Renaissance of our history, Earthen Floors, a modern option
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Recycling/Reuse, Services, Water, Materials, Indoor Environment, Building Techniques, Design, Energy, Beauty and InspirationWritten by Sukita Crimmel.
Earthen floors are experiencing a renaissance. Along with other forms of natural building, we are reviving historical sources of information and improving methods with current material science.
The year 2007 marked a high point of recognition for the use of earthen floors. The New York Times featured an article on earthen floors (February 8, 2007) and like wild fire many of the local papers in the Seattle and Portland area printed their own stories.
Earthen floors are made of sand from the local rivers or a by-product of rock crushing; local clay soils; and straw or paper as a fiber (both of which are waste products from other industries). The finish coat can be left the color of the soil, a warm rich brown, or colored with pigments. This wet mix is poured into place and toweled to level. The dried product is then sealed with coats of linseed oil and mineral spirits with the finish coat having wax for increased durability and shine.
Earthen floors were predominant in most houses until the mid 1300s in Europe, and persist to this day in many parts of the world. Wood, carpet, synthetic linoleum, tile and concrete have all had the market on floor options, until recently. With the rise of indoor air quality issues from the off gassing of carpets, synthetic linoleum and other toxic materials we are demanding healthier options. With the heavy deforestation all over the planet we are demanding options besides wood. With the heavy percent of waste from construction we are starting to seek low or no waste options. And with the increase of energy costs we are looking for ways to be comfortable in our homes with less external fuel and ways to create our homes with less use of fuel as well. History has some of our answers and current material science helps to create healthy durable options now.
The sealing of the floor does require proper ventilation but once oils are dry the floor does not add toxins to indoor air and offers a stabilized surface that does not collect dust like carpets can and is able to be swept and mopped.
Earthen floors are similar in durability to a fir floor yet take no trees to install.
Earthen floors eliminate construction waste – excess earth can be reincorporated into the landscape.
Earthen floors have excellent thermal mass properties and work wonderfully with radiant heating systems and passive solar design. Earthen materials require only simple processing and little or no transport. Even when produced by a machine, a finished earthen slab is estimated to have 90% lower embodied energy than finished concrete. (Adapted from Adobe and Rammed Earth Buildings, 1984)
Earthen floors also offer unique beauty, a slight give that is kind to your body, use of your sites resources and can be done by most folks with little training.
We at From These Hands, LLC offer specialty in this new yet ancient floor option. We provide consultation, design, construction and training for earthen floors. We are based in Portland Oregon. We are able to travel, yet would like to use as much local to your area as possible, including labor. Read further about us at www.sukita.com
Project Green Build to Host Vancouver Green Drinks
Published by Tauscher. Filed under UncategorizedInterested in sustainability issues and the green scene?
Project Green Build is hosting Vancouver, U.S.A.’s, first ever Green Drinks social. The event, scheduled for every last Tuesday of the Month beginning February 26, and will be held at the Salmon Creek Brew Pub, 108 W evergreen Blvd. Drinks will start at 5:30 p.m.
The Pub will have a room set aside for our event and will provide a server. The happy hour house menu is okay, so we may change locations after a month or so, but that’s why we are in the process of starting a listserve of folks interested in attending.
In the meantime, send your contact information to Project Green Build’s Sara Lawrence. Please provide Sara your name and e-mail address so we can get you information for future events.
In the meantime, check out the Green Drinks national webpage here.
Hope to see you at the event!
Brandon Tauscher — Founder, Project Green Build
Flying Hammer explains Natural Building
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Recycling/Reuse, Services, Materials, Design, Building Techniques, Beauty and Inspiration
Written by Lydia Doleman, Sole Proprietor of Flying Hammer Productions, Portland, OR.
Natural building is a method of construction based in using minimally processed, natural materials that are available locally.
What distinguishes natural building from green building is subjective, but green building has its roots in operations and energy efficiency. Natural building may be an extension of green building, one that takes into account the embodied energy created from all phases of the building cycle from materials extraction to processing, transportation of those materials and application once inside the home.
Natural building techniques reflect the materials being used. They are simple, low-tech and ecologically sustainable. Natural building as an industry employs a sense of the human scale in production, and for the most part natural building projects are not dependent on energy intensive equipment during construction.
Materials are local and low toxic, which lends natural building to those without construction backgrounds who are interested in building. An owner involved project can save money on labor while gaining knowledge of how their home works and operates.
Typically, when referring to natural building, we are talking about the wall system. Examples of natural building dates back to our earliest civilizations, and structures have been standing for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Natural buildings exist wherever we see people. In North America, we associate natural building with straw bale, cobb, adobe, rammed earth and straw clay.
Natural building employs a whole systems methodology. More than just materials, natural building must reconcile many building variables in creating a functional building. Size, solar orientation, use, embodied energy, long term energy costs, beauty, relationship to occupants, and the greater community are all part of the equation.
To create shelters that mimic what we see in nature, like a bird’s nest, we build from local, non-toxic materials and become knowledgeable about repairs and operations. There is no mortgage to sell when the bird leaves the nest. It is inhabited by another bird or biodegrades, providing a regenerative effect on the local ecology and food for the next growing or ‘building’ cycle.
Many people looking into building natural homes have questions about acquiring construction loans, finding home insurance, and gaining building permits. There are permitted straw bale buildings in nearly all 50 states, and a growing number of lending institutions familiar with natural construction. Straw clay and adobe have their own building code in New Mexico, and California building code for straw bale has been incorporated by many other states.
Holidays bring first PGB Demonstration Home
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Certification, UncategorizedThe holidays worked out nicely for Project Green Build, landing us our first demonstration home project since posting this article in the Columbian’s “Readers View” section in November. To read the article, scroll and find the heading “Green Homes are better”.
We have been busy organizing what will be one of the toughest challenges our organization has faced in its first two years since incorporation, so our apologies for not updating the blog sooner.
John Fazzolari, owner of Fazzolari Custom Homes in Vancouver, and his Bungalow-style community development in suburban Vancouver at Messner Estates, will be the owner and location respectively for what we have titled the “Living Home”.
The project, the Columbian reports, may be the first single family home attempting to reach the Cascadia Region Green Building Council Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge is being heralded as the toughest green standard in North America.
Although the partnership did not result from the Columbia posting (it was actually at a Clark County Building Industry Association meeting), the results are the same, and the project has the potential to put Vancouver, Washington, on the map.
Stardust Glass explains recycled glass as art/building material
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Recycling/Reuse, Materials, Beauty and InspirationBy Megan Coleman, Artist, Stardust Glass (Portland)
Why use recycled glass tiles? From a sustainability perspective, waste from construction sites is one of the largest components of our waste stream going to landfills each year.
By using materials destined for the landfill, we divert some of the waste into usable materials; in our case it is recycled glass tiles for kitchen backsplashes, showers and bathroom floors.
Our company purchases broken or discarded glass from local window manufacturers to produce a hand-made tile that is 87-100% percent recycled. In addition, we use a kiln to fuse our tiles, rather than a furnace, which uses more energy while producing harmful emissions.
Stardust Glass focuses on the creative and artistic elements of tile making rather than having an emphasis on mass production. Recycled glass is a challenge to work with because of the inconsistency — a manufacturer of recycled glass tile has to be an artist, scientist and technician to produce a final tile product with consistent results.
We choose to work with recycled (post-industrial) scrap not only because it is a new and innovative technology, but because we are dedicated to producing a unique and sustainable product that our customers feel good about when purchasing and installing in their homes.
Take a look at our site. We are always interested in inventing ways to move ahead in support of an ever-growing sustainability movement.
Energy Savings programs and services — Clark Public Utilities
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Services, Energy, Certification, Building Techniques 
By DuWayne Dunham, Energy Counselor, Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is excited about the new trend in energy efficient home building in Clark County. As a utility we support and promote the Energy Star Homes Northwest program. This year has seen a real increase in the number of builders embracing the idea of building a healthier and more efficient home with even more builders giving it a closer look.
As a utility we have been involved with upgrading the weatherization aspects of existing homes for decades. Building homes initially to higher energy efficiency standards makes so much sense in two ways. First the overall cost to add more energy efficient appliances, lighting, windows and heating and cooling systems at the time of construction is far lower than doing it as a retrofit years later. Secondly, if we wait and do it 10-20 years down the road, how much potential energy (money) savings have we missed out on?
For our customers with existing homes we offer loans for weatherization measures, heat pump installation or replacement, and solar installations. Besides loans we also have rebates available for the purchase of energy saving appliances and lighting. Another service that we offer all our customers is a free home energy audit. Customers may request an audit to address high bills, comfort issues or receive weatherization recommendations. We also have our Green Lights program for customers who want to support renewable energy in the region. These programs are beneficial not only to the individual customer with lower energy cost and a more comfortable home, but they also benefit all customers of the utility. By lowering our overall demand for energy the utility is able to postpone the need for more infrastructure and increased purchases of power, both of which could contribute to higher rates.
With the passing of Initiative 937 our utility is faced with some high goals to achieve. The initiative requires large utilities to obtain 15% of their electricity from new renewable resources such as solar and wind by 2020 and undertake cost effective energy conservation. (Hydroelectric power is not considered a renewable resource under the initiative.) The energy conservation programs we offer, like the Energy Star Homes program, are examples of how we are moving forward towards these goals.
There are many “green” building programs to choose from today and we applaud all builders that are building better homes no matter which program they decide to follow. Clark Public Utilities chose to be a part of the Energy Star Homes program because of the consumer recognition of the logo, the backing of many significant organizations (Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance), and what we felt was the overall simplicity of the program. Our goal as a utility in supporting this program is market transformation. We offer incentives for customers to “do the right thing” and soon “the right thing” is the norm. This has worked well in the past with energy efficient appliances, lighting and manufactured homes.
One aspect of all of the green building programs is the mandatory third party verification and performance testing. Consumers benefit greatly from a home that has a tighter envelope and ducts that are sealed correctly. Without the performance testing it really is just guess work as to how efficiently the house is going to perform, not only regarding energy efficiency, but overall living comfort. Builders also benefit from a decrease in call-backs and have overall happier customers.
I would be remiss not to mention the efforts of Project Green Build in getting information to all that are interested and also a special thank you to New Tradition Homes and other local builders for “championing” energy efficient building in Clark County. I am excited to see what the future brings brings.
Clark County ***CALL TO ACTION*** Let’s Build!
Published by Tauscher. Filed under UncategorizedIn response to the Oct. 28 Columbian green building article, I would like to offer to Clark County citizens a call to action to support sustainable home building.
I agree with Steve Madsen. This isn’t just an Al Gore response to building homes. McGraw-Hill reported October 22, 2007, that the residential green building is currently a $2 billion industry. That figure, the study found, will increase to $20 billion in the next five years.
Simply put, a green home out performs a current code-built home, but what about a home that produces as much energy as it consumes, treats waste water onsite, is built with next to zero waste, and harvests all the water you need? It’s here, it’s called the Living Building Challenge, and local architects and green builders are developing it.
As a Call to Action, Project Green Build (PGB) will offer public investment opportunities to work in community collaboration to build a home to address the Living Building Challenge in Clark County.
Those interested in partnering on this project should contact Project Green Build for more details.
Green advice on residential pest management
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Services, Materials, Indoor Environment, Building Techniques 
Jen Marlowe, Eden Advanced Pest Technologies
With all the attention being paid to building green, it seems that green services should be given their due importance. After all, what is the point of building green if service providers so not continue to contribute to the green objectives originally intended?
Pest Management is a perfect example. If a house was built to minimize volatile gases, for example, then pesticides should not be regularly applied to the inside of the structure. A green program for pest management services only makes sense for a green built structure!
When considering green pest management, three areas are important for consideration: method, materials, and motive.
Method is the most important consideration. Any material, even those considered safe or natural, can be used in a manner that will harm people or the environment. The proper green method of pest management is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and consists of making pest management decisions after careful inspection and monitoring, incorporating long-term and non-material tactics with least hazard, botanical materials when appropriate, and evaluating those tactics for effectiveness. On the whole, this method (IPM) is more effective and can also be less costly.
Materials used in and around green structures should be carefully considered also. There are a variety of naturally occurring materials that can be very effective. These materials include essential plant oils, many which are considered food grade such as Eugenol (found in nutmeg and cinnamon), rosemary oil, and wintergreen oil. Natural mineral products including diatomaceous earth and borate compounds can also be used.
Motive is also important. You want to find a service provider (pest management provider) that truly understands the importance of your environment and, can not only help you create it, but also displays similar values in their business approach.
Raised heel truss offers energy savings
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Energy, Certification, Building TechniquesBy Peter Glavin, Owner and President of Taylor Made Homes
When TaylorMade Homes decided to invest in building sustainable homes built to the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED for Homes) certification, one of the building techniques that was both easy to implement and pays dividends to consumers and the environment is a raised-heel truss. This advancement, although not sophisticated, is a testament to what we found gains most return on investment from a building perspective in building high-performance homes, and is one that offers lifetime, science-based results to consumers.
If you think about a roof and the trusses that come down at an angle from the ridge to the exterior walls, there is an air space created between the bottom cord (usually a 2X4). The rafter becomes smaller and smaller to where eventually there is no gap. If you think of a piece of pie tipped on its side, it is the tip of the pie that sits on the exterior wall, and there is no room for insulation at this point.
On this roof you have created a “cold spot” around the ceiling. By adding a heel, between the tip on every truss, it raises each truss off of the exterior wall, allowing for the full amount of insulation to be installed in the new or remodeled home. 99% of homes will not use a heel truss, and the consumer pays for the cold spot over the lifetime of living in the home. By adding a heel, and at minimal costs, substantial energy savings can be achieved.
Any truss company can raise the heel at no cost or at a minimal cost. The insulation company has likely measured the ceiling area and has already charged you for it, so there are no more costs, or again if they do charge for it, very little. The exterior walls, in effect, become up to 6 inches taller, so the builder can estimate that one extra band of siding will be required around the building. All said, for the energy-savings builder, this is a no-brainer. Little or no extra cost and immediate energy savings equals less carbon from operating the HVAC system, and you have created raised comfort levels in the home and have reduced energy requirements which equals money in the pockets of your homebuyer.
High-performance building: An Inside Perspective
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Systems, Services, Energy, Certification, Building Techniques
Written by Steve Tapio, Quality Control Manager and Building Science Team Leader, New Tradition Homes
Looking back to four years ago at a time when New Tradition Homes was building merely a very high quality “code built” home, we were the proverbial child with its face to the glass, peering into a window of opportunity called high-performance home building. This new way to build looked exciting and was very enticing, but alas, we were looking through the window at all the succulent candy, realizing that our pockets were empty.
Is this where most builders find themselves when initially presented with the opportunity to build “green” or high performance? Oh, but it costs too much! With the market in the condition that it is in, how can I afford to add even more expense to my product and not see a return? Let me respond, how can you afford not to?
True, it was a different market four years ago when New Traditions began the journey that led us to where we are today. Overzealous folks were standing in line to purchase our product, and we became order takers for homes. Due to that market, we were essentially giving away the additional features and did not have to sell the value of the investment.
Today we are faced with discerning buyers that know what they want, and guess what? Energy efficiency and awareness tops the list with the majority of homebuyers. So, where does that leave you, the builder? What do you have to offer to meet this new demand? Remember, code built is “minimum standards” for home construction, and let me be quite frank, in this marketplace, during these economic times and given the environmental issues we are faced with, minimum standards fall woefully short.
Look around you. It’s on every front, you see it in all the media. We feel it each time we fuel up at the station. We cringe when comes time to pay the utility bills. Will this trend reverse itself? Not likely. And the building standards are coming from the national level. The International Code Council (ICC) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) have joined forces to determine green building guidelines. Do you want to remain as a player in the game? To borrow a saying from green building guru Ron Jones, “the train is leaving the station; you had better be on board”.
Looking back to the penniless child, we too felt we were lacking in our ability to meet the challenge. Fortunately, we met with several consultants that showed us we were not as ill-prepared as we first thought. It turned out that several of the requirements for the green built programs we were already doing as a matter of standard practice. With a little more guidance, we suddenly found ourselves gleefully at the candy counter with some coins in our hand.
As we learned about building a “house as a system”, we were able to recognize cost savings in areas we never imagined possible. Then we found incentives offered by local utilities. The added cost of an improved product and process to meet “green”, high-performance standards really ended up being a minor investment.
Now, as you build to the new high performance standards and gain confidence in the product you are producing, you are able to show buyers how their investment costs less to own in comparison to a “code-built” home. Only then will you be able to completely rest at night, knowing you are doing your part for the homebuyer, the economy, and the environment.
We believe in “doing the right thing” and strive to embrace the New Tradition Homes motto: “Building Homes for Life”.
Site Erosion Control
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Water, Site Selection, Building Techniques
Written by Gary Bock, Project Manager, Vancouver Watersheds Council.
Sediment is one of the most common pollutants in Clark County’s rivers and lakes. It is most often washed off construction sites or roads and can smother both plant and animal life in a stream or wetland. Erosion control is important even on small-scale land clearing projects. Fortunately, erosion control is fairly simple on small lots without much slope. First, try and maintain as much of the existing vegetation as you can. Virtually all plants are valuable for erosion control and even simple grass can hold a gentle slope in place. When you must strip vegetation, cover the exposed dirt as soon as possible with mulch, straw, compost, or gravel. If you have a pile of topsoil or mulch, cover it with plastic. If there will be trucks coming in and out of your construction project, be sure and provide a construction entrance. This entrance should include four to six inch diameter rock on top of a geo textile material. This will knock mud and dirt off the tires of the trucks and prevent sediment from collecting on the street and being washed into the storm drain.
Storm drains and roadside ditches lead directly to streams and wetlands, usually without any treatment to improve water quality. Dirt, mortar, concrete, or paint will eventually wash into streams or wetlands if dumped on the ground. Even construction materials and debris left out in the rain can leach pollutants into surface or groundwater.
The Inaugural Post…
Published by Tauscher. Filed under Uncategorized
Welcome!
Donated by our friends at Waste Connections, this interactive blog puts you in touch with the residential green building leaders in our community looking to raise the bar for the building industry in Clark County, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
As a Fourth-Sector, For-Benefit Organization, the non-profit Project Green Build partners with private and public organizations in its mission to promote sustainable building. Suffice we say that Project Green Build is a little different… And so is our blog.
As a virtual company, we hope to use technology to reach and inspire a new generation of people looking to reduce their impact on the planet through the lens of green building.
With posts to help you understand green building technologies, renewable energy and indoor air quality, recycling and reuse, site and materials selection, water issues and more, we are offering in-depth green building lessons; our ideas the foundation for the structures that will be the homes built within our communities.
Respond if you wish, research your next building project, and plug in your laptop and stay a while for the joy of learning something new.
Brandon Tauscher, Founder and President