Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Women on Wednesday
Feb. 21


Topics/Events to Ponder:

building sector unites to confront global climate change

January 1, 2007

Santa Fe, N.M. — Recognizing that the building sector is responsible for almost half of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, The American Institute of Architects (AIA / www.aia.org), U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC / www.usgbc.org), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE / www.ashrae.org), Architecture 2030 and about 20 other leaders attended a special meeting at Greenbuild 2006 in Denver to confront the global-warming crisis.

The group reached a consensus on three critical issues facing the building sector as it works to bring energy consumption and GHG emissions in this sector under control: the need for a common goal; the definition of this goal; and a baseline to measure progress against, and have adopted "The 2030 Challenge" targets. These targets call for all new buildings and major renovations to reduce their fossil-fuel GHG-emitting energy consumption by 50 percent immediately; increasing this reduction to 60 percent in 2010; 70 percent in 2015; 80 percent in 2020; 90 percent in 2025; and finally, that all new buildings would be carbon neutral by the year 2030. The 2030 Challenge targets had previously been adopted by the AIA, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (for all buildings in all cities; Resolution #50) and individual cities and counties; endorsed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and incorporated into their “Statement of Action”; integrated into the EPA’s Target Finder; and promoted by the National Wildlife Federation and others. The collaborative adoption creates a powerful consensus allowing for the sharing of information and support. For more information, visit www.architecture2030.org.


Cradle to Cradle Certification provides a company with a means to tangibly, credibly measure achievement in environmentally-intelligent design and helps customers purchase and specify products that are pursuing a broader definition of quality.
This means using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility.


This is a smidgen of the interesting Penny Bonda column:

www.interiordesign.net


I am having some difficulty finding a sustainable alternative to vinyl wallcovering. Any suggestions?

Penny Bonda
Interior Design · January 8, 2007

Not all current “green” offerings come close to the durability and cleanability of a Type II vinyl. Many manufacturers have introduced vinyl alternative wallcoverings, but as one recently told me, “some of the products out today are basically "bastardized" non-woven technologies which don't perform like vinyl.” Others, of course, disagree.

Milliken has introduced 180 Walls, a PVC-free textile wallcovering that hangs without paste, can be removed years later without damage to walls, is made of 100% recycled fiber and is breathable rather than impenetrable like vinyl, which helps to inhibit mold – all good environmental attributes. As for durability and cleanability, Milliken says 180 Walls excels in both and passes vinyl performance requirements.

Carnegie’s Xorel has been on the market for many years and is certainly more durable and easily maintained as any vinyl with the added benefit of being free of chlorine, plasticizers, heavy metals and harmful dyes, though generally at a higher cost. In breaking news, Carnegie has teamed with Len-Tex to introduce its collection of Surface IQ, a vinyl alternative wallcovering based on TPO - thermoplastic olefin, a brand new sheet film technology. Watch for the announcement in February.

Other wallcoverings to consider include Duraprene by Designtex and the Innvironments Collection by Innovations. One thing is certain – product suppliers are scrambling to provide new products in response to requests like yours. Keep it up.


Are there any hypo-allergenic wool carpet options available in the marketplace?
December 20, 2006


Hi Penny, I just read your article on wool carpet and it surely is a great option. We have clients with wool carpet they’ve had for 35 years and it wears like iron! The one area we run into issues is with wool from overseas as it has to be treated to enter the US. Those who experience a reaction to wool carpet often are reacting more to the treatments for pests and moths than the actual wool itself. We’ve had best luck with carpets made and shipped in from Canada.

The reader referred me to Nature's Carpet, a Canadian line of natural fiber, non-toxic and biodegradable floor coverings, developed and distributed by Colin Campbell. It’s a great product—made from all natural, biodegradable high quality wool, natural jute backings and natural bonding agents utilizing renewable resources—and I’m happy to pass the recommendation on to you.



10:10

Linda Delair.

Interviewing::
Green Fusion
All of our designers are LEED AP and Linda Delair has lectured extensively on green materials and design options. http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/Team

Deborah Crosby , Denise Bellas, Linda Delair and Kathleen Lanphier, Green Fusion Design Center's interior designers are now LEED AP. What is LEED®? LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ and is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building lifecycle.
What is LEED AP? LEED AP stands for leadership in energy and environmental design accredited professional. The LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the integrated design and LEED certification process.

The LEED AP credential is given by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The foremost authority on Green Building and demostrates a superior level of green design and expertise.

Linda Delair – Green Fusion Design Center’s Interior Designer & Green materials expert for this event. Topics covered included:
• Greener choices in countertops- Paper, Glass, Tile Concrete, Lava & Soap Stone
• Durability, Functionality, & Style
• Design choices that fit your home


She may be joined by our other designers
http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/team.htm if they are available.

Green Fusion Design Center
14 Greenfield Avenue
San Anselmo, CA 94960
P(415) 454-0174 F(415) 454-0173
www.gfdc1.com
Linda and other women with Green Fusion!

**********
10:30


Community Involvement

In 2004, Richardson ISD Carolyn G. Bukhair Elementary opened, and students began walking to school each day on recycled glass floors. Ecologically sound Terrazzo runs throughout the two-story building in vivid blue, mustard, jade, and several shades of beige to brown. District values like ‘fairness,’ ‘patriotism,’ and ‘honesty’ are inlaid in steel insets throughout the Terrazzo floors and are repeated in a hanging mobile over the front desk.

In an effort to educate the next generation of green builders, EnviroGLAS Products Inc. spearheads Recycling Day at Bukhair on November 15. Students receive encouragement and instruction in ecology, recycling and sustainability and have the chance to see examples of products made from recycled materials. They watch a slide presentation on the installation of their school’s recycled glass floor, learn that the glass came from a local source, and have the opportunity to ask and answer questions. They participate in their own recycling drive and sign pledge cards to recycle at home. Students also receive TEKS appropriate recycling classroom lessons.

EnviroGLAS Products has donated terrazzo products to a number of worthy causes, including:
• Make a Wish Foundation, Dallas, TX
• Earthways Home, St. Louis, MO
• Travis County Demonstration Garden, Austin TX
• Sustainable Home - Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Florence, KY

EnviroGLAS Products Inc • 3941 Legacy Drive, Suite 204 -211B • Plano, Texas 75023
(888) 523-7894 • (972) 276-9451 • info@enviroglasproducts.com

www.enviroglasproducts.com

Patty's tel. is: (214) 367-7513 8235

Extra Information:

Recycling Organizations

www.nrc-recycle.org
www.recycletx.com
www.wrap.org.uk
www.whiterocklake.org

Environmental News

www.enn.com
www.livegreenordie.com
www.resource-recycling.com
www.recyclingtoday.com
***
11:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS:


Affordable Bamboo Housing: A Presentation by Oscar Hidalgo

Saturday, February 24th, 7pm

@ Grandma Mary's Organic Farm (directions below)


Architect Oscar Hidalgo, dubbed "the Grandfather of Bamboo", will discuss his new project: modular bamboo housing for earthquake and hurricane relief in South America and the Caribbean. Hidalgo has dedicated his life to bamboo research, and teaching the world about the limitless possibilities of this remarkable plant. Born in a bamboo house in Chinchina, Colombia, bamboo construction was common in his state, where many residential and public buildings were constructed using this cheap and widely available material. Hidalgo is the author of many books, including the definitive book on bamboo: Bamboo, The Gift of the Gods, which will be for sale at the presentation.


*Please bring some food or drink to share.
Grandma Mary’s Organic Farm is a half-acre urban agricultural site in El Cerrito, CA, located @ 100 Behrens St. near the El Cerrito Plaza Bart station.
From the bart station: walk east on Fairmont 3 blocks. Turn right on Behrens St. and walk to the dead end.
Driving: Exit I-80 @ Central and head east. Go right on San Pablo and left on Fairmont, head a few blocks past the bart station, make a right on Behrens Street, head to the end of the block and you are there.

Recent Biomimicry Innovations:

Microbe-inspired replacement for platinum catalysts in fuel cells

One reason fuel cells are so expensive is the use of platinum in the membrane that conducts the hydrogen chemistry. Cyanobacteria catalyze this same reaction using an enzyme created from common and biocompatible metals. Cedric Tard and Christopher Pickett of the John Innes Centre in the UK have successfully mimicked the active site of the hydrogenase protein. The resulting iron-sulphur framework functions as an electrocatalyst for proton reduction, a potentially important step towards inexpensive materials to replace platinum in the anodes of fuel cells.


Butterfly-inspired Pigment-free Color

The feathers, scales, and exoskeletons of iridescent birds, butterflies, and beetles have structural features that cause light to diffract and interfere in ways that amplify certain wavelengths. This creates brilliant colors to the viewer through the use of structure rather than the addition of a chemical pigment. Imagine, instead of painting a product, simply adding surface layers that play with light. Thin-film interference of this sort can create color that is 1) four times brighter than pigment, 2) never needs repainting, 3) avoids the toxic effects associated with pigment mining and synthesis. The first products from this research include Morphotex, a pigment-free fiber produced by Teijin ( Japan), and a low-energy, sunlight-readable PDA screen from Qualcomm (USA).


Diatom- and sponge -inspired silicon manufacture

Silicon chips are now processed in energy intensive, toxic ways. Marine sponges, on the other hand, form silica dioxide structures at ambient conditions with the help of a protein called silicatein. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have created a mimic of this protein called a “cysteine-lysine block copolypeptide.” Lab results confirm that these molecules are able to direct formation of ordered silica structures, just as silicatein does. This demonstrates the possibility of developing a non-toxic, low temperature approach to computer chip manufacture.


************************************************
11:30

Workshop Announcements:

February 20-March 3, 2007 --- Natural Building and Ecological Living
Tlasco, Tlaxcala, Mexico

Cob Cottage Company, Zopilote Association and Proyecto San Isidro Educacion Permanente is offering their 21st year of Natural Building and Ecological Living workshops of practical hands-on learning in Highland Mexico. This workshop to focus on Natural Building. Topics to include: Mexico's traditional buildings; understanding local ecology and culture; local economics and building techniques; the natural house (using local resources); climate-responsive building; practice and explanation of cob, strawbale, lightclay, thatch, natural floors, natural plasters, roundwood and wastewood; design of natural buildings. Cost: $1200 includes all meals and camping. Contact Cob Cottage for more info: 541-942-2005 or http://www.cobcottage.com/ecologicalliving


MARCH

March 5-April 1, 2007 --- Earthbag Building Workshops
Punta Gorda, Belize

Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer offer their personal expertise and guidance in the construction of a small earthbag "casita" located at the Maya Mountain Research Farm tucked in the jungle of the Maya Mountains in Southern Belize. Learn the latest tools, tricks, and techniques for this cutting edge contemporary form of earthen architecture from the authors of Earthbag Building.

Doni and Kaki will conduct two, 2–week hands–on workshops focusing on construction of an earthbag structure designed for a high rainfall tropical location. This will be an adventurous, fun, life affirming opportunity for all. And the food will be awesome! We invite you to join us in this wonderful collaboration of efforts! For more information, and to register for either two weeks or all four weeks, visit Maya Mountain Research Farm (http://www.mmrfbz.org/earthbag.html). Space is limited, so register today. We'll see you there!

March 15-21, 2007 ---"Build with Us" Workshops
Yasothorn, Northeastern Thailand

Pun Pun Organic Farm, Seed Center, and Sustainable Living Learning Center invites you to join with the Pun Pun Team of builders/facilitators, learning natural building techniques in a hands-on workshop experience. This year Pun Pun will host two, 7-day workshops where you will experience building an earthen home from starting designs to finishing touches. This workshop will be held at "Suan Tom Ruam Jai" (Unity of Dhamma Garden) emerging intentional sustainable community. Experience Thai village/farming life while learning the skills you need to be able to build your own efficient, affordable, beautiful home the easy way! For more information click here: http://www.mynewsletterbuilder .com/home/published.php?action =view&newsletter_id=1409579230

March 17-November 17, 2007 --- Internships
Asheville, North Carolina

Various internship positions are available with Kleiwerks for the season. Please visit the Asheville Village Institute page for more information about this program. http://www.kleiwerks.org/avi/

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