Who doesn't love a good top 10 list? David Letterman, I'm looking at you! Product lists are especially helpful if you're looking to branch out from your usual favorites. You probably have your eco-friendly mainstays like programmable thermostats, CFLs, VOC-free paint and EnergyStar appliances.
If you're looking to broaden your green horizons, try incorporating something from Sustainable Industries' top 10 green building products. Some of the products may be better suited for commercial applications, but we picked a few of our favorites that would be excellent additions to your eco-friendly home.
Greensulate: Created by Ecovative Design, Greensulate "is the world's first sustainable rigid board insulation," according to the company. It's grown, not manufactured, from agricultural byproducts such as cotton seed and buckwheat hulls. The result is a product that's safe to touch and requires no safety gear during installation. It's also chemical- and VOC-free, and comes with a class 1 fire rating. The standard-size insulation sheets are great for exterior, roof and floor insulation, and custom sheets can be cut if you're in need of a specific application.
One of the most effective ways to build green is to use salvaged materials. The great thing about salvage is it can be small (a piece of furniture, perhaps) or, in the case of this house, huge!
"An entire section of highway" was recycled "in the construction of its core structural center," according to Dornob.com. More than 600,000 pounds (!!!) of recycled materials were used to create the concrete, metal and glass home that features steel beams and girders.
So where do you get a materials pile of that size? The concrete and steel elements were abandoned after Boston's "Big Dig" project, otherwise known as the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. The main portion of the project tunneled Interstate 93 under downtown Boston in a massive road construction endeavor that went five years past schedule--and billions of dollars over budget.
Flooring, walls, backsplashes--ceramic tile is a popular, versatile material that can be incorporated into a variety of projects. Many styles of ceramic tile are quite affordable, too, making it an ideal choice for the DIY-er on a budget.
But who knew ceramic tile could be so green? You'll breathe easy around ceramic tile knowing that no plastics or solvents are used to make it. In fact, ceramic tile is largely made from natural materials like sand, clay and feldspar, according to information released by FloorBiz.com.
If LEED certification is a goal, ceramic tile can help a project earn LEED points, depending on how and where the tile is manufactured. The tile's production process has also evolved over the years. Any scrap or defective material can be recycled into new tile, and many manufacturers have even streamlined their processes so that things like production water can be recycled back into the process, resulting in what FloorBiz.com calls "a drastic reduction in water consumption."
In February we were invited to the Passive House in Yellow Springs, Ohio's open house. Hosted by both the new owners and the building company, the event was a casual, yet incredibly informative adventure.
The people at Green Generation Building have been generous enough to share the walking tour here at Charles & Hudson, so without further ado, welcome to Ohio's First Passive House. We hope you find some ideas, technology and appliances that you can incorporate into your own home.
