Green Neck Blog

Win a Green Home Audit!

2011-09-06T19:54:00.001-04:00

September 18 is this year's date for "Bids, Boots & Barbecue," a benefit event for the Northern Neck Land Conservancy at Menokin historical site in Warsaw, VA.

This year, we have donated a Green Home Audit for the auction.

Help to preserve our local heritage through the silent auction, live music from local musicians, enjoying over 40 exhibiter booths, and lots of locally grown food.

For more information, see The Northern Neck Land Conservancy website.

GREEN LIVING CLASS

2011-02-16T09:58:00.004-05:00

Want to learn how to live a greener life?

Come to my class the first three Wednesdays in March.

Rappahannock Institute of Lifelong Learning:
#101: Greening Your Life
Instructor: Elizabeth Gruben
March 2, 9, and 16 (Wednesdays); 1-3 p.m.
Menokin’s King Visitors Center, Warsaw

Week One will include an overview of environmental issues of our area and then a room by room discussion of what we can do to help make our personal and planetary environment healthier.

Week Two will address building, renovation, and restoration of our homes from site planning to limiting construction waste, to innovative materials, and operations.

Week Three will be a day of looking at some of the money/energy saving goodies from electric cars coming our this year, to power-miser gadgets, wrapping up the course with trusted resources for further study.

Registration: As class size may be limited, early registration is strongly advised. To register and pay by check, please contact RCC College Advancement Administrative Specialist Sharon Drotleff at: (804) 333-6707 (toll-free at 1-877-RCC-3679) or by email: adrotleff@rappahannock.edu, and request that a brochure be mailed to you.

The tuition fee must accompany the filled-out form and checks should be made payable to RCC/EFI. You may register and pay by phone with either Visa or MasterCard. Tuition is $35/course and is not tax-deductible. No tuition refunds will be made should a participant decide to cancel. Separate charitable gifts to the Foundation, designated for RILL, will help to defray RILL program costs. These gifts are tax-deductible. (www.rappahannock.edu/foundation)

See you there!!

More on Solar Project

2010-11-20T13:57:00.001-05:00

Well, it's been over six months and so far we have generated over a megawatt more than we have used with only 25 panels. We'll see if the cloudy cold days of winter use that up or not.

So far, we have found several ways to regain our investment. First of all, we have been approved for our grant for stimulus money through the State (Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy) for over $10,000. Our initial cost was $30,000, so another nearly $10,000 tax credit (which we will use) is coming on this year's taxes. The rest wil be recuperated from selling the excess power to Northern Neck Coop and selling SRECs.

SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) are credits that anyone who generates solar power can sell to a broker that in turn sells them to utility companies so that they can meet the mandatory percentage of either generating solar power themselves, or subsidizing those who generate (i.e. homeowners like us). For more information on SRECs, see: SREC TRADE. Payment is based on megawatts produced each quarter. We have produced over 4 megawatts in 6 months.

But the best part of all is NO electric bill other than the $20 per month to basically "rent" the net meter. Boy, is it fun watching that thing roll backwards.

WE ARE FINALLY SOLAR!!

2010-04-30T22:55:00.000-04:00

Today, only a week after the final installation of the panels, new circuits, and inspection by Northern Neck Electric Cooperative (NNEC), the net meter was installed--taking less than a minute to do. I flipped the two circuits and we are officially running our meter backwards.

As it happens we also got our monthly accounting of power usage for the past month through yesterday from NNEC. So our next monthly report will be a complete month of solar power. NNEC sends me email every day telling me the usage of the previous day. I get one with an hourly graphic (gandt chart) and then the total for the day. We have been bouncing between 11kWh and 17kWh per day. This, by the way, is about one fourth of the consumption of our part time condo (per square foot), which is insulated on 5 sides by other condos.

Pictures to follow as soon as I can get them out of my camera.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!! (& Solar Project Update)

2010-04-22T09:53:00.015-04:00

Max and crew showed up Tuesday with all that was needed to step into action after a long trek through morning traffic from Hampton to Kilmarnock. Clearly, these guys have done this many times before. They immediately set up a table and started lining up materials, tools and equipment while scoping out the roof. Others were busily assembling clamps and brackets while installers donned their safety harnesses. Regina, Max's wife and one who designed the layout of the system, had her CAD drawings ready for all to reference during the installation.

The combination of the steep saltbox roof and the grainy pollen did NOT help in keeping a sure foot, but the crew improvised by taking off their shoes and literally grabbing on with the balls of their feet, which were raw by the end of the day.

Keeping their footing

They persevered. Once the first clips were in place and the critical panels were installed, a rhythm kicked in and they were rollin'.

The first day showed tremendous progress. We took a break mid-day and all enjoyed the cool breezes on the screen porch, while the crew broke out their cooler with a small feast for a hot and hungry bunch of guys. Then back to work until it got too hot and almost too late to beat the traffic back to Hampton.

Day two, we were not so lucky with the weather and after a few more panels were installed, the rain hit and the guys were slipping all over the place.

They had lunch in town at the Mexican place and headed back to Hampton while it poured the rest of the afternoon.

They'll be back Friday morning in time to complete the project, hook up to the two circuits and be ready for Scott from Northern Neck Electric Coop to inspect and put in the order for the net meter installation. Scott says next week we will be ready to go.

So my task today was to hook up the EnPhase Energy's "Envoy Communications Gateway" to the network and register it online.	Done...
and done. [For larger view, click on image.]

Tune in next week for the next installment. We're headed to a wedding this weekend so I will get some images, but no time to post until Monday or so...

Update to Going Solar

2010-03-31T17:05:00.002-04:00

All is in place and the installation will begin next Monday, April 5. Watch this space for pictures and more info.

FINALLY GOING SOLAR!

2010-03-29T18:40:00.025-04:00

We have finally found a vendor willing to come to the Northern Neck to supply and install Sharp solar panels on the garage roof that was initially designed to accommodate solar panels.

Max Buzard of Royer Technical Systems in Hampton, VA will implement the project. We wanted Sharp cells, not only for their superior reliability and lack of loss, but for their environmentally responsible manufacturing processes. We have also discussed wind turbines with Max, but we have still found wind power to be more expensive per wattage than solar. Also Solar is less intrusive to the surrounding homes. This is a good time to install solar and wind power systems because of the 30% Federal tax credit. To see more on this program, see the website explaining it all. In Virginia, there was also a generous state rebate paid out from the stimulus money, but they had so many requests, that program is now closed.

The process has been interesting so far. Aside form the usual permitting process, we had to do a couple of things that are typical for all projects. There is an Interconnectivity Form that is obtained from and returned to your power company before they will come and inspect your "renewable" energy system (wind or solar). Max got the forms and filled in the technical information before sending to me to sign and send back to Northern Neck Electric Cooperative (our power company). All can be handled via email and PDFs if you are too busy and also want to save time. Once you have cleared that final [safety] inspection, they install a meter that is cable of running backwards on the days that you create more energy than you can use. In Virginia and many other states, the power suppliers are required to buy back excess power from its customers at the same rate that they charge them.

Our initial system consists of twenty Photo Voltaic (PV) panels giving us an estimated output of 4.7 kilowatts. Each panel has its own transformer so that if one goes out, it doesn't bring the entire system down if one panel needs to be serviced. In the design, we have to make sure that there was space on the roof around the panels so that someone could walk around the panels to service them. These panels are predicted to provide 4.7 kilowatts, which will cover approximately 3/4 of our needs. Once the system has run for a few months, we'll add panels so that we will always be using less than we generate. The house is so efficient by using EnergyStar appliances and low wattage lighting (CFLs and LEDs) that we already are using 1/4th as many kilowatt hours (kWh) per square foot as our tiny condo in McLean.

Most electric bills will give you the past year's worth of monthly kWh usage. You can take that information to calculate your usage per square foot. This will help your vendor calculate how much renewable energy you would require before you would be selling it back to the power company.

We used to think the greenest homes would be completely off the grid. Now that net-metering is available, being on the grid and actually sharing your excess energy is even more environmentally responsible. If everyone would generate their maximum solar and wind capabilities, and conserve by using low energy demand devices, we could at the stop building more power plants. If everyone just conserved energy to the extend possible, we would eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.

When they come to install the system, I'll post images here. In the meantime, you can read more about net-metering here.

We used to think the greenest homes would be completely off the grid. Now that net-metering is available, being on the grid and actually sharing your excess energy is even more environmentally responsible. If everyone would generate their maximum solar and wind capabilities, and conserve by using low energy demand devices, we could at the stop building more power plants. If everyone just conserved energy to the extend possible, we would eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.

When they come to install the system, I'll post images here. In the meantime, you can read more about net-metering

WAYS TO CONSERVE ENERGY:
o - Unplug appliances when not in use
o - Once a device is charged, unplug the charger
o - Use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or LEDs
o - Buy only EnergyStar appliances and devices
o - Use reflective or blackout shades on windows facing South in hot weather.
o - Dimmer switches on your incandescent and halogen lights

A (long) note on "GREENWASHING"

2009-10-27T08:45:00.031-04:00

I just have to stop here and say something about the new "green" and "eco-whatever" movement that is really annoying those of us that know better. Much like the "Lite" craze with foods before it FINALLY was legally defined, green terminology is taking over the market place. In many cases, it means NOTHING. Like the Lite version of the sugar-coated pork rinds--they are only "lite" as compared to the high-calorie version of the same product.

When I saw a commercial for a gas-guzzling car with "Eco-boost turbo charge" I knew things had gotten out of hand.

While we wait for (and push for) rules about claims of earth-friendly goodies, here are my tips on ferreting out some of those green-washed (not really green) claims.

Terms that are thrown around like biodegradable and renewable are often true. But, "Green For Real" (GFR, my made up acronym) is a matter of degree.

For example, ALL trees are "renewable." Cut down a tree and plant one in its place and eventually, you'll be back where you started. RAPIDLY renewable (defined as "within 10 years" by USBGC) is GFR. The more rapid, the better. For instance, cork grows back on the cork oak tree in about 10 years. Incidentally, it does not harm the tree's ability to clean the air with its leaves. Bamboo grows back, in about 7 years, to the diameter which it was cut, to make floors, textiles, and furniture. Grasses like sisal and jute grow back even faster. In comparison, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, a fast-growing oak tree will take about 30 years from acorn to 30 feet, when it is generally cut for milling. Simply "renewable" is NOT necessarily GFR. Find out how soon the actual "renewing" happens so you know what you are buying.

Even the most biodegradable products (paper, for instance) take decades and need air, enzymes, microbes (found in dirt), and often sunlight to decompose back to the basic components from which they were derived. This is not happening in a landfill, where things are purposely packed as tight as possible to make room for ever more trash. There are some things, are preferably not allowed to biodegrade because they introduce harmful chemicals or heavy metals into the environment as they break down.

"Compostable" means that the material is rapidly decomposing vegetable matter that can then be used as a great mulch or fertilizer and truly sent back to the Earth's "cradle." As with biodegradable materials, composting needs to be deliberately attended to in order for the process to take place. A "Compostable" label doesn't matter if it's not deliberately composted. Usually, throwing it in your own compost pile is not enough.

Plastic made from corn starch (PLA) seems like a great idea. It turns out that the only good thing about them is that they do not directly leach nasty chemicals into the environment. They are labeled "compostable." However, they are ONLY compostable in an industrial facility that can cook them to over 140 degrees for 10 consecutive days with industrial strength enzymes. (See Smithsonian's article on PLA) There are about 30 such facilities in the entire country and they won't accept "residential" waste. The industry claims that products made from PLA turn into carbon dioxide and water in 90 days. Hmmm. How drinkable is the water, and do we really need MORE carbon dioxide? There has been a PLA "compostable" plate in my compost barrel for about a year now. It remains completely unchanged.

Perhaps President Obama's push for green jobs will lead to more industrial composting facilities run by municipalities to employ more people. In the meantime, changing the composition of our trash in a throw away culture is not the answer. PLA can't be recycled with "regular" recyclable plastic as they will not combine. There is already an ethanol controversy where we are using 12% of the world's corn to create non-food products. Now, PLA is further depleting animal feed made from corn. Do we REALLY need plastic plates worse than the starving people of the world need food?

Plastic made from petroleum (PET) is neither compostable nor is it biodegradable. For that matter, neither is glass. The difference is that plastic leaches toxic chemicals into the environment as it sits waiting to be washed to sea. Much of it, in fact ends up in the middle of our oceans in ever growing islands of toxic slime, where occasionally huge goopy chunks break off and wash back onto the shores, killing everything in their path. Yummy. Try googling "ocean trash big as Texas" and see what you find. I now think carefully, and at least feel adequately guilty, before buying anything with plastic--let alone tossing it back out in to the "vortex."

Our trash, no matter how it's labeled, will NOT simply disintegrate magically into nothingness as we like to imagine. There is no "away" in which to throw this stuff.

Seems like we can't win? It's truly not hopeless, people. We just have to keep the three R's in mind: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Reduce: Use less stuff in the first place. Think if you really need that [whatever] before you buy. When you do buy, get products with reduced packaging.

Reuse: Whenever possible, buy in bulk and reuse the container. I do this with cat litter and we save about 250 pounds of plastic from needing to be manufactured, disposed of, or even recycled. Bringing your own bag to the grocery store is common these days, as is bringing your own coffee cup for refills.

Recycle: This is the last resort as compared to reducing and reusing materials. On the other hand, it is a necessary evil for fossil-fuel items made from plastic. We need to keep them from polluting the environment directly. In addition, the day will come when the raw materials to create petroleum-based plastics will have been depleted. If we keep them in a closed loop and out of the environment, we can then focus on making the process healthy by using solar and wind power while cleaning the water for the product life cycle.

The point is to not take these idioms at face value. Dig a little deeper and find out EXACTLY what they mean. Question the words used and look at who is using them. Look for carefully worded "pledges" in the sustainability section of the manufacturer's website. A pledge to do something awesome in the future doesn't mean anything if they are continuing with bad practices now.

It stands to reason that the same material used to make the liner for the landfill (polyurethane), is probably NOT biodegradable within any time soon.

October Open House

2009-09-30T11:01:00.003-04:00

We are opening our house once again to help our friends and neighbors know more about green building and for those who would like to pass along their knowledge and experience in this evolving field.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, from 2pm to 6pm

Please come and see how living green can make your life easier and more economical.

We have been here over a year now and can also share lessons learned on some of the new techniques that were implemented on this project–mostly good.

For directions, see the house website.

For more information, contact Elizabeth (Bette) Gruben.

Hope to see you there.

Greening Your Bedroom

2009-07-14T13:58:00.011-04:00

Now we move on to the room that most people don't think of as necessarily green. But there are particular reasons eco-friendliness is especially important in the room where we spend our most vulnerable time. The key is to keep products with pesticides and chemicals out of the room and look for micro-constructed natural fibers too keep the global and local environments safe and healthy.

Working from the floor up, the FLOORING should be a surface that does not harbor allergens but still be comfortable to bare feet. We use natural eco-cork in all the upstairs bedrooms and vintage wool carpets on the concrete first floor rooms. Bamboo and FSC-certified wood flooring are other options Ive had great experiences with in other homes. Wool and silk natural carpets are also anti-microbial as well as durable and will soften your step out of bed on a chilly morn. If you want a just a small soft rug on the hard surface, get something that you can throw in the washer now and then for air quality's sake. Look for products that do not use bleach or other chemicals--they are usually even softer. There are bamboo fiber and organic cotton options as well for bedside rugs, if you want to go even greener.

The FURNITURE can be reused antiques or interesting vintage used pieces--depending on your style. If you get new furniture, certified wood or renewable materials are the way to go. We have a beautiful bamboo bed from Platform Beds Online. They also have nightstands and other affordable bedroom furnishings. Bamboo is rapidly renewable in that it can be replenished quickly.

MATTRESSES made from natural rubber are the most hypo-allergenic and comfortable options available. My favorite source for all our cushions and mattresses is FoamOrder.com. Check their clearance section before ordering something from scratch. They are reasonable and VERY healthy.

The linens and other SOFT GOODS are yet another couple of places where I can push the bamboo thing. We have robes that you would swear were made from silk terry but they are just silky bamboo from certified products. With no bleaches or chemicals, they are a nice natural ecru color. Towels also are silky, but very absorbent. The the anti-microbial, fungicide, and pesticide properties of the bamboo's "Kunh" does not allow bacteria to grow, keeping mildew and other allergens, as well as dust mites and bed bugs from harboring in the textiles. The sheets we use are an organic cotton and bamboo blend, colored with soy dyes. They are very soft and durable. AND we got them at Target. Now Target also has rayon [made from bamboo] and cotton jersey as well.

We found that we sleep longer and deeper than ever in this green and healthy haven.

Greening Your Bathroom

2009-05-05T14:56:00.008-04:00

The bathroom is a room where you can make a major difference in saving water. A 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) toilet flushed 3 times a day uses 1752 gallons a year. That's pretty good. But, by using a WaterSense™ toilet that uses less than 1 gpf, you will use 700 gallons less a year--just with one toilet, used by one person. If you add a water saving shower and lavatory faucet, a household of 4 can save as much as 20,000 gallons a year.

Our planet has a finite amount of water. Diminishing drinkable water is a larger worldwide crisis than the increase of carbon in the atmosphere. In other words, if we keep going the way we have been, we will run out of drinkable water before we run out of breathable air. When we pollute the water in our own back yard, we pollute the entire system. When we wash our car with harmful chemicals and phosphates, the water runs straight into our valuable waterways, unfiltered. Water treatment plants can't possibly keep up (and don't) and are non-existent in many highly populated places. We need to think of this when we flush things down the toilet or wash them down the drain. Think about all that nastiness going into the sippycup of your favorite little cutie-pie.

Not only can we save water, we can keep the embedded energy (the total energy it takes to create something&em;including transportation) down by re-using and recycling materials. Some good examples are used fixtures, recycled glass tiles, etc. We bought used tubs from an architectural salvage (Caravatti's) On the first floor, we used the concrete of the existing floor and made concrete vanity tops. On the second floor, we used linoleum--NOT VINYL--flooring. It lasts longer and comes in amazing colors.

By now, most people know now that lighting is a place where we can truly cut down on energy use. Many fixtures will accommodate Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), although we found one of our salvaged sets of lights kept burning out CFLs. So we placed a timer switch, which is a great way to make sure that lights are not left on when no one is in the room.

The air quality in bathrooms can be a big issue. Humidity can do damage in the form of mold/mildew and can interfere with the comfort of the rest of the spaces--especially in the summer. So ventilation is not a place to scrimp. We installed exhaust fans in our baths that have moisture sensors and automatically turn on when the humidity gets too high. Once it goes back down to normal levels, the fan turns off. It can be turned on manually as well. Try to have a window in each bath to let in fresh air when weather permits.

Supplying the bathroom is also a place for greening. We use 100% recycled paper products as well as chemical free soaps, shampoos, and cleaning products. Vinegar cleans the glass, disinfects, and is cheap. We have also discovered that bamboo makes wonderfully soft, absorbent, and long lasting towels. If you can't find affordable bamboo linens, organic cotton is the next best thing. Make sure that the textile plant that processes the terry doesn't pollute the water and use excessive energy. Preserve shavers and toothbrushes are made from 100% recycled materials and are fully recyclable for a cradle-to-cradle process. Cork bath mats are very comfy and eco-friendly too. Google "eco-friendly bathroom" and get all sorts of ideas. A great place to start is Galam.

Once a bathroom is "greened," we have to remember to keep it that way. Keep your low-flush toilet in top working order by periodic adjusting according to manufacturer's directions. Make sure that you (and your guests) do not brush teeth with the water running. On demand water heaters (I'll post more details when discussing mechanical systems) are one way to lower wasting water while running to get to the right shower temp. When filling the tub, start with hot full on and no cold to get to the right temp sooner without having to mix hot and cold later. And finally, another way to save energy, water, and money, is to use towels more than once before sending them to the laundry. And, of course, use phosphate-free, chlorine-free laundry products.

Oh, and don't forget to recycle all the plastic and cardboard--including the toilet paper roll and packaging of toiletries and medications. Try to get those products with as little packaging as possible. Even recycling takes energy.

Green Your Home Room By Room: Kitchen

2009-03-30T21:01:00.012-04:00

I am starting a new series of how to design your spaces in an eco-friendly way.

This installment is the kitchen. I wanted to start where you can implement some (or all) of these ideas whether you are building new, remodeling, or even just want to green the way you live.

Let's start with appliances. Energy Star™-rated appliances save energy and money and are usually comparably priced to non-Energy Star™-rated items. There are a variety of brands of refrigerators, dishwashers, and trash compactors, and so on the Energy Star™ database. We have GE Monogram--VERY COOL. Convection and microwave ovens are not Energy Star, but save energy in that they cook faster and use less

You will notice that there are NO Energy Star garbage disposals. This brings me to the next green kitchen thing you can do. Composting. Anyone can compost. AnyTHING (except meat & dairy) can be composted. NO need for a garbage disposal--it just adds garbage to the water supply. It's a little more work, but after a while, it becomes routine. If you want to get really elaborate, you can introduce red worms to speed up the process. But make sure you get all the info before you take that one on. We're still figuring it out.

Of course, the food you stock will also have an impact on the planet. Buying organic is not only good for you and those for whom to cook. It's also saving the atmosphere and waterways from deadly pesticides. Buying local keeps pollution and fuel consumption down as well. You are also helping local farmers who care about the environment. AND it tastes better. AND you won't have harmful chemicals in your compost. On the Neck, you can join the local farmers "Community Supported Agriculture" (CSA) through Olin Fox Farms. We pick up our share every other Wednesday at the Health Food Store in Kilmarnock--YUM!

Of course, green building materials suitable for kitchen floors are cork, linoleum, or woods from managed forests. Bamboo doesn't doesn't do as well in wet areas, so I would not recommend it. ALSO, if your Northern Neck home is on the water, bamboo might expand and contract too much to be practical in our humid climate for any room.

Cabinets, etc. should have low emissions in the glues and finishes as well as be from either reclaimed wood, or managed forest woods. An interesting option is wood made from fallen palm trees. Interesting, super-hard but still a bit pricey.

Low VOC (volatile organic compound) finishes should also be used on walls and cabinetry. We use Aura by Benjamin Moore for walls and furniture (semi-gloss). Aura seems a bit more expensive, but you don't need primer so it actually is not that much more. It's worth it to not have those fumes.

We also have concrete counter tops, which are green because we used local materials and fabricated them on site. Although granite and other stone counter top materials require little upkeep and are durable, they have to be quarried, which takes lots of energy.

We had trouble finding a cabinet maker in the area that would change their materials or their methods, so we bought cabinets from Green Tea Design, which are from reclaimed ginkgo wood, but came all the way from Korea, so not so green. We have since found a local carpenter who works with FSC-certified woods and urea formaldehyde-free plywood. He is also great about re-using scraps to keep waste down (also a green thing. He did our breakfast nook to match the cabinets as well as other more complex and gorgeous built-ins throughout the house.

Other green things? Lot's of plants help purify the air according to a study from NASA and cleaning products should NEVER contain chlorine or phosphates. We use baking soda, Borax, and plain (cheap) white vinegar for nearly everything. We do get our dishwasher soap from Ecover. Only use paper towels if you HAVE to and then use those made from recycled paper like those made by Seventh Generation.

For more information and yet even more ways to green your kitchen, give us a call at the studio: 804-435-5334

Next Time: Greening Your Bathroom

Greening Your Home

2009-01-13T20:36:00.008-05:00

Today, I spoke to the Hunting Creek Garden Club in
Alexandria. What an enthusiastic and responsive group! It's so great
to see so many people interested in taking part in the green movement
and willing to start with their own homes and the way they live their
lives.

Some of them have second homes on the Northern Neck and/or spend time
there and agree with me that it's one of the most beautiful places on
Earth.

The presentation was based on what we did at the Gruben Residence on
Dividing Creek and how one might use some of the ideas we tried out in
their own projects.

Here is a web version of the slides.

Featured Product: Icynene Spray Insulation

How Green is Your Home?

2009-01-10T22:52:00.001-05:00

You may already know that buildings are the biggest offenders to the problems with climate change and pollution as well as being the largest consumers of energy.

Single-family homes are the worst by far.

We can each do our part in making sure that our homes are as efficient as possible. In doing so, saving money and the planet at the same time.

Keep "tuning in" to this blog and find out how you can do your part in conserving energy and water and save a few dollars at the same time.

Here are a few things to look into: Try googling on "rain water collection," "composting," and "low-flow toilets" for starters.