Green Building Materials from Transmaterial

The New York Times turned us onto Transmaterial, which is a green building website that focuses on innovative materials and green alternatives to traditional materials.

  July 14, 2008 | Comments ()

Vertical Grain Wood Flooring

This houseblogger is going through the process of using salvaged flooring for their back porch. They will be using vertical grain fir tongue and groove flooring, like the original floor.

  June 25, 2008 | Comments ()

Don't Dump--Donate!

Photo: courtesy of Habitat for Humanity-Kansas City

As you begin a one-room or whole-house renovation, the thought of disposing of the excess of old furniture and building materials can be daunting. Yet there are options for smart disposal, and as a bonus, they're environmentally friendly! As seen in the latest issue of this magazine, The ReStore offers services like pickups and salvage, and also stocks secondhand building supplies and housewares in order to decrease landfill waste.

  May 7, 2008 | Comments ()

Unbuild for an Eco-friendly Teardown Solution

This article from the Wall Street Journal offers the pros and cons of an "unbuild" instead of teardown. It's still cheaper to demo everything and throw it away but much more satisfying to reuse old brick for a retaining wall or find uses for tile and stone in your new home.

  April 30, 2008 | Comments ()

Drainage Solution: Pervious Concrete

The New York Times Green Issue highlighted Chicago's use of pervious concrete in an ongoing project called Green Alley's which is a renovation of the pavement in the cities alley space from impervious concrete to permeable concrete that is also high albedo.

  April 21, 2008 | Comments ()

Bamboo: Planet-Friendly Hardwood Floors

If you've just got have hardwood floors but are battling with the eco-friendliness of the decision, we may have an answer for you: bamboo floors. Although the product involves cutting down grass, which is what bamboo really is, it is seen as planet friendly because it only takes up to six years to mature in comparison to 100 plus years for traditional hardwood flooring material.

  March 31, 2008 | Comments ()

Dirt Houses aren't Always Dirt Cheap

Some progressive homeowners have installed dirt floors but here's an interesting article that takes natural building a step further and is all about about earthen construction and the movement towards building with dirt and non-toxic materials.

  March 17, 2008 | Comments ()

Benefits to Living Green during Tax Season

As tax deadlines approach, don't get cheated out of breaks you're entitled to for using energy efficient appliances in or outside your home. DSIREUSA.org is a resource, updated daily or as needed, that outlines state by state what incentives are out there for "green" families. Federal regulations are also available.

  March 11, 2008 | Comments ()

Straw Sticks and Bricks

photo courtesy of Straw Sticks and Bricks

After a frustrating search throughout the Midwest for construction materials needed for a straw bale home, Jen Carlson and Josh Shear founded Straw Sticks and Bricks in 2001. With show rooms in Omaha and Kansas City and nationwide delivery, the eco-friendly supplier has become a regional favorite.

  February 25, 2008 | Comments (2)

Seeing Green

What better way to pass a dreary winter weekend than with the March issue of Domino, which is bursting with tips and tricks for the home as part of the annual green issue. Environmentally friendly highlights include:

*The green list, a comprehensive product guide for each room of your home plus energy-saving suggestions, such as a reminder to unplug appliances when they're not in use.
*An interview with Silda Wall Spitzer, wife of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who has gained notoriety for her green transformation of the Victorian executive mansion. Her favorites include fluorescent light bulbs and Ecover cleaning products.
*Advice on hardscaping from garden designer Judy Kameon.
*Pointers from style director Dara Caponigro on what architectural features create an established, historic feel in a newer home. She points to proportion and square footage as the two biggest construction differences from past to present, and also suggests laying down wide-plank floorboards stained in a medium to dark hue to create a sense of authenticity.

  February 20, 2008 | Comments ()