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Volume 5 • Issue 2 • March/April 2008
Using spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof seals the roof and increases its structural performance, and is an example of how green building is growing. Just one way builders are increasing the “green” qualities of their projects.
4 President’s message
16 The circle of waste
Don’t let green building spook you.
Job site waste reduction may mean anything from recycling to donation.
6 Eco-style goes mainstream A number of innovative green solutions have been flooding the homebuilding market.
10 Sustainable, green developments Get the scoop on developers’ innovative solutions.
11 Green-building laws passed in several states
18 Hundredfold Farm An Adams County community is an intriguing example of extreme green building.
20 Eco goes big with mansion project Eco-mansion project is the centerpiece of a residential recycling Renaissance.
23 Pumping up the heat
Compare green-building legislative action around the nation.
Builders and consumers are taking another look at air-source heat pumps.
12 Green-building report card
24 On-site recycling
The new certification program sets standards and definition to green.
Mobile grinder is another option for builders.
15 From the field to walls Franklin County builder takes on his first house of straw.
25 Member spotlight Better is better at Centennial Homes.
26 Final word
Member Insider
Vicari finds odd items at old farmstead The house that popped Fax: The silent eco-killer
Member briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A On the hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B 2008 PBA Builders Gala. . . . . . . . . . . . . . C Mudroom gets cleaned up . . . . . . . . . . . C PBA Premier Partners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D
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Keystone Builder
This issue of Keystone Builder is your No. 1 source of green building ideas
Keystone Builder cover designed by Chris Anderson
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Associate Vice President Jim Miller, BIA of Lancaster County Secretary Chauncey Wirsing, Somerset County BA Treasurer Richard Clawson, Indiana-Armstrong BA Immediate Past President Stephen Black, BIA of Lancaster County executive vice President David Martin Editor Eric C. Wise Associate Editor Chris Anderson
PrintComm Staff Publisher Kevin Naughton Assistant Editor/Publication Director H.J. Hormel Graphic Design Jason Gabel Advertising Sales Manager Brenda Poe Advertising Sales Jeff Pinwar • 800-935-1592, ext. 118 Address correspondence to: Keystone Builder 600 North Twelfth Street, Suite 200 Lemoyne, PA 17043 Phone: 800-692-7339 or 717-730-4380 Fax: 717-730-4396 Web: www.pabuilders.org
President’s message
VICE PRESIDENT Gene Kreitzer, Lebanon County BA
By Ray Fertig • PBA President
President Ray Fertig, York BA
Don’t let green building spook you
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uilders, by their nature, are sure-footed and keenly able to navigate changes and challenges in homebuilding. To stay in business, we must be agile. Yet, despite our abilities in managing construction businesses, dealing with customers and maintaining strong relationships with our subcontractors and suppliers, some of us are like zombies – running on autopilot, staying in our comfort zone – when it comes to emerging technologies and greenbuilding techniques. We are zombies that stagger ahead, trying to manage our business as usual, easily spooked by environmentally friendly building. Why? It’s expensive, cumbersome and inconvenient. And until recently, few customers asked about it. Pennsylvania Builders Association recognizes green building is no longer a niche market. Influenced by the housing economy, energy costs and consumer preference, we realize green building is a growing part of our industry. We are ahead of other states with a PBA green building certification program. Our program provides customers assurance of a reputable standard for emerging green technology with different levels of certification. Don’t discount our program too quickly. Most likely, you already are meeting many requirements that can earn points toward certification. This issue of Keystone Builder collects dozens of green buildingrelated ideas for you to consider. Not all of them will work for your business, but a few may help you this year. Don’t let the green ghost spook you. Use your association to develop green profitability. s
Advertising does not imply acceptance or endorsement of the products contained in the publication. Publishing and advertising sales services provided by:
2929 Davison Rd. • Flint, MI 48506 Phone: 800-935-1592 • www.printcomm.com An Exclusive Publication of the PBA Keystone Builder magazine is published six times a year by the Pennsylvania Builders Association®, Editorial Offices, 600 North Twelfth Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043. With the exception of official association announcements, the statements of fact and opinion that are made herein are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not reflect an opinion or philosophy of the officers or the membership of the PBA. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission from the PBA headquarters. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pennsylvania Builders Association, 600 North Twelfth Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions available through membership to the Pennsylvania Builders Association.
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W p T L In a G A Panelized framing installation may go a bit smoother with the iLevel program. Photo courtesy of Weyerhaeuser iLevel.
Green building growing by M.H. Morrison he green-building movement has gone main stream, triggered by increasing energy costs and consumer demand, according to surveys by the National Association of Home Builders. With interest growing, a number of innovative green solutions have been flooding the homebuilding market, some of which are easily incorporated — like fluorescent bulbs, and others that are more extreme — such as rooftop wind turbines.
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The green governor With geothermal heat, solar panels and compact fluorescent bulbs, the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence is an energy-saving and energy-producing 28,000-square-foot home. In 2005, a 2.8-kilowatt solar power system was put into service to provide 6
at least 22 hours of backup power to the critical infrastructure. Software will soon be installed to allow the governor’s residence to sell electricity back to the power company, according to Bruce Stultz, energy manager for the state’s Department of General Services. He added that other green initiatives include lighting system improvements; installation of premier efficiency motors; addition of insulation; humidification improvements; and conversion of kitchen appliances from electric to natural gas. On a larger scale, an efficient geothermal heating system recently was installed. Over the next 15 years, this improvement along with others will pay for themselves, according to Edward Myslewicz, press secretary for the Department of General Services. The state is also seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the residence. In pursuit
of that designation, “green tickets” are being purchased for off-site renewable electricity from wind generation, solar and hydro-electric sources. “We’re at the infancy for the program to conserve energy throughout the commonwealth,” Myslewicz said.
Insulation in a spray In some parts of the country, builders are making the attic a part of the building envelope, rather than designing it with ventilation. This can be achieved by using spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof, which seals the roof and increases its structural performance, explained Dana Bres, residential engineer with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Since a major component of energy use is air leakage, spray foam is a great
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remedy because it expands to create a tight seal in the attic, “bringing it into the thermal envelope.” With the insulation used in the perimeter of the attic, the space becomes more temperate making it appropriate for storage, placement of duct work and even as a potential bonus room.
Roof-top gardening Green roofs, also called vegetated roof covers, living roofs or eco-roofs, are thin layers of living plants installed on top of conventional roofs. The contemporary green roofing system was developed in Europe, but is making its way to U.S. markets. The vegetated roof at Life Expression Wellness Center in Sugarloaf, for example, is planted with 6,000 sedum plants. The project, installed by David Bros. Landscaping, a licensee of Roofscapes Inc., a green roof engineering, design and installation firm, received the 2004 Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North American Roofs of Excellence award. According to Roofscapes, the benefits of green roofs are not only ecological but also aesthetic and financial, as well as being an “at-source” technique for controlling water runoff in highly urbanized areas.
J. Roger Glunt, president of Glunt Development Co. and 1993 president of the NAHB, and David Engel, then director of HUD’s PATH Program, inspect spray insulation in an attic of a home near Pittsburgh. Glunt recently said, “I use Icynene, the premium foam insulation, in all my projects. Not only is Icynene a green product, but it meets all code requirements and provides an outstanding seal for air infiltration.”
Not your grandfather’s windmill As consumers look for ways to conserve energy and lower their utility bills, some are turning to the wind, which can cut electric bills by 50 to 90 percent. In a normal residential application, a home uses the wind turbine and a local utility for its electric power. As wind speeds increase, turbine output increases and less power is purchased from the utility. If the turbine produces more power than the house needs, the extra electricity is sold back to the utility. Unfortunately right now, most residential wind turbines are relatively large devices and not suitable for urban Continued on page 9
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A geo-thermal heating and cooling system was recently installed at the governor’s residence.
y at March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder
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Energy-efficient specially order fluorescent bulbs are used in this chandelier at the governor’s residence.
green building growing Continued from page 7
or small-lot suburban homes. However, manufacturers are working to create rooftop units with a lower profile that may be more attractive in these applications.
Now House nets a zero A Canadian “Victory” home in Toronto, one of thousands built for veterans following World War II, underwent a green renovation last year to reduce its net energy costs to zero. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., the builder of 30,000 Victory homes, contributed $50,000 to the project to demonstrate affordable and repeatable ways to dramatically improve energy efficiency while relying mainly on local materials. The Now House was one of 12 winning teams from across Canada in the Net Zero Energy Healthy House competi-
tion. All other winners were newly built homes. As with other designs in the competition, Now House will use a variety of strategies to reach its goal of the home producing and using the same amount of energy. The changes to the 62-year-old house include insulation upgrades, new windows, Energy Star appliances, wastewater heat recovery and solar energy.
Leveling the field As the cost of labor and materials increases, all businesses are looking for ways to cut costs. Contractors are also considering the greenness of these decisions. That has led some in the industry to turn to options like advanced wall framing, which covers several framing techniques designed to reduce the amount
of lumber used and waste generated, and structural insulated panels, which go up faster than traditionally framed buildings and provide energy efficiency to new homes. Bres, with HUD’s PATH Program, said that builders cannot go wrong picking either type of framing from a green standpoint. Now, iLevel has entered the field as a tool for contractors looking for more efficiency. Introduced in 2006, iLevel is an integrated approach that combines Weyerhaeuser’s homebuilding products and services, distribution network and design software tools into one unified organization. It can quickly and accurately transform an architect or builder’s drawings into detailed framing layouts that help avoid excessive material waste and cuts down on labor costs. s March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder
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Sustainable, green developments:
What are progressive developers doing?
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Reshetar Custom Homes restored a barn on the site of Springtown Knoll, which now serves as the development’s sales office.
by Tess Wittler ennsylvanians are seeing new, unique types of developments pop up across the commonwealth. Sustainable developments are revitalizing cities, towns and neighborhoods, while green, environmentally conscious developments are transforming how suburbs are viewed. But how do these new developments measure up in Pennsylvania’s landscape? Sustainable developments take into consideration much more than the building (or home) itself. They take into account the surroundings of the development — the social, economical and environmental impact the development has on the community. All three are of equal importance. David Sheridan of Sustainable Community Development in Carlisle explains it best. “Sustainable development is much more than clustering homes and green space,” he said. “This concept takes into consideration the manner in which the development is linked-in to the greater community. Existing infrastructure, closeness of services and transportation all are considered in the design of a sustainable development.”
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Sustainable v. green — What are the differences? Sustainable development takes into account the surroundings of the development — the social, economic and environmental impact the development has on the community. All three are of equal importance. Green development takes into consideration the environmental impact on the community first and foremost, over social and economic impacts. A cluster development can be considered a green development yet still be five miles outside of town. On the other hand, a sustainable development is linked into a community, with existing infrastructure and resources. One of the challenges Sheridan sees to sustainable developments in central Pennsylvania is simply that it veers from conventional practices. “The biggest challenge is that developers need to be confident that this type of development will work, be profitable and be attractive to consumers,” he said. Sheridan is in the planning stages of his first sustainable development venture in Carlisle. The residential only project will consist of up to 20 homes, and each energy-efficient unit will be between 600 and 1,800 square feet.
This development is located on a little more than an acre in the heart of Carlisle and will allow residents to walk or bicycle to many community resources. As for the future of sustainable developments in Pennsylvania, Sheridan said, “It seems like everyone is waiting for someone else to try it. With the housing market down, now may be the perfect time to introduce sustainable developments back into our smaller towns.” Charnelle Hicks of CH Planning, an urban and regional planning firm in Philadelphia, stated, “We are seeing more urban infill development in the smaller towns in Chester and Delaware counties.” One such project included turning the old Phoenixville Ironworks site into a mixed-use development. She also assisted with a revitalization of a brownfield site in the city of Chester. From Hicks’ viewpoint, the future of sustainable development is eminent. “We are already seeing it,” she said. “There will always be a demand for living on larger lots in the rural areas, but that lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Today, people want to take advantage of the cultural amenities and services that living in a
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town can give them. They want to live in and be a part of a neighborhood.” Green developments differ from sustainable developments in that green developments prioritize environmental factors over economic and social factors. Green developments tend to be “cluster” developments, although not always, and the homes are built to green standards. Springtown Knoll, built by Reshetar Custom Homes and certified as Bucks County’s first green community, consists of 20 semi-custom homes on lots measuring more than one acre. When Shawn Reshetar, president of the company, purchased the development, he immediately recognized the value of turning it into a green community. “The road ran east-west which made it easy to position each home to southern exposure, which is one of the key elements of building green,” he said. Reshetar builds his homes to the Keystone Green Building Initiative Standards, adapted from NAHB’s standards. “According to the KGBI, each home must meet specific requirements, certifying that they are built using energy efficient techniques and utilities; thus, every home in Springtown Knoll will be dually certified by both Energy Star and the KGBI,” he said. But to make the community as a whole a green certified one took special consideration. “The community is situated in a scenic wooded area, and we took great care in preserving existing vegetation and trees,” Reshetar said. The stormwater basin included local vegetation and more than 390 natural plants. He used recycled slag material as the roadway base. Reshetar also made it a point to recycle what was already on site, including using excavated boulders in the homes’ landscape and even restoring a barn, now used as the development’s sales office. The barn and model home will be sold together. Restetar said many more green building products have become available in the last few years. “Building green is much more costeffective today than it was even just a few years ago,” he stated. “Green homes are attractive to consumers not only because of the energy they’ll save in their home, but also because a green home is a resalable home. Building green communities is the way of the future.” s
States adopt different green-building laws by Grant Gulibon egislation promoting the development of high-performance green buildings — by both the public and private sector — has either been adopted or is under consideration in virtually every state, as well as at the federal and local level. Several states provide tax credits for buildings meeting certain minimum greenbuilding criteria, while others have mandated that government-funded buildings be built to a given level of greenness. The following information provides a sample of green-building laws that have been approved to date across the United States.
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Green-built government buildings In December 2007, the federal High-Performance Green Buildings Act was signed by President George W. Bush as part of a broader energy package. The act creates an Office of High-Performance Green Buildings within the General Services Administration for the purpose of coordinating research on ways that government buildings can become greener, as well as to make current green-building information available to the public. At the state level, more than two years prior to the adoption of the federal law, the state of Washington enacted a high-performance green buildings bill that, according to Gov. Christine Gregoire, made Washington the first state to require that new public buildings meet green energy efficiency, water conservation and other standards. The law states that all major public agency buildings larger than 5,000 square feet, including state-funded school buildings, must meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. More recently, New Jersey enacted legislation requiring new state buildings larger than 15,000 square feet to achieve at least two Green Globes (on the rating system developed by the Green Building Initiative) or an equivalent rating using another nationally recognized certification or rating system.
Tax incentives promote private green building For private-sector development of green buildings, tax credit programs have been a popular incentive offered in a number of states. In 2000, the state of New York approved legislation creating the Green Building Tax Credit Program, which uses standards very similar to the high-level LEED rating. The program contains six different credit components (for the whole building, base building, tenant space, fuel cells, photovoltaic modules, and green refrigerants), each with its own requirements, formula for calculating the amount of the credit and cap. Taxpayers may be allowed one or more of these components (within certain restrictions). Maryland and Oregon both enacted green-building tax credit programs in 2001. Oregon created a Business Energy Tax Credit, which is available to commercial buildings that attain a LEED Silver rating. The credit is based on the square footage of the building, and is intended to help offset the cost of applying for the LEED rating and the extra design and commissioning costs. Maryland passed the Income Tax Credit for Green Buildings, which established a tax credit for new buildings or substantial renovations that meet certain green-building standards. The credits are worth from 6 to 8 percent of the total allowable construction costs. At present, LEED is the only standard used for the purpose of the tax credit, but as new standards become available, they will be incorporated for use with the tax credit. Such new standards may be submitted to the Maryland Energy Administration for review. Finally, in 2005, Nevada approved legislation that provided for steep reductions in sales taxes on construction materials and as much as a 50 percent property tax abatement for new buildings that meet LEED standards. However, the fiscal projections for the program badly underestimated the effect of the incentives on the Nevada budget, as the state ended up foregoing much more tax revenue than anticipated. In response, modifications to the program were signed into law in June 2007, including a reduction in the sales tax incentive for future qualifying projects and changes to the property tax abatement that reduced its size and implemented a graduated scale that provided for greater tax relief as projects achieve higher levels of LEED certification. s See page 13 for information about green-building legislation now pending in Pennsylvania. March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder 11
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The new certification program sets standards and definition to green. by M.H. Morrison 12
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omebuyers and builders want to be green but are often confused by what exactly that means. Pennsylvania Builders Association is working on implementing a certification program that will go a long way to helping them out.
The program, which is scheduled for roll out this spring, would give a “green” certification at three levels, making green building available to all builders no matter what type of home, price range or lot condition they may be working with.
National green build program
Just another program?
PBA was selected to be one of only a handful of associations nationwide to participate in the National Association of Home Builders’ pilot green build program. Having completed the pilot at the end of 2007, Jerry Leach, PBA field service director, explained that the conclusion was that these standards will work well for Pennsylvania, providing the state’s builders with an effective and affordable program that can offer their customers a truly certified green-built home. H. Edward Carr Jr., president of EIC/ Comfort Homes Corp., Lancaster, has served on the energy subcommittee of NAHB and said that it is important PBA has taken a leadership role in creating a voluntary program that deals with the environment and energy efficiency. “Some environmentalists may say that the program is not stringent enough,” Carr said. “The underlying approach is that it is better to get some environmental impact in a great number of houses, rather than a lot of impact in a few.”
With Energy Star and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design already in the market place, consumers and builders may ask why there was a need for another certification program. Leach explained that while the Energy Star rating of HVAC equipment and appliances may be a part of the final NAHB/PBA green build program, the LEED program is completely separate and is considered by many to be too expensive to implement. PBA’s approach will hopefully bring green build within reach of all new homebuyers and even into the remodeling industry. Carr said that the Energy Star program, where homes are inspected and certified by Home Energy Raters, focuses on energy conservation. In contrast, the NAHB green build program is more comprehensive, as it also looks at the environmental impact of building from water usage to lot design and preparation. “Also, PBA and NAHB approach is to go after those things that we have good intuitive information from an energy efficiency standpoint. And they can be implemented at a reasonable cost,” said Carr, whose company will be the third-party administrator in Pennsylvania. Mark Fortney, director of the Pennsylvania Housing Research/ Resource Center, said that green build helps define green for builders and consumers, allowing both to make informed decisions about construction techniques and materials. Still, the program has the necessary flexibility to include a lot of green initiatives. The system makes it easier to accommodate consumer interest, Fortney said. Builders can share specifically with customers how points were accrued for a certain level in the green build program. It combats “green washing,” where a product says it’s green, but it may be difficult to prove the claim.
What’s the score? The PBA certification program is based upon a system with points awarded in seven categories: site design, preparation and development; resource efficiency; energy efficiency; water efficiency; indoor environmental quality; operation, maintenance and homeowner education; and global impact. The steps to be certified start with a builder having a verifier review building plans to give a pre-construction rating or the score that he may obtain if the builder follows the plans with the green build materials and techniques that were incorporated into the design. The verifier would then inspect the home during construction. He would also do a final inspection, test the home for actual performance, total the points and forward the documentation to have the green certification sent out to the builder.
A balancing act The recently completed Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties office building was built with the environment in mind, said Steve Snell, the association’s executive officer. The building would probably have been eligible for LEED certification, except for the more than $50,000 price tag to receive it. “We tried to make all the right decisions when we were building. We didn’t think we needed to certify that we had done that,” Snell explained. “The green build program is an effort to provide the consumer with the product they desire, and the builder with the tools to produce that product,” Leach said. “It is our hope that this will lay a foundation for legislators who may feel this type of program may need to be someday mandated.” s
Green-building bills PBA has taken a position on two bills from the Special Session that looked at green building. Special Session Senate Bill 1, prime sponsor Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango), creates the Alternative Energy Investment Act, which includes language ensuring that multiple green-building standards will be able to meet the minimum criteria in the bill. At this time, the NAHB green-building standard, which will be known as the International Construction Code/NAHB Green Building Standard, would meet the four criteria listed under this section. Special Session House Bill 5, prime sponsor Rep. Matt Smith (D-Allegheny), provides a tax credit for high-performance green buildings. The bill was approved in December and has been referred to the Senate Energy Policies Committee. The key provisions of the House legislation, from PBA’s perspective, are the minimum criteria that the “high-performance building standards” must meet, which would limit the number of standards that can meet the included criteria to only one or, at most, two. PBA has argued that competition among multiple green-building standards is necessary to ensure that such certification is available at a reasonable cost, which benefits consumers and builders alike. In general, as PBA considers the different bills and initiatives from the state, the association strongly supports green-building incentives, rather than mandates. Additionally, any bills establishing greenbuilding standards should include NAHB’s green build standards as well as LEED or Energy Star.
March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder
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As featured in some of the first LEED® Platinum homes in North America.
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MemberInsider March/April 2008
Member briefs
Opposition to contractor registration delays ordinance Yardley Borough council sent its proposed contractor registration ordinance back to committee Jan. 15, following public opposition from homeowners and local contractors. The borough would have required any contractor completing at least $1,000 annually in home improvement work in the borough to pay $100 to register with the borough. According to the Bucks County Courier Times, residents said the borough’s staff would be unable to achieve the ordinance’s goals, and they thought contractors would pass the registration cost on to their customers. In addition, registration would provide no more information than what is required with local building permits. Pennsylvania Builders Association has agreed to the terms of a statewide home improvement contractor registration bill introduced by Sen. Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks), which would eliminate local officials’ ability to create most registration ordinances.
PBA collecting historical photos, videos PBA staff is beginning work on a short video documenting major milestones in the history of PBA. To improve the quality of this video, members are being asked to submit any historical photographs, home movies or videos they might have of homes under construction in Pennsylvania from the 1950s to 2000. Another useful subject for images would be any association activities, such as members meeting with legislators over the years. Any items submitted to the staff will be handled carefully and returned once copied. Members should clearly note their name and address on the materials to ensure proper return delivery.
Any notes explaining what is happening in the images, their location and the people who were photographed would be extremely helpful. PBA staff appreciates any help members can provide. Items should be mailed to PR/PA Director Scott Elliott at the PBA office, 600 N. 12th S., Lemoyne, PA 17043. Members submitting materials will be recognized in the credits of the video.
Save money with HBA Ink PBA members should take advantage of the member benefit that can save them 30 to 60 percent on ink and toner cartridges for computer printers. Visit www.hbaink.com and use hba as your username and ink as your password to receive the savings. From now through the end of the year, enter coupon code PBA for an additional 10 percent discount. All PBA members are encouraged to use this service and share it with their family and friends.
PBA experts provide free local programming PBA is providing local associations with educational seminar topics that can be used at board meetings, general membership meetings or any other member gathering. PBA staff, members and Premier Partners will give the presentations to local builders associations at no charge. These are not sales presentations. They are worthwhile educational talks, taught by people with expertise in the topics. Some of the 20 available seminars include selling to builders, introduction to QuickBooks, understanding state stormwater regulations and making your company stand out. To schedule a no-cost seminar at your local association or to receive a list of available seminars, contact Tracy Miller at (800) 692-7339, ext. 3027, or via e-mail at tmiller@PaBuilders.org. s
Member Insider • Keystone Builder
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When and who: Pennsylvania’s primary election is Tuesday, April 22. Voters will cast their ballots for all of the members of the House of Representatives and half of the members of the state Senate (among other offices). Background: Local builders associations are being encouraged to interview candidates for legislative office in preparation for the March 7 meeting of the Pennsylvania Committee for Affordable Housing, the association’s political action committee. To consider: While members also are encouraged to take personal responsibility in gathering information on candidates they may wish to support, they should take a special interest in supporting candidates sensitive to the needs of the housing industry.
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On the hill
Changing language for wetlands The state Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of developing draft revisions to its wetlands regulations (Chapter 105). In early January, DEP released two documents containing draft conceptual language concerning these revisions. Proposal—Wetland classification: This draft language proposes to expand the number of classification tiers from two to three and states that the chapter would be “construed broadly” in order to protect wetlands. Proposal—Wetland compensation: This draft language would provide for compensation options such as creating or restoring wetlands, participating in a wetland mitigation bank or wetland compensation program, or completing certain other types of projects (not necessarily involving wetlands) that yield environmental benefits. Member participation: PBA is participating on a Chapter 105 ad-hoc working group established under the department’s water resources advisory committee. PBA also is seeking member input and participation on a task force to evaluate all proposed Chapter 105 revisions. Members interested in the PBA task force should contact Grant Gulibon, PBA regulatory specialist, at (800) 692-7339, ext. 3013, or at ggulibon@PaBuilders.org.
According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the water quality goals set for the Chesapeake Bay under the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement (achievement of which was the purpose of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy) are not likely to be met by the 2010 deadline. Background: The EPA’s Chesapeake Bay program office also has discussed promoting the use of building techniques that do not increase stormwater runoff beyond that which existed on a site prior to development. Municipal response: In January, the Capital Region Council of Governments announced that it was considering a legal challenge of the Tributary Strategy and invited other central Pennsylvania municipalities affected by it to participate. PBA response: PBA is working with other stakeholder organizations to modify the Tributary Strategy’s nutrient credit trading program, and will meet with key state legislators and staff on this issue. PBA also has begun the BayWatch e-newsletter, which provides the housing industry’s perspective on Bay-related issues to state legislators representing districts in the bay watershed. Legislative action: On Feb. 12, the Pennsylvania Senate approved Senate Resolution 224, sponsored by Sen. Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland), which would require the state Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to determine the retrofit and upgrade cost for the 184 municipal sewage treatment plants in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to comply with their new nitrogen and phosphorus discharge limits under the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy. s
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Mudroom gets cleaned up Trends in homebuilding reflect organization, technology and comfort. by M.H. Morrison ationally, the homebuilding industry is seeing the demand for mud rooms, space for gadget recharging and the “man room.” While Pennsylvania homebuilders agree that some of these national trends are making their way into plans, others are less popular.
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Muddy organization Kristin Pascoe, director of marketing and sales with Pascoe Builders, New Castle, said 98 percent of their customers want what was once termed a mud room. “People see it on HGTV and that’s what they want,” she said. This room is usually right off the kitchen and especially popular for those with children. Ray Fertig, president of Pennsylvania Builders Association and vice president and director of residential development at Richard D. Poole LLC in York, agreed, saying the goal is to create a space where
the family can “kick off everything,” followed by placing the everything in the proper cubicle.
Plugged in Pascoe said many of her clients have a recharging area in the “new” mud room, but Fertig’s homeowners are using a little desk in the corner of the kitchen for the “home” laptop and as a charging station. Additionally, he said that his company has been getting a number of requests for first-floor studies that are “mom and dad” hideaways for activities like using the computer and paying bills.
What else? Greg Schiavone, manager of new construction sales, Castle Builders, Allentown, said his buyers have been asking for basements with higher ceilings, “elite” rooms and home offices.
He explained that the basements with more headroom make it easier to finish into a room that doesn’t feel like it’s a basement. Homebuyers with no young children are opting for an “elite” room, which is an adult-style entertainment space on the main floor of the home, Schiavone explained. He added that for the last four or five larger homes the company built, one of the spouses worked from home so an in-home office was a must. Fertig said that some other trends that he has seen are the three-car garage and covered front porches. Nationally, homebuilders have seen the “man room” gaining in popularity as an entertainment zone where a man “escapes” and defines his own decor. “I love the concept,” said Fertig, but admitted that he, like the others, hasn’t been asked to create this type of space. s
Have you seen a trend not mentioned? Please share it with us for inclusion in an upcoming issue of Keystone Builder.
KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN
Mark your calendars! Award entries for the 2008 Builders Gala will become available on Friday, April 18. Keep watching PBA publications and PaBuilders.org for details regarding the Gala, set for Nov. 7 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township.
2008 Builders
GALA
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Green Building
Greenleaf Homes is constructing a postand-beam ‘straw house’ in Fulton County.
From the field to walls: Fulton County builder takes on his first house of straw by Ken Mueller he Three Little Pigs may have given straw houses a bad name, but more builders and homeowners are giving these structures a serious look. An interest in reducing costs, along with a desire to reduce our impact on the environment, has made straw houses a viable option for builders. One such builder is Joe Hagerty of Greenleaf Homes in Warfordsburg. While Greenleaf has focused on building energy efficient homes for quite some time, the company is currently building a straw home for a family in Warfordsburg, Fulton County. Hagerty says the process began about two years ago, and it took nearly a year to get through the planning and approval stages. While these homes are somewhat common in other states like Colorado, they are new to Pennsylvania, and therefore, the approval process takes a bit longer than normal.
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In general, there are two types of straw homes: structural straw bale and post-and-beam homes utilizing straw bale infill. The Warfordsburg home is the postand-beam type and was designed by architect Sigi Koko of Down to Earth Design in Philadelphia. Greenleaf broke ground in June of 2007 with completion expected by June 2008. The reason for the longer building process is that these homes are custom projects featuring no straight edges — all of the walls in this particular home are curved. The foundation of the 6,000-squarefoot home sits on rubble trenches, rather than traditional footings. It is framed with four-by-six posts and the outer walls are filled with about 3,000 bales of straw. A 1.5-inch mud-slurry shotcrete (a sprayed concrete mixture) is applied to both the inside and outside surfaces of the straw, followed by a scratch coat
and finish coat, resulting in a stuccolike finish. Since straw is generally a farm waste product, it is relatively cheap, and provides an insulation rating of about R-42, nearly three times that of a traditional home. This and other eco-friendly features (i.e. radiant floors and a “living” roof) translate into significantly reduced utility costs. And these homes are just as safe and sturdy as traditional homes, while requiring virtually the same level of maintenance. Hagerty says he is seeing a lot of curiosity from other builders and believes this is “the next evolution in the construction industry.” While most national builders might not enter this particular field, it could be a boon to local custom homebuilders, boosted by expected tax incentives for energy efficient homes. Hagerty says builders who want to try their hand at a straw house should be patient and do their research. s
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Encapsulated recycled wood fiber in recycled polyethylene can be transformed into materials for decks. Photo courtesy of Weyerhaeuser ChoiceDek.
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by M.H. Morrison ecycling construction waste may mean sorting items into a bin or purchasing products that are made from recycled material. Take asphalt. It is the nation’s most widely recycled product, according to Brian Clark of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance. The Federal Highway Administration reports that 80 percent of asphalt pavement that is removed each year is reused as part of new roads, roadbeds, shoulders and embankments. The hot-mix asphalt industry, Clark explained, has been reclaiming and reusing asphalt pavement for many years. When a road is widened or resurfaced, the top layer of asphalt is removed and later re-mixed with fresh materials for a high-quality end product. In addition to recycling old pavement in hot-mix asphalt, other ingredients can
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Job site waste reduction may mean anything from recycling to donation
be mixed in such as rubber from old tires, slag from the steel-making process, sand from metal-casting foundries and waste from the production of roofing shingles. For example, the turnpike’s Susquehanna River Bridge has a road surface built with asphalt that included nearly 10,000 tons of scrap roofing materials, which replaced 1 percent of the “virgin” asphalt needed for the project.
Transforming waste At job sites, wood and cardboard are waste materials that might find another life. Deron Lauver, dispatch and sales at Deamer Trucking Ltd., Mifflintown, said that clean wood can be turned into mulch by his company, which produces 3,000 tractor-trailer loads of bulk mulch each year.
Scrap wood is also being turned into Weyerhaeuser’s ChoiceDek products. Made from recycled wood fiber encapsulated in recycled polyethylene, the material is ideal for decks, dock surfaces, playground equipment, boardwalks, handicap access ramps and walkways. The multitude of corrugated cardboard boxes that can clutter a job site are readily recyclable. They can be converted back into boxes or transformed into chipboard, paperboard, paper towels, tissues, and printing and writing papers. And all of the polystyrene (packaging foam) that protects microwaves, sinks and other breakables can be recycled. For additional options in reducing job site waste by recycling, contractors should check with the county’s recycling coordinator, according to Pete Previte, recycling markets development
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manager, Recycling Market Center at Penn State Harrisburg.
Recycling vs. downcycling For many in the green community, there are increasing concerns about recycled products even as their numbers increase. The goal for many goes beyond recycling to sustainability so that all products can be recycled an infinite number of times without degrading the quality of the end product. When the product of recycling is something of lesser quality, the process is then called downcycling. Plastics, while a large portion of the waste stream, are a recyclable that is usually downcycled. However, as the cost of virgin material to make plastic increases, Previte said that the market will find ways to recycle plastic into products that are of similar quality to the original. There are materials that are difficult or prohibitively expensive to recycle, leaving builders no choice except the landfill. But new technology and the increasing cost of the raw materials is expand-
ing the economic and green viability of recycling carpeting, fluorescent lights, mirrors and sheet glass, to name a few. An alternative form of recycling for builders may be as simple as giving products away. Shingles, for example, may be recycled by donating excess product to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, according to the Northeast Recycling Council. They also pointed out that careful purchasing can mean less waste as well as cost savings. “Recycling is a challenge. We have to change the way people think about waste,” Previte said.
Is green always good? H. Edward Carr Jr., president of EIC/Comfort Homes Corp., Lancaster, explained that there must be a balance in recycling or any other green initiative. He said that a lot of recycling is driven by the local market. For example, in some areas of the state, it costs his company more to haul away a large bin of waste than to separate and recycle materials.
Looking at the total environmental cost of recycling is also important. If the recyclable or the recycled product must be transported over long distances, the fossil-fuel energy used to transport the product may be more detrimental to the environment than throwing away the item or purchasing materials that included recycled content. “What’s green in one place is not green in another,” Carr said. s Need a place to recycle all that packaging foam? Go to www. epspackaging.org for a list of locations accepting polystyrene. Correction: On page C of the Member Insider section of the January/February issue, a photo caption should have read — From left: Housing advocate honoree Brian Hudson enjoys the gala with his wife, Gena Hudson, and Verna and Gary Lenker. s
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Hundredfold Farm, near Gettysburg, Adams County, now consists of seven homes on an 80-acre tract that includes a greenhouse and a Christmas tree farm.
Hundredfold Farm: A drastic green-build community by Ken Mueller ew homes continue to become more energy efficient and ecofriendly, through new technology and in response to consumer needs. Near Gettysburg, the Hundredfold Farm community is an intriguing example of extreme green building. Hundredfold Farm was originally envisioned in 1998 by a group of people who wanted to create an environmentally friendly cohousing community. At a glance the homes appear to be nothing more than standard two-story colonials, but closer inspection reveals numerous features that make them different. These modular homes can be installed in about two days, but the “green” customizations take a bit longer. There are rooftop solar panels, solar hot water (with gas backup), a passive solar layout (allowing the sun to be the primary source of heat), open floor plans and extra insulation. Additionally, the community draws its water from wells and wastewater is pumped through an on-site greenhouse filtration system, allowing much of it to be reused for non-potable purposes. Resident Leonard Mazza says his utility bills are drastically lower than those of a traditional home, with electric about onefifth of what most people pay in the region.
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Workers guide a home onto its foundation at Hundredfold Farm.
General contractor Bill Hartzell, one of the founding members of the community, says that while the homes are still tied into the electric grid, his house generates about three times more electricity than it uses. What’s not to like about a $13 monthly electric bill … year round? The community currently consists of seven homes, with seven more to be built over the next few years. But even
then, the entire cluster of homes will sit on only six acres of the 80-acre tract of land, with most of the remaining land being cultivated as a working Christmas tree farm. While living and investing in such a planned community would be a major lifestyle commitment for most of us, Hartzell says builders and homeowners can learn from Hundredfold Farm, including features that can easily and cheaply be built into traditional homes. Hartzell says builders should rotate homes on a property to take advantage of southern exposures and spend more time focusing on the proper placement of windows. Tighter insulation, proper attic ventilation and being selective about the color of siding and roofing material can also provide great energy saving benefits. If you are interested in going the extra mile and would like to start a community similar to Hundredfold Farm, Hartzell has some simple advice: “Don’t reinvent the wheel, and do your homework,” as there are nearly 100 such communities throughout the United States, all of which would be more than eager to share their knowledge. For more information about the Adams County community, visit www.hundredfoldfarm.org. s
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Green Building
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Eco goes big with mansion project by Barbara K. Bradshaw revival of recycling and reusing classic building materials in residential construction is transforming building into an art form. This form of recycling by the building industry is in addition to materials such as wood, drywall, cardboard and siding being recycled at construction sites. According to Waste Management, a consultant to builders, approximately 80 percent of a homebuilder’s waste is recyclable. On the other end of the recycling stream, the companies that market recycled resources are expanding and developing new products. Simply put, it’s a residential recycling Renaissance!
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Eco-mansion project One centerpiece in this recycling resurgence in residential construction is a Bethlehem eco-mansion project. It was built and completed in 2004 by Raymond F. Albertson Jr., president of Silver Creek Construction. Albertson established his private company in 1994, specializing in resi20
dential construction in Center Valley. Since then he has been a forerunner for residential recycling projects.
Four project goals Albertson and his eco-mansion customer set four goals: to use as many local materials as possible; to utilize as many recycled and sustainable materials as available; to be as energy efficient as could be managed; and to create a home that was as non-toxic as attainable. The eco-mansion project achieved all of these goals with the completed custom home grand, comfortable and attractive. The design influence was a combination of Japanese, classic and craftsman styles. The final product included such unique features as a “mail room”; a library that serves as a dining room with a custombuilt table; private offices for the co-owners; and an exercise room that doubles as a handicapped-accessible guest bedroom with an attached spa bathroom equipped with a sauna and Japanese soaking tub. Goal 1: The customer selected local products including: slate floors and countertops, Pennsylvania bluestone for the
patio surfaces, fieldstone for the exterior veneer, many locally harvested woods for interior uses and Moravian tile. Goal 2: Recycled and sustainable materials used in the project included blown cellulose (recycled newspaper) insulation, imitation slate roofing (recycled rubber tires), decking produced from recycled plastic, drywall made from recycled materials, antique lighting fixtures, recycled cypress wood flooring from a barn in Gettysburg, tiles made from recycled materials and a fireplace mantle salvaged from a curbside in Allentown. Goal 3: Albertson improved the energy efficiency of the home by adding solar panels to generate the hot water used to heat the home through radiant in-floor tubing and to heat the in-ground pool in the summer. South-facing windows and overhangs capture and control natural heat. Additionally, photovoltaic panels are used to provide for the home’s electrical needs. Albertson used fluorescent lights where appropriate. There is a clerestory to ventilate the home without air conditioning, along with cross ventilation from windows and sliding doors.
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In the kitchen, a “Russian stove� supplies additional heat with special tiles and a baffled flue design. Goal 4: In choosing the materials, the homeowner selected paints and wood finishes that would release no volatile organic compounds — or as little as possible. Albertson helped check all of the materials’ off-gassing agents (how they release these compounds).
Energy efficient, non-toxic custom home “I was happy to be part of a project inspired by the owners and architect with vision for the future of green building,� Albertson said. The benefits gleaned from using green-building techniques are economic savings, conservation and environmental protection. s
Additional suppliers of ‘recycled’ materials • A ged Woods, York, 800-233-9307 • A ntique Woods and Colonial Restoration, Morgantown, 888-261-4284 • A uthentic Wood Floors, Glen Rock, 800-765-3966 • T he Barnwood Connection, Barto, 610-845-3101 • T he Barn Saver, Narvon, 717-445-8246 • C entre Mills Antique Floors, Aspers, 717-677-9698 • C onklin’s Authentic Antique Barnwood, Susquehanna, 570-465-3832 • G reen Demolitions, Honesdale, 570-253-8933 • H abitat for Humanity ReStore, Bellefonte, 814-353-2390 • H abitat for Humanity ReStore, Lancaster, 717-293-0250
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Nanticoke, 570-258-0998 • Habitat for Humanity ReStore, York, 717-852-7574 • LS Sadler, Indiana, 724-463-3044 • New Life Wood, Johnstown, 814-288-6042 • Old Woods Limited, McConnellsburg, 866-208-9663 • Olde Good Things, Scranton, 570-341-7668 • Pennsylvania Lumber Connection, Downingtown, 610-656-0990 • Sylvan Brandt Resawn & Antique Floors, Lititz, 717-626-4250 • U.S. Recycling and Wrecking, Lancaster, 717-393-2992 • The Woods Co., Chambersburg, 717-263-6254
Pa. companies reclaim materials for builders Stone barn to homes C.M. Enterprises, Walnutport, reclaims fieldstone and other stone from historic barns in the Lehigh Valley, supplying stone to builders for homes, commercial buildings and landscaping walls.
Architectural elements and more Second Chance Inc., a nonprofit company, with locations in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., gives old buildings new life by working with local and regional architects, builders and contractors to search old buildings, slated for demolition, for wood, metal, plaster, stone and other architectural elements that can be reused in new construction. Olde Good Things, a nationwide company with a warehouse store in Scranton, reclaims and recycles architectural elements destined for the landfill. They have an unusual line of mirrors and panels that find their way into new homes. Authentic Wood Floors in Glen Rock takes down old barns and houses, retrieving fine wood for restoration. Wood from this company is used in flooring, beams, brown boarding, siding and paneling. EcoStar, a division of Carlisle SynTec in Carlisle, manufactures and installs Majestic Slate, a roofing product that emulates natural slate, but weighs less and is produced using rubber and plastic. East Penn Hardwood Flooring Corp., Slatington, installs and refinishes hardwood flooring. They inlay medallions, custom logos and borders for dramatic focal points. An in-house artist can create designs to a customer’s specifications. s
VISIT ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS: ALLENTOWN, PA 18103 (610)797-4996 (800)950-9558 FAX(610)797-6112 MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055 (717)697-9209 (800)252-4201 FAX(717)697-9501 LEETSDALE, PA 15056 (724) 251-0555 (800) 516-1681 FAX(724)251-0777 WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702 (570)824-9879 (800)955-9339 FAX(570)824-9848
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Exploring ener gy tip sheet
Pumping up the heat by M.H. Morrison ir-source heat pumps first gained popularity during the 1970s, offering one product that supplied air conditioning and heat. Most operated with a backup system that kicked in when temperatures dropped. Over time, the heat pump improved so that it worked in ever-lower temperatures before the backup system began working. However, for many consumers and some contractors, the heat pump remained a heat source that was suspect.
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The case for air-source heat pumps Because modern homes have tighter building envelopes, they lose much less energy than older homes and benefit from lower capacity systems, such as the air-source heat pump. “Right-sizing” of these systems has dramatically improved their efficiency. This is a change from the past when builders may have installed units with a larger capacity than necessary. The heat pump ran less often, but that is not as efficient as a correctly sized system, running nearly all the time. In general, the units are more efficient with the condensers working in temperatures as low as zero degrees. Finally, the up front cost of installing an air-source heat pump is less than its rival, the ground-source or geo-thermal heat pump.
It’s not all heating roses So why doesn’t every home have an air-source heat pump? “A ground-source heat pump is more economical” compared to an air-source system, said H. Edward Carr Jr., president of EIC/Comfort Homes Corp., Lancaster. While a ground-source unit is more expensive to install, in eight to 10 years its energy efficiency pays back the extra initial cost. “As energy rates go up, the payback cycle will come down,” he added.
Also, the lifespan of an air-source heat pump is less than that of an air conditioning only compressor unit. This is directly related to the heat pump’s compressor working more days of the year. While an air-source heat pump can deliver heat as quickly as a fossil-fuel heating system, the temperature of the air used to warm the space is in the range of 85 to 95 degrees, which is below skin temperature. This means the heat may feel like a cool breeze to some homeowners.
“However, you don’t get the big temperature swings of a forced hot-air system where the air temperature is in the 130 to 140 degree range,” said Jack Wilson, residential new construction manager for PHE Mechanical Contractors in State College and Mifflintown. On the whole, Wilson said that an air-source heat pump may be the most economical choice for a homeowner, but that can only be determined after looking at the full heating picture. s March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder
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On-site recycling may be economical by Eric Wise uilders in some markets have found that hauling away separate containers of recycling is more expensive than paying to haul construction waste to a landfill. However, on-site recycling can eliminate the transportation of some waste products, providing useful materials on the job site. Fred Thornhill, president of Construction Waste Recycler of Texas, operates a business that brings a mobile grinder to residential construction sites. He says his company offers an economical solution because builders are cutting landfill fees and eliminating transportation costs of hauling recyclable materials. When Thornhill grinds on site, he grinds untreated waste lumber (and sometimes cardboard) for mulch and erosion control. The grinder removes nails during grinding. Unpainted drywall scraps are ground for use as a soil additive, producing gypsum, which is valuable in areas with clay soils like Pennsylvania. Finally, waste tile, brick, concrete and shingles are ground for use in the beds under driveways and sidewalks. While the environmental benefits of on-site recycling are clear, the economic advantage has not been established.
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We have simple SOLUTIONS for your SCREENING PROJECTS‌ SCREENEZE:
First, many builders are finding they can reduce the waste by tightening purchases of excess materials and improving their framing techniques. To make on-site recycling efforts pay off, builders must have enough volume of materials for grinding, which requires several sites under construction in one development. Finally, the cost of sending construction waste to a landfill has remained relatively low in Pennsylvania, keeping the market thin for firms like Thornhill’s operation. As markets for construction-waste management and recycling change, on-site recycling may become a money-saving option for Pennsylvania homebuilders. s
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Member spotlight
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Centennial Homes
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yg by M.H. Morrison no-nonsense business philosophy mixed with family has been at the heart of the award-winning Centennial Homes. “We believe that bigger is not necessarily better,” said Robert Hutchins, vice president and production manager of the Pocono-area company. “We believe that better is better. We aim to impress with solid performance, quality and value.” “To that end, we use name-brand products installed by master tradesmen. Most of them have been with us for over 10 years. For example, our electricians have been wiring our homes for over 18 years.” This commitment to value and the customer earned the construction company five 2007 Pocono Builders Association awards. Fittingly, the team at Centennial Homes is comprised of more than professional colleagues. “My wife, Colleen, and I shared an office for 18 years. Her desk is literally four feet from mine,” said Hutchins. And his brother, James, is president and CEO of the business that specializes in residential construction. This close-knit feeling extends to Centennial Homes’ customers. “We frequently build homes for multiple members of the same family,” Hutchins said. “After we turn over the home, they invite us over for a plate of spaghetti and a glass of wine. It’s rare for us to have customers who are not 100 percent pleased with the finished home.” Many others have noticed Centennial’s outstanding record. In 1999, Hutchins was honored by the Pocono Builders Association as its builder of the year for his outstanding dedication to the Northeastern Pennsylvania building industry.
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“Being respected by my peers is important,” he added. Hutchins’ commitment to his industry was most recently recognized by the Pennsylvania Builders Association when he was named a lifetime director, having served on the statewide association’s board since 1997. Additionally, he has served on various committees including the governmental affairs committee. In 2001 and again in 2007 he was elected to represent the counties of Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Wayne, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Susquehanna as regional vice president. Within PBA, Hutchins is well known as one of the visionaries who fought for and succeeded in creating a statewide building code, but he didn’t stop there. Hutchins worked within his region to create inter-municipal agreements to aid in the implementation of the code by providing adequate inspection and seamless regulations. His dedication to work and community extends beyond Centennial Homes and builders’ associations. Hutchins serves on the Pocono Mountain Police commission. In 2002 he was elected to a two-year term as a Coolbaugh Township supervisor, and in 2004 he was re-elected to a six-year term. “I try to be involved in a positive way and I give input whenever I’m asked. I serve where and when I’m needed in the community and the building industry,” he said. s
Business quick facts: Centennial Homes • Years in business: 21 years • Counties of operation: Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike and Lackawanna • No. of homes per year: 20-25 new residential constructions • Local association: Pocono Builders Association • Recent Awards: Five 2007 Pocono Builders Association Builders awards for Best Value Under $150,000, Best Value $150,000-$200,000, Most Affordable Value Under $125,000, Best Home Under 1500SF and Best Auxiliary Building. • Company motto: “Who needs a big mortgage? We Build Sensible Homes for Sensible People” • On the Web: www.nowgrow.com
March/April 2008 • Keystone Builder
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Final word
Vicari finds odd items at old farmstead
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obert Vicari Jr. of Woodland Workshop in Milford, Pike County, stumbled across a few interesting items in 1985 while working in Ridgebury, N.Y. Vicari was working on an old farm house when he discovered a maple woodworker’s plane inside of a wall, along with a newspaper from 1870. He also found a decorative carved stone horse head in the foundation of the barn, along with an income tax check dated 1929 when he removed floor molding. Have you encountered something unusual while remodeling a home or excavating a new building site? Contact Eric Wise at Pennsylvania Builders Association at (800) 692-7339, ext. 3003, or by e-mail at ewise@PaBuilders.org. s
Fax: The silent eco-killer Looking for simple ways for your company to “go green” but not sure where to start? The answer could be as close as your fax machine. Originally developed for the telegraph, faxing has seen better days. In fact, as early as the 1990s, information technology gurus were sure the facsimile (fax) machine was on its way out. Now with businesses searching for more ways to be eco-friendly, there may be no better time to take a hard look at your fax machine and show it the door. Fax machines are one of the most energy intensive office tools. Even when idle, they consume energy. The damage, however, goes beyond the fax itself, as U.S. companies use 210 billion sheets of paper each year for faxing. With more than 17 million trees lost annually to supply fax paper, global warming and soil erosion are among numerous environmental results of traditional machine faxing. Today, nearly everything the trusty fax machine transmitted can be sent to your computer far easier and faster. If you have a computer equipped with a modem, you can enable and configure the fax service in Windows to send, receive, track and monitor faxes, eliminating paper and the need for ink and toner cartridges. Computer faxes also mean never again worrying about confidential information falling into the wrong hands or important documents being picked up at the fax machine by an unintended recipient. The reasons to change are compelling. Instead of losing money, time and valuable ecological resources, why not opt for electronic faxing over traditional machine faxing? Leave the faxing blues behind and go green. s 26
The house that popped Back in 1985, PBA Field Service Director Jerry Leach was on a service call for his then-employer to repair a few nail pops in a home that was approaching the one-year warranty anniversary date. The homeowner had called several times about the problem, which she was assured would be handled with one service call at the end of the warranty period. Arriving at the home that morning, Leach noticed quite a few nail pops on the kitchen ceiling. Supplies in hand, he went to work and immediately could see that repairing this kitchen ceiling would require up to an hour of work. And while he anticipated being late for his next assignment, he didn’t think he would spend the day fixing nail pops. Just when Leach thought he was finished, the homeowner pointed out more nail pops in the dining area, then more in the living room, the bedrooms and the bathrooms. Leach usually carried a half-pint container of joint compound to fix nail pops, but ended up buying a five-gallon bucket to fix the home’s 800 nail pops. “As far as nail pops go, that house hit the jackpot, with the perfect storm of conditions,” Leach said. “Evidently, it had rained for a solid week during framing. The house was then completed in 60 days and was heated with a woodstove.” The moral of the story? Moisture content of the lumber prior to attaching drywall is critical. Unless you want to repair quite a few nail pops, make sure the lumber is adequately dry. Have you ever encountered an odd situation or freak occurrence in one of your homes? Contact Eric Wise at PBA at (800) 692-7339, ext. 3003, or by e-mail at ewise@PaBuilders.org to share your story. s
I Keystone Builder • March/April 2008
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