Fusion Solar Roofing

http://www.custombiltmetals.com/solar.php

FusionSolar, from Custom-Bilt Metals, is a more-affordable rooftop solar power generation system integrated within a standing seam metal roof. A turn-key solution, FusionSolar delivers design simplicity, achieves lower installation costs and qualifies for tax incentives. When builders, contractors and homeowners specify FusionSolar with a standing seam roof, they get a complete system, including all necessary components, detailed schematics and specifications for wiring and electrical components that an electrical subcontractor needs for installation. Since no specialized solar installer expertise is required, sheet metal and roofing professionals are able to install the standing seam roof just as they would a standard metal roof. FusionSolar visually blends in without penetrations in the roof, delivers up to 7 LEED points in the on-site renewable energy category and also achieves a higher relative efficiency under high temperatures and low light than solar glass. Prospective customers receive a customized (ROI) report to help determine payback period and to understand how much total power consumption is offset by generating clean, renewable and dependable electric power.

The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.
EPA's Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. Additional TEAM studies indicate that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

Daylighting

Daylighting is the practice of placing windows or other openings and reflective surfaces so that during the day natural light provides effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use. Energy savings can be achieved either from the reduced use of artificial lighting or from passive solar heating or cooling.
Daylighting is a technical term given to a common centuries-old, geography and culture independent design basic by 20th century architects, many of whom who had made inadequate use of the design due to low cost and ignorance of global warming issues.
There is no direct sunlight on the polar-side wall of a building from the autumnal equinox to the spring equinox in parts of the globe north of the Tropic of Cancer and in parts of the globe south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Traditionally, in these parts with largely overcast skies, houses were designed with minimal windows on the polar side but more larger windows on the equatorial-side. Equatorial-side windows receive at least some direct sunlight on any sunny day of the year, so they are effective at daylighting areas of the house adjacent to the windows. Even so, during mid-winter, light incidence is highly directional and casts deep shadows. This may be partially ameliorated through light diffusion and through somewhat reflective internal surfaces.

Another type of device used are light tubes, also called solar tubes, which are placed into a roof and admit light to a focused area of the interior. These somewhat resemble recessed light fixtures in the ceiling. They do not allow as much heat transfer as skylights because they have a less exposed surface area.

How to Use Watering Devices to Conserve Water

This is a must see on water conservation by Ron Hazelton's House Calls: How to Use Watering Devices to Conserve Water -...

Two Zone Water Timer
Model 3100V
$39.90/EA Each

Electronic Water Timer
Model 3015V
$24.87/EA Each

NHTSA Warns of Car Trade-In Scams

NHTSA Warns of Car Trade-In Scams

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Cool roof

In the world of industrial and commercial buildings, a roofing system that can deliver high solar reflectance (the ability to reflect the visible, infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths of the sun, reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (the ability to release a large percentage of absorbed, or non-reflected solar energy) is a cool roof. Most cool roofs are white or other light colors.

Cool roofs enhance roof durability and reduce both building cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.

Also known as albedo, solar reflectance is expressed either as a decimal fraction or a percentage. A value of 0 indicates that the surface absorbs all solar radiation, and a value of 1 represents total reflectivity. Thermal emittance is also expressed either as a decimal fraction between 0 and 1, or a percentage. A newer method of evaluating coolness is the solar reflectance index (SRI), which incorporates both solar reflectance and emittance in a single value. SRI quantifies how hot a surface would get relative to standard black and standard white surfaces. It is defined such that a standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and a standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100.

Cool roofs are an effective alternative to bulk attic insulation under roofs in humid tropical and subtropical climates. Bulk insulation can be entirely replaced by roofing systems that both reflect solar radiation and provide emission to the sky. This dual function is crucial, and relies on the performance of cool roof materials in both the visible spectrum (which needs to be reflected) and far infra-red which needs to be emitted

Green roof

A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. This does not refer to roofs which are merely colored green, as with green roof shingles. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.

Container gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots, are not generally considered to be true green roofs, although this is an area of debate. Rooftop ponds are another form of green roofs which are used to treat greywater.

The term green roof may also be used to indicate roofs that use some form of "green" technology, such as solar panels or a photovoltaic module. Green roofs are also referred to as eco-roofs, vegetated roofs, living roofs, and greenroofs.

Sustainable development

Sustainable development has been defined as balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The field of sustainable development can be conceptually divided into four general dimensions: social, economic, environmental and institutional. The first three dimensions address key principles of sustainability, while the final dimension addresses key institutional policy and capacity issues.

Green Seal

Certification requirements:
A Green Seal Certification Mark on a product means that it has gone through a stringent process to show that it has less impact on the environment and human health. Green Seal takes a life cycle assessment approach, evaluating a product from the raw materials through the manufacturing process and ending with recycling or disposal. Products only become certified after rigorous science-based evaluation, including on-site plant visits. The Green Seal means that the product has passed the tests; that it works as well as or better than others in its class, and that it has been evaluated without bias or conflict of interest.

Engineered wood

Wood used in construction includes products such as glued laminated timber (glulam), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallam and I-joists. On the one hand these allow the use of smaller pieces, and on the other hand allow bigger spans. They may also be selected for specific projects such as public swimming pools or ice rinks where the wood will not corrode in the presence of certain chemicals. These engineered wood products prove to be more environmentally friendly, and sometimes cheaper, than building materials such as steel or concrete.
Wood unsuitable for construction in its native form may be broken down mechanically (into fibres or chips) or chemically (into cellulose) and used as a raw material for other building materials such as chipboard, engineered wood, hardboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB). Such wood derivatives are widely used: wood fibers are an important component of most paper, and cellulose is used as a component of some synthetic materials. Wood derivatives can also be used for kinds of flooring, for example laminate flooring.

Reclaimed Lumber, Bricks, & More

Southend Building Products

This is a great source for reclaimed lumber, moldings, bricks, and more. They are within 500 miles of most states so that you can claim regional materials and reuse.

New England Carpenters Center

Upon completion, the Carpenters Center will qualify for LEED Certifiable status. As part of the preparation for this, a Commissioning Study of the project is being done to review various energy-related categories, including HVAC, domestic hot water, and lighting. The consultant hired for this will make recommendations or approve plans for the equipment and will supervise the delivery and installation of those items.

Other ways in which the building will be eligible for LEED Certifiable status include: implementing a storm water collection system, which will collect and filter ground water and remove more than 90% of suspended soils before discharge in the City system; installing a heat reflective (white) roof; and installing low water use toilets.

“We fully understand and appreciate the intent of the regulations of the City of Boston and the Green Building Task Forces,” notes David Dow, NECLMP Special Projects.

“Building Green can add to a building’s cost, but adhering to these sustainability goals will provide us with dividends over the life or our building. Not only will we save on energy costs that may be far more expensive in the future, but we are providing our members and employees with a safe, clean environment to work in.”

U.S. Green Building Council Urges Congressional Action on Green Homes Bill In Testimony

GREEN Act of 2009 Would Help Homeowners Use Less Energy to Save Money, Reduce Environmental Impact

June 16, 2009 (Washington, DC) – The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) urged Congress to pass the GREEN Act of 2009 to help homeowners build and remodel their homes in ways that save energy, thereby reducing their energy costs and their environmental impact. Specifically, the USGBC cited the bill’s assistance for middle and low-income homeowners. Green building is critical to the nation’s future economy, energy security and environment – buildings account for 40% of U.S. energy consumption and 39% of CO2 emissions. And greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

Renewable Energy Products

G-Oil
G-Oil replaces the petrochemical base of traditional oil products with a renewable bio-base called tallow; it is sustainable and can be collected domestically with grown beef, pork, and chicken fat.
At a molecular level, the G-Oil bio-base material has a low temperature of operation and high degree of stability. It can operate at negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It shows little or no reactivity, with additives for its natural properties, similar to petrochemical oils and lubricants.
G-Oil's 2-cycle oil for 2-stroke engines, performs as synthetic oils. Ash content is lower than some products that have been marketed as “ash-less.”
G-Oil meets standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API) for the API TC rating. Because the proprietary process used to make the biological base material in G-Oil imparts synthetic and petroleum “oil-like” properties, only limited quantities of commercially available additives are used to make the material meet or exceed the API TC rating. The G-Oil 2-Cycle is composed of a substantial amount of biological base materials with a detergent additive and an ash less dispersant additive.

Animal Fat
Green Earth’s demand for domestic animal fat is kept well below the supply calculated by the U.S. department of Agriculture, which reports that the United States alone produces 9.6 billion pounds of beef, pork and chicken fat. Green Earth Technologies uses a fraction of the total fat to manufacture enough G-Oil base biological material for a double digit market share of the nation’s oil and lubrication market.

G-Glass
G-Glass is an organic glass cleaner for windshields, mirrors and windows. It creates an invisible anti-static residue that reduces future dust and dirt buildup. It does not streak, removing hydro-carbon soils, including petroleum derivatives, fats, oils, greases, road tar, bugs, tree sap and sugars. The cleaner is ammonia free and compatible with all automotive brand urethane sealants.

G-Scent
G-Scent Odor Eliminator cleans and deodorizes the air by breaking up scent-causing compounds. It is odorless, non-masking, non-toxic, and hypo-allergenic; it is indicated for use against odors from feces, vomit or any other organic waste decomposition. It contains 100% bio-based ingredients including alkanolamines, amino acids, plant and vegetable extracts, non-ionic surfactants and plant-based fatty acids. It contains no hazardous components under OSHA definitions, and also prevents bio-film formation on treated surfaces.

Why the Microgrid Could Be the Answer to Our Energy Crisis

Why small-scale, local power -- the microgrid -- could be the answer to our energy crisis. And why the big utilities are fighting it with all they've got.
Enlarge In Massachusetts, Jonah Decola teaches locals to build home power systems, like Sue Butler's 5.5-Kilowatt setup. Photograph by Bob O'Connor
Companies like GE and IBM are talking about up to half of American homes generating their own electricity, renewably, within a decade.

Insulating Concrete Forms ( ICF )

Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are stay-in-place formwork for energy-efficient, cast-in-place, reinforced concrete walls.
The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked (without mortar) and filled with concrete. The forms lock together somewhat like Lego bricks and serve to create a form for the structural walls of a building. Concrete is pumped into the cavity to form the structural element of the walls. Usually reinforcing steel (rebar) is added before concrete placement to give the resulting walls flexural strength, similar to bridges and high-rise buildings made of concrete (see Reinforced concrete). The forms are filled with concrete every several feet in order to reduce the risk of blowouts. The foam on either side of the forms can easily accommodate electrical and plumbing installations.
After the concrete has cured, or firmed up, the forms are left in place permanently for the following reasons:
Thermal and acoustic insulation
Fire protection
Space to run electrical conduit and plumbing
Backing for gypsum boards on the interior and stucco, brick, or other siding on the exterior

Structural Insulated Panel ( S.I.P. )

Structural insulated panels (or structural insulating panels), SIPs, are a composite building material. They consist of a sandwich of two layers of structural board with an insulating layer of foam in between. The board is usually oriented strand board (OSB) and the foam either expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) or polyurethane foam.
SIPs share the same structural properties as an I-beam or I-column. The rigid insulation core of the SIP performs as a web, while the OSB sheathing exhibits the same properties as the flanges. SIPs replace several components of conventional building such as studs and joists, insulation, vapor barrier and air barrier. As such they can be used for many different applications such as exterior wall, roof, floor and foundation systems.

Although foam-core panels gained attention in the 1970s, the idea of using stress skinned panels for construction began in the 1930s. Research and testing of the technology was done primarily by Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison, Wisconsin as part of U.S. Forest Service's attempts to conserve forest resources. In 1937, a small stressed-skin house was constructed and garnered enough attention to bring in First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to dedicate the house. In a testament to the durability of such panel structures, it has endured the severe Wisconsin climate and is currently being used by University of Wisconsin-Madison as a day care center. With the success of the stress skinned panels, it was suggested stronger skins could take all of the structural load and eliminate the frame altogether.
Thus in 1947, structural insulated panel development began with corrugated paperboard cores were tested with various skin materials of plywood, tempered hardboard and treated paperboard. The building was dismantled in 1978 and most of the panels retained their original strength with the exception of paperboard which is unsuited to outdoor exposure. Panels consisting of polystyrene core and paper overlaid with plywood skins were used in a building in 1967 and the panels have performed well to the present day. http://www.sips.org/

Energy Star & Tax Credits

I have found some good information to share with you on the tax credits and incentives we have available to us. Follow this link : http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits The research will continue so please check back regularly and if you have any questions or comments please post them. If you have information to share please feel free to do so.