An urgent need exists for general contractors working on residential or small commercial projects to rethink how they deal with construction waste. Since 2000, the LEED certification program's focus on commercial and institutional construction has resulted in major improvements in construction waste management for large projects. The industry has developed the programs, methodologies and resources for dealing with the large volumes of material. This new capacity is now trickling down and becoming available to residential scaled projects. To optimize their facility capability vendors and service providers who traditionally dealt exclusively in large volume projects now accommodate the relatively small quantities of material the residential market produces Also, local nonprofit material resource centers, municipal resource centers and on-line exchange networks all offer new options for handling unwanted construction and remodeling materials.

A Los Angeles house melds energy efficiency with streamlined style 

"There's not a stick of wood in the frame and roof of our home," says architect and homeowner Russell Johnson. His goal was to make the 1,900-square-foot design as energy efficient and spacious-feeling as possible. The result is a sort of freestanding contemporary cave: Most walls are thick, but the rear one is a thin glass membrane that opens elegantly to the garden.

The need for integrated incentives

As a small business owner my desk often appears to be a 3D model of a downtown area constructed by paper.  As I move forward with the delivery phase of my energy-effective design services, the tallest “buildings”, the skyscrapers of paper, are those built of everything that goes into securing the incentives that make my projects feasible.  This ends up as a waste of my energy and a waste of natural resources while also dampening the rapidity that will be required to make the changes we need.

Project Description

This project is an excellent example of how to turn a 1960’s tract home into a showcase for green building.  A primary design goal was to create shared intergenerational living spaces to provide support and companionship while also creating separate living spaces for privacy. This goal was met by adding only 260 square feet to the existing home creating separate quarters that include a grand room, master bedroom, and office.   Another design goal was to bring in more natural light and create a feeling of spaciousness.   To accomplish this, the remodel opened up the existing narrow entry, original master bedroom, and dining room to each other, creating a grand room with a cathedral ceiling, adding numerous operable skylights and a triple-paned window with internal shades.

The owners originally intended to renovate the existing 1960’s era home on this property.  Unfortunately, every builder they interviewed told them to tear it down.  While exploring their options, they came upon the “Sunset Breezehouse” – a modular, prefabricated design by Michelle Kaufmann Designs.  They visited a prototype unit and it was love at first site.

The Breezehouse is centered around a site-built glass-enclosed breezeway – the BreezeSpace – which “lets the green in” to the main living and dining areas, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.  Decks at the front and rear of the home further integrate nature and living.  Naturalistic landscaping, by Grace Design Associates, incorporates local and site-found materials to seamlessly blend the home to the land and the larger setting.

Project Description
This project includes the demolition of an 1887 Victorian home and the construction of two new buildings consisting of four multi-family dwelling units.  The first, and recently completed, building is a 2,520 square foot, two-story home that replaces the demolished house.  The original plan was to remodel the Victorian, however wear and tear from over 110 years of life had taken its toll on the structure and it could not be salvaged.  Framing throughout the house had rotted, and the floor sagged 7 inches from one side of the building to the other. In addition the 2x3 wall framing made the conversion to a zero energy home even more difficult. The city of Santa Barbara’s Historic Landmarks Commission agreed to a reconstruction of the historic façade with a virtually new building behind it.  The existing home was deconstructed saving what materials were still fit for service. The siding, for example, was re-milled and used on the front façade of the reconstructed home.  This new home reflects the beauty and design intent of the original house.

Beware… an invisible area of your home may be making you sick!

Under the floors of even the most beautiful and expensive homes is an area rife with dust, disease and death. This small dark world is the crawlspace of your home, and although it’s out of sight, this deadly environment permeates the air you breathe and affects the health of the entire structure… and it’s inhabitants.

by Eric Corey Freed & Kevin Daum

The Taunton Press

Do you have green sense? Author and architect Eric Corey Freed teams up with financing expert Kevin Daum to share with you some of the pros and cons of green home improvement.  Eric represents the ‘greenies,’ bringing fifteen years of professional experience in green building and representing his successful firm organicARCHITECT. He is also the author of the well received Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies. Kevin comes at it from a practical, dollars and cents approach that he learned while becoming a leading authority on custom home building. His experience as a writer, marketer, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur serves as a perfect complement to Eric and aids in delivering a balanced presentation.

As technology continues to progress, new items are added to the list of wastes that need to be managed by companies and individuals alike.  One of the newest items to hit the list is the plethora of devices that help increase our productivity, keep us connected and distract us after a hard day’s work.  E-scrap, or electronic scrap, is the latest group of waste to have its value recognized as a potential commodity rather than something to be landfilled.  While e-scrap represents a large gamut of products, they are all easily managed and markets exist to help companies accomplish this.

Located just southwest of downtown Boston, Gillette Stadium is home to one of the world’s most revered sports teams, the New England Patriots. Since Robert Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994, no NFL team has won more games than the Patriots. Between 2001 and 2004, the Patriots became just the second team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years. But for some, it’s the work done off the field that has made the Patriots’ organization one of the most respected in the league.