Solution4Living

Save Even More on Utilities with a Composting Toilet

darachilds — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:45:45 +0000

Much has been said about saving on utilities with a green home, and wastewater/greywater recycling is no exception. There was a time when the biggest innovation in bathrooms in the U.S. was indoor, flush toilets that used a lot of water to flush away undesirable waste, which went to a wastewater treatment facility. Later, we had low-flow toilets, and it’s now pretty standard for a green home to have toilets that help recycle the grey water for use in watering landscaping.

For many years now, Scandinavia has had composting toilets, due to the lack of topsoil and the climate there. What can a composting toilet do for an American green home? We wondered about this a bit. A composting toilet can eliminate or greatly reduce the need for not only composting bins, but garbage disposal, wastewater disposal, and the fees that go with it.

Composting toilets do not smell bad. The suction is much greater to allow for larger debris, like food scraps to be composted. There are few, if any, chemicals needed to help the decomposition along, as in a septic system, because the system itself is set up to decompose/ compost the waste, which is then used to water landscaping. It is not used to water kitchen gardens. People using composting toilets in their homes report between 25 and 60% reductions in their water, wastewater, and garbage collection bills. Since the wastewater does not go to a treatment facility, it also helps to reduce the amount of waste treated in these often aging facilities, and keeps rivers and streams cleaner.

You’ll Never Regret a Green Sunroom

darachilds — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:35:51 +0000

Sunrooms have been much-advertised in areas where summer heat is oppressive and humid. Imagine the things you can do with the space inside a green built sunroom. These rooms are open to sunlight for as long as possible during the day, while controlled climate inside means you can grow cold-weather leafy greens and other cold-weather vegetables. You can grow hot-weather vegetables, like tomatoes and cucumbers, even corn, if you wanted to, in indoor flower beds and containers. You can set up an irrigation system that uses grey water, like from showers and laundry, saving that resource for later use.

Anything you’d choose would grow, at nearly any time you choose. And the smell of growing things is soothing, a pleasantly-spiced air ripe with growing things is an appealing thought. From roses to rhubarb, or orchids to okra. With a height enough ceiling, you could even plant fruit trees inside, if you wanted. No going out in the heat or the cold or during bad weather. Built up beds with a watering system allow people with arthritis or back problems to over exert and overwork themselves, causing pain.

Imagine the fresh, clean air in your home from these indoor gardens. You can place benches or chaise lounges in places around the b eds, to enjoy the garden or the flowers as much as possible. A sunroom with well-sealed construction keeps more energy in. This means you can easily get the energy you need from solar panels, so you aren’t running up the utilities. Consider a green room or a sunroom when you build your home. You won’t regret having one.

Green Home Construction Expected to Rise to Five Times Current Levels by 2016

darachilds — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:54:56 +0000

Building Associations and Government reports alike tell the story. In 2011, estimated green construction (including remodels) was $17 Billion. In 2016, that number is expected to rise to between 87 and 114 Billion Dollars in the U.S. alone. This means there is not only a good outlook for the economy, but that people are seeing the benefits had by their friends and neighbors who have green homes. As word of mouth spreads about the energy efficiency, energy savings through production of energy, among the other great benefits of having a green home compared to a traditional home. The ease of taking care of the landscaping that comes from the natural surroundings, and the lack of a huge lawn to care for, as well as the readily-available grey water used to water the plants in the landscaping, only add to the appeal, especially with today’s ever- active lifestyle. It seems that by mid-century, there will no longer be a traditional builder available, but that all new homes will be built around green concepts and design. This will be good, not only for families and other consumers, such as businesses and schools, but for the Earth herself.

Is There a Best Time of Year to Buy a Home in Houston?

darachilds — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:40:58 +0000

IS There a Best Time of the Year to Buy a Home in Houston?

Some markets have a good time of year and a bad time of year to buy or begin construction on a family home. Houston’s market is high in the top 5 list of cities whose real estate market never slows down much compared to other parts of the country.

For example, in the Northeast, you might get the best price in winter, when weather is cold and gray, and roads are more icy and dangerous. Houston’s housing market, not so much, because the winters are not so harsh or nearly so long. Economic growth has to be considered, also. Houston has reclaimed its oil-capital title in the US, and in response to this, and the numerous corporations re-locating both headquarters and families here, Houston is still growing. In fact, Houston has been recovering from the 2008 downturn much quicker than most other parts of the country.

Due to the bursting of the housing bubble, appraisals are much more fair than they were in 2008, so if you plan to buy, build, or even just rent a home when you re-locate, you can be assured you likely won’t end up under water with your mortgage like people have ( and still are!) in other places. The short answer to the question of ,”When is the best time of year to buy or build a home in Houston?”, is: right now. Right now, interest rates are lower than they have been for decades, appraisals are fairer than they have been in several years. There are fewer foreclosures or abandoned homes in Houston than you’d find in say, Detroit, Michigan, or Las Vegas, Nevada. If you’re relocating to Houston, this is the best time to buy or build a home in years!

Resistant to Green Building because of Recycled Materials? Don’t Be!

darachilds — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:42:15 +0000

Resistant to Green Building because of Recycled Materials? Don’t Be! Our culture for many years now has fallen prey to the Ad Men on Madison Avenue, believing that new is always better, recycled or used items are for us to donate to the poor, and that most people would be ashamed to admit they had anything old in their home which wasn’t an antique. This does retail giants like Neiman Marcus and design houses like Prada and Tiffany’s a great service, bringing them new clientele and millions-even billions in sales every year. Owning used items or re-using items has a sort of stigma attached to it, doesn’t it? We think others will either call us a cheapskate, or they will feel sorry for us because we have cast-off this or that, and we worry that others may say that our job is not going as well as we say. We worry about the whispers behind hands, the rumor mill, and the clothesline grapevine. Why? It’s true that we are social animals. It’s also true that an executive on his or her way up needs to impress the higher-ups in the company. In today’s volatile financial and employment environment, it’s actually smarter to reuse things, and even repurpose and reclaim things. This can often put more money in our pockets to be used for retirement or emergencies. Repurposing and reclaiming building materials is smart, not chintzy or shabby. Here’s why: • There are only so many natural resources to go around, and with now 7 Billion people on the planet, this becomes even more important to sustaining all of that life. • Using reclaimed bricks and reclaimed wood in floors and kitchen or dining room tables helps to create a unique appearance that allows your personality to shine through, while still impressing guests, including the boss and your colleagues in business. It doesn’t cost any less. In fact, depending upon the look you want, it can be more expensive than new materials. • The appearance of your newly constructed green home will be unique among others, without being ostentatiously so. It makes the home look refined, elegant, and cozy, no matter the size. Still not sold on the idea? Consider this: In addition to the benefits described above, repurposed and reclaimed building materials are carefully inspected and chosen by your builder in wholesale shops that specialize in reclaimed materials. Everything from reclaimed wood flooring to reclaimed and very ornate crystal chandeliers, the likes of which cannot be found in home building stores meant for the mass-market or the Do-it-Yourself type can be found in these shops, lumberyards and wholesale brickyards that specialize in reclaimed bricks. These materials are still as strong, if not stronger, than the day they were made. They have unique character that helps bring the feel you want in your home, and you can rest assured that your builder as well as the Pickers and Buyers of these materials are choosing only the best and sturdiest materials. Using reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed items in the construction of your home is just as safe, if not safer, than choosing all new materials. In addition to all of this, you have the satisfaction of knowing that very few unclaimed natural resources were used in the building of your home, leaving them for future generations. None of the reclaimed materials you used in your new home went to the landfill, so it did not expand, thereby saving natural habitat for wildlife and preserving space for native plant life. Don’t be resistant to using recycled materials. Embrace them. The stigma attached to pre-owned or used items was created by the Ad Men on Madison Avenue to sell more products for their clients. It does not always have our best interests at heart. Resistant to Green Building because of Recycled Materials? Don’t Be! Our culture for many years now has fallen prey to the Ad Men on Madison Avenue, believing that new is always better, recycled or used items are for us to donate to the poor, and that most people would be ashamed to admit they had anything old in their home which wasn’t an antique. This does retail giants like Neiman Marcus and design houses like Prada and Tiffany’s a great service, bringing them new clientele and millions-even billions in sales every year. Owning used items or re-using items has a sort of stigma attached to it, doesn’t it? We think others will either call us a cheapskate, or they will feel sorry for us because we have cast-off this or that, and we worry that others may say that our job is not going as well as we say. We worry about the whispers behind hands, the rumor mill, and the clothesline grapevine. Why? It’s true that we are social animals. It’s also true that an executive on his or her way up needs to impress the higher-ups in the company. In today’s volatile financial and employment environment, it’s actually smarter to reuse things, and even repurpose and reclaim things. This can often put more money in our pockets to be used for retirement or emergencies. Repurposing and reclaiming building materials is smart, not chintzy or shabby. Here’s why: • There are only so many natural resources to go around, and with now 7 Billion people on the planet, this becomes even more important to sustaining all of that life. • Using reclaimed bricks and reclaimed wood in floors and kitchen or dining room tables helps to create a unique appearance that allows your personality to shine through, while still impressing guests, including the boss and your colleagues in business. It doesn’t cost any less. In fact, depending upon the look you want, it can be more expensive than new materials. • The appearance of your newly constructed green home will be unique among others, without being ostentatiously so. It makes the home look refined, elegant, and cozy, no matter the size. Still not sold on the idea? Consider this: In addition to the benefits described above, repurposed and reclaimed building materials are carefully inspected and chosen by your builder in wholesale shops that specialize in reclaimed materials. Everything from reclaimed wood flooring to reclaimed and very ornate crystal chandeliers, the likes of which cannot be found in home building stores meant for the mass-market or the Do-it-Yourself type can be found in these shops, lumberyards and wholesale brickyards that specialize in reclaimed bricks. These materials are still as strong, if not stronger, than the day they were made. They have unique character that helps bring the feel you want in your home, and you can rest assured that your builder as well as the Pickers and Buyers of these materials are choosing only the best and sturdiest materials. Using reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed items in the construction of your home is just as safe, if not safer, than choosing all new materials. In addition to all of this, you have the satisfaction of knowing that very few unclaimed natural resources were used in the building of your home, leaving them for future generations. None of the reclaimed materials you used in your new home went to the landfill, so it did not expand, thereby saving natural habitat for wildlife and preserving space for native plant life. Don’t be resistant to using recycled materials. Embrace them. The stigma attached to pre-owned or used items was created by the Ad Men on Madison Avenue to sell more products for their clients. It does not always have our best interests at heart. Resistant to Green Building because of Recycled Materials? Don’t Be! Our culture for many years now has fallen prey to the Ad Men on Madison Avenue, believing that new is always better, recycled or used items are for us to donate to the poor, and that most people would be ashamed to admit they had anything old in their home which wasn’t an antique. This does retail giants like Neiman Marcus and design houses like Prada and Tiffany’s a great service, bringing them new clientele and millions-even billions in sales every year. Owning used items or re-using items has a sort of stigma attached to it, doesn’t it? We think others will either call us a cheapskate, or they will feel sorry for us because we have cast-off this or that, and we worry that others may say that our job is not going as well as we say. We worry about the whispers behind hands, the rumor mill, and the clothesline grapevine. Why? It’s true that we are social animals. It’s also true that an executive on his or her way up needs to impress the higher-ups in the company. In today’s volatile financial and employment environment, it’s actually smarter to reuse things, and even repurpose and reclaim things. This can often put more money in our pockets to be used for retirement or emergencies. Repurposing and reclaiming building materials is smart, not chintzy or shabby. Here’s why: • There are only so many natural resources to go around, and with now 7 Billion people on the planet, this becomes even more important to sustaining all of that life. • Using reclaimed bricks and reclaimed wood in floors and kitchen or dining room tables helps to create a unique appearance that allows your personality to shine through, while still impressing guests, including the boss and your colleagues in business. It doesn’t cost any less. In fact, depending upon the look you want, it can be more expensive than new materials. • The appearance of your newly constructed green home will be unique among others, without being ostentatiously so. It makes the home look refined, elegant, and cozy, no matter the size. Still not sold on the idea? Consider this: In addition to the benefits described above, repurposed and reclaimed building materials are carefully inspected and chosen by your builder in wholesale shops that specialize in reclaimed materials. Everything from reclaimed wood flooring to reclaimed and very ornate crystal chandeliers, the likes of which cannot be found in home building stores meant for the mass-market or the Do-it-Yourself type can be found in these shops, lumberyards and wholesale brickyards that specialize in reclaimed bricks. These materials are still as strong, if not stronger, than the day they were made. They have unique character that helps bring the feel you want in your home, and you can rest assured that your builder as well as the Pickers and Buyers of these materials are choosing only the best and sturdiest materials. Using reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed items in the construction of your home is just as safe, if not safer, than choosing all new materials. In addition to all of this, you have the satisfaction of knowing that very few unclaimed natural resources were used in the building of your home, leaving them for future generations. None of the reclaimed materials you used in your new home went to the landfill, so it did not expand, thereby saving natural habitat for wildlife and preserving space for native plant life. Don’t be resistant to using recycled materials. Embrace them. The stigma attached to pre-owned or used items was created by the Ad Men on Madison Avenue to sell more products for their clients. It does not always have our best interests at heart.

Why Houston?

darachilds — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:15:04 +0000

Houston has been among the fastest to recover from the economic downturn. Corporate relocations have been soaring since 2008. The city has reclaimed its title as oil capital of the US, and jobs have returned to Houston faster than in any other city. Add to this a low cost of living, and Houston looks pretty attractive for both native Houstonians and those looking to relocate. According to most estimates, jobs have grown by 13,000 at the end of 2011, putting Houston in the top four cities to recover from the serious economic crash of 2008. New home construction is rising in the Houston/ Houston Metro area at a rapid rate, as well. With all the amenities Houston has to offer- high-end shopping, convenience in location and a low crime rate for a city of its size, Houston looks like a very appealing place to relocate with a family. The feel of Houston is diverse and young, and there are plenty of museums and other great family-friendly activities, as well as night clubs, dancing and fine dining. All in all, very few could be disappointed in their choice to move to Houston. With all the favorable news reports about Houston and her growth in building, jobs, and population, it would seem there is no reason not to move to Houston. It is one of the greenest cities in America, and even the City Administration has begun to drive electric or hybrid cars to help reduce emissions and air pollution. Why Houston? It’s the best place in America to be right now!

Geothermal Heat is Safer than Traditional Methods

darachilds — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:35 +0000

Geothermal Heat is Safer Than Traditional Methods Geothermal heating systems use the earth’s natural heat, which is usually found at roughly 15 feet underground, to keep the temperature of a home at a certain level, year-round. Traditional methods include wood and coal heat, which was dirty and messy, cast iron boiler heat, radiant heat, and baseboard electric heat. The dangers with all of these are fire, illness from the dust put off by wood and coal heat, electrical fire or even electrocution with electric baseboard heat. Not so with geothermal technology. Geothermal technology simply harnesses the energy already present in the earth itself to keep your home at a constant temperature. There are many more flexible and useful configurations that can be used in building a new green home. Geothermal heating/cooling systems don’t emit any harmful gasses, dust, or harmful fumes, nor can you be electrocuted using it. Geothermal technology is the way to go if you live in an area where severe weather and natural events are the norm. You can still have a sturdy, comfortable home at a constant temperature, because you don’t need electricity or gas to run. This also comes with 20-60% savings on your energy bills. Geothermal is the best way to keep your home safe and at a comfortable temperature year-round.

Houston Medical District Prepares for Newer, Better Care

darachilds — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:57:53 +0000

The former Prudential Building, built in 1952 to be the company’s Southwest Headquarters, was imploded Sunday using high explosives. The building was scheduled to be taken down before 8:15 AM on Sunday, January 8. Fog and other conditions postponed the event until 11:15 AM. This creates an obvious hole in the southwestern Houston skyline that has been a landmark for nearly 60 years. Not to worry- M.D. Anderson Cancer center plans to put a newer, better building in its place. This will replace the current hole in Houston’s skyline, while preventing urban sprawl.

The Prudential Building was purchased by the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1974, to be used to care for cancer patients and research the disease. In 1980, it was made the main building for the cancer center. Now the Cancer Center will build a new center, with more light, more passive sustainability, and rather than use a building which may not be structurally sound- it was closed down in 2010- the MD Anderson Cancer Center will have a newer, better building in which to help cancer patients survive and hopefully, one day, eradicate this disease we call cancer.

Texas Building Codes Going Green This Month!

darachilds — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:08:43 +0000

Texas Building Codes Going Green This Month!

The New Year is upon us, and with that, usually there comes change. In Texas, that means that starting in January, building codes will go green. Many people fear that Texans will lose jobs to this initiative, but that is not the case. The same workers can and will do the same job, with a little extra training. Hanging a more energy-efficient window is no different than hanging any other residential window. Painting with non-toxic paint is done the same way as before; even the siding on the house is hung the same way. The new law may create some work for irrigation installers and landscapers, among many others.

Most of the things Texas is requiring are things good builders already do. Upgrading windows to make them airtight, checking any ductwork for leaks, making certain a fireplace has a glass door and a gasket, to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. An experienced green builder will go the extra mile to be sure your new home is as green and as safe as it can be. Texas’ new laws will save a lot of energy, thereby conserving the environment.

The new laws are expected to save 15% on energy costs each year for single-family new construction.

Types of Recycled and Sustainable Flooring

darachilds — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:04:39 +0000

When considering the flooring in your new green home, consider these facts:

• Bamboo flooring is sustainable. Bamboo grows to maturity much more quickly than other wood types.

• Cork is also sustainable, and easily recyclable, so it would be simple to find salvageable cork flooring.

• There are many types of recycled flooring available, from wood to tile, to carpet. Many people who are building green homes are refusing to put carpet in their homes, because traditional commercially-made carpet manufacturing processes give a rather unhealthy product that puts off strong fumes that can make people sick. There is another option out there: Recycled carpet. That’s right, recycled carpet. It’s not what you think. Recycled carpet is made from post-consumer plastic containers such as milk jugs and water bottles. One square foot of this soft, stain-resistant and attractive carpet keeps 40 plastic containers out of the landfill. There are also none of the harsh fumes to be contended with, and the carpet comes in a multitude of attractive colors. Reclaimed wood flooring can also be very attractive. Imagine having the aged-wood patina of an antique floor in oak, cherry, walnut, or even chestnut flooring in your home. Definitely, this is an attractive option that saves trees by using already- made and reclaimed wood. Cork flooring can also be reclaimed and reused, and makes a lovely addition to any new home. There are many, many options available in flooring for your new green home. Ask your builder about all of the fashionable, yet eco-friendly options available to you.