. There are several ways to do this, but I chose the Honeywell fresh air circulation unit for my<a href="http://www.squaroneplans.com/"> new green home near Lexington,SC</a>. It has several dials that your rater sets up for you based on your home's tightness, and other characteristics. The knobs adjust for cfms required, the number of bedrooms, and total home square footage. We ran a duct from the outside through the unit and into a shared supply for my two air units. The wiring hooks up to the HVAC air handler unit upstairs where the bedrooms are. Now the correct amout of fresh air is metered into the residence. Other things that are important are those energy star bath fans we talked about earlier, and a good range hood that vents to the outside.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-70187330684943520682009-07-13T10:38:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:14:03.501-07:00Filtering the Air<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvR8-nLfTXirTmovXsa2ulXSRhNcJqWdY2qQUGm-UU0rhXdQfi861pi5GScfEFnpC8BRjZJPn9Xw4eYzUKy1yrqBVrJ7NFWH0JAPH2vt9DBFZUTUsHdbioaoeDbNtiVEK1_RRHHniUmA/s1600-h/Air+cleaner.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 99px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358007499222482482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvR8-nLfTXirTmovXsa2ulXSRhNcJqWdY2qQUGm-UU0rhXdQfi861pi5GScfEFnpC8BRjZJPn9Xw4eYzUKy1yrqBVrJ7NFWH0JAPH2vt9DBFZUTUsHdbioaoeDbNtiVEK1_RRHHniUmA/s320/Air+cleaner.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Clean air needs filtration to stay that way. If you check out what you're filtering the air with now, it's probably those blue return air filters that they call "rock catchers" in the trade. A lot of guys switch to those pleated filters from 3M, and they're better, except if your HVAC unit wasn't designed for that sort of flow restriction. Green experts recommend that you opt for at least a MERV 9 filter. They really filter down to the really small stuff and they have a lot more surface area so they don't restrict the flow of air through the unit. Another way to go is the way I went, and that's electronic cleaning. The particles in the air are charged, then collect on a metal screen inside the unit. There's also a pre screen that you can take out and wash off and re-use. I cleaned mine the other day and it was easy. The unit I used is the American Standard Accuclean system. Their website says that it cleans 99.98% paticulates and over 99% of the common flu virus. We have 3 cats and a dog now and it seems to be doing a great job for us. They even make HEPA units that install into your sytem also, so make sure you address proper air flitration, when you think about HVAC.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-5000262881100767572009-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:14:25.839-07:00Indoor Environmental Quality Stategies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWTWvD8ki7gyWyRh4pOEXfiEIPTUs_pwyCa6sU_Lmad0m11CpA5Z6RaRttK8ogr8Voxh4_ZwXYm7JrKpD2dM_W37YGxZHJWgXR6FP_AKrGsiL0wJHvjtpl2xNHZf02NbLyd2MkFtdQ/s1600-h/cover+materials.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358000380856222114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarWTWvD8ki7gyWyRh4pOEXfiEIPTUs_pwyCa6sU_Lmad0m11CpA5Z6RaRttK8ogr8Voxh4_ZwXYm7JrKpD2dM_W37YGxZHJWgXR6FP_AKrGsiL0wJHvjtpl2xNHZf02NbLyd2MkFtdQ/s320/cover+materials.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>For the next couple of posts we're going to talk about indooor environmental quality. When we <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">built green near Columbia, SC</a> we wanted clean safe, quality air inside. There are several ways to ensure this. One of the easiest is to control the moisture of the building components. When materials are delivered to the site, take steps to ensure they do not become exposed to the elements by covering them. Another great idea is to seal up your ductwork vents during construction. They make some duct caps for that, but I used some fortiflash tape to cover the floor ones. For the attic vents, my rater put some plastic over them when we tested, and I just left it there until time to install the register covers.</div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-88517204411951083772009-07-01T07:53:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:14:45.822-07:00Water saving outside the home.The exterior of a home can use as much water as the inside. Strategies include planting native vegetation that doesn't need supplementary water. If you're irrigating, you need to set up your turf zones separately from your planted areas, and use drip irrigation whenever you can to cut down on evaporation. Also, containing the rainwater from the roof for reuse is a cool idea. I'm not convinced <a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/">rain barrels</a> are the ticket, although I'm experimenting with one at my<a href="http://www.squareoneplans.com/"> Gilbert,SC residence</a>. I saw a program on TV where they said one inch of rain from a typical roof area can total 700 gallons. That's a lot of barrels. Of course they make underground tanks, and I saw a real cool bladder that goes under your deck and can easily store that much. I think for my situation it makes more sense just to get water from my pond and work with that. If I see some new products in this area I'll keep you posted...Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006505445205469306.post-6433806424765061252009-07-01T07:40:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:15:09.042-07:00Other inside water saving strategies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtp0jmiT6qorNP5sid3pzgHWu8cCW2VIl2LCWXPryRK-nMqVaa5F5ldDuqobHE_q_8J-1AkKohMXYlXtRVh9mfJ9mni3MHOFJIa5A_rbNjiHzAMv36JhTaNMd4HkVQOnCM-eYnsM9mg/s1600-h/sink.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353504865814688514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtp0jmiT6qorNP5sid3pzgHWu8cCW2VIl2LCWXPryRK-nMqVaa5F5ldDuqobHE_q_8J-1AkKohMXYlXtRVh9mfJ9mni3MHOFJIa5A_rbNjiHzAMv36JhTaNMd4HkVQOnCM-eYnsM9mg/s320/sink.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>We talked about washers and water saving toilets, but there are some other things that save water in the home. Low flow fixtures for the sinks and showers, of course, but there are some other cool things you might want to think about. Green programs like for you to keep the water run distance under 30' between the water heater and the fixture that they serve so you don't waste water waiting for the heat to get to you. That could mean multiple water heaters or maybe a point of use model at a particular location. Another option is a recirculation valve. What these things do is pump the water from the hot side back into the cold side until the hot water reaches the fixture so none is wasted. You put the unit at the farthest fixture away from the heater. I heard that when they first started using them they had a little motion detector so that everytime you went into the bathroom it would come on automatically. Since you don't always use hot water on the way to the closet or to brush your teeth, a better option would be to just have an electrical button in a cabinet somewhere to manually operate it when you need it. </div>Mark Bostichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605101046386302498noreply@blogger.com0