Living Heavenly Green

Living Green by Design - Interior Design Ecological Style

2009-02-21T23:28:00.000-08:00

Green Living Design That You Can Adopt

Interior Design is the single best experience in my life that has allowed me to experience fantastic creative energy each and every day. I must admit, however, that the move towards "Green Living Design" sometimes has me pulling my hair out.

Don't get me wrong, I've written many an article about the coming boon in Green Living Design and how we, as Designers, must be at the forefront of the movement. With that being said, I find that many of my clients often look at me with that "Deer in the headlight" look when I even casually mention the Green aspect of a Design element for their new home or addition.

It is not that most folks don't care; They do. It is that most feel that they are being handed a bill of goods because something is trendy or fashionable at the moment and can not have any direct implications on their lives in the present. "Going Green" is something that the Hollywood crowd does, not the average consumer.

That used to be true and, yes, in some quarters of "Green Design, " it still is. However, I have found that there are common elements that, if mentioned correctly, everybody can get behind from a Green standpoint.

So, what are the basic elements of some solid Green Living Design that most can see using in their lives? I will touch on four that if you are remodeling or building, can be done in that part of the design; Heating/Air units, HVAC, Wall design, Insulation elements and, finally, Door and Window design elements.

There has been an emergence of systems that use a "Forced Air" feature known as radiant space heaters. Many builders like the aspect of forced heating in that it eliminates a huge chunk of the duct work that must be used in a home design. Some builders, and many fire departments, like the aspect of a lower amount of duct work as it sometimes can aid in the spread of fires in a home.

Wall design has become something of interest, as of late, with the rising cost in energy prices. A lot of builders are liking the idea of walls that are a bit thicker in an exterior build. Many are looking at 12-inch-thick exterior walls with a high R value, which is the rating given a substance's thermal resistance. That gives you better energy values, and combined with better Green materials that go inside the walls, this could save a homeowner substantial money in overall energy cost.

Insulation elements continue to increase in the "Green" factor with some great cellulose insulation options available to consumers. Some of these ratings are as high as R-60, in some cases, and can greatly reduce the cost of running your home when it comes to energy.

Finally, doors and windows. This category is the one that seems to get the lease resistance from homeowners looking at new design elements. It seems that the industry has really taken the lead in this category by just explaining to the consumer, in terms that make total sense, that these design features can and will save them money. It seems that most homeowners have had a face-to-face confrontation with the dastardly windows and doors in their homes and immediately "Get it" when it comes to dealing with them. Still, some of the better energy saving features come at a price and can make many a home owner grimace when handed the bill.

So, there you are. Four design elements that are loaded with "Green Value," as I like to call it. Excellent ways to be a little more conscious about the environment in any Interior Design elements that you are considering and will help you move towards that ever elusive Green Living Design.

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Adobe Home - Living Green in Adobe Style

2009-02-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

Green Living in Adobe House - The Benefits of Living in a Green Adobe House

By Julian Lange

On a visit to Tucson in 2003, an old high school friend of mine, Daniel Snyder of Westwind Solar Electric, introduced me to the designer and builder Tom Wuelpern. As the award winning owner of Rammed Earth Development, Wuelpern has built many an adobe house in the Tucson area.

Wuelpern lives and works in the Barrio Santa Rosa district of central Tucson and the 800 block of Meyer Avenue has been a principle focus of his creativity. Here he's built homes that complement the vintage adobes of that historic district. When he first arrived there wasn't a single house left on that stretch of Meyer Avenue so Wuelpern had to live out of a trailer while building his first home. He says the neighborhood was "a little rough" and that occasionally he'd sit out in front of the trailer "with a gun over my knees."

Things have changed since those early days when people said that Wuelpern was crazy to build in a "slum." Now the original residents share the Barrio Santa Rosa with, artists, architects, symphony musicians, and many other creative types attracted by the rustic character of the adobe house.

Adobe construction was first brought to the southwest by the early Spanish settlers who were originally introduced to it by the Moors from North Africa.

One old adobe after another crowds the Barrio's dusty avenues, many of them painted in vibrant colors which scintillate in the desert heat. The Barrio Santa Rosa really has the feel of a traditional Mexican town.

I, being a "creative type", was enchanted by all of this and when Wuelpern offered me the opportunity to have some input on the adobe house that he was about to build, I had to say "yes."

And it has been a treat to get to know the pleasures of a small Green adobe house.

The walls are 18 inches thick and the floor is poured concrete with a radiant heating system embedded in it. I chose recycled blue jeans insulation which is as effective as fiberglass for temperature but even better for sound, and more green and ecological so that it will never present any hazard to the environment or to anyone's health.

I get a snug feeling just thinking about my adobe abode.

The paint on the interior walls is uniquely appropriate because it is a non-toxic clay paint composed of earth pigments sourced from the desert landscape itself. All other interior paints are Non-VOC, so they do not pollute the interior space of the house. I am always struck by the yucky smell of toxic chemicals emanating from the paint, carpeting, and other components of newly built or remodeled conventional buildings. It's the first thing I notice and there is none of that in this Green Living, ecological, adobe house.

In addition to benefiting our health by not out gassing toxins the natural paint allows the thick adobe walls to breathe because it doesn't form an impermeable skin between the interior air and the walls. These walls can then act as a temperature and humidity reservoir for the house which stabilizes the in door climate through out the day.

Adobe is not a very efficient insulating material so an adobe house is not the best choice for regions with harsh winters but it is an excellent choice for the desert where it gets very hot during the day and can be very cold at night. This is because adobe has a good "thermal mass," which means that as the suns heat is absorbed by the exterior walls it gradually penetrates through the wall to warm the interior during the night. By the next morning the cold night air has cooled the wall contributing, in turn, to cooler interior temperatures during the day. This allows me to cut back on the air conditioning and the heating.

Since adobe is essentially an inert material, the "toxic" content of the structure is hugely reduced. This makes adobe construction, when feasible, a very attractive Green Living alternative. Adobe construction is a reasonable way to achieve sustainable living spaces appropriate for us and the environment.

This is a very comfortable Green Living and ecological adobe house. It is a beautiful residence which places no demand or burden upon its occupants; it feels neutral and enriches the spirit with its light and benevolent character.

Julian Lange blogs at and can be found at http://www.MeridianHolistic.com

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Live Green - Easy and Cheap Ways to Live Green

2009-02-21T23:00:00.000-08:00

Easy Green Living
By Travis G Turner

I know, there is so much you need to know before you can live green, right? Wrong, living green is easy and cheap(something we could all use right now). Before I get into it there are a few things you should know. First, you do not have to install a windmill or solar panels to live green (it would be cool though). Second, green can save money and time.

TURN OFF/UNPLUG

This is the hardest one in my opinion. When you leave a room turn out the lights, that's the hard part. If your like me this simple task is nearly impossible, why, I don't know. Other things that go along with this are, TV. I noticed the other day that both my TV's were on and I was using the computer and I was the only one home. Simply turning these things off when you don't need them is a big step to saving a lot of energy and money. Also just unplugging appliances that are not in use saves a lot too.

DRIVE LESS

About a month ago, we went to our neighbors to have dinner, 2 blocks down the street. I drove. When we got there my wife said "I guess we could have walked". That's what I mean when I say drive less. You could also ride your bike to work, save gas and get in shape. Another way is to limit your shopping to only a couple times a month (we do this and it saves money both in gas and in shopping). Watch TV instead of going to the movie or ride your bike to the theater. There are many ways to drive less it just depends on the person.

GREEN BAGS

You know, the ones at the grocery store. Some are actually green, the color. The ones we got cost a dollar a piece. We use them for many other things than to haul grocery's, very handy. Plus, their cool.

WATER BOTTLE

Ah yes the water bottle. There are many different kinds to suit your personality. I suggest getting 2, keep one half full in the freezer, that way you can fill it the rest of the way and it will stay cold, and one in the fridge. If you have bad water, get a water purifier. I have done the math and this is less expensive than buying bottled water. The big, main reason for the water bottle is the landfill The plastic bottles that water comes in take a long time to degrade. Before long all that will be in the landfills will be plastic water bottles. Not good.

THOUGHTS

OK, my thoughts on living green are waste not want not (my grandma has told me that many times). The way society is living these days is messy. Look at all the trash everywhere, we pollute our precess air with exhaust. We are a very wasteful bunch. Think of it this way, remember when your mom would say "keep your room clean in case somebody comes over". Well think about how the aliens look at the mess we've made.

These are just a few ways to live green. There are many other ways. You just need to find the green living that suits you best.

TRAVIS G TURNER

http://pensiveblog.com/

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Living Green - Yonkers Green Policy

2009-02-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

Living Green in Yonkers
By John Parks

In the middle of 2008 Yonkers put together its Green Policy Task Force. This task force was put together to help make Yonkers cleaner and healthier. The task force has the power to pass city policy and legislation. When the task force was put together they worked with the Code Protections team and Code Enforcement teams as well as the Board of Education and the Transportation to figure out how to make sure that they were up to speed on current laws.

Eventually the Green Policy Task Force for Yonkers will work with the schools to help put together a curriculum that helps educate students on how to live "greener" lives and be friendlier to the environment. The city of Yonkers is determined to keep up with the larger cities that are already known for their green practices (like the city of Portland, Oregon which was named the Greenest city of the year for 2007).

By now most people already know the basics: recycle soda pop cans, walk or take the bus instead of driving, but there are more creative ways to reduce reuse and recycle as well! Here are some hints to help you get started:

1. Instead of buying brand name spices, buy some small containers and use them for the spices that you can purchase in bulk. Some stores in Yonkers are starting to offer spices and other things like flour, sugar, pastas, oatmeal, etc. in bulk. Buying these foods helps to reduce the amount of packaging you throw away.

2. Use Tupperware containers instead of plastic bags to transport sandwiches and store leftovers. The Tupperware is recyclable and you can wash it out between uses. This will reduce the amount of trash that you produce by quite a lot!

3. Figure out how to reuse things like soup cans, cardboard boxes, etc-the things you would normally throw away. Cans make great pencil jars. Cardboard boxes can be broken down and used for padding or patching of things.

4. Rather than purchase expensive home cleaners use home made cleaners-vinegar is a fantastic cleaner.

5. Instead of using sponges use washcloths that you make from old clothes. The washcloths can be washed and it will keep you from throwing out your sponges and old clothes. This saves quite a lot of space in Yonkers' landfills and town dumps.

6. Invest in some canvas bags and reusable bags to go shopping with. These bags last a long time and will cut down on the number of plastic shopping bags that you take home from the grocery store and other stores around Yonkers.

One of the best things about living a "green" lifestyle is that it can save Yonkers' residents quite a lot of money. Reusing products means that you do not have to replace them with new products. Recycling things cuts down on the amount of space needed for Yonkers' landfills and dumps. Living green is beneficial for everyone.

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