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Ideabox Now Offers a Tiny House Minibox

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 12:30

Oregon-based Ideabox has been on the prefab scene doing their thing in the Pacific Northwest for a long time now. I’ve mentioned several of their homes and look forward to sharing a few newsworthy articles here in the next couple months. As a preview, I thought I’d share a new design of the company — the Minibox. It’s a 200 square-foot tiny house with a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom/living area. It’ll have IKEA cabinets and fixtures, energy-efficient appliances, and Energy Star windows. More soon …

[+] Visit Ideabox for Hip Green MiniBox prefabs.

Credits: Ideabox.

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Xero Flor Green Roofs Get Cradle to Cradle

Fri, 02/03/2012 - 06:53

Xero Flor is a lightweight green roof and system originally developed in Germany. A version was first supplied to Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant by Xero Flor America LLC, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor here in the states, and now the company’s announcing Cradle to Cradle Silver for the technology.

The company’s pre-vegetated green roof mats install above a custom base for a green roof that’s “naturally resistant to weed encroachment, wind uplift, and surface erosion,” according to Xero Flor America.

The mats are supplied by regional farms and used with recycled-content products to help purchasers reap LEED credits if desired.

Xero Flor has been used in private homes across the country, including in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Utah, and Washington, to name a few locations.

[+] More about lightweight Xero Flor green roofs.

Credits: Xero Flor America LLC.

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Rubble Floor: Materials You Can Reuse

Thu, 02/02/2012 - 07:43

I’m fascinated by the work of Netherlands-based Dave Hakkens in a recent project called “Rubble Floor.” Interested in reusing old building materials as new building materials — and inspired by terrazzo floors — Hakkens conducted several tests on materials such as roof tiles, bricks, nails and screws, and glass. He used concrete as the binder and crushed old materials into pigments and fillers. In the end, Hakkens found it’s entirely possible to make new materials with the old.

[+] More about Rubble Floor by Dave Hakkens.

Credits: Dave Hakkens.

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Traditional Style NZE Homes in Maryland

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 12:30

Traditional home styles plus a net-zero building standard is a winning combination in the Homes at North Pointe development in Frederick, Maryland.

North Pointe was a dormant development whose design pattern was set when developer NEXUS EnergyHomes, Inc., adopted the project. Nexus took the existing set of plans for the project adjacent to Frederick’s historic district and proceeded to “energize” them, according to Mike Murphy, president of Nexus’ construction division, in order to achieve NAHB’s Emerald certification and reach the net-zero goal.

One benefit of geothermal heat pumps is that no noisy a/c compressors disrupt your backyard conversations.

The result is bringing buyers to the 54-home community despite the slow housing market. Two homes are completed, six are nearing completion, and 17 more lots are under contract waiting to break ground. At this pace, Murphy expects to be sold-out in the 4th quarter of 2012.

Murphy is not surprised by the demand considering the homes are being sold at comparable prices to code-built new construction homes in the area. A 2,750 square-foot home in the community recently sold at $335,000, or about $121 per square foot (see current listings at North Pointe).

He said, “Our homes are selling at about a 7-8% premium over homes in the area, but this is more than made up [in the buyer’s mind] by the lack of utility bills, the available tax credits, very clean indoor air, and other intangibles.”

Strategies for reaching net-zero and Emerald certification at North Pointe include ground source geothermal heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, SIPs walls supplemented by spray foam insulation, and super-tight air sealing. A whole-house monitoring system, called NexusVision™, tracks energy production and consumption, and can show this information to the homeowner via the web or smartphone and tablet applications.

While Nexus EnergyHomes only started building homes in 2011, for three years the company had been working with the Research Center at the National Association of Homes Builders to refine its strategy and process. And that effort is paying off.

Murphy said, “Of the approximately 70 NAHB Emerald Homes nationwide, three currently are in Maryland. When this project is completed, all 59 homes at North Pointe will be certified.”

“It’ll be the Emerald City,” he said.

Building on the early signs of success at North Pointe, Nexus EnergyHomes has several projects launching in 2012. These developments in western Maryland and South Carolina and a custom townhome project in Philadelphia. The company also plans to build custom homes for clients with their own land.

Contemporary interior styling complements the traditional exterior designs.

[+] More about these net-zero energy Homes at North Pointe.

Credits: Nexus EnergyHomes.

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January Month in Review [Outline]

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 06:58

Here’s an outline of our coverage from January. In terms of our new articles, the most shared one on Facebook was about liquid-cooling LEDs by Switch Lighting, while the most shared one on Twitter was a green product interview with architect Michelle Kaufmann. As always, we’re interested in learning about inventive green homes and new green products around the USA. If you have news for JetsonGreen.com, send us a tip.

Innovative Prefab and Home Projects:

Technology & Products Innovation:

Know-How & Other Green News:

Happy New Year, It’s 2012! [2011 Roundup]
Ten Green Building Trends for 2012 [Earth Advantage]
Five Green Home Trends for 2012 [Buildipedia]
Interview: What’s the One Green Product …
The Environmental Value of Building Reuse
Solar Decathlon Takes Talents to Orange County
Book: Sustainability in America’s Cities
Book: Urban Ecological Design
Week in Review Archives

My Water-Wise Bathroom Redo on HouseLogic:

Also, subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates, article summaries, newsworthy links, and other site news.

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Urban Ecological Design [Giveaway]

Tue, 01/31/2012 - 16:55

*Leave a comment below through the end of Thursday, February 2, 2012, to be considered for a random giveaway of one copy of Urban Ecological Design.

The second book that I want to share with you is Urban Ecological Design: A Process for Regenerative Places, which is authored by Danilo Palazzo and Frederick Steiner. The book, published in December 2011, was sent to us by Island Press and documents the authors’ Not Only One Solution Process, or Noos, for transforming urban spaces in a sustainable manner.

Noos has ten phases — processes, prerequisites, knowledge, synthesis, options, dialogues, master plan, presentation, details, and implementation — that are explained in detail with illustrations in separate chapters.

This is an interdisciplinary resource for city planners, architects, engineers, and landscape architects, etc. If you’re interested in learning more about the design of regenerative places, check out Urban Ecological Design.

[+] Purchase Urban Ecological Design on Amazon.

*To participate in this giveaway contest, leave a comment here by midnight MST on Thursday, February 2, 2012. One comment per person; use a valid email; available only in the United States. By leaving a comment, you agree to the terms and conditions relating to giveaways on Jetson Green.

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Sustainable American Cities [Giveaway]

Tue, 01/31/2012 - 09:00

*Leave a comment below through the end of Thursday, February 2, 2012, to be considered for a random giveaway of one copy of Sustainability in America’s Cities.

In the next two articles, I want to share a couple books that I think you may find interesting. The first is Sustainability in America’s Cities: Creating the Green Metropolis, which is edited by Matthew I. Slavin. The book, published in April 2011, was sent to us by Island Press and includes a collection of case studies from cities across the country and first-hand insight into key sustainable strategies.

This is the “first book to provide empircally based, multi-disciplinary case studies of sustainability policy, planning, and practice in action,” according to a statement by Island Press.

The case studies include (1) green transportation in San Francisco, (2) green-tech energy in Honolulu, (3) sustainable stormwater solutions in Philadelphia, (4) a regional green economy in Phoenix, (5) brownfields to greenfields in Milwaukee, (6) urban forestry and carbon offsets New York City and greening the food supply in New York, (7) strategic climate planning in Portland, Oregon, and (8) LEED green building in Washington, D.C.

The resource is geared toward everyone that deals with sustainability initiatives, including policy makers, non-profit practitioners, and consultants. If you’re interested in learning more about how cities can solve the conflicts between urban development, increasing populations, and the environment, check out Sustainability in America’s Cities.

[+] Purchase Sustainability in America’s Cities on Amazon.

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My Green Bath Rehab on HouseLogic

Mon, 01/30/2012 - 15:49

I was happy to read all the comments and suggestions to my first article on HouseLogic, where I’m documenting a water-wise bathroom remodel. So you know, my next installment is live today and, as with the first article, HouseLogic is offering a chance to win another $100 with this second article. I hope you enjoy me sharing some of the process of this remodel — it’s been fun!

I just want to take a second to provide a little more detail in response to observations from kind readers.

For example, some have suggested that I take this down to the studs. The main reason I decided not to do that is because I’d like to do a full home remodel in about ten years or later based on budget. At that time, I expect to rearrange the floorplan and create a master suite using this room. Right now, we don’t really have a master bath — this bathroom serves all three rooms from the hallway.

Others recommended that we install a greywater system or use a pedestal vanity. The budget is keeping this thing in check but a greywater system would be on the agenda for the future. As for a pedestal vanity, I opted against that merely because we need someplace for storage and I didn’t want a medicine cabinet. I think readers will like the vanity that I found.

Lastly, I’ve read some say a bathroom remodel like this could be done for under $1,000. I’ll talk about this in future installments at HouseLogic but this project isn’t a $1,000-level remodel. The professional tub and tile refinish alone cost about $900 and that’s with a discount for having my other tub resurfaced at the same time. Frankly, the cost of the toilet, fixtures, mirror, vanity, sink, shelves, paint, and other miscellanea just adds up. Catch more detail here:

[+] Article 1: Water-Wise Bathroom Redo on HouseLogic.
[+] Article 2: Water-Wise Bath with a Tight Footprint (new!)

Disclosure: this water-saving bath remodel has been paid for in part by HouseLogic; however, all opinions are my own and all products have been selected on my own.

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Efficient Apartments, Hungry Homes, Benefit Corps, + Passive House in Shambles

Sun, 01/29/2012 - 06:12

Inventive micro homes.
New material scrubs CO2 from the air.
More dirt on Passive House movement: Part A, Part B.
Benefit corporations get a legal boost in California.
Energy efficiency in apartments could save $3.4 B.
Infographic: the energy-hungry home.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates, article summaries, newsworthy links, and other site news. Also, check out the latest green jobs in our list.

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Passive House Retreat in Rhode Island

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 23:55

Recently I realized that we neglected to follow up on a Passive House project discussed in pre-construction way back in March 2010. It turns out the New England Passive House, or Little Compton Retreat, received LEED Gold certification from the USGBC in recent months. The background is this is a home by ZeroEnergy Design, who performed mechanical and architecture services, and Aedi Construction, who built the home.

Located in Little Compton, the 1,200 square-foot retreat has three bedrooms, one of which is a kid’s loft, two bathrooms, a tub room, and an open kitchen, dining and living area.

The handsome, gable-roofed structure saves energy with the combination of super insulation (R40 walls, R40 slab, and R70 roof), air sealing, high-performance windows, passive solar heating, a heat recovery ventilator, and an energy monitoring system, according a profile by ZED.

Other than LEED and Energy Star certification, Passive House certification is in progress.

Little Compton was finished with a modern Poggenpohl kitchen, contemporary furniture from Addo Novo, no- and low-VOC materials, paints, and sealants, and a whole-house ventilation system.

[+] See more photos of the Little Compton Retreat at ZED.

Photo credits: Greg Premru.

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Solar Decathlon Takes Talents to the OC

Fri, 01/27/2012 - 06:58

For the Solar Decathlon enthusiasts and early planners, here’s a heads up that Solar Decathlon 2013 will be held at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California, according to the Department of Energy. In August 2011, we mentioned that the DOE was shopping around for a new location. Turns out the new location is the site of the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, which Irvine will convert into sustainable parkland for family recreation. Teams will install their homes on the paved runway.

In addition, the DOE announced the 20 teams that will participate in the solar-powered event. The list includes nine returning teams, 11 new teams, and four international teams. Here they are:

Arizona State University and The University of New Mexico (Tempe, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Czech Technical University (Prague, Czech Republic)
Hampton University and Old Dominion University (Hampton and Norfolk, Virginia)
Middlebury College (Middlebury, Vermont)
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla, Missouri)
Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont)
Queens University, Carleton University, and Algonquin College (Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California)
Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology (Los Angeles, California)
Stanford University (Palo Alto, California)
Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey)
The Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and American University (Washington, DC)
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, North Carolina)
The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College (El Paso, Texas)
University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky (Louisville, Kentucky; Muncie, Indiana; and Lexington, Kentucky)
University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada)
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, California)
Vienna University of Technology (Vienna, Austria)
West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia)

Check out our Solar Decathlon archives in the mean time.

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The Environmental Value of Building Reuse

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 13:40

It turns out that “building reuse almost always offers environmental savings over demolition and new construction,” according to a new study published by the Preservation Green Lab of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Green Lab published its findings after a life cycle analysis of environmental impacts of various buildings located in four cities around the country.

Green LAB compared building reuse and renovation with new construction in four environmental areas (climate change, human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion), six building types (single-family, multifamily, commercial office, urban village mixed-use building, elementary school, and warehouse conversion), and four cities (Portland, Phoenix, Chicago, and Atlanta).

The Green Lab found it takes anywhere from 10-80 years for a new building that is 30% more efficient than an average-performing existing building to overcome — through efficient operations — the negative climate impact of construction. The majority of buildings will take between 20-30 years to compensate for the climate impact of construction.

That being the case, a renovation that requires many new materials may reduce OR NEGATE the environmental benefits of building reuse such as in a situation where the footprint and use of the renovation remains the same. In other words, an elementary school addition or warehouse conversion to office or residential use will not provide significant environmental advantages.

The study, you may note, doesn’t compare some of the greener buildings you’re used to seeing on this site. The authors note that “further research is needed to clarify how impacts are altered if a new or existing building can be brought to a net-zero level using various technologies, including renewable energy.“ Keep in mind the standard — 30% more efficient than an average-performing existing building — isn’t all that high.

Download and read the report and then come back to share your thoughts …

[PDF] Download the full report by the Preservation Green Lab.

Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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Students Build Greenest Home in Canada

Thu, 01/26/2012 - 05:44

What’s planned for construction by students on an infill lot and aiming to meet the Living Building Challenge with LEED Platinum certification? That would be Canada’s Greenest Home in Ontario. Students enrolled in The Endeavour Centre’s Sustainable New Construction: Building a New Future program will build the 2,000 square-foot home during a five-month period this summer.

The home is expected to use a fraction of the energy of a conventional home and will have an energy-efficient foundation, prefabricated straw bale walls, grid-tied photovoltaics, solar hot water, rainwater collection, greywater recycling, composting toilets, and natural paints and finishes.

Canada’s Greenest Home will go on sale at the end of the program and proceeds will be used to help offset tuition costs. Before that, though, there’s a lot to follow — including a blog with student feedback and commentary on the build.

[+] Follow the construction progress of Canada’s Greenest Home.

Credit: The Endeavour Centre.

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Plugwise Eliminates Excess Energy Use

Wed, 01/25/2012 - 06:34

California-based kWh Power is tackling phantom energy loss by introducing the Plugwise system in the United States. Developed by Dutch company Plugwise in 2006, this system allows you to monitor, track, and control unnecessary energy use throughout your home or office.

The system consists of “Circles” which are plugged into standard wall outlets to measure load on that outlet, and a “Stick” that wirelessly relays data from the circles to your computer, where Plugwise Source, the monitoring and management software, allows you see and control usage. Data can also be uploaded to the web for remote access via laptops and smartphones.

The Plugwise system allows monitoring of energy use from a smartphone.

Plugwise Source gives you control of your energy use in three ways. First, it provides details of energy use at the appliance level. Second, it allows you to schedule background operation of appliances that do not need to be on all the time — similar to the way a programmable thermostat turns down the heating or cooling demand when you are not home. And third, it allows you to combine different circles into groups that can be made to run on different schedules.

Additional products coming soon to the Plugwise system include Sense, which can track room temperature data, and Scan, which is a retrofit solution for occupancy sensor lighting control. And for applications where monitoring and control of a hardwired device is desired, Stealth can be installed to give the same functionality as a Circle. These devices will all feed data to Plugwise Source as well.

The Plugwise portal can track plug load and energy use throughout the home or office

Plugs will be sold soon at major retailers and online at kWh Power for $50 each. The US distributor also sells a Home Start Kit for $99.95 with two Circles, a Stick, and a license for the Plugwise Source software.

Photo credits: kWh Power.

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Panasonic Intros Inventive Tankless Toilet

Tue, 01/24/2012 - 05:10

Panasonic Corp. recently announced a breakthrough tankless toilet called “Arauno V,” according to newswire AFP Relax News. This isn’t one of those toilets where the tank is hidden in the wall, rather the toilet draws water directly from the home water supply. And the bowl is engineered like a tornado to cleanly circulate waste down the drain.

Arauno V is expected to go on sale in Japan on February 21, 2012 from between ¥118,000 – ¥184,000 ($1,500 – $2,400, according to current exchange rates).

The new design is especially made for tight spaces and a version with a hand-washing sink provides the entire bathroom minus the shower. The toilet is made with an “organic glass-based material” and is expected to help users conserve water (3 liters/0.80 gallons per flush).

In case you’re wondering when something like this might make it to the USA, it’s hard to say. Panasonic will ship the tankless toilet to Japan and Taiwan and may introduce the system in other markets in about 2015, according to AFP Relax News.

[+] Watch a video in Japanese about the tankless Arauno V.

Credits: Panasonic.

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Water-Wise Bath Remodel on HouseLogic

Mon, 01/23/2012 - 06:27

As you may know, in recent years, I bought an old, existing home originally built in 1958. It’s nothing fancy and not all that updated in the main areas, such as the bathrooms and kitchen, so I’ve been working on modernizing things little by little. One bathroom was so run down that we shut the door and didn’t use it after purchase.

But all this changed recently when HouseLogic, a resource by the National Association of Realtors, agreed to partner with me and Jetson Green to renovate a bathroom.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be blogging about his water-saving bathroom remodel on HouseLogic, which is sponsoring the project. Drop by and comment on the first post to be entered to win a $100 gift card.

So you know, my goal isn’t to tear everything down. I’ll maintain the original tile and tub but the bathroom will be more energy and water-efficient — and it will look completely different. You can catch the entire process in a four-part blog series at HouseLogic. I’ll publish a reminder article here every week to let you know as updates hit the site at HouseLogic.

[+] Article 1: Water-Wise Bathroom Redo on HouseLogic.
[+] Article 2: Water-Wise Bath with a Tight Footprint (new!)

Disclosure: this water-saving bath remodel has been paid for in part by HouseLogic; however, all opinions are my own and all products have been selected on my own.

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LED Prices Drop, Green Button, Prefabulous Kit, + Passive House Status

Sun, 01/22/2012 - 06:45

Prefabulous kit house.
Pushing the Green Button initiative.
LED prices drop with power consumption.
Audits help owners save money and energy.
Passive House costs $400 per year to heat/cool.
New home attains rare Passive House status.
Bring a little green into your home.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for updates, article summaries, newsworthy links, and other site news. Also, check out the latest green jobs in our list.

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Production NZE Home Unveiled in Denver

Fri, 01/20/2012 - 07:00

New Town Builders, the company that uses beetle-killed pine for their framing, opened this net-zero energy home with an announcement yesterday. The company is the first in the area to offer a zero-energy package as a regular, additional option. In other words, if a buyer wants it, the buyer can get a home that generates as much energy as it uses over the course of a year for the right price — in this case, $26,900.

This home, located at 8146 E. 35th Ave. in Denver, achieved a zero HERS score with solar panels, super insulation, and a proprietary double-stud wall. As you can see, the wall has a half-inch gap and 24 inches between the studs to reduce thermal bridging. External walls have a thin layer of spray foam and the rest of the cavity is filled with blown-in cellulose.

During construction, New Town Builders checked the ducts for tightness to ensure that air reaches its destination with 7% or less loss. Also, the home has a high efficiency HVAC system, energy efficient windows, Energy Star appliances, 100% CFL and LED lighting, a tankless water heater, and a continuous whole house energy recovery exhaust fan.

The model home is priced at $424,000, which includes a 9.9 kW solar array. Green elements add about $100 to the mortgage cost, says New Town Builders, but the extra cost is eaten up by $200 in net savings per month due to having having no energy bill.

[+] More about this net-zero energy home in Stapleton.

Credits: New Town Builders.

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Ten Green Building Trends for 2012

Thu, 01/19/2012 - 16:42

The Earth Advantage Institute has certified more than 12,000 green homes, so it’s safe to say they know what’s going on with green building. Towards the end of 2011, the non-profit spoke with various policymakers, builders, developers, architects, brokers, appraisers, lenders, and homeowners to understand green building trends. Here are the 10 green building trends EAI says to watch for in 2012, which we’ve paraphrased below:

1. Urban Density — the younger crowd and empty nesters want access to cultural activity, mass transit, and a more sustainable lifestyle, so expect to see more construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), laneway homes, and infill homes.

2. Green Multifamily Homes — owners and operators are increasingly interested in energy efficiency savings and the multifamily sector is in a growth stage.

3. Energy Upgrades Drive Remodels — remodelers have moved into the energy audit and residential retrofit market to help bring more remodel leads and business.

4. New Material Deployment and Testing — architects and builders want to try new materials but they also want to test them to make sure the materials will last and not subject the designer or builder to litigation. National labs and university departments are the hot beds of testing.

5. Consumer-Friendly Energy Tracking — new products such as Nest or Conserve Insight have sensors for tracking energy and help customers save energy and money without a lot of work.

6. Energy eduction for tenants — new laws that require the disclosure of energy use incentivize owners to educate tenants in order to save more energy.

7. Home Marketing Transparency — buyers have access to smart devices and all sorts of data to see through greenwashing. Only honest professionals will gain buyer confidence.

8. More Accurate Appraisals — the old appraisal model is changing. Sellers and buyers can ask for a Certified Residential Green Appraiser for help in recognizing the value in green certified homes.

9. Broader Adoption of Residential Energy Ratings — energy labeling systems — like the Energy Performance Score and Home Energy Score — are rolling out across the country. These facilitate energy use comparisons and efficiency improvements.

10. Smart-Grid Compatible High-Performance Homes — appliances are becoming “grid-aware” and potentially able to be monitored and controlled remotely. Expect to see more of this since home appliances account for a majority of electricity consumption.

See also Five Green Home Trends for 2012 from Buildipedia.

Photo credit: an ADU by Hammer & Hand.

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Prefab Writer’s Studio Set in West LA

Wed, 01/18/2012 - 13:15

KitHAUS recently shared photos of a prefab writer’s studio installed in the Brentwood area of western Los Angeles. The building was made with bolt-together aluminum framing, windows and doors with low-E glazing, and SIPs that are CFC, HCFC, HFC, and formaldehyde-free. The new studio is from KitHAUS‘s standard K4 module. K4 has 187 square feet, assembles in about four days, and costs from $39,750.

[+] See more photos of this KitHAUS K4 in Brentwood.

Credits: KitHAUS.

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