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In This Issue:
FREE MOISTURE PROTECTION PAMPHLET FOR SIDING INSTALLERS AVAILABLE ON TOOLBASE.ORG:
NAHB’s how-to pamphlet for siding installers, “Moisture Protection of Exterior Walls — An Installer’s Guide,” has been updated and is available free of charge in English and Spanish. The pamphlet, which was updated by NAHB’s Building Product Issues Committee and the NAHB Research Center, covers several types of siding and veneer applications, including brick, manufactured stone, stucco, thin brick, and EIFS over wood sheathing or paper-backed products. It provides guidance on designing and installing a weather-resistive barrier; protecting exterior walls against condensation and moisture penetration; and protecting moisture sensitive materials against decay, mold, fungus, and rot. The pamphlet is available for download on the ToolBase website. To obtain bulk copies, call Cynthia Day at NAHB at 800-368-5242 x8291.
HYBRID LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY SHOWS PROMISE:
According to a recent press release (08/07/06), preliminary field test results for a new hybrid lighting technology developed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) indicate potentially significant savings in lighting and maintenance costs. The technology uses a rooftop-mounted solar collector that focuses sunlight into 127 optical fibers connected to hybrid light fixtures. These fixtures are equipped with diffusion rods, which look similar to fluorescent bulbs. A sensor controls the intensity of the artificial lamps to maintain a constant level of illumination, even when there is little or no sunlight. According to one developer, the system can save about 6,000 kilowatt hours per year in lighting and another 2,000 in reduced cooling needs, which can result in significant energy and money savings over time. Over the next several months, ORNL will continue testing the technology, and will work on reducing its cost. To learn more, read the press release.
INSTANT HOUSE, JUST ADD AIR:
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times (Janet Eastman; 08/17/06) describes a new “home of the future” that’s portable, flexible … and inflatable. The innovative structure can be moved by simply letting the air out and packing the flattened material. Architect Alexis Rochas and his students at the Southern California Institute of Architecture have developed two inflatable prototypes. One structure, the Aeromads, which measures 20’x15’x10’, can be flipped around to fit the exterior space and weighs a mere 74 pounds. It is sheathed in nylon rib coated with aluminized Mylar to reflect light and provide thermal insulation, is coated with urethane rubber and a laminate to make it airtight, and has inside seams covered in a Dacron used for boat sails. The structure also features an embedded photovoltaic system, flexible batteries, and solar water heating. To learn more about the prototypes, read the article.
INDUSTRY JOURNAL ANNOUNCES TOP TEN GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS:
The editors of Sustainable Industries Journal have selected and profiled the top 10 green building products of 2006. According to a recent press release (08/03/06), the products were judged by a panel of green building experts and include innovative advances in lighting, coatings, plywood, paint, concrete, and alternative energy. The winners include an innovative insulation product; a formaldehyde-free plywood product; recycled metal lighting; a spherical microsolar cell; a high-performance concrete; a dual-flush toilet; furniture from salvaged wood; and a geothermal heating system. For more information, read the release or download the 2006 Top Green Building Products supplement for free online at www.sijournal.com/resources.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND VEHICLES REUSED FOR HOUSING:
A recent Associated Press article (Ken Maguire, 08/06/06) reported on a new home built using steel and concrete salvaged from Boston's $14.6 billion highway project, called the "Big Dig." The home's owner, a civil engineer who spent 11 years working on the Big Dig, believes the house can be a prototype for recycling. Instead of dumping top-shelf materials that were remnants from the project, Pedini used them to construct his 4,300 square-foot home. The frame was erected in just three days. Pedini is now pushing for a percentage of government-funded transportation construction costs to require "pre-recycling," or engineering that enables the materials to be used for a second use. To learn more, read the article.
The vehicles that travel bridges, tunnels, and highways like the Big Dig are also being repurposed for use in housing. A recent article in the (Southern Oregon) Mail Tribune (Paul Fattig, 08/08/06) reports on a new 1,545-square foot home framed with steel studs created from recycled cars. According to the article, the galvanized steel frame house is wrapped in a reflective radiant barrier and a four-inch layer of polystyrene insulation, producing what its builders says will lower energy costs by 40 percent and eliminate concern about mold and other moisture-related issues. The builders also say the home is resistant to fire and termites, and its construction produced far less waste than a typical home. To learn more, read the article.
AIA TO FINALIZE STANDARDS ON ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS, SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRODUCTS:
According to a recent article in Interior Design (Mairi Beautyman, 08/23/06), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will hold two meetings in September dedicated to finalizing the National Emergency Standards on Sustainable Building Products and Zero Energy buildings. The AIA aims to use the standard programs to cut fossil fuel energy use in half by 2010 and be carbon neutral by 2030. The first meeting, on September 11, will address the Zero Energy Building Standard, which includes energy audits, reverse metering, renewable power, energy efficiency, energy storage, energy recovery ventilation, and energy cost projections. The second meeting, on September 12, will cover the SMART (Sustainable Materials Rating Technology) Building Product Standard, which mirrors the approved SMART Fabric, Flooring, and Apparel Standards and the California Gold Sustainable Carpet Standard. For more information, read the article.
NEW COLLEGE PROGRAM TO TRAIN ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPERTS:
According to a recent Associated Press article (08/06/07), a new program beginning this winter at New Hampshire Community Technical College will offer an associates degree program in energy efficiency consulting. The program will train students in performing energy efficiency audits in renovations and new construction projects. According to Tom Goulette, the college’s vice president of academic affairs, the program will help contractors, building managers and supervisors. The program was developed by the U.S. Department of Energy and is only the second of its kind in the country; it is modeled on a similar program offered at Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore. For more information, read the article.
NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM EXPANDS "GREEN HOUSE" PROGRAMMING:
This fall, the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., will expand its exhibition “The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design,” which runs until June 2007, to include how-to sessions, general and technical lectures, and other educational programs. According to a recent article in Interior Design (Meaghan O'Neill, 08/18/06), the Museum will offer lectures on new experimentations in sustainable urban planning, architecture, and design; off-the-grid strategies; and efficient use of natural resources. The Museum will also present “Greenovation: An Expo for the Home,” on Saturday, November 18. The Expo will include workshops on green kitchens, healthy homes, sustainable landscaping, and money-saving techniques. To learn more, read the article.
2007 INTERNATIONAL BAMBOO DESIGN COMPETITION OPEN:
Bamboo Technologies of Maui has launched the first International Design Competition for Structural Bamboo Buildings, according to a recent press release (08/10/07). The competition is open to architects, builders, designers, and students anywhere in the world. Entries must be registered by December 31, 2006, submitted by January 15, 2007, and winners will be announced March 15. Design categories include family housing, urban buildings, and commercial buildings. This competition aims to develop new designs for bamboo buildings; raise awareness of the use of certified structural bamboo for building code approved structures; and introduce architects, designers, and builders to bamboo as a structural material. Winners will receive a cash prize and will have the opportunity to be commercially built, with royalties paid to the designer. For more information, read the release or visit www.bamboocompetition.com.