♪Green Living is the way for me♪
♪Smart thriving is the way to be♪
♪Energy Efficiency so far and wide♪
♪Quality & performance won’t take my money for a ride…♪
(Sung to the tune of Green Acres)

This month I would like to provide a very brief overview of a few of the various products that I have reviewed and that are either available or are on the foreseeable horizon.  I’m sure I will miss many as there are so many products that are being introduces weekly, thus I offer but a few with the limited time and space I am afforded but I am always available to assist in whatever way I can.

One of the upcoming products that I have followed since the announced collaboration between faculty members at the University of Illinois and a green manufacturer is that of a product produced with corn stover, the residual by-product waste from corn harvesting.  Faculty members at the University of Illinois developed the structural composite technology and thus entered into an agreement with the manufacturer to produce products for various applications, from furniture to structural.  Harvesting of corn creates corn stover of which there is a yearly supply of some 580 billion tons.  The material can be produced into enough structural exterior sheathing to sheath nearly 48 million 2,000 square foot homes.  As such over a million trees can remain intact as corn stover is a sustainable product.  This is a product that every contractor, home builder, or DIY pro should take a look at using, as well as manufacturers of cabinets, furniture, SIPS, etc. simply as a way in which to reduce the yearly cutting of trees that are so vital to our ecology.  Just remember each time you go to purchase that sheet of plywood/OSB, regardless of whether it was grown by certified plantations or not it still removes a tree from the planet, a planet we enjoy so much and whose vital signs grow weaker with each tree we remove.

Windows; where do I begin as the efficiency of windows continues to escalate while the price continues to stabilize.  A couple of great products I would suggest considering are those that are following in the footsteps of European manufacturers, whose windows are of the utmost quality and energy performance. Windows that open similar to doors on hinges as well as having the ability to dropout at the top for ventilation purposes, all the while providing security.  These windows are priced at or below those of the traditional types, yet are unrivaled in terms of energy performance, and are also manufactured using existing glazing, recycling glass – what a concept!  One such manufacturer is located here within the US and the other is located in Mexico by a European family who elected to bring part of their original company there to produce their windows for the US market as well as the huge markets in Mexico, Central and South America.  I liked these windows due to the thought that has gone into the technology and production, such as thickening the exterior glazing as a means in which to reduce outside noise, creating an incredible thermal break that really aids in their efficiency. I also like the European style, especially the dropout and swing-out styles.  One of these two manufacturers has already shown its superior quality in that they were chosen to be the retrofit entity to provide windows for the Empire State Building; to transform the existing windows into super insulated editions.  Recycling existing glazing to produce extremely energy efficient windows is of special merit as it sets a new direction in sustainability.  Whichever manufacturer you choose, be assured all their lines perform to standards that leave no question as to whether your purchase was money well spent.

Stucco; I mention stucco here as many of the homes that are currently being purchased over the last couple of years are those that are in need of repair/renovation, thus either stucco repairs or re-stuccoing is something that is in demand. There are products out there that outperform and include a 5-year warranty and PSI strength of 4,500, well above the highest existing strengths of 2,000 – 3,000. Look for a product at a comparable price and an application process that allows it to be directly applied to any substrate that has been properly prepped, including brick, to which it can be applied to simulate.  Applications include asbestos and lead paint encapsulation as well as marine barriers and commercial roofing are all examples of great uses. Certified installers can only apply some products, and so I would recommend seeking out that certification. The merits of attaining this guarantees that the product you use will provide years of long lasting wear and beauty regardless of the elements.  So whether your project is new, remodel, or renovation, it is worth your consideration.

For those DIY remodeling pros; you’ve come across those situations where you tear-out an existing wall to transform it into something completely different and realize that the original carpenters failed to provide you with a sufficient nail backing, or nailer, in which to re-install your drywall.  There are products manufactured now with recycled plastic or galvanized steel that make installation of a nailer a cinch.  They’re simple to install and can cut hours out of a major project while saving you substantial money, and a few trees that would typically have to be terminated in order to provide you with the typical nail backer board that is soon to become a thing of the past.  One in particular that I found hard fastens to both the drywall and the framing.  You can save serious money on material alone - by eliminating the extra wood backing on the top plates and in all of your vertical corners you are lowering your expensive lumber costs.  On hip roofs you can order your jack trusses without the bottom cords.  Do the math.  Each of the top builders in the nation could save millions of dollars per year in material costs alone. While maintaining longevity and durability, you are helping to recycle material that would normally end up in landfills.  These products will save you time and money while helping reduce waste in our landfills so give it some consideration when you elect to take that dive into remodeling, renovating, or with any new construction project you may have.

How about heating, and reducing your energy consumption while doing so.  Take a look at the low voltage radiant heating product lines that are available, from low voltage interior radiant heating products to ice/snow melt products as well.  Radiant heating that is available in a brass Z-mesh product can be applied to wood substrates with the use of a staple gun or applied to the underside of trusses from the basement.  When applying the product to a concrete substrate it can be installed with a troweled adhesive for either wood or tile flooring, and each room can be separately placed on a thermostat so that you only heat the areas being used.  Unlike forced air systems that “throw” heated air out only to quickly rise, radiant heating starts at the floor level and slowly rises, thus heating the most important element of all - you.  Forced air systems can collect dust and other pollinates within their ductwork that can irritate allergies when air is forced from its system.  Radiant heating removes this possibility by simply heating the floor with low voltage, thus allowing the temperature in a room to slowly rise and maintain the heat at body level, and with the programmable thermostats that are offered you can program as to when a room begins to heat when not being used.  Imagine walking upon a warm floor in the middle of the winter without shoes or socks, or allowing the little ones to play on a warm floor.  Radiant heating can also be installed in showers, along the walls, floor, or benches within, which comes in especially convenient when the bathroom is along an exterior wall.  Set the thermostat for about a half-hour before getting up in the morning and walk upon a warm bathroom floor before getting into a shower whose floor and walls are warm to the touch.  A product that is mentally soothing during the winter months.

Lastly, allow me to provide you with information about a product that will have its turn like that of radiant heating, only this product is more conducive to the warmer months.  An actual solar air conditioner, not one that is partially powered by solar panels, is a direct solar air conditioner that is billed as having an ROI of less than four years.  One particular unit is the result of an American and Chinese collaboration that developed the technology and is beginning to manufacture the units in China.  Three years of collaboration and technology transfer have led to remarkable achievements in solar energy, science and technology, yielding conversion efficiencies for heating and cooling of up to 85% and solar concentrations 27 times higher than ordinary flat plate collectors for water heating. This solar energy technology will truly contribute to preserve our planet.  The natural refrigerant employed will keep our skies blue and our air clean to breathe.  The direct solar air conditioning system consists of three components: the solar collector, the air conditioner, and the thermal energy storage system. The solar trough collector is designed to be capable of reaching up to 300°C!  A heat transfer loop transports thermal energy to the absorption air conditioner.  The absorption chiller converts the high temperature heat into building cooling and heating via a hydronic chilled water system.  Thermal energy storage is provided via the phase change heat storage system and/or an ice storage system allowing continuous chiller and heater operation throughout the night and during cloudy days.  Additional cooling and heating can be obtained from the chiller via use of natural or process gas which can be combusted in the generator of the chiller.

That pretty well summarizes a few products that I believe could be of value to us, and to be considered when building new or remodeling/renovating.  Give them some thought and remember; it isn’t just about the cost, its about the long term or ROI that you really need to consider as these products will save you more over the course of their life than they will at the cash register.  It’s like the old FRAM oil and air filter commercials, pay me now or pay me later.  In closing I would just like to add that if any of you are planning on printing this article, or any of the other articles in this month’s journal to share with friends, family, colleagues, etc. I can only hope that rather than printing it out on tree paper that you are printing this out on tree-less, chlorine/acid-free paper produced from the residual waste of banana, coffee, mango, and lemon trees, as well as from sugar cane waste.  Again, it may cost a few dollars more, but it frees us from our dependence upon tree products and puts the waste by-products of such fiber to use rather into landfills or worse yet, fires.  Take a look at such papers and the other products that are available when you go to contrive your plans for your next project.  Take care, live smart, and keep that catchy tune alive!  For further information concerning any of the items I’ve mentioned please feel free to drop me a note or contact me.

About the Author
Byron Bargas is a seasoned construction professional with over thirty years experience, whose passion for sustainability created the impetus for electing to change his career path from Project Management in commercial construction. During the course of his career Byron has had the opportunity to provide project management duties for both general contracting and electrical contracting; from hospitals to high rise projects; from shell to tenant improvements, including sporting venues. He is a constant contributor to his Green community as well as a leader, professing that acceptance of sustainability can only happen if we change our attitude and willingness to work toward a better environment for the generations to come.