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THE GREEN ISSUE WHY GREEN MAKES SENSE A LOCAL BUILDER DEBUTS AN INNOVATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE HOME THAT'S BUILT TO HANDLE WEATHER EXTREMES BEAUTIFULLY COOL POOLS | EARTH FRIENDLY FLOORS | WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
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D A L L A S/F O R T W O R T H
A p r i l 2 0 1 0 | Vo l . 9 I s s u e 4 PUBLISHED BY
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MBH PUBLISHING, LLC
PUBLISHER . . . . . . .Mike Harrison, Ph.D.
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ART DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . .Robert Coplin
In This Issue
EDITORIAL INTERN . . . . .Anastasia Jakse
A preview of our March 2010 edition.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee Bell, Jeffrey Jacoby, Anastasia Jakse, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Bouaazzi, Tammi Greene
Around Town
OFFICE MANAGER . . . . . . . Cheryl Collier
Out and about in the Metroplex
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Handbook: Green Flooring
New choices of eco-friendly materials make going green easy.
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Going Green: Calculating
PRINTING . . . . . . . . . DROR International
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features
Your Eco Footprint
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Pool Your Assets
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Solid Green
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Green Resources
on the cover Bamboo floors offer an eco-friendly alternative to hardwoods while retaining a warm wood look.
Photography courtesy of Floor Coverings International.
A pool design pro can help you create an oasis Custom home combines green building technology with weather-ready sturdiness. Local resources to help you green your home and garden.
MBH Inc., dba Dallas/For t Wor th House & Home ("DFWH&H"), is a news magazine with emphasis on interior design and remodeling. House & Home does not knowingly accept false or misleading adver tising or editorial content, nor does H&H or its staff assume responsibility should such adver tising or editorial content appear in any publication. House & Home has not independently tested any services or products advertised herein and has not verified claims made by its advertisers regarding those services or products. House & Home makes no warranties or representations and assumes no liability for any claims regarding those services or products or claims made by adver tisers. Readers are advised to consult with the advertiser and/or other home repair and renovation professionals regarding the suitability of an advertiser's products. No reproduction is permitted without the written consent of the Publisher. Copyright 2010, all rights reserved. Subscriptions available for home delivery at a cost of $25 per year.
P.O. Box 117023 Carrollton, TX 75011-7023 972.395.3409
It’s good for the environment. But did you know that a SunPower solar electric system can save you money from day one? When you finance a SunPower solar electric system through one of SunPower’s financing partners, you’ll pay about the same per month as you used to pay for electricity. And after you’ve paid all your loan, you’ll own it. Why pay for electricity when you can invest in solar and add value to your home for the same monthly cost? GO SOLAR AND START SAVING NOW!
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in this issue: This month our Green Issue focuses on Earth-friendly products such as flooring as well as a myriad of other products designed to help you reduce your ecological footprint. In Going Green, Jeffrey Jacoby reveals ways to not only reduce our demand on nature, he also shows us how to calculate our own individual carbon footprint. Turn to page 34 for more information. Eco-friendly flooring options are becoming more popular as manufacturers and suppliers turn out dozens of new green design products every year. From wood, cork and bamboo to tile – even carpet – the design options are almost unlimited. Green Flooring, written by Lee Bell, begins on page 14. Our green home feature, Sold Green, focuses on a drastically different type of new home construction. While many of our feature stories showcase the aesthetic, this particular home is a paragon of durability, green-mindedness and seriously sensible design. And it is a lovely home, but a new, more evolved type of home. The story begins on page 20. Ready for a swimming pool makeover or to install a new pool? In Pool Your Assets, Anastasia Jakse interviews local exterior designers and shows us what is possible when considering various materials and features. Turn to page 10 to view some great photographs from Blue Haven Pools. We hope you enjoy our Green Issue and feel inspired to start reducing your ecological footprint while discovering a new way to think about home improvement. Cheers!
House & Home
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BEFORE
AFTER
around town April 2010
B y A N A S TA S I A J A K S E
BODIES...The Exhibition, on display at the West End Marketplace until April 30th.
The Bishop Arts District in North Oak Cliff hosts the 10th Urban Street Bazaar, April 10-11.
BUTTERFLY GARDENING 101 Butterflies are not only aesthetically pleasing to gaze upon but they are also important pollinators. Butterfly Gardening 101 will teach gardeners about these winged creatures and how to attract them to their gardens. Texas Discovery Gardens, located at 3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. will host the event April 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets are $10 and $8 for members. Information: 214.428.7476 or visit www.texasdiscoverygardens.org
BENEFICIAL INSECTS Hold off on the Raid and fly swatter! Beat the heat and learn which pesky insects will make a salad out of your garden and which will help your garden thrive. On Saturday, April 10 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park presents Beneficial Insects, a gardening class that will enlighten homeowners on the benefits of having certain insects in their garden. Located at 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Dallas, the cost of this buggy event is $20. Information: 214.428.7476
THE ESSENCE OF SPRING COOKING CLASS Chef’s hat? Check. Apron? Check. Join Chef Stephan Pyles for “The Essence of Spring Cooking Class,” which will be held on April 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This four-course cooking demonstration will be held in the Dallas Arts District at 1807 Ross Ave., Dallas. Tickets are $95 per person. Information: 214.999.1229 or visit www.stephanpyles.com
URBAN STREET BAZAAR Find some “bazaar” home decorations, jewelry, art and more at the 10th 8
Urban Street Bazaar held in the Bishop Arts District of North Oak Cliff in Dallas. On April 10 from 12 to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 11 from 12 to 4 p.m., hit the streets for some shopping and enjoy some live music. The event is free and open to the public. Information: visit www.urbanstreetbazaar.com
HEIRLOOM ROSES Are your roses dwindling? Join Norma Babbitt, a Dallas County Master Gardener on April 17 at 12 p.m. as she discusses how to multiply the roses in your garden. Heirloom Roses will be held at the Dallas Arboretum located at 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. Cost is $22. Information: 214.515.6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org
18TH ANNUAL NEW VINTAGE WINE & GALLERY TRAIL Explore the wine tasting rooms of Grapevine during the 18th Annual New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail. With complementary shuttle service to each of the tasting rooms, live music, and food, the New Vintage Wine Trail begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on April 17. Tickets are $45 per person for the wine and gallery trail. Individual winery tickets may be purchased the day of the event at the winery of your choice. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Information: 800.457.6338 or visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com
BRIDES OF TEXAS SPRING BRIDAL EVENT The wedding day is one of the most significant moments in a woman’s life. If you are a bride-to-be and are in need of a little help, the Brides of Texas
Spring Bridal Event deals with all things weddings. This wedding extravaganza begins April 18 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and includes a fashion show, live music, cooking demonstrations, cake decorating contests and much more. The event will be held at South Fork Ranch at 3700 Hogge Rd. in Parker, TX. Tickets are $10 at the door and free to all males. Information: 972.922.6779 or visit www.bridesoftexas.com to pre-register and receive 50 percent off the ticket price.
MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY DIVAS AND DAHLIAS The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, located at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, is hosting the 22nd annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Divas and Dahlias, a fundraiser for the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum that allows ladies to show off their eccentric side. The event will be held April 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a staged and choreographed fashion presentation by Carolina Herrera, Jimmy Choo, Ralph Lauren, and St. John, lunch, a silent auction, and champagne reception. Wear an eccentric hat and you may be one of the winners chosen to strut your stuff on the runway. For tickets, contact Sharon Ballew at mslj01@sbcglobal.net. Information: 214.515.6500 or visit www.womenscouncildallasarboretum.org
COASTLINES: IMAGES OF LAND AND SEA The mystery and beauty of the ocean has inspired many tales of the deep, each from different perspectives. To showcase the beauty of the coast, the Dallas Museum of Art’s latest exhibit,
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Coastlines: Images of Land and Sea, explores coastal landscapes through visual art. The exhibition, which runs from April 25 to August 22, includes over 50 works of art from artists who lived during the modern period from 1850 to present. The Dallas Museum of Art is located at 1717 North Harwood St., Dallas. Hours are Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for children 12 and under. Information: 214.922.1200 or visit www.dallasmuseumofart.org
BODIES… THE EXHIBITION BODIES…The Exhibition uses real human bodies to explore the complex tissues, muscles and organs that drive our bodies. Located in the West End Marketplace at 603 Munger Ave., Dallas, this exhibition will be on display until April 30. Gallery hours are Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Ticket prices range from $14 to $22. Information: 877-BODIES-5 or visit www.bodiestheexhibition.com
BACK AND FORTH Holly Johnson Gallery is celebrating their five year anniversary with Back and Forth, an exhibit featuring new and current, in-residence artwork. The group exhibition will continue until May 1, 2010. Holly Johnson Gallery, located at 1411 Dragon St., Dallas, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information: 214.369.0169 or visit www.hollyjohnsongallery.com
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B y A N A S TA S I A J A K S E
POOL YOUR ASSETS
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A POOL DESIGN PRO CAN HELP YOU CREATE AN OASIS THAT YIELDS YEARS OF ENJOYMENT
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It's time to pack up those turtlenecks and sweaters and dive into something a little cooler for the summer: a pool.
Texas summers are never short of heat and a relaxing oasis doesn't need to be far from your backyard. With a variety of features that can be incorporated into the design of a pool, homeowners can vacation in their own backyard. But why, you might ask, should you add some of these features to your pool? Stephanie Bellinger, owner of Landscape Design & Installation believes it's because pools are more “multifunctional” these days. Pools aren't just being built to swim in, they are being built “so there's plenty of activity and play and so there's also relaxation,” says Bellinger. “It gives you a vacation in your own backyard....you have that sense of escape when you get out of your backdoor.”
LANDSCAPE DESIGN/INSTALLATION •
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RIRE BOWLS
These large decorative bowls accessorize a pool by adding a touch of elegance and sophistication. Placed in or around the pool, often on pillars, these bowls spew fire.. Other forms of these bowls are designed to allow water to flow from the bottom of the bowl while fire spews from the top. “The fire and water combination is very, very big at the moment,” says Bellinger.
Todd Daugherty, Owner Lake Highland Class of ’86 Texas A&M Class of ’90
GROTTOS
Are you the exploring type? Well then a grotto just might be your place to hide and seek. These are natural or artificial cave-like structures that are attached to a pool, above a spa or behind a waterfall. To heighten that sense of escape, features like special lighting, underwater speakers, slides and benches can also be incorporated into or around your grotto.
maintenance matters
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When renovating your pool, don’t forget to check out your pool’s maintenance equipment. Follow these tips for the best results: • Call in a professional to assess your mechanical equipment and have him or her devise a recommended plan of action. It usually costs the price of a service call, about $75. • Don’t buy maintenance equipment that’s too big or too small for your pool. Finding the proper balance between the size of the pool and the size of the equipment is critical. • Properly maintained equipment is not the same thing as a properly maintained pool. Don’t spend so much time on the quality of the water that you forget to perform proper maintenance on your mechanical equipment.
Reduce your impact on the planet by choosing architectural salvage and reclaimed building materials for your building remodeling and design projects!
O P P O S I T E PA G E A B O V E : Turn a wooded back yard into a tranquil pond-like setting with a swimming pool designed to blend in with the environment. GO GREEN
O P P O S I T E PA G E B E L O W : Fire bowls and grottos are popular poolside features. Photo courtesy of Blue Haven Pools. Info: 972.644.0494, www.bluehaven.com.
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“Grottos are one of the biggest features with speakers in the grotto so you can hear music while you're behind the waterfall,” says Bellinger. LIGHTING
LED lighting and fiber optics are a unique way to dress up your pool for holidays, family get-togethers, and parties where outdoor entertaining is common. These lighting techniques give pools visual appeal and an ambiance that is both attractive and inviting at night through their placement in water fountains, grottos, deck cannons, and waterfalls. Mike Lindley, president of BMR Pool and Patio says that these lights also provide that extra “oomph” in outdoor entertainment with sound automated light shows. “LEDs have programmable shows that are coming with your controllers so you can have a Fourth of July show where it automatically turns your lights red, white and blue,” he says. “There are a lot of light shows now that create a really nice look with your swimming pool." Pool lighting creates a beautiful setting for nighttime outdoor entertaining. Photo courtesy of Blue Haven Pools.
POOL TABLES
“People are integrating outdoor living areas with their swimming pools,” Lindley says. As kitchens are brought closer to pools, so are dining areas. Roast some burgers and hot dogs on the grill in your outdoor kitchen and serve it on a table in your pool. These pool tables allow children, guests, and family members to enjoy the cool confines of their pool on a hot summer day while getting a little relaxing and nourishment on the side. “It gives you an area in your pool that you can actually lounge around in,” says Laine Pochmann, one senior designer at Blue Haven Pools. “You can actually relax in the pool rather than get out of the pool…so you can actually spend more time enjoying your pool.”
L E F T : Give your pool a makeover of the natural kind with water cascading over rocks and gently spilling into swimming and dipping areas, all surrounded by lush landscaping.
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SPAS
Chilly weather may prompt more indoor entertainment but why not take it outdoors? While prices fluctuate depending on the size and design of the spa, they typically range somewhere between $8,000 to $10,000. These spas complement the look of any pool design and offer a tempting place to unwind, relax, and sip on a glass of wine with friends. Pochmann describes spas that spill over into the pool as a popular feature that homeowners are integrating into their backyard. TANNING LEDGES OR SUN SHELVES
Tanning beds aren't the only way to get a tan. Tanning ledges, also known as sun shelves, can also serve this purpose. Pochmann describes this feature as “a very large first step.” This “underwater step” serves as both a play and lounge area for adults and children. “It's large enough that you can lay around on it... or little kids can sit around and play on it in six inches of water,” says Pochmann. Bellinger adds that tanning ledges are “a great place to sit on your lounge chair, get your feet a little bit wet, read a book, or play with a small child in a shallow bit of water.” WATERFALLS
Instead of vacationing to Niagara Falls this summer, why not bring the beauty, tranquility and essence of the falls to your backyard swimming pool? These waterfalls can be custom designed using natural stone rock and other materials to bring the beauty of nature to your home. Starting at around $2,000, this feature, like other water features, creates what Pochmann considers “total ambiance”. “You see water movement, but you also get to hear the sound of the water too, so you can mask the noises of the city with sound and you also have the visual appeal of moving water,” he says. So drown out the sounds of the city by incorporating a waterfall into the design of your pool. These are just a few of the many features that can accentuate the look of your backyard pool. If you're considering installing a pool, contact a local pool professional in your area for more information on additional pool features.
questions to ask a pool designer
• What is it actually going to cost, including decking, landscaping and options? • How much work will I have to do to maintain it? What types and quantities of supplies will I need to buy? • How long will it take to build? How soon can we go swimming?
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handbook
By LEIGH BELL
WITH AN EXPANDING VARIETY OF ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICES, HOMEOWNERS FIND IT'S EASY GOING GREEN. FROM WOOD, CORK AND BAMBOO TO TILE – EVEN CARPET – THE DESIGN OPTIONS ARE ALMOST UNLIMITED.
GREEN FLOORING “Sustainable,” “eco-friendly” and “green” talk are more and more common in home design and construction these days. And it’s about time. One way to walk the “green” walk, is to stop and notice what you’re walking on. Flooring is central to an environmentally friendly home because it covers, well, every square inch of it. It’s also an aspect of the home that can go green without major renovation or sky-high prices.
Beautiful bamboo is a solid and sustainable choice, because it grows rapidly and can be harvested more frequently that traditional wood sources. 14
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“We’ve definitely seen a huge increase (in requests for green material) just in the last year,” says Paige Haynes, gallery manager at Daltile – . “Consumers are being much more aware of the environment and their footprint. They are asking questions about products made from recycled materials, LEED (an internationally recognized green building) certification, and even where things are made. Mileage cuts down on the footprint.” The demand for sustainable materials has certainly increased in the last few years, and the market is starting to match the demand with a versatile, approachable supply. Green options are available for almost any flooring type, from hardwood to carpet to tile. How green you go really depends on flexibility – in both budget and aesthetic. “Unfortunately, the true green products are very expensive,” said Harry Schillings, owner of Spring Carpets. But many green choices, like economically sound tile, are both affordable and beautiful.
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“Consumers are being much more aware of the environment and their footprint. They are asking questions about products made from recycled materials, LEED (an internationally recognized green building) certification, and even where things are made. Mileage cuts down on the footprint.” –Paige Haynes of Daltile HARDWOOD
The hardwood aesthetic probably offers the widest spectrum of ecologically sound products, however, only a few of them are actually wood. BAMBOO: A rapidly renewable resource, bamboo is one of the most popular flooring options for the environmentally aware. The plant can be cut down about every six years, and then, it grows back from the same root stock, says Ann Knight, global brand director and executive vice president of Teragren, the nation’s leading manufacturer of environmentally conscious bamboo flooring, countertops, panels and veneer. “(Our bamboo) is grown without pesticides so there is nothing in the growing process that harms the earth.” Bamboo releases 35 percent more oxygen and absorbs about four times more carbon than a comparable cluster of trees. To underscore this point, Teragren lists on every product box how much carbon that bamboo removed from the earth. Stressing the increased demand for green products, Knight says that bamboo accounts for 60 percent of Teregren’s flooring sales. Manufacturers of bamboo floors now offer many more options in grain and color, so it appeals to all home styles. CORK: This material is growing in popularity but remains fairly expensive. Cork is strictly protected in the limited areas of the world where it grows from the Cork Oak, and it is also a rapidly renewable resource. Schillings covered his office floor in cork three years ago, and due to its comfort, unusual look and durability, he said, the cost – about twice as much as some hardwoods – was certainly worth it.
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handbook |
GREEN FLOORING
Cork flooring cut into generous planks yields a handsome look.
CERTIFIED WOOD PRODUCTS: Forestry Stewardship Council certified wood has been harvested and milled according to strict standards that require a third-party audit of production. The certification is expensive, so it’s important to remember that some smaller companies may follow the standards but can’t afford the certification, according to SustainableFlooring.com.
Nature’s Element from Shaw’s “Queen” collection is made of Anso Caress with recycled carpet content.
are natural, these carpets also tend to be easily maintained. Also, look for the American National Standards Institute’s national sustainability standard for carpet products. The voluntary standard offers three levels of reduced environmental impact: silver, gold, and platinum. TILE
RECLAIMED WOOD: Basically recycled wood. Definitely green but can be expensive and limited in quantity. RENEWABLE WOOD PRODUCTS: Some wood flooring, like the BALK line from IKEA, is made from renewable wood, wood chips and wood fibers. This product can also be broken down for recycling. Renewable simply means the source will grow back. CARPET
Carpet has an unfortunate past in terms of impact on the planet, but things are changing for the better. More and more, carpet is made with pre-consumer recycled content – scraps from manufacturing – as well as post-consumer recycled content. Waste from carpet manufacturing is bettered monitored, and carpet tiles now allow removal and replacement of portions of carpet, thus reducing waste. Looking for sustainable carpet? Try natural fibers, such as sea grass, sisal, wool or a blend of these. Materials like wool may be more expensive, but “that’s about as green as it gets,” Schillings says. Because they
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Tile offers many ecologically friendly options and does so in a variety of styles and price brackets. Many tiles contain recycled materials, which is often a combination of unwanted glass, stone, dirt and sometimes plastic. Manufacturers can process these materials into a fine powder, and then, into recycled tile. For example, IceStone, which can be found at Daltile, consists of 100 percent recycled glass, diverting “hundreds of tons of glass from landfills each year,” according to the product’s manufacturer. The tile is even made in a renovated, day-lit factory in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Another important issue is where tile is manufactured, says Haynes of Daltile. “We are switching plants to be closer to home, and we have a lot more products that are helping with fuel-efficiency because they are manufactured within a 500-mile radius,” she says. Another bonus is cost, Haynes says. With tile, the cost of green products is the “same or even less.” Get even greener with environmentally friendly tile adhesives, which have no or very low emission of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Eco-friendly wool has long been a preferred rug and carpet material.
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SOLID GREEN NEW CUSTOM HOME IS ULTRA-GREEN, WEATHER EXTREME-READY & ARCHITECTURALLY FRIENDLY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
S t o r y by S a n d ra C o o k
Editor’s Note: Our Green issue features a drastically different type of new home construction. While many of our feature stories showcase the aesthetic, this particular home is a paragon of durability, green-mindedness and seriously sensible design. And it is a lovely home, but a new, more evolved type of home. This story began when Ker Thomson set out to build a new home for his family. Ker and his wife Rachel and two kids had outgrown their 1950s house. Ker was highly interested in green building practices, so he started researching and found a lot of conflicting opinions and methods. Ker soon concluded that “the traditional ‘bricks, sticks, and fiberglass insulation’ home construction techniques are not even close to the way a house should be built” Ker wrote in an article submitted to the Journal of Green Building. “It had become clear that traditional home building is done for the ‘day of sale’ and I was looking to build for the long haul.”
L E F T : After years of research Ker Thomson teamed up with builder Jim Kuchenbrod to build the greenest, sturdiest house in Texas. Its beguiling brick, stone and stucco exterior are supported within by ultra-stable, energy-saving insulated concrete forms. Moss Landscaping installed drip irrigation and low profile sprinkler heads to water the various native grasses, low-water-use and drought-resistant plants for a 30% reduction in water use compared to traditional landscaping. A B O V E : A primary goal for the project was to build a house that will last for generations in the challenging Texas climate, while staying competitive with the current market for the area.
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A B O V E : Bamboo, recycled wood, wood from sunken old trees, even tile were considered for the main level. With such high visibility, aesthetics factored in greatly, so a wide plank Brazilian Cherry was selected. The solution Ker and Jim found was engineered flooring by a German-designed plant in Brazil that utilized only a 3/16th-inch-thick covering of the Brazilian Cherry.
L E F T : The quest to create an attic that made sense led the team to opt for an unventilated roof-attic assembly that works as stabilizing, insulating system. It’s comprised of heavy duty DECRA Shingle Plus roofing panels, 2x2 treated battens, a TCM-4RW radiant barrier/vapor barrier, Grace Ice and Water Shield on the entire roof deck, a 5/8-inch roof decking that is independently screwed into the rafters. The rafters are hurricane-strapped to each other and anchored to the ICF wall system. Lastly, Icynene open-cell foam is sprayed under the roof deck and covering all the wood elements of the roof assembly.
O P P O S I T E : The interior walls are all painted with Sherwin Williams Greensure low-odor, no-VOC paints. The paints provide long-lasting color, are anti-microbial and are manufactured using techniques that reduce their environmental impact.
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Ker’s quest for a better way to build a house lead him to Texas A&M University’s Energy Systems Laboratory. This partnership produced a sound building system based on strength, system synergies, durability, comfort, safety, efficiency and yet, with a sharp eye on practically and cost. After all of the research and development, Ker began looking for a capable, like-minded builder. He interviewed eight experienced local builders, all of solid reputation and many considered “green” builders, but few were interested and none was the right fit. Then Todd Rice of Rice Residential Design, suggested Ker contact Jim Kuchenbrod, a builder with 30 years’ construction experience, including building 38 previous ICF houses (more on these later) made him an ideal candidate. Jim and Ker instantly connected on the concept of the house and soon Jim moved to Texas from Florida and joined Durable Residentail Builders as a partner. “It was like ‘where have you been all my life?’” says Jim. “I saw that he wanted to build a better home, utilizing ICF (insulated concrete
forms) for the entire structure, creating a machine of stability.” The ICF sections are building blocks that are filled on-site with reinforcing bars and concrete. The result is a house made of walls that are is structurally sound, insulated, includes a vapor barrier and is ready for final exterior and interior finishes to be applied. INSIDE STORY
In its finished state, the home looks like any other upscale new construction project, with loads of attractive details and handsome materials. With four bedrooms and five and a half baths, it is a peaceful haven for Ker’s family of five. Peaceful? Those solid-core ICF walls provide outstanding sound insulation. From the foundation to the wiring to the insulation, the home was designed to achieve a ‘Fortified’ rating from the Institute for Building and Home Safety (IBHS). This is a designation awarded to homes of exceptional strength and threat resistance. Among other criteria, the house was engi-
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Dim-able lighting was installed throughout the house, along with compact florescent lights (CFLs) that are now available in appealing color tones. Ker said, “Any home is well served by dim-able lighting. It sets a mood, it saves energy, it extends the life span of the bulb.”
neered to withstand winds up to 130 mph. Collaborating with the Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University, Ker went through exhaustive analysis of every single ingredient for the house. Nothing escaped their microscopic scrutiny. Plus, Ker’s family was moving into the home, so every consideration, every choice was a personal one. What follows is a summary of the home’s well-researched durable and energyefficient elements. FOUNDATION: The Slab on Builders Pier provides an extra-thick
To make outdoor entertaining more enjoyable, Natures Pest Control installed an Envirogreen Mosquito Control System, which uses a misted sodium-based product that acts as a drying agent to kill mosquitoes. It is 100% non-toxic to the point where Envirogreen is classified as a minimal risk pesticide by the EPA. 24
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O P P O S I T E : Architect Todd Rice of Rice Residential Designs embraced the concepts of the building system and designed a home for the home and had expertise and experience in ICF construction and green home building. The result is a house that is very much in line with other new homes in the neighborhood.
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concrete slab is connected to every wall with several feet of rebar. This makes the entire house function as a machine of stability. STRUCTURE: ICF Walls (Insulated concrete forms) for the entire structure, creating a machine of stability.” The ICF sections are building blocks that are filled on-site with reinforcing bars and concrete. The result is a house made of walls that are is structurally sound, insulated, includes a vapor barrier and is ready for final exterior and interior finishes to be applied. ROOF SYSTEM: Sealed attic, semi-ventilated roof The attic and roof are undeniably critical to the home’s performance. Icynene open-cell foam was sprayed under the roof deck and covers all the wood elements of the roof assembly, which yields a very comfortable attic. Ker reports that even on a 104 degree day in August, the temperature is within three degrees of the conditioned living space and only fractionally more humid. Each of the rafters is hurricane strapped to each other and anchored to the ICF wall system. Strategic staggering of DECRA shingles allows excess heat to escape, effectively managing the heat and wind extremes.
COOLING & HEATING: HVAC with chilled water system A Thermalflow HVAC system (where the coil is filled with chilled water) was utilized, boasting an estimated SEER performance of between 15 and 19. The system is minimally affected by the weather. As ambient temperatures rise, the efficiency drop-off is only about 10% of the decline of traditional refrigerant home systems. This is the first system of its kind in Houston. RAIN-WATER HARVESTING: The roof spans approximately 5,000 square feet. Given that rainfall in Texas averages three to six inches per month there is ample opportunity to catch and store water. Durable Residential builders put together a system to easily harvest water from approximately 70% of the roof, collecting in a sealed 11,500 gallon underground cistern. From there water is pumped directly for irrigation of the lawn and landscape and through a filtration unit for potable water in the home.
Upstairs, full-thickness of the Brazilian Cherry in short boards are 3 1/2 inches wide. All the home’s windows are casement-style, argon-filled HurricaneShield windows from Pella’s Architect Series, which were installed by Pella.
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resources DURABLE RESIDENTIAL BUILDERS www.durableresidentialbuilders.com Ker Thomson: 832.265.7353 Jim Kuchenbrod : 386.503.0427 RICE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN 713.984.8604 BUILDBLOCK BUILDING SYSTEMS 405.840.3386 PELLA WINDOWS & DOORS www.pella.com HORIZON ENERGY SYSTEMS 602.867.3176
THERMAL FLOW 800.810.4307 (Austin) DECRA ROOFING SYSTEMS 877. 463.3272 ALLIED THERMAL SYSTEMS 800.810.4307 (Austin) INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS & HOME SAFETY www.disastersafety.org UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL & LEED FOR HOMES www.usgbc.org
STANDARD RENEWABLE ENERGY 877.923.7733
An impressive rainwater harvesting system feeds both the landscape irrigation directly and utilizes a GE Homespring filtration unit for potable water in the home. Dual flush toilets, low-water-use appliances, faucets and shower heads also conserve water.
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Open Up
GARAGE DOORS & SERVICES, INC.
817-399-9092 SET THE CURB APPEAL STANDARD IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD • Design Center Available • On-Site Free Estimates • Service/Sales/Repair
We make choosing a new garage door easy with Reno Works. We will come to your home, take a photo of your house and help you design some options with you in mind. 10500 E Hurst Blvd • Hurst, TX 76053 www.openupgaragedoors.com • openupdoors@yahoo.com 28
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SOLAR ELECTRIC AND WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS The solar panels on the roof of this home at Evia, a new environmentally friendly development built behind the Seawall in Galveston,TX, are from Standard Renewable Energy. Six photovoltaic panels from SRE cost about $12,000, but with the stimulus funds’ tax write-off, the cost is $8,400, and that, of course, does not include the long-term energy savings that come from the use of these panels. The panels placed at the back of the house are not noticeable from the street, yet provide energy that helps run the house. The family sheltering here after Hurricane Ike lived comfortably with plenty of power, including air conditioning; the Evia development did not flood during Ike because of its elevation and protected location behind the Seawall. The wind turbine, shown here, from Standard Renewable Energy, catches sea breezes and provides additional energy. SRE no longer sells this turbine, but does carry a Skystream 3.7, which is 12 feet in diameter and requires an acre of land around it.
The Green Revolution Begins at Home THESE HELPFUL PRODUCTS SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT—AND YOUR MONEY, TOO compiled by Houston House & Home staff
Now’s the time to invest in green products that save energy, reuse resources or produce new energy. The newly passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided billions of dollars in economic stimulus funds for renewable energy and energysaving products. Through 2012, you can receive a one-time federal income tax credit of 30 percent off the purchase price of solar electric systems, solar water heaters and wind generators. And you can get up to $1,000 in federal income tax credits for qualified home energy improvements such as insulation and high-efficiency air conditioning systems and high-efficiency heat pumps. Whether you’re buying solar photovoltaic panels for your roof or simply a new pail for composting, it pays to go green at home. Here are some products we believe to be worth considering.
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MOHAWK EVERSTRAND CARPET AND MOHAWK RECLAIMED HARDWOOD FLOORING Mohawk EverStrand carpeting contains 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, primarily plastic bottles. One in every four plastic bottles recycled in North America becomes soft Mohawk carpet. On average, 30 plastic bottles are recycled to make one square yard of EverStrand. Over the past 10 years the company has recycled more than 22 billion plastic bottles, keeping more than 1 billion pounds of plastic out of landfills. Even the caps and labels of plastic bottles are used to make carpet cores around which the carpet is wrapped, and the cores are re-used again and again. [Mohawk flooring] Mohawk Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring is made from reclaimed woods rescued from old buildings. Every day, buildings and structures are dismantled across the country, resulting in waste dumped into landfills. Fortunately, the deconstruction industry continues to salvage an increasing percentage of materials from old buildings. Many of Mohawk’s salvaged and reclaimed wood products use antique elm and heart pine flooring recovered from these buildings. By reusing the wood, Mohawk keeps this would-be waste from piling up in landfills. Many of the reclaimed hardwood planks show some of the original antiquing and distressing, revealing the wood’s past.
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ICESTONE COUNTERTOPS IceStone durable surface countertops are made from 100 percent recycled glass and concrete. The product currently comes in 27 colors, but the color palette is infinite. IceStone durable surfaces are strong like granite, not as porous as marble and heat-resistant like stone. The chemical composition is VOCfree and 99.5 percent inorganic, making IceStone a nontoxic, fire-resistant material. IceStone durable surfaces are ideal for projects seeking LEED certification.
PELLA DESIGNER SERIES WOOD PATIO DOORS Pella® Designer Series® window and patio doors work well for the active family moving inside and out multiple times a day. With no strings or cords to get in the way, Designer Series French Hinged patio doors remain classic, sleek and functional. Pella’s products reduce household energy consumption in the home while practicing environmentally responsible procurement from managed forests and low polluting manufacturing processes.
SUNRISE SOLAR-POWERED ATTIC FAN The SunRise Solar-Powered Attic Fan pays for itself by pulling heat out of your attic; less heat is driven back into your living space, so air conditioning bills are reduced by up to 30 percent. The attic fan burns no fossil fuels, creates no pollution and runs on a renewable energy source—the sun. Even when you don’t need air conditioning, the fan circulates fresh air through your attic to create a more comfortable environment. It helps prevent mold and mildew growth. MOTION-DETECTING SENSOR PLUG Plug a SensorPlug into a wall socket, then plug a lamp into it, and you’ll have a light that turns on only when it senses motion in the room, then turns off later when no motion is detected. The SensorPlug saves energy and money. Available at www.sensorplug.com
EUREKA ENVIROVAC The Eureka Envirovac’s energysaving 8-amp motor uses 33 percent less energy than the usual 12-amp motor. The average American household vacuums about one hour per week using a 12-amp motor. Envirovac uses 960 watts of energy an hour vs. 1440 watts of energy used per hour by the standard upright vacuum. If one-fourth of U. S. households used Envirovac over one year, 6,250,000 kilowatt hours would be saved. The vacuum also features a reusable, washable HEPA filter to reduce waste caused by disposable filters and is packaged in 100 percent recycled, unbleached cardboard. Available at Wal-Mart, Target and Sears.
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the green revolution
ECOROWE FURNITURE The wood frames of all EcoRowe Furniture are made of wood harvested from domestic forests which are replenished. The company takes its ecofriendly mission much further: furniture arm cardboard is 100 percent recycled paperboard; filler for down cushions is made from recycled plastic bottles and the ticking material is no longer bleached; springs are made from recycled iron ore; water-based lubricant is used on nails; for the foam used in making furniture, more than 20 percent of the Polyol chemicals come from plant-based renewable raw materials and the foam making process is free of ABAs, CFCs and auxiliary CO2; the cotton is made of 97 percent recycled materials.
KITCHEN COMPOST KEEPER The KC2000 is a handy, portable compost carrier and perfect for short term storage of kitchen compost. The carbon filter on this container helps eliminate odors. Keep your pail or bucket clean with 100 percent Biodegradable Compost Pail Kitchen Liners from Biobags. Compost keeper and Biobags available at Olive Barn.
KIREI BAMBOO Kirei Bamboo is an eco-friendly panel material with a variety of looks usable in modern interior design. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable, sustainable resource and Kirei uses low-or-no-added urea formaldehyde adhesives for the production of the panels. Bamboo helps homes meet LEED specifications.
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ECO BY COSENTINO COUNTERTOP AND SURFACING MATERIAL The newest countertop material on the market is ECO by Cosentino, a durable surface of 75 percent recycled content made of post-industrial or post-consumer materials. The materials are bound by an environmentally friendly resin that comes in part from corn oil. Most of the materials ECO reuses have reached the end of their life cycle. They include: porcelain, mirror, glass, cornbased resin, crystallized ash and stone scraps. During ECO’s manufacturing process 94 percent of water used is recycled. All minerals used in production come from quarries fully restored under strict stewardship programs. With ECO surfacing, builders can gain points toward LEED Certification.
DIMMER People who dim their lights by 25 percent can save an average of 15 percent on energy costs and can extend the life of incandescent bulbs by four times. Replacing switches with dimmers like the Skylark Eco-Dimmer also conserves energy and adds fewer light bulbs to landfills. The dimmer costs about $18. Also, using a motion-sensor light can save energy since it activates only when motion is detected and cuts off during the daytime. Lutron’s 180 Degree Motion Sensor Security Light covers a large area, providing 180-degree multi-zone protection with up to a 70-foot range. The motion sensor costs about $20.
ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES Save money and the environment by replacing standard model appliances with Energy Star refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dehumidifiers and A/Cs. Energy Star qualified appliances use between 10 and 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. Here, the new LG SteamWasherTM with Allergiene comes equipped with a 4.5 cu. ft. Ultra Capacity SteamWasher that allows for washing larger loads and saves both time and energy. It cleans some clothes that would otherwise be dry-cleaned and retails for about $1,699. Available at Sears, Home Depot, Conn’s Appliance.
SHOWERHEAD THAT WAITS FOR WATER TO WARM Do you turn on the shower, then sneak away to do something else while the water warms up? You’re wasting water and energy. For a family of 3, saving as little as one minute of hot water per shower can save up to $75 in energy bills and 2,700 gallons of water per year. The Evolve Chrome Water Lily Showerhead changes everything. When you turn on your shower, no water comes out. Brush your teeth or shave. Once the shower water gets warm, the Evolve showerhead begins to trickle. That’s your signal to pull the pull-cord for a full shower. The head, which works with a standard shower arm, saves water and energy. Available for about $70 at Target.
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going green
Beyond Carbon:
Calculating Our Ecological Footprint
By JEFFREY JACOBY
By now we’ve all heard that good eco-citizens must pay attention to their “carbon footprint”—the impact of our greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate— and take steps to reduce it.
So you drive less and bicycle more, unplug your appliances when not in use, purchase Energy Star® washing machines and refrigerators, use wind energy, compost your organics and recycle everything. You’re a cool (in both The Arctic and The Fonz senses of the word) inhabitant of the planet, treading lightly on our collective climatalogical future. However, our ability to live sustainably depends on more than trimming down the everfattening energy hog and its climate-fouling carbon effluent. In fact, what we eat, where we build, the trees we chop down, petroleum we pull from the earth, planes we hurl into the skies and waste we bury in the ground, the way we develop and govern our societies…all have a direct influence on the overall equation known as our Ecological Footprint. According to the Global Footprint Network, an international non-profit organization specializing in scientific data and analysis, the Ecological Footprint is, put simply, a “measurement of humanity’s demand on nature.” Their calculation is based on assessing the resources available for human sustenance versus resources depleted by growing crops, feeding animals, deforestation, development and sprawl, fishing and our associated waste byproducts including, yes, carbon emissions. To live sustainably, the ecological demand of the human population—our footprint—cannot exceed Earth’s ability to replenish its resources—its biocapacity. Unfortunately, we currently consume those resources and emit wastes at a rate approximately one and a half times faster than they can be replaced, absorbed or regenerated through natural ecological cycles. At this pace, humans will need the biocapacity of two planets to sustain our present consumption and waste patterns. If everyone lived the lifestyle of an average American, we would need five planets to sustain human life. We only have one. 34
That said, our global situation need not entail bleak, enviro-doomsday predictions. If individuals and corporations as well as local, national and international bodies politic begin focusing on truly sustainable solutions that bring our footprint in line with our available ecological resources both present and future, we can continue to survive and prosper on this rock we call home. So, what’s your footprint? You and your family aren’t necessarily the ones doing the mining or drilling or tree-chopping, but, if you live in America, you probably buy products from people who do. And your purchasing decisions and lifestyle choices do have an impact. Your overall Ecological Footprint, then, is based on your lifestyle patterns as they compare to the impact of a typical American. For instance, if you drive a Sherman tank to and from work every day, your energy and carbon footprints will be substantially larger than a person who telecommutes. Conversely, if you only eat red meat a couple of times per week, your food production footprint will be below average. The same holds true for a person who lives in an urban condo tower rather than a palatial suburban estate or a family who installs sustainably harvested bamboo flooring rather than virgin arboreal hardwood. These small choices not only make a big impact; in many ways, the little things are the big things, the eco-logic behind reducing our contribution to the collective human footprint and living within our planetary means. For an interactive—and eye-opening—survey of your own Ecological Footprint calculation, go to www.footprintnetwork.org and click on the “Footprint for You” link. Take the quiz to see the number of planets your lifestyle necessitates. Explore the rest of the site to learn more about our individual and cumulative impacts on Earth’s resources as well as simple changes you can make to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Jeffrey Jacoby is program director for Texas Campaign for the Environment, a grassroots nonprofit working locally and statewide to press for sustainable waste and recycling policies. Call 214.599.7840 or visit www.texasenvironment.org.
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