obgreen --- 3530 E. 21st Place Tulsa, OK

Green House vs. Current House....IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!

2010-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

R.I.P.

2010-08-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

thanks tulsa, PSO, sustainable tulsa green drinks and all my vendors!

2010-07-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

sorry it took me so long to thank all of you for coming out and supporting our cause, green building!

i should have final pics of the home up this week. oh, we sold our current home while we were on vacation so we'll be moving into the green house next door soon! we close on aug. 9 so approx 2 weeks!

public tours are over but call me if you want a private tour.

Chad
918-629-5498

SAVE THE DATE!!!!! WED. JULY 14th 5:30pm to 7:30pm

2010-06-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.tulsagreendrinks.blogspot.com/

Sustainable Green Country and AEP/PSO will sponsor our open house, free to the public. Catering by Elote, Door Prizes, Education, Tours and a few brief presentations.

Pleas join us!!! Additional parking will be available on the South West corner of the EXPO CENTER Parking lot (near the black train on the corner of 21st Place and Louisville.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Location: 3530 E. 21st Place, Tulsa

Chad

Landscape Updates!!!

2010-06-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

We also rigged up our rain-water harvesting barrels to soaker hoses today...just need to refine our guttering supply to fit the barrel height and positions and we'll be ready to save some water!!!

Come by and see us!

chad

Want to Pre-Qualify? Unique Financing for Unique Home!

2010-06-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Starzer with Wells Fargo has been given permission to offer a 30 yr fixed loan with a 1% one year buydown paid by Wells. In other words if the rate should be 5.00% for 30 years, the first year will be 4.00% at no cost to the buyer.

Please contact her if you'd like to get a great deal on home financing for this unique home!

Stephanie Starzer
Mortgage Consultant
OEA State Representative
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
M7118-040
5314 S Yale
Tulsa, OK 74135
(918) 523-4483 Tel
(918) 906-1906 Cell
866-620-1468 Fax
stephanie.starzer@wellsfargo.com
www.wfhm.com/wfhm/stephanie-starzer

Green House Specs

2010-06-06T19:01:00.003-07:00

I know you folks want to see what could possibly be so cool about this green house....let's run down some of the major elements...I'm sure I've forgotten something or someone so please excuse me -- i will try and correct later:

3530 E. 21^st Place

Tulsa, OK 74114

Legal Description: Lot 4, Block 5, Jefferson Hills Addition

$250,000

House Information

3 bedroom, 2 bathroom; 1,480sqft
Bungalow with great living room; all bedrooms on one side
Detached 2-car garage (400sqft) with renovated studio apartment

Standards for rating a building's "greenness" have been established by several organizations, using point systems to rate energy use, water use, materials, design and more. This home is seeking certification through three of the largest and most recognized green building protocols in the United States (one-of-a kind in Oklahoma):

U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
National Association of Home Builders' National Green Building Standard
U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR for Homes program

Renovation Highlights

Roof

TAMKO MetalWorks series steel roof; 50-year warranty; wind resistant up to 140mph; “Cool Roof”; completely recyclable after life cycle
TechShield radiant barrier oriented strand board (OSB)

Insulation

Demilec’s environmentally-safe spray foam insulation surrounds entire building envelope, including the crawl space (beneath sub-floor) and window frames
All Drywall made by Temple-Inland called Green Glass made with recycled glass. It has at least 90% recycled content and provides SERIOUS moisture and mold protection as well as fire resistance! This is not your regular drywall.

Windows and Doors

Pella’s Architect Series Low-E, double pane, double-hung, argon gas-filled windows throughout, including large casement windows on master suite patio
Sliding door on side porch and back-door are Pella Architect series doors with three locking mechanisms
New insulated security storm door by Larson, a Pella subsidiary

Lighting

Juno LED can lights throughout; projected operational life of LED lamps is 100,000 hours, although they do not “burn out”…they’re rated for 100,000 hours, then they eventually go from 100% to 99% efficiency to 98%, etc
Solatube tubular skylights throughout, including versions with dimmers and CFL lights built-in for nighttime use

Bathrooms (2)

Kohler low-flow toilets and fixtures, sinks, bathtub and shower

Kitchen and Utility Room

Jay Rambo Company bamboo (Plyboo) custom open galley kitchen cabinetry
Kohler sink and faucet
Stainless steel Energy Star appliances throughout
Concrete/recycled glass countertops
Front-loading washer and dryer in utility room

HVAC and Water Heating

Carrier Infinity high-efficiency system; supply/return in every room; pressure balancing, humidity control and air-filtration system; main system operates inside the conditioned space (attic) for added efficiency; mechanical fresh air-intake.
R94LS Rianni gas-powered tankless hot-water heating system; all system piping is insulated in crawlspace

Exterior, Landscaping, and Crawlspace

Pave-stone permeable brick paving system from street to garage, to include side-by-side parking near street; recycling 100% of existing concrete
TNT Security system. Security lighting with motion detectors
Drought-tolerant, non-invasive plant materials; many native species provided by Colebrook’s nursery
Hand-built 8x12 storage/tool shed with lighting/electricity
Crawlspace includes a white Viper® moisture vapor that provides illuminating and clean access to any area under the house. Vents are covered to control pests/rodents.
Buried power from pole to breaker-box on house…no wires in the air
Rain water harvesting barrels

Detached Studio Apartment

Appliances furnished; lots of storage, bamboo flooring, Solatube with dimmer, recycled glass countertops, Murphy bed, washer/dryer, private security system

All coatings, stains, paints, polyurethane products provided by local Anchor Paint

Low VOC latex paints in all the rooms

Electrical work conducted by Coburn Electric and most lighting fixtures provided by Broken Arrow Electric and Triple C Lighting here in town

Intangibles

Re-used 60% of original hardwoods, 97% of original framing, original doors (now pocket-doors), stone exterior, ideal location for access to any major thoroughfare in or out of Tulsa (plus close bus-stop), walking distance to Florence Parks and Expo Center, great neighbors, new garage door opener, new gutters, expanded front porch

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO

2010-06-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

"Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!"

Well, folks, after discussing the house a little bit last week with Stephanie Starzer, my home mortgage consultant, I think we're going to make the painstaking attempt to go back to our original plan of trying to sell the home! [sniff, sniff, wipe]

After looking at some comparable homes in this area, hopefully we'll be able to have the house appraised at a sufficient cost per square foot to sell the home for what its REALLY worth. We can always move in and enjoy this fabulous house as the "worst case scenario" (and how bad could that be?) but we just feel that right now we're going to have an unprecedented opportunity to show the home to the type of family who could appreciate and love this house the way it deserves to be loved.

More soon to follow!!! Tito, pass me a tissue.

Contact my wife, Amy, for a private tour or appointment: 918-527-5123

Chad

Open House Schedule for Product and Service Providers -- June and July

2010-05-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hello Tulsans:

As we approach the end of our green residential rennovation, I wanted to let everyone know that we'll begin a 6-week open house schedule for anyone interested in learning more about our project or what like-minded green building enthusisasts can do to build/renovate in a more sustainable manner. Click on the image below to see a full-screen depiction of the promotional schedule. Hope to see you out here!

Chad

OSU Internship Executive Summary and Acknowledgements

2010-05-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

I thought these two sections of my internship report were important enough to post on the blog.

Chad

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A dilapidated house had been unoccupied for 8 years and was in dire need of a major renovation or, as many thought, needed to be demolished. With the enormous amount of reconstructive work required to refurbish the house to standard building code specifications, it became apparent that using a restoration process based on nationally accepted green building and sustainable construction practices could be used to certify the home within the same budget – so this became the internship’s mission.

Standards for rating a building's "greenness" have been established by several organizations, using point systems to rate energy use, water use, materials, design and more. The largest and most recognized green building protocols in the United States are: the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED); the National Association of Home Builders' National Green Building Standard; and, the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. These nationally accepted third-party certification programs set benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

The internship was conducted under the tutelage of Lorrie Hoefling, President of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Oklahoma Chapter. Lorrie has over 20 years of construction management experience as well as demonstrated her mastery of green building practices by becoming a LEED Accredited Professional. The USGBC is a 501 c3 non-profit organization committed to a sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. The USGBC’s mission is to change the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves our quality of life. The location of the internship took place onsite at 3530 E. 21st Place, an infill lot located within a residential neighborhood in mid-town Tulsa, OK.

The internship required me to serve as team leader and general green consultant/liaison. In this position, I worked hand-in-hand with the architect, general contractor, subcontractors, and third-party verifiers, providing research, labor, and support for all written documentation for the home renovation as required for all three of the aforementioned green building programs. Throughout the process, I reported on a variety of topics pertinent to green building enthusiasts and Tulsans who might be considering sustainable construction solutions. I educated the community through site tours, speaking engagements, press releases/media coverage, a website blog (www.obgreen.blogspot.com), as well as providing green building content to local print publications. A secondary goal of the internship was to prepare for professional accreditation offered through either the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) or the U.S. Green Building Council. I’m currently studying for the LEED for Homes Accredited Professional exam in June.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank my wife, Amy, for her patience and support while I spent many valuable weeknights at school and weekends writing papers over the past few years. Thanks to Isaac, Nate and Billie – my kids and my life-force. Thanks to fellow ex-submariner and OSU staff member Matt Albright for his unwavering guidance and keeping me in the proper channels. Thanks to Dr. Focht for his candid cross examination about my intentions for the program and allowing me to prove myself in subjects where I had no prior training or knowledge. Thanks to Dr. Ede for teaching so many night classes in Tulsa – you’re a great ambassador for OSU and I wish you all the best.

Thanks to three non-profit organizations and their tireless leaders and volunteers, who kept challenging me to maintain a high level of community involvement: Tulsa Master Recyclers, Sustainable Tulsa and the U.S. Green Building Council, Oklahoma Chapter. I’m forever indebted to Lorrie Hoefling, President of USGBC Oklahoma Chapter, my mentor and all-around fearless green building go-to gal. Lorrie’s experience, hard work and dedication made my life a lot easier.

A very special thanks to key decision makers and product manufacturers who helped make this project a true land-mark for Tulsa: Stephen McNally, TAMKO Building Products; Tim Whaley, EnviroGLAS; Cynthia Sener, Solatube International; Elaine Sagers, Pella Corporation; Ralph Lackner, Jay Rambo Company; Halsey Cook, Carrier; Demilec USA; Mandi Williams, Ozark InSEALators; Chip Meade, Justin Meade, and Terrel Erwin, Anchor Paint; Sean McClanahan, Hahn Appliance Warehouse; Doyle R. Simons, Bart Morton and Glenn Miller, Temple-Inland, Charles Hight, Triple C Companies; Chris Parke, Broken Arrow Electric Supply; Gordon and Mary Colebrook, Colebrook Nursery; Russell Vaughn, Trinity Concrete Works; and Jim and Darlene Belden, General Contractors – the engine that kept it all going.

Additional thanks to the people and service providers who were critical to making this dream a reality: Tim Shoemaker, Pave-Stone Company of OK; Darrin VanRiper and Bart Colburn, Colburn Electric; Keith Hilligoss, Air Solutions; Sean Stevens, M&M Lumber; David Perkins and Mollie Eichman, Perk, Inc.; Dan Regan, Jamie Pryor and Edith, Metal Seams & Tile; Jason Fischer, ICF; Shelley Umezawa, The Met; Stephen and Diane Ornelas; Glenda McHenry, Heatwave Supply; Mike Covington, Linda Parker and Students, TulsaTech; Jamin Swanson, The Womble Company; Angela Rosecrans and Cathy Tatom, OETA; Christy Caves; Stephen Maxwell; Pam Curtis, Reclamation Station; Todd Stephens, TMS Atelier; Chris Howell, Channel 6; Tom Schroeder, Kohler; Andrea Palmer, Guaranteed Watts Savers; Linda McGrew, Tulsa Granite; Harley Hollan; Tulsa Home Builders Association; Mars Tree Service; Jonathan and Leah Campbell; Gene Williams; Jane Talkington; Todd Stephens; all the people in my neighborhood, Jefferson Hills.

Chad's Environmental Science Internship Report and Presentation

2010-05-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Warning!!! You'll need a high speed connection to download/view these files.

After 7 days, please contact me directly if you'd like to see either document.

Report
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/875068375/a136d4a2f0d6a0553a4bc99ffbb6de31

Presentation
http://rcpt.yousendit.com/875070151/a93c64c381b9566f63a5cfb307d1efa6

Chad
coach.chad08@yahoo.com

crazy progress

2010-05-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

stone back splash....looks like some kind of slate. picked it up at Lowes.

Kitchler fans from Triple C lighting and Broken Arrow Electic

pocket door hardware

hardware on all closets and doors

mirrored vanity from Kohler

Found this handle from Lowes...we were stumped on the handles and wanted to do something a little differnet than the standard long/slender pulls that are currently in vouge

installed a railing and you can see the new guttering

we ran some electricty to the shed. even put a little bit of guttreing on the shed entrance.

composting bin from the M. e. t.

Recycyled glass counter top from EnviroGLASS (PLano, TX) and installed and fabricated by Tulsa Granite.

Beer bottles and car windshields

we'll reuse the same fan that was in the garage apartment before

window seat....we're FINALLY done painting with both exterior and interior...BRUTAL!

same bathroom countertop...new Kohler fixtures.

landscaping update

2010-05-19T13:42:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend dropping in wonderful plant materials from Colebrooks Nursery. Gordon and Mary Colebrook operate a "sneaky-big" nursery out in West Tulsa.

Burning Bushes, Diagio grass on left

Burning Bushes, dwarf holly bushes, moon beam, stella de oro day lilly...soon to come: black-eyed susans

On June 9 and 10, this driveway will be torn out and taken to APAC to be recycled. We will replace with a permeable brick paving system from Pavestone.

Crate mertle and plastic rain water harvesting container. We considered used wine or whiskey barrels but wineries are VERT proud of them and for how long they would last coupled how much they were asking (between $150 to $250 per barrel!) we opted for something from SAMS ($79/each)

English Ivy, burning bushes, diagio grass, day lillies, ground covering junipers

Pink Mulley grass...verbenas and red tip photinias will go in along the fence for privacy.

ground covering junipers

Pampas grass seen to the right of the rain barrel

A couple of nandinas, junipers, moonbeams....

raise your hand, Billie!

rain barrel from garage will provide water the vegatble garden.

I'm considering using free mulch from Tulsa's green waste site to cover the pathways...at least until for this year.

Let's Plant!!!!

2010-04-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Let the landscaping beatings begin! Stella de Oro's seen on the left.

Using the landscap plan Jonanthan and Leah Cambell put together, we marked off all the lines with spray paint.

Baby Moonbeams, shown above.

One of the beds in the front yard...about 1/3 of the way done.

We'll drop a tree into the eye of the "C" above.

Moonbeams (close) and Stellas (far) outlining the beds facing the street.

you gotta love the red door!

Russle Vauhn finished up the kitchen and bathroom countertops....they look pretty good if i do say so myself.

like glass...wait...there is 75% glass in it.

cool built-in sink bowl...all in one piece. amazing what you can do with concrete!

finally got the side porch ceiling covered....wow, that old bead board is a paint hog.

After wasting a day installing almond color swithces, we had to go back and change them out to white....arrrrgh!

Great Perspective on Building Green

2010-04-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/04/building-a-greener-house.html

Preacher of Housing Sustainability

2010-04-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Making Room in Your Budget for Green

Home builders can offset cost premiums for going green by following these best practices from the NAHB Research Center.

By Michelle Desiderio, Director of Green Building Programs, NAHB Research Center

March 1, 2010

Professional Builder

By taking simple steps, like using optimized framing techniques and efficient mechanical duct runs, builders can offset the cost premium for going green. Photo: www.platinumleedhome.com

Green home building and third-party certification have made significant gains in the residential construction industry over the last few years. In some locations, the green segment of the market has thrived while housing sales in general have slumped.

However, achieving green does not come without added costs. Regardless of the green-building rating system used, there are three categories of costs that come with building green: construction costs, verification costs and certification fees. These additional costs may deter builders from considering building a green-certified home. But there are ways to significantly reduce or eliminate additional construction costs — and even reduce typical construction and operational costs — by examining some key areas of the construction process, eliminating any potential labor and materials waste and increasing efficiency on site.

Through the NAHB Research Center’s National Green Building Certification Program, we’ve had an opportunity to hear from a number of builders and industry consultants about how they have gone green and saved money in the process. Here are some baseline considerations.

Know where you stand

How do the homes you build now stack up against the green rating system you plan to follow for certification? You may be closer than you think to achieving an entry-level green certification in your preferred program.

For certification using the NAHB National Green Building Standard, make the free online Green Scoring Tool your first stop. The tool will score your home against the four potential levels of certification (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald) based on the practices you currently use, and will identify additional practices that will improve your project’s environmental performance. Many builders have found themselves within five or 10 points of Bronze, which could be achieved with a very low- or no-cost change in one or two products they were using.

Frame the issue

advertisement If you are currently using stick-built construction to frame your homes, you may want to consider using panels or trusses. These techniques are labor- and resource-efficient, resulting in less on-site waste and potentially lower labor and material costs. As a bonus, fabricated systems often create greater thermal efficiency over stick frames. Wall panelization also results in more precision in the construction process, which can make it easier to implement and control other construction changes, such as a transition from 2x4 to 2x6 construction. Many green rating systems, including the National Green Building Standard, also award points for use of panels and trusses, providing a win-win for your budget and green-certified projects.

If you choose to frame on site, there are several optimum value engineering techniques that can save on material and labor costs, while generating green points at the same time. Look into options such as:

Ladder blocking — Uses less wood; makes more room for insulation; gets green points

Two-stud corners — At least one less stud at each corner; allows for more fully insulated corner; gets green points

Switch from 2x4 @ 16 inches on center to 2x6 @ 24 o.c. — May result in small cost increase initially, but gets a lot of green bang for your buck

Another simple method for cutting costs is to develop a cut list — a set of cutting instructions and guidelines for your field crew that ensures the material you purchased for a particular application is used for the intended purpose. For example, a job might require two 8-foot-long, 2x10-inch headers and the purchasing manager was able to save some money by ordering one 16-foot-long, 2x10-inch piece of lumber that could be cut in half and used without any waste. Without a cut list, the field crew will likely pick up the first 2x10 material they see — maybe two 12-foot-long 2x10s — and cut it to fit the immediate need, which, in this case, would result in 4 feet cut off each piece and thrown away as waste.

Don’t let your ducts run amok

Optimizing duct runs and centrally locating the mechanical room can result in material cost savings and increased energy efficiency. Be sure not to have more ducts or longer duct runs than are needed in any part of the house. In addition, make sure that your HVAC contractor is using Manual J or D calculations to design the most efficient placement of ducts.

Using a central return also reduces material costs and, in combination with transfer grilles in spaces like bedrooms where doors may be frequently closed, is a simple system that can provide adequate circulation and cost savings to both you and your buyer.

Placing all HVAC equipment, including ducts, in conditioned space within the home is also a smart move. In addition to creating significant energy savings and earning green points, this practice may also allow you to spec smaller, less-expensive HVAC equipment and limit or eliminate the need for additional insulation for the duct system.

Bigger is not always better

If you are already building energy-efficient homes or plan to increase the energy efficiency of your plans as you embark on green construction, don’t be surprised if the HVAC equipment you are currently using is larger and more costly than you need. A tighter, more efficient building envelope significantly reduces the HVAC burden for the home, as less conditioned air is leaking out and less unwanted unconditioned air from outside is leaking in.

Water pipes everywhere

When designing the plumbing system, look for efficiencies in both labor and material. Consider employing a stacked approach, where rooms that require plumbing runs are aligned so that less piping is required. In addition, consider PEX piping over more traditional materials. While PEX comes with a slight first-cost premium, it does not require pipe cuts or joints, reducing material and labor costs. Finally, consider centrally locating your water heater to reduce the length of piping runs.

Quality assurance is key

In many respects, a green certification program can also help boost the overall quality of the homes you build, and the residual customer satisfaction. Regardless of the material or design, having an explicit underlying quality assurance plan in place is always going to be a cost-saver. Quality assurance takes a holistic look at practices throughout your business and helps you determine where there are inefficiencies and how you can remedy them.

Consider the cost of a callback. How much does it really cost your company to call a tradesperson back to a jobsite to repair or replace something? Couldn’t you or your superintendent be doing something that would generate revenue, rather than attending to callbacks? And what about getting a red tag from a building inspector? Doesn’t that waste valuable time and money for your company? Wouldn’t it save you precious resources to eliminate callbacks and red tags altogether by making sure things are done right the first time, every time?

While there are numerous ways to increase the quality assurance quotient on your jobsites, one prime area to focus on is the scheduling of trades and creating job-ready conditions for each crew that comes to the site. If the work of each trade crew is not done correctly and in the right order, it results in numerous dry runs and re-dos — all of which correlate to real costs. Sit down with your trade crew supervisors to determine what needs to be done, and with what precision/tolerance, before their crew can completely do its job. Then be sure to write what constitutes a complete job, ready to turn over to the next crew, in the scope of work you create for each trade group. These simple steps can shave days off the production schedule.

For more information on National Green Building Certification and scoring a home to the National Green Building Standard, visit www.NAHBGreen.org.

© 2010, Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.housingzone.com/article/CA6722784.html?nid=4187&rid=10644571

EPA, DOE Take Steps to Strengthen Energy Star

2010-04-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.housingzone.com/article/CA6723946.html?nid=4187&rid=10644571

Thank You Tulsa World

2010-04-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Kim Brown and the Tulsa World for showing an interest in our green home. I spent all weekend giving tours to people driving by and pulling up (which i love to do). Many just held up the newspaper article and gave me a thumbs up while they drove by.

One minor detail that I failed to express to Tulsa World for my interview - and this probably goes without saying - but would we sell it? Sure, I think everything has a price!!! But right now we do plan on moving in.

If anyone is seriously interested in buying the home, please give me a call or come by for a tour.

918-629-5498

Chad

garage updates, main house colors

2010-04-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

We installed a new weather strip at the bottom of the door to keep rain/moisture out.

we converted this closet to accommodate a queen size murphy bed to save space.

Jim installed the bar last week. Just need to drop in the sink counter top.

Kohler low flow toilet and durable tile floor updated.

bamboo flooring can be seen....but now mostly covered with paper to protect while we paint.

New lock/door handle.

our color schizophrenia is finally over....we went with a cool blue in the great room of main house.

Installed the cedar columns on the front porch.

cool green on side porch, master bedroom

this weekend, you'll find us working on the back-breaking trim throughout the house...oye!

more to follow. stay tuned!

Remaking the American housing model, By Lou Manfredini

2010-03-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

Remaking the American housing model, By Lou Manfredini

Demographic and economic trends are slowly remaking the American housing model of the past 60 years. The post-WWII rush to suburban and then exurban growth is shifting – but like an ocean liner, it will take a long time to turn around.

Still, the signs are there, pointing to opportunity for builders in small-scale development, urban infill and custom building. According to the 2010 Emerging Trends report from global consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers:

“Next-generation projects will orient to infill, urbanizing suburbs and transit-oriented development. Smaller housing units -- close to mass transit, work, and 24-hour amenities -- gain favor over large houses on big lots at the suburban edge. People will continue to seek greater convenience and want to reduce energy expenses. Shorter commutes and smaller heating bills make up for higher infill real estate costs.”

What does this mean for builders? Craftsmanship, creativity and quality will be in demand. If you’re not familiar with the latest green building techniques and materials, you need to be. Customers will demand it, and you can burnish your credibility and value by becoming the go-to resource for your clients.

The new dream home will have fewer square feet, but higher-quality materials and smarter amenities. Flippers are leaving the market, replaced by buyers who want to invest in a home and a community, not merely trade property.

Learn about quality, energy-efficient products like Marvin windows and doors. Educate yourself -- and your clients -- about the latest construction techniques. Look for opportunities not at the urban edge, but closer to the action.

The remaking of our housing market offers opportunities for smart builders to create a sustainable business based not on volume, but on quality.

http://www.housingzone.com/blog/1820000782/post/1100052710.html

Garage Apartment Kitchenette, Taking Shape

2010-03-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

This place is going to be so self-contained, we may never run my Aunt Patsy out of here. She might pull a Pacific Heights on me.

Cool part of the garage apartment is the large flat space and overlapping counter for bar stools.

Planning with Gordon and Mary at Colbrook's Nursery

2010-03-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

Met with Gordon and Mary yesterday to lay down a plan of attack for executing the landscape plans. A big part of the meeting was making consessions on available plant materials and what we can afford!

Gordon and Mary are the nicest people.

www.colebrooknursery.com

(918) 445-0539

5915 West 31st Street. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74107.
Tulsa, OK

Hours: Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm,Sunday 1-4,April-June

Setting Up The Front/Back Porches

2010-03-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Jim finished pouring the concrete for the main slab on the front porch and steps for the back porch.

Smooth as a baby's bottom.

Billie wasn't allowed to put her hand down into the wet cement. I know, I'm such a meanie.

There is a bunch of sand/dirt piled up around the first step. Unfortunatly, this isn't a beach house.

We'll drop a hand rail along side the flat part of the steps. Just to the right, you can see th air condensing unit they (Air Solutions) installed this week.

Easy Access to Back Yard

2010-02-26T06:41:00.000-08:00

Bird's eye view of the backporch steps. We used some old bricks that were onsite when we bought the home to create a little something different.

One more step and we'll be done! The home originally had a side entrance so we filled it with stone and converted one of the old bedroom windows into a back-door and viola! Easy access to the the back yard.

Hittin' the Hard Stuff, with Trinity Concrete Works

2010-02-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

Russell Vaughn of Trinity Concrete Works (918-698-7393) installed our kitchen counter tops yesterday. They're still "rough" and will be buffed/polished out but they look great. We highly recommend Trinity Concrete Works! http://trinityconcreteworks.com/

trim, built-in shelves, bathroom floors, shed, window seat, and what-not

2010-02-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

Hall bath tile (above). Master bathroom tile (below). We were able to use mostly remnant marble tile leftover from a previous job on our current house. Luckily, we found a place that could find a match (C&C Tile)

Window seat/storage box for the boys. (above)

pocket doors are in.

nice touch on the window seals.

good look at the trim on the side porch.

shelves for all the boys nick-knacks and "trophies" - i still don't get why EVERYONE gets a trophy these days....

Shelve for Bill-nut too!

Storage shed going up.

hall bath cabinet installed!

and soon....the fixtures. Are you serious, this is almost done? Wake me when its over.

From the whole house to a sink, concrete has many multiple, and sustainable, uses

2010-02-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

GreenMag E-news

January 2010

Houses can be built of concrete, as can their walls. Roofs can be topped with concrete tiles, and concrete can be used in landscaping. Concrete can be used for countertops, sinks, And it all can be green.

Concrete wall systems include cast-in-place, precast panels, concrete blocks, and insulating concrete forms (ICFs). Concrete is pumped between two layers of polystyrene foam in ICF walls, and process offers great insulating values and airtightness.

Concrete tiles can be used on roofs and have a life span of 50 years or longer. Tiles that are replaced can be recycled. Concrete roof tiles can reduce home heating and cooling costs and can help maintain constant indoor air temperatures. The tiles are noncombustible, and they are available in a variety of styles.

Concrete options for the exterior include traditional stucco, or Portland cement plaster, a stampable concrete overlay, a lightweight polymer-modified decorative wall system that can look like natural stone, or a cement-based clapboard siding. Concrete offers many sustainable features for exteriors, including low maintenance and fire resistance.

For landscaping, concrete can be used in sidewalks, driveways, and backyard patios. Concrete pavers can be made locally and in quantities for particular projects, which make them very resource-efficient. They eliminate the need for regular maintenance and solvent-based wood stains and sealers. A pervious concrete driveway allows rainwater to percolate into the soil. Options include permeable concrete pavers or cast-in-place pervious concrete. You can add color to the concrete before it’s place or use a water-based concrete stain spray after installation.

Concrete also can be used on interior floors, countertops, sinks and fireplaces, and the possibilities for colors, textures, patterns, overlays, stamps, and saw cuts are expanding every day.

Find out everything you ever wanted to know about concrete at the Concrete Network.

Just a few LINKS:

• Benefits of Living in an ICF Home

• Find distributors of ICF wall systems

• Sources for concrete roof tiles: Hanson Roof Tile and Eagle Roofing Products

• Exterior finishes: stampable concrete overlay, James Hardie Building Products

• The environmental benefits of pervious concrete

• Precast permeable concrete pavers

• Interior floors

http://greenmagonline.com/newsletters/jan10/muliple-uses-concrete.html

Sneak Peek at the Floors

2010-01-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

Right after we finshed staining the floors, we covered them up so we could finish the rest of the house without damaging them...but here is a small section peeled back. We went with Anchor Paint's "Fruitwood" color, which is a neutral color that will allow us to use various colors on the wall that might have otherwise clashed with a floor color with a particular tone. We were able to re-use about 70% of the original wood floors.

Hallway Bathroom Cabinet - Draw, and Ye Shall Receive

2010-01-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

So Jim asked us to sketch out a concept for the bathroom. Here is what we came up with below:

And look what Jim came up with....amazing, huh? (Countertop, TBD). Oh yeah, and Jim knocked it out in jest a few hours. He's an animal. At least that's what Darlene says. kidding! They're a great couple to watch work together.

Who Doesn't Love The Doors?

2010-01-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

Yes, we're re-using as many doors from the original home as we could. We stripped down the old paint with a non-toxic paint remover and Viola, we've got doors. Below are two that Jim and Darlene installed in the traditional manner since a pocket-door wasn't feasible in these two locations. The original doors were made from solid wood, which would've cost a ton if we had to buy the same ones new.

Oh, and I don't think Jim Belden has any relation to Jim Morrison except that he is probably as old as Morrison's dad. Below is a door to a living room closet.

Above: the boy's' door. Could use a pocket door here due to the hall bathroom being to the left and Billie's bedrooom door to the right.

Trim: Up, Down and All Around

2010-01-29T09:37:00.000-08:00

We went with a "Contractor's Pack" from Lowes, which comes pre-primed so all you have to do is apply a coat of paint.

Jay Rambo Bamboo (Plyboo) Kitchen Cabinet Installation in Progress

2010-01-29T09:34:00.000-08:00

These are absolutely beautiful. We haven't picked out our hardware (handles, pulls) yet, but local gem and cabinet manufacturer, Jay Rambo, did a wonderful job putting together a cabinet system just the right size for our needs. We went with a solid bamboo system, by Plyboo. http://www.plyboo.com/, because of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified raw materials used in the production process.

After conducting research, we were surprised to find almost all furniture made from bamboo is imported into the US. I find this surprising, considering how invasive the species is and how easily it would grow in the south/south east of the US. [Think opportunity!].

Because if was cold and rainy, my camera was a little fogged up...which is why you'll see little circles/spots in various places on the pictures below.

Contact Ralph Lackner, Jay Rambo, to inquire about bamboo for your kitchen: 918-627-6222.

Energy Efficient Lighting

2010-01-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

From: www.eartheasy.com
http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm

Electric lighting burns up to 25% of the average home energy budget.

The electricity used over the lifetime of a single incandescent bulb costs 5 to 10 times the original purchase price of the bulb itself.

Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs have revolutionized energy-efficient lighting.

CFLs are simply miniature versions of full-sized fluorescents. They screw into standard lamp sockets, and give off light that looks just like the common incandescent bulbs - not like the fluorescent lighting we associate with factories and schools.

LEDs are small, solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. New LED bulbs are grouped in clusters with diffuser lenses which have broadened the applications for LED use in the home.

LED Lighting

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are solid light bulbs which are extremely energy-efficient. Until recently, LEDs were limited to single-bulb use in applications such as instrument panels, electronics, pen lights and, more recently, strings of indoor and outdoor Christmas lights.
Manufacturers have expanded the application of LEDs by "clustering" the small bulbs. The first clustered bulbs bulbs were used for battery powered items such as flashlights and headlamps. Today, LED bulbs are made using as many as 180 bulbs per cluster, and encased in diffuser lenses which spread the light in wider beams. Now available with standard bases which fit common household light fixtures, LEDs are the next generation in home lighting.

The high cost of producing LEDs has been a roadblock to widespread use. However, researchers at Purdue University have recently developed a process for using inexpensive silicon wafers to replace the expensive sapphire-based technology. This promises to bring LEDs into competitive pricing with CFLs and incandescents. LEDs may soon become the standard for most lighting needs. We are following these developments with interest and will report the latest updates in this research.

Benefits of LED lightbulbs

Long-lasting - LED bulbs last up to 10 times as long as compact fluorescents, and far longer than typical incandescents.

Durable - since LEDs do not have a filament, they are not damaged under circumstances when a regular incandescent bulb would be broken. Because they are solid, LED bulbs hold up well to jarring and bumping.

Cool - these bulbs do not cause heat build-up; LEDs produce 3.4 btu's/hour, compared to 85 for incandescent bulbs. This also cuts down on air conditioning costs in the home.

Mercury-free - no mercury is used in the manufacturing of LEDs.

More efficient - LED light bulbs use only 2-10 watts of electricity (1/3rd to 1/30th of Incandescent or CFL) Small LED flashlight bulbs will extend battery life 10 to 15 times longer than with incandescent bulbs. Also, because these bulbs last for years, energy is saved in maintenance and replacement costs. For example, many cities in the US are replacing their incandescent traffic lights with LED arrays because the electricity costs can be reduced by 80% or more.

Cost-effective - although LEDs are expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in battery savings. For the AC bulbs and large cluster arrays, the best value comes from commercial use where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive.

Light for remote areas - because of the low power requirement for LEDs, using solar panels becomes more practical and less expensive than running an electric line or using a generator for lighting.

Choosing an LED lightbulb
Many different models and styles of LED bulbs are emerging in today's marketplace. When choosing a bulb, keep in mind the following:

• Estimate desired wattage - read the package to choose desired illumination level. For example, a 3W LED is equivalent in output to a 45 W incandescent.
• Choose between warm and cool light - new LED bulbs are available in 'cool' white light, which is ideal for task lighting, and 'warm' light commonly used for accent or small area lighting.
• Standard base or pin base - LEDs are available in several types of 'pin' sockets or the standard "screw' (Edison) bases for recessed or track lighting.
• Choose between standard and dimmable bulbs - some LED bulbs, such as the LumiSelect series, are now available as dimmable bulbs.

The common styles of LED bulbs include the following:

Diffused bulbs
In this style LED bulb, clusters of LEDs are covered by a dimpled lens which spreads the light out over a wider area. Available in standard Edison bases, these bulbs have many uses, such as area lighting for rooms, porches, reading lamps, accent lamps, hallways and low-light applications where lights remain on for extended periods. more info

Diffused high power bulbs
Designed for standard household use, these bulbs produce light equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. The EvoLux (pictured), and ZetaLux (pictured above) are the first UL Listed and FCC approved LED light bulbs for general household illumination. more info

Track Lighting
Available in pin base or standard (Edison) base, LEDs are ideal for track lighting. LEDs do not contribute to heat buildup in a room because no matter how long they remain on, they do not get hot to the touch. Also, because they are 90% more efficient than incandescents, and last 10 times longer than CFLs, the frequency of changing bulbs is greatly reduced. more info

Recessed Downlight and Spotlight bulbs
LEDs are now available for standard recessed lighting pots and housings. The light output and color quality are similar to incandescent downlights, but draws only about one-fifth of the power. Also, because they are 90% more efficient than incandescents. and last 10 times longer than CFLs, the frequency of changing bulbs is greatly reduced. more info

Spotlight and Floodlight LEDs
The spotlight LED lacks a dispersing lens, so it appears brighter as its light is directed forward. It runs cool and will last over 50,000 hours due to advanced thermal management design. The floodlight model gives a spread-out dispersed light. Well suited for ceiling lights, outdoor floodlights. retail display lighting, landscape lighting and motion sensors. more info

LED Terminology

CRI - Coloring Rendering Index. CRI represents the quality of light and its faithfulness to render colors correctly. The EvoLux bulb, for example, features a CRI of 75 for Cool White and 80 for Warm White making it one of the highest in the industry.
CCT - Correlated Color Temperature is the measure used to describe the relative color appearance of a white light source. CCT indicates whether a light source appears more yellow/gold/orange or more blue, in terms of the range of available shades of "white." CCT is given in kelvins (unit of absolute temperature).
RGB - stands for red, green, and blue, the three primary colors of light. When the primaries are mixed, the resulting light appears white to the human eye. Mixing the light from red, green, and blue LEDs is one way to produce white light. The other approach is known as phosphor conversion [see below].
Luminous Flux - the flow of light measured in lumens. With light bulbs, it provides an estimate of the apparent amount of light the bulb will produce.

LED Colors

Red - red is the traditional color for maintaining night vision.
Green - green is now the preferred color for pilots and the military. The green color is also great for retaining night vision, and it doesn’t erase the red markings on maps and charts.
Blue - many people like the blue because it is very easy on the eyes. Blue appears to be a good reading light for elderly eyes. Elderly folks report that they can read under the blue light for hours without eyestrain, compared to severe eyestrain in less than 30 minutes with incandescent lighting.
White - the most popular of the LED colors. It produces a soft white light, without harsh reflection, glare or shadows.
Amber - LED amber bulbs do not attract flying insects, as do ordinary white bulbs. Amber LEDs are used outdoors in areas such as patios and decks where insects flying around lights are a nuisance.

CFL Lighting: Benefits

Efficient: CFLs are four times more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescents. A 22 watt CFL has about the same light output as a 100 watt incandescent. CFLs use 50 - 80% less energy than incandescents.

Less Expensive: Although initially more expensive, you save money in the long run because CFLs use 1/3 the electricity and last up to 10 times as long as incandescents. A single 18 watt CFL used in place of a 75 watt incandescent will save about 570 kWh over its lifetime. At 8 cents per kWh, that equates to a $45 savings.

Reduces Air and Water Pollution: Replacing a single incandescent bulb with a CFL will keep a half-ton of CO2 out of the atmosphere over the life of the bulb. If everyone in the U.S. used energy-efficient lighting, we could retire 90 average size power plants. Saving electricity reduces CO2 emissions, sulfur oxide and high-level nuclear waste.

High-Quality Light: Newer CFLs give a warm, inviting light instead of the "cool white" light of older fluorescents. They use rare earth phosphors for excellent color and warmth. New electronically ballasted CFLs don't flicker or hum.

Versatile: CFLs can be applied nearly anywhere that incandescent lights are used. Energy-efficient CFLs can be used in recessed fixtures, table lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures and porchlights. 3-way CFLs are also now available for lamps with 3-way settings. Dimmable CFLs are also available for lights using a dimmer switch.

Choosing a CFL

CFLs come in many shapes and sizes. When purchasing CFLs, consult the seller for recommendations and consider the following:
• Choose your preferred light quality
CFL bulbs have a Kelvin or 'K' number listed on the packaging. CFLs with K numbers between 2700-3000 give off a soft bright light like incandescents. CFLs with K numbers between 3500-6000 give off a bright light. As you go up the K number scale the light gets bluish and closer to daylight.

For example:
Approx. 2700K = Warm White (looks just like incandescent)
Approx. 5000K = Cool White (white/blue, bright light)

• Choose the shape. CFLs are available in a variety of shapes to fit a range of lamps and lighting fixtures. See below on this page for the most popular CFL shapes.
• Match lumens to the incandescent being replaced. Lumens indicate the amount of light being generated. (Watts is a measure of energy use, not light strength.) To compare lumens and watts see chart below:

CFL Models

CFLs are available in a variety of styles or shapes. Some have two, four, or six tubes. Older models, and specialty models, have separate tubes and ballasts. Some CFLs have the tubes and ballast permanently connected. This allows you to change the tubes without changing the ballast. Others have circular or spiral-shaped tubes. In general, the size or total surface area of the tube determines how much light the bulb produces.

The following CFL bulb models come with standard sockets for easy installation in most common household applications. These bulbs are available in our online store.

Spiral Lamps
These bulbs are designed as a continuous tube in a spiral shape which has similar outside shape and light casting qualities to a standard incandescent bulb. Spiral CFL bulbs are made in several sizes to fit most common fixtures. more info

Triple Tube Lamps
These CFLs have more tubing in a smaller area, which generates even more light in a shorter bulb. They pack high light output into a very small space and can be used in fixtures designed for incandescent bulbs, such as table lamps, reading lamps, open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications. more info

Standard Lamps
These are spiral lamps with a dome cover. They are designed to give the appearance of the traditional light bulb for consumers looking for the more familiar light bulb appearance. The glass diffuser provides a quality of light similar to the 'soft-white' type of incandescent bulbs. more info

Globe Lamps
This shape is commonly used in bathroom vanity mirrors or open hanging lamps, and bare bulb applications. Bathroom vanities usually require multiple bulbs, which generate radiant heat. The CFL globe will reduce this heat buildup while saving energy. The glass diffuser provides a soft-white light. more info

Flood Lamps
These lamps are designed to be ideal for recessed and track lighting fixtures, indoors and outdoors. They provide diffused, soft, white light, and generate less heat than will an incandescent flood or a halogen bulb. more info

Candelabra
The screw-in torpedo-shape and the small-base of this bulb is designed for smaller light fixtures throughout the house, from chandeliers to sconces. To use a smaller candelabra-based bulb in a regular socket, you can use a socket reducer. more info

Limitations of CFL lightbulbs

Although CFLs are an excellent source of energy-efficient lighting, they are not always the best choice for all lighting applications. Here are a few limitations to consider:

On/Off cycling: CFLs are sensitive to frequent on/off cycling. Their rated lifetimes of 10,000 hours are reduced in applications where the light is switched on and off very often. Closets and other places where lights are needed for brief illumination should use incandescent or LED bulbs.

Dimmers: Dimmable CFLs are available for lights using a dimmer switch, but check the package; not all CFLs can be used on dimmer switches. Using a regular CFL with a dimmer can shorten the bulb life span.

Timers: Most CFLs can be used with a timer, however some timers have parts which are incompatible with CFLs; to check your timer, consult the timer package or manufacturer. Using an incompatible timer can shorten the life of a CFL bulb.

Outdoors: CFLs can be used outdoors, but should be covered or shaded from the elements. Low temperatures may reduce light levels - check the package label to see if the bulb is suited for outdoor use.

Retail lighting: CFLs are not spot lights. Retail store display lighting usually requires narrow focus beams for stronger spot lighting. CFLs are better for area lighting.

Mercury content: CFLs contain small amounts of mercury which is a toxic metal. This metal may be released if the bulb is broken, or during disposal. New 'Alto' CFL bulbs are now available with low-mercury content. These low-mercury CFLs are available at our online store. For more information about mercury and CFLs, see below.

The principle reason for reduced lifespan of CFLs is heat. CFLs exhibit shorter lifespans in light fixtures and sockets where there is low air-flow and heat build-up such as recessed lighting. For these types of sockets it is recommended to ues specially designed CFLs for recessed lighting or LEDs. Another main reason for reduced lifespan of CFLs is too-frequent on/off cycling. These bulbs should be used where they will be left on for steady periods without being flicked on and off.

Mercury and CFLs

Mercury is a toxic metal associated with contamination of water, fish, and food supplies, and can lead to adverse health affects. A CFL bulb generally contains an average of 5 mg of mercury (about one-fifth of that found in the average watch battery, and less than 1/100th of the mercury found in an amalgam dental filling). A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time. The net benefit of using the more energy efficient lamp is positive, and this is especially true if the mercury in the fluorescent lamp is kept out of the waste stream when the lamp expires.

All fluorescent lamps do not contain the same amount of mercury. Philips lamps with Alto Lamp Technology, for instance, contain less mercury than conventional fluorescent lamps. Philips claims the bulbs have the lowest amount of mercury of any bulb on the market at less than 3.8 mg per bulb. To achieve this, Philips uses a specially developed mercury capsule which ensures the exact amount of mercury is placed in a tiny glass capsule which is attached to the lamp cathode.

Handling and Disposal of CFLs

The mercury in compact fluorescent bulbs poses no threat while in the bulb, but if you break one:
- open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more
- use a wet rag to clean it up and put all of the pieces, and the rag, into a plastic bag
- place all materials in a second sealed plastic bag
- call your local recycling center to see if they accept this material, otherwise put it in your local trash. Wash your hands afterward.

Burned out CFLs can be dropped off at Home Depot and Ikea stores. Another solution is to save spent CFLs for a community household hazardous waste collection, which would then send the bulbs to facilities capable of treating, recovering or recycling them. For more information on CFL disposal or recycling, you can contact your local municipality.

Let There Be LEDs

2010-01-19T11:17:00.000-08:00

Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) have become the go-to choice for energy-efficient lighting, consuming 50 to 80 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. But an even more efficient option is light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which use semiconductor technology to convert electricity directly into visible light.

LEDs use a fraction of the electricity required by other light sources: a six-watt LED generates more light than an 11-watt CFL or 40-watt incandescent while using 45 percent less electricity than the CFL and 85 percent less than the incandescent. According to our research, if a million households each replaced one 40-watt incandescent bulb with a six-watt LED, and used it six hours per day, more than 53,000 metric tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide would be kept out of the atmosphere per year.

LEDs offer other advantages as well:

Longevity. CFLs last about 10 times longer than incandescents (6,000 to 15,000 hours versus 1,000 to 2,000), but LEDs take the life-span prize, lasting 50,000 hours—nearly 23 years if used six hours per day—or more.

Safety. LEDs generate about 97 percent less heat than incandescent bulbs, making them a safer option for enclosed fixtures and for use on or near plants and flammable materials. And unlike CFLs, LEDs do not contain mercury (though the small amounts in CFLs do not pose a safety risk unless they are broken).

Portability. Lights that combine LEDs with miniature solar panels offer a convenient and environmentally friendly outdoor lighting solution (compared with connecting a string of lights to an outlet).
Despite the advantages, two important factors have thus far kept LEDs from entering the mainstream:

Price. LEDs currently have a significantly higher up-front cost than CFLs—$35 for a six-watt LED versus $4 or less for an equivalent 11-watt CFL. While the LED would cost only $30 to operate over its 25-year lifetime compared with $55 for the CFL (based on a national average electricity cost of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour), outfitting your entire house with LEDs could be prohibitively expensive until costs come down.

Light quality. LEDs generate a narrower, more focused beam of light than incandescent or CFL bulbs, so most work best as overhead lighting in smaller areas or as task lighting. Many also produce a bluish-white light that some people find harsh. However, new technology including “warm white” LEDs and bulbs with a diffuser lens (to spread the light) could help eliminate that concern.

From:
Let There Be LEDs
Greentips: January 2010
http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/greentips/

Solatubes, Now Glowing More Than Ever

2010-01-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Solatube by Perk Inc. was started a little over 15 years ago, when David Perkins, owner, was designing homes & a customer asked him about Solatubes. After researching the product, David was so taken by the concept & products that he changed careers & has been doing it ever since. David considers it “divine intervention”. “I enjoy meeting wonderful folks while lighting up their homes with natural light”.

His staff of 5 is augmented by his wife Shawn, who helps with home shows & various projects & daughter Shelby, who assists with organizing supplies.

“Perkins attributes some of his success to his perfectionism. “It’s my way to assuring our customers receive consistent, top-quality workmanship.” Infact, at least 1/3 of satisfied customers return wanting to add more Solatubes to their homes and refer their friends to David for installs. “People are amazed at the amount of light, even on cloudy days,” Perkins said. “The natural light allows people to see true colors. Health benefits include providing the natural light in winter months to combat depression. They don’t add heat in the summer or cold during the winter months.”

“As a country boy, I enjoy being treated with that great American country hospitality occasionally. Customers have given me fresh vegetables from their gardens during the summer and baked goodies during the winter. Some insist that I eat lunch with them.”

Solatube products speak for themselves. “Solatube is rated No. 1 by Consumer Reports,” he said. The Energy Star approved tubes are 100% airtight, water tight, maintenance free & UVA/UVA protected. Solatube products also come with a 10 year warranty. One Solatube installed, normally takes about 2-3 hours & is a turn-key job. Solatube is now offering DSe Daylighting systems that meet the government’s requirements for U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) maxima of 0.30 to receive a 30% tax credit for the year 2010. “We’ve been blessed over the years. Even with the economy the way it is now, we’ve never been so busy. Maybe people are thinking more green and like energy saving products.”

Solatubes come in three sizes and can be installed in residential or commercial spaces. The sizes are 10”, 14” & 21” & offer many different add-on options, including daylight dimmers, light kits, vent kits, & designer lens. Solatube by Perk Inc. also offers total attic ventilation services, including the SolarStar, which also qualifies for the 30% tax credit for 2010.

You can find more information out about Solatube at www.solatulsa.com or by contacting 918-663-4242.

David Perkins, Owner of Perk Inc.

Above: Master bedroom with a dimmer switch in the closed position. Now you can let the sunlight in when you want it in. When we finish everyting up, we'll take pics with wide-angle lenses to give you a better idea of how these tubular lights illuminate a space.

Hardwoods, Installed and Ready For Stain

2010-01-10T13:05:00.000-08:00

Jim and Darlene worked tirelessly to use as much of the original flooring as they could. Re-using the original wood is very labor intensive but it's the greenset way to go! We did have to purchase 425 SF of new flooring to complete the bedrooms but we had enough to finish the entire great room. After we sand it all down and stain it, you won't know the difference between the new and old wood.

Look at the size of these flooring nails!

A Green Holiday Home

2009-12-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

A Green Holiday Home

Sustainable Tulsa sets sights on making Tulsa a fully realized "Green Country"

BY MIKE EASTERLING

Follow the LEEder. One local consumer who has gotten the message, though, is Chad Burden, who recently bought an abandoned home at 3530 E. 21st Place, and is renovating it using sustainable practices. The home is believed to be the first dual green-certified remodeling project in Oklahoma and perhaps the nation, organizers of the press conference said.

Corey Williams smiled when asked to consider the irony last week of her organization holding a press conference that would encourage residents to move toward sustainable lifestyles at a time of year when consumption is perhaps at its highest.

"It was coincidental," said Williams, executive director of Sustainable Tulsa, of the Nov. 24 event that served a variety of functions.

The first of those was an announcement that the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa had become the latest local organization to rally behind the green movement with its formation of its Green Building Council, a group intended to provide leadership in sustainable home building, remodeling and land development through voluntary, market-driven green building standards and practices.

Brandon Perkins, president of the HBAGT and a Sustainable Tulsa board member, said that development would allow his organization to put significant funds behind the council, as well as hold green building education seminars for builders and buyers and members of the general public.

"This will allow us to push the green movement in a mature process," he said, adding that the change would lead to a partnership with Sustainable Tulsa and encourage all of the players in the local sustainable movement to work together instead of staking out their own territory.

"That's what Tulsa truly needs," Perkins said. "We want to be like Austin, only better. We're called Green Country for a reason, and we need to get back to our roots."

Williams said Sustainable Tulsa was looking to form a partnership to share in the challenges of promoting green building in the Tulsa area.

"This is an opportunity to have a dialog to discuss what it takes to have a more sustainable home," she said.

Those involved in the local sustainable movement are quick to acknowledge that Tulsa has a long way to go to meet that goal. For example, Perkins said sustainable building techniques are not as important to many local home buyers as they are in other parts of the country, he said.

"It continues to get more and more important in people's minds," he said. "However, it's not as strong as I'd like it to be. Given the chance to make a decision between a granite countertop and a green countertop, most of them are still choosing granite. And that's because we've done a poor job in educating people."

Perkins said the press conference was a good opportunity to alert local home buyers of the creation of the council.

"Why today around the holiday season?" he asked. "We felt like it was the perfect time. This is an opportunity in the midst of a time of celebration to be grateful for the world around us."

One local consumer who has gotten the message, though, is Chad Burden, who recently bought an abandoned home at 3530 E. 21st Place, the site of the press conference, and is renovating it using sustainable practices. The home is believed to be the first dual green-certified remodeling project in Oklahoma and perhaps the nation, organizers of the press conference said.

According to Burden, a graduate student at Oklahoma State University's Tulsa campus, standards for rating a building's "greenness" have been established by several organizations using point systems to rate energy consumption, water use, materials, design and more.

Burden's home will be certified by the National Association of Home Builders' Model Green Building Guidelines and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The two are the largest and most widely recognized green-building codes in the country.

The home will be enveloped in spray-foam insulation, a highly efficient form of insulation, and will boast double-pane windows, which are also highly efficient. Its wooden floors have been replaned and recycled, and the house will feature LED lighting, Energy Star appliances, low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures, and a recycled steel roof that reflects heat. Burden said there will also be a rainwater harvesting system, and the driveway will be torn up and repurposed to create a parking pad. Whenever possible, he said, the materials used in the house are being purchased from local vendors, including the cabinets, which are being built by the Jay Rambo Co. of Tulsa.

All of those features are verified by a third party, and a document certifying their sustainability will be issued to Burden upon completion of the structure, he said.

"So you don't have to take my word for it," he said. "It's all here."

Burden, who described himself as "an unlikely greenie," said the home had been abandoned for eight years before he and his wife bought it. Their original motivation for completing the deal had nothing to do with wanting to build a sustainable home, he said.

The Burdens own the home next door, he said, and the roots of a sycamore tree on the edge of the abandoned property were wreaking havoc on his driveway. Burden decided to buy the house next door largely out of self-defense, he said, realizing that if he let someone else buy it, they probably wouldn't be willing to pay to have the tree removed.

"So this started as a way to recoup the cost I had incurred for fixing my driveway," he said.

But when Burden, a Navy vet, decided to take advantage of the G.I. Bill and return to school, he enrolled in the environmental science graduate program at OSU-Tulsa with an emphasis in green building and sustainable construction practices. At that point, he said, it became clear he could use the renovation of the abandoned house as the focus of his master's thesis project.

But it hasn't been easy. Burden said work began on the project in February, and he hopes to have it done by January.

"These retrofits are much more labor intensive than new construction," he said.

And the documentation process for sustainability certification is cumbersome, he said.

"It takes some guts to dive into it," he said.

But Burden seems pleased with his decision to employ the sustainable features for the house, which he estimates to be $150,000 in by the time construction is finished.

"This will be more self-sufficient if it all hits the fan if oil goes up to $130 a barrel," he said. "You'll be glad to do what you did."

The extra costs associated with some green-building techniques can put some home buyers off. But both Burden and Perkins encouraged consumers to take a longer view of the issue and give more consideration to the advantages of sustainable construction practices.

For instance, Burden described green-building techniques as "the low-hanging fruit" when it comes to reducing American dependence on foreign energy sources.

While green building practices might be a little more expensive today, in the long run, they are more cost effective, they said.

"People in general have a hard time with the out-of-the-box (cost)," Perkins said. "We're so conditioned to look at the amortized return by these big, multi-national companies. But we need to bring it home. There's more to it than just the amortized cost. There's quality-of-life and other issues, not just personally, but as a nation. The actual price of oil is hugely more than you see on the market.

"It starts with me personally, and I realize I can't demand that my government make changes without me making changes," he said.

For Perkins, a longtime residential developer, that shift came eight years ago when he was dragged "kicking, fighting and screaming," he said, to his first green building meeting with his father, believing that such techniques didn't make sense from a financial standpoint. But the things he learned at that meeting led to a sea of change in his attitude.

"Once I went, I fully understood I could do a better job," he said. "I'm never going to be the most green individual out there but taking that first step is what really matters."

The press conference also served as an opportunity for Williams and Sustainable Tulsa--a local nonprofit organization that promotes responsible economic growth, environmental stewardship and quality of life for all--to introduce the group's 2010 Tulsa Area Green Directory, which offers listings of more than 700 businesses and agencies promoting sustainable living in the Tulsa area.

The directory is available at a number of area businesses, including Whole Foods Market, Ihloff Salon and Day Spa, Elote Café and Catering, Pohlenz Cucine Moderne, the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum Gift Shop, the Collaboratorium, the Cherry Street Coffee House, the Cosmo Café, the Green Building Resources Library, Café Topeca, Dwelling Spaces and Eco-baby.

Williams also was promoting a list of 12 ways consumers can go green this holiday season. She said it would be wonderful if Tulsans began mobilizing toward a more sustainable lifestyle more quickly, but "the key is to keep raising the bar for the community and for us individually."

http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A28657

KOTV/Channel 6 (CBS) Coverage on 11/25

2009-12-01T08:11:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all the folks at KOTV for continuing support and interest:
http://www.newson6.com/Global/category.asp?C=121535&clipId=4329677&flvUri=&partnerclipid=&topVideoCatNo=0&autoStart=true&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv

OETA (PBS) News Coverage From 11/25

2009-12-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks to OETA for coming out and showing interest in our little project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2kXHHCgk7k

Homebuilders to launch green council

2009-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

by Kirby Lee Davis

The Journal Record November 25, 2009

TULSA – The Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa will launch its Green Building Council on Jan. 1, enabling both residential developers and homeowners to use more environmentally friendly products.

This effort dovetails with the National Association of Home Builders establishing its “green” building program, adopted by the American National Standards Institute for residential construction.

“I think it’s the coming thing,” said Phil Rhees of BMI Properties, who helped create the Tulsa council. He expects it to help advance construction of environmentally friendly homes in Oklahoma’s second-largest metro area. “I think we’re five years behind the national trends.”

Larry Cagle of Cagle Construction will preside over the 25-member Green Building Council, which will partner with the interest group Sustainable Tulsa to help educate people on recycled and environmentally friendly product and construction options, connecting them to contractors, suppliers and service companies.

Sustainable Tulsa unveiled its 2010 Tulsa Area Green Directory Tuesday to help fulfill that goal.

“There’s some things we can do that will be short term, and a lot of things we can do long term,” said Rhees. “We have to start somewhere.”

More here ::: http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=104729

Thank You Sustainable Tulsa and Home Builders Association

2009-11-24T15:13:00.001-08:00

http://www.newson6.com/Global/category.asp?C=121535&clipId=4329677&topVideoCatNo=120898&autoStart=true

M&M Lumber Receives FSC Chain of Custody Certification

2009-11-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

This is huge! Wanted all green building enthusiasts to be aware of a great resource in Tulsa. Chad

****Press Release****

October 30, 2009

M&M Lumber Receives FSC Chain of Custody Certification

M&M Lumber is proud to announce they have been granted the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (CoC) certification. M&M Lumber’s FSC certification number SCS-COC-002810. This certification allows M&M Lumber to provide its customers the option to purchase materials that have come from well-managed forests and comply with the strict tracking requirements of FSC.

ABOUT THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. It provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for organizations interested in responsible forestry. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

ABOUT M&M LUMBER

M&M Lumber Co. is a full service lumberyard that is locally owned and operated since 1964. We have competitive pricing and professional salesmen to help with your orders. We are a stocking dealer of Trex, Evergrain and treated decking. We have a complete door shop to take care of your specific door, moulding, millworks, and any custom order needs and also have a nail gun repair specialist along with a full line of pneumatic nails in stock. Special ordering is available for items that we do not keep in stock.

M&M Lumber

4711 S Mingo Tulsa, OK 74146 918-627-1926 Fax 918-627-2726
http://www.mmlumberco.com/

jay rambo bamboo cabinets arrive!

2009-11-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

This stuff is dense and hard as a rock. Beautiful material. FSC-certified.

trying on the new colors

2009-11-23T06:46:00.000-08:00

GREEN GLASS DRYWALL: GOING UP, UP, UP AND AWAY!

2009-11-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

Check this stuff out kids. Looking for a mildew, mold and water resistant drywall...look no further!

Anchor Paint on the Exterior Trim...A...L...M...O...S...T There!!!!

2009-11-18T18:49:00.000-08:00

All we need is one more weekend of warm weather and I think we can make it to the goal line as far as exterior painting goes...it's gonna be close! PLEASE hold out a little longer!

Note the tan/cream trim. The unpainted hardie-board will be a darker brown.

Daredevil Chad tests his nerves at about 17 feet. Now I know why painters get a bad rap for being alcoholics. Liquid courage sounds like a good idea first thing in the morning, especially when a hard wind blows!

Aunt Patsy, slaving away on the garage door.

I know, the old windows should be gone REALLY SOON, right Pam? :)

Ozark InSEALators...in ACTION!

2009-11-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Yeah, the Foamers are here!

We got the A-Team today; these folks had 10 years experience spraying foam. These chemicals take experience to work with...otherwise, everyone would be in this business!Part A Chemical -- Demilec Part B Chemical: Resin Chemcicals get heated up to 105 degrees and run through this machine before being pumped through hose and out to spray nozzle.They take a hand saw and cut off the excess hardened foam so its flush with the framing.Here, we filled the chimney flume to eliminate moisture and air infiltration.

THANKS MANDI AND OZARK INSEALATORS

2009-11-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Mandi,

Thank you so much for coming by today and speaking with the neighborhood/community about spray foam insulation. You have a great crew.

Tulsa, please stop by and check us out any time!

Chad

For more information, contact Mandi at:
mandi@ozarkfoam.net or 918-223-5849

Watch Ozark InSEALators Apply Spray Foam to Walls

2009-11-06T13:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUN61HXP9YY

For more information, come to our free workshop next Thursday:

Free Spray Foam Insulation Workshop

Learn more about spray foam insulation and energy efficiency inside an actual green residential retrofit in mid-town Tulsa!

Date: November 12, 2009

Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Place: 3530 E. 21st Place Tulsa, OK (near 21st/Harvard)

Project website: www.obgreen.blogspot.com

Free and Open to the Public

Presented by :

Ozark Foam InSEALators, Inc.

Ozark Foam InSEALators, Inc. has been servicing the entire Ozarks region for over 10 years. With more than 3,500 foam insulation projects completed, Ozark Foam InSEALators, Inc. is recognized as the premier foam insulation provider in both Arkansas and Missouri and they have recently entered the Northeastern Oklahoma region.

Spray foam applied as a liquid expands within seconds to 120 times its volume to fill every nook and cranny providing superior energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality by eliminating air movement through walls. Demilec’s SEALECTION® 500 reduces airborne noise and dust making it the healthy choice for those who suffer from allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivity.

fillin' in the holes

2009-11-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

Above: Master Craftsman, Jim Belden handles his 1960s (ish) Massey Ferguson tractor with box blade like Mad Max handles his semis to level off the big trench we dug to bury the power line. PSO is on the way to run power. Almost ready for lift off, Tulsa!

Landscapes now get 'green' ratings

2009-11-06T06:46:00.000-08:00

By Haya El Nasser, USA TODAY

"Green" seals of approval are slapped on dishwashers, heat pumps, light bulbs and entire buildings. So why not the outdoors?

As of Thursday, even open-air spaces — from parks and parking lots to corporate and college campuses — will have their own environmental rating system.

"The recognition of the need to address climate change and sustainability is going up and up," says Nancy Somerville, CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects, who worked with the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C., and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas-Austin to create the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes.

Until now, the most comprehensive guidelines and sought-after environmental ratings were for buildings. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council can qualify builders and cities for tax credits. Now that the nation is embracing all things green to save money and natural resources, a LEED rating also brings marketing cachet to a project.

The spaces around buildings now can earn similar recognition from the Sustainable Sites Initiatives' new star rating scale (four stars is the highest).

"It can be the site and landscaping around a building," Somerville says.

The rating will measure several criteria. They may include planting trees in a parking lot or paving with permeable materials to minimize heat and storm-water runoff. Or landscaping with native plants to reduce maintenance, irrigation and use of pesticides.

When the trustees of Sidwell Friends School, a prestigious Quaker school, decided to build a middle school on its Washington, D.C., campus, they found that "green building was entirely consistent with Quaker values ... of stewardship of the environment," says Mike Saxenian, assistant head of school. The school hired landscape architect José Almiñana, a principal with Philadelphia-based Andropogon Associates, who finished his design last year.

The campus, which President Obama's daughter Malia attends, sits between two large parks. The school now acts as a bridge between the two, allowing species to move back and forth, Saxenian says. When a pond with native species overflows, water goes into a garden that filters and absorbs water, softening the impact of runoff. The new landscape rating will help people realize "that we are part of a larger natural system ... which we are fully dependent on to survive," Almiñana says.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/construction/2009-11-04-green-rating_N.htm

M&M Lumber -- first Lumber Dealer in NE OK to Get FSC Chain of Custody

2009-11-04T11:10:00.000-08:00

M&M is very excited to let you know that they have gone through the FSC Audit and received their FSC Chain of Custody number. This means they are capable of delivering FSC material to the job side without breaking the Chain of Custody. Nobody else in this area can provide this service. It will help those seeking LEED’s credit in the future.

Great job M&M!!! This is a huge deal for Tulsa. Spread the word!

Contact Sean with M&M Lumber for details:
sean@mmlumberco.com

or call or come by:

(918) 627-1926

4711 S Mingo Rd
Tulsa, OK

USGBC - Oklahoma Chapter Announcement - Build it Green!

2009-11-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

BUILD-IT-GREEN LLC

First to Offer High Performance Sustainable Construction Resource Guide Serving Oklahomans and the Surrounding Region.

Build-it-Green is essential reading for architects, builders, consultants, and anyone in the commercial construction community in Oklahoma.

November 4, 2009 -- For the first time, green-building professionals serving Oklahomans will have a reliable resource guide for finding local product manufacturers and service providers. In addition, organizations selling sustainable building products and services will now be able to reach a wide range of decision-makers in search of local green businesses throughout the state of Oklahoma as well as states like Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Build-it-Green is a handy resource for the busy building professional that may not have the time or staff to research a variety of green building categories. Anyone interested in certifying their next project through the LEED Green Building Rating System, the National Association of Homebuilder's Green Building Standard or Green Globes will want to have this quick-reference on their bookshelf and in their briefcase. Build-it-Green is the brainchild of Lorrie A. Hoefling, President of Build-it-Green LLC and Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council's Oklahoma Chapter. "This definitive resource guide will cover everything under the sun to include categories such as roofing, windows, insulation, mechanical systems, flooring, paints and coatings, plumbing, lighting, electrical as well as construction and demolition waste options for Oklahomans," says Hoefling.

A portion of the profits from every ad placed in Build-it-Green will be donated to the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit 501(c)(3) to support their social and environmental service, and educational programs. This annual resource guide will be distributed throughout the region via green building conferences, educational workshops, seminars, and community organizations dedicated to fundamentally rethinking the role of the building delivery process. Individual listings, ¼, ½ and full page ads are available and start as low as $200.00 and include a presence on the web at Build-It-GreenCommercial.com

For more information, contact:

Shekoofah Khedhri
shekoofah.khedhri@gmail.com

cool link on Planet Green -- Green Building Materials Guide

2009-10-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/feature/green-materials-guide/

sewer and water line to garage - back in business

2009-10-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

We should be able to fill in the dirt once it stops raining and roll up our sleaves on the landscaping before it gets too cold!

A Heatwave for All Seasons: 6529 E 14th St.

2009-10-22T09:33:00.000-07:00

In case you're in the neighborhood, swing into the show room and ask for Glenda or call to make an appointment. Have her show you the shower that plays music and provides moodlighting. I can't believe there is a market for stuff like this! Lot's of quality products to choose from.

Heatwave Supply CO Incorporated
heatwavesupply.com
(918) 838-9841

6529 E 14th St.

Tulsa, OK

Colburn Electric: Still Towing the Line

2009-10-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

We had Colburn Electric lay an additional line of PVC conduit so we could run our security system and garage door opener to/from the main home. We also pulled one extra line though in the even we ever wanted to pull a line of somethign through in the future. Maybe that will pay off one day.

An Anchor Partner

2009-10-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

The best painters our money can buy...

We're loving the water-based (latex) products Anchor Paint recommended for the project. Anchor manufactures all their paint here in Tulsa for any size project -- residential, industrial, commercial.

Ask for latex products and products with low VOCs whenever possible. Anchor carries a nice line of products that lessen the impact on the environment.

Oh yeah, and their customer service has been excellent.

Racking Up More Frequent Recycle Miles

2009-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

This load of cardboard weighed about 200 pounds (dry). Each container of metal (wire clippings, scrap metal) weighs about 100 pounds.

The Mudslinging Continues

2009-10-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

We hoped to wait out the rain but decided we had to cowboy up and soldier through it. Above, Bill with Colburn Electric is having too much fun playing with his bobcat.

Thanks Bill, you, John and Darrin have been a great help.

Below, we accidentally hit the sewer line when we were digging the power line. No worries....easy repair once the hole was dug out. If you look carefully, you can see the effects of the enormous root system from the 80-foot sychamore tree that started all this madness. Incredible.

Permeable Pavers, Storm Water Savers

2009-10-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

Our driveway was is baaaaad shape. Years of neglect, ice damage, root damage from unattended trees and plants had cracked pretty much the entire driveway. Being that we needed to either repair or replace it, we started looking for green solutions. Repairing it with a thinner top coat would be cheaper but it might not hold up and last a long time. Anyone who thinks green knows that durability is key when you start talking about the Life Cycle costs of products. So we decided on a new driveway.

That's when we hooked up with Tim and Sandy Shoemaker, owners of the Pave-Stone Company of Oklahoma. http://www.pave-stonestoreok.com/links.html. They recommended the Eco-Priora permeable paver system for our driveway.

The Eco-Priora™ joint profile allows surface water to infiltrate into the pavement and its sub-layers. With initial permeability average flow rates of over 100 inches per hour, the Eco-Priora™ product, even with a clogging factor, will still meet the majority of current storm water management plans (SWMP). The structural interlocking capability is achieved by having a vertical joint profile exhibiting protruding spacer bars that interlock when placed in pattern. These interlock throughout the depth of the block and nest adjacently with neighboring paving units. Eco-Priora™ assists in meeting current EPA storm water regulations.

Here's how it works:

We're looking at the Sandstone and Winter Blend colors....amazing how nice it looks, right?

Give Tim a call about your next outdoor paving application. This stuff is beautiful.

The Pave-Stone Store of Oklahoma

Tim & Sandy Shoemaker

7640 S. Old Hwy 51Broken Arrow, OK 74014
(918) 251-3111
pavestonestoreok@valornet.com

Above, this isn't the best picture but you can see where grass and dirt have accumulated inside the gulleys and cracks created after the driveway buckled and cracked. It looks like this more towards the garage and back yard vs. the first picture taken from the front yard above. We're going to use a concrete saw and cut out blocks to use throughout the landscaping so as to minimize as much waste as possible.

Light up Your Life, with Juno LEDs

2009-10-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

We've been working closly with Charles Hight, President of National Accounts and
Senior Lighting Design Engineer with Triple C Lighting http://www.tripleccompanies.com/ and Chris Parke, Outside Sales with Broken Arrow Electric Supply Co. http://www.baes.com/ . These guys know their stuff and we want to thank them for recommending such beautiful energy saving, long-lasting LED can lights, manufactured by Juno http://www.junolightinggroup.com/.

Service life is extraordinary for Juno LED recessed lights. The Juno LED Downlight
provides 50,000 hours of operation, resulting in over 11 years of maintenance-free operation based on 12 hours of usage per day. That’s 25 times the life expectancy of incandescent; 5 times that of compact fluorescents. In residential applications and other lower usage applications, service life can outlast the ownership of the property, truly redefining “maintenance-free.”

For more information on Juno lighting, see link below or make is easy and reach out to Charles and Chris!

http://www.junolightinggroup.com/literature/RecessedLEDdownlight.pdf

To contact Charles and Chris:

charles@tripleccompanies.com

chrisp@baes.com

Below, a south shot of our kitchen with LEDs flannking both sides.

LEDs mounted in every bedroom will provide light for years and years and years and years to come!

Clean, GREEN, Sheetrock

2009-10-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Many of you may have read about defective drywall imported from China coming in by the boatload during the house boom a few years ago... Uh oh, I guess those cheap prices ended up not being such a good deal for builders or consumers. From the Associated Press:

"During the height of the U.S. housing boom, with building materials in short supply, American construction companies imported millions of pounds of Chinese-made drywall because it was abundant and cheap. An Associated Press analysis of shipping records found that more than 500 million pounds of Chinese gypsum board was imported between 2004 and 2008 — enough to have built tens of thousands of homes. They are heavily concentrated in the Southeast, especially Florida.
The defective materials have since been found by state and federal agencies to emit "volatile sulfur compounds," and contain traces of strontium sulfide, which can produce a rotten-egg odor, along with organic compounds not found in American-made drywall. Homeowners complain the fumes are corroding copper pipes, destroying TVs and air conditioners, and blackening jewelry and silverware. Some believe the wallboard is also making them ill."

More on this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/ap_on_re_us/us_chinese_drywall

Never fear, GREENGLASS is here! GreenGlass is a fiberglass-faced gypsum sheathing that can make any project a little greener. Manufactured with with up to 90% recycled content gypsum sandwiched between naturally mold- and moisture-resistant fiberglass facers, GreenGlass meets the most demanding exterior design requirements and the greenest environmental construction standards.

GreenGlass delivers the mold and moisture resistance necessary to protect your next project and provides high levels of recycled content of at least 90% to contribute valuable credits in environmental rating systems like LEED and the NAHB's Green Building Standard.

You can find GreenGlass sheet rock right here in Tulsa (Broken Arrow) at Cherokee Building Matertials. Call 252-1666 and ask for John Nail. For more product infomration on GreenGlass:
http://www.templeinland.com/BuildingProducts/Gypsum/GreenGlass/Interior/

Changing the World One Room at a Time

2009-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

From David Johnston and Kim Master's "Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time"....

I went through a checklist in the aforementioned book and noticed we hit almost every one of the items on their "Small is Beautiful: 14 Ways to Optimize Space" list...so here is what we've done:

1) provided an open plan for the kitchen/dining and living areas. Families like to spend time in the kitchen, so integrating it into the great room is practical and efficient these days

2) we've avoided single-use hallways. The circulation of the house serves several functions, inlcuding bookshelves and laundry space.

3) we've converted the side porch into an extened room/library/office space off the master bedroom..also allows an additional access to the back-yard. my favorite space by far.

4) we've provided built-in furnishings and storage areas to better utilize space, including bench seats in windowsills, bookshelves and even some extra space in the now conditioned attic - a rare treat for homes in this era/neighborhood (built 1941).

5) we've kept the bedrooms reletively small to make use of living space. Bedrooms are primarliy used for dressing and sleeping.

6) closets and additional interior insulation will provide additional acoustic speration between rooms.

7) we've created direct access to the outdoors via new back door and floor plan. As mentioned, the master bedroom also gives additional access and a feeling of openess through the large glazed casement windows (operable).

8) we've provided for a significant amount of "daylighting" or natural light to enter the home via Solatubes. This will make the home feel larger.

9) varying the degrees of privacy to some of the bedrooms as well as the texturual contrasts that the bamboo kitchen cabinets offer will make the space feel larger than it really is.

10) we're using light colors on walls and ceilings throughout.

11) the flow of the home will naturally lead the eye through the house via the great room and the continuity of the wood floors throughout.

12) recycled glass counter tops and LED lighting will accentuate quality finishes, top-effciency appliances and detailed woodwork like book shelves.

For more information, check out the Tulsa Public Library for "Green Remodeling".....

Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion and fewer health risks. Green remodeling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and creates buildings that are more affordable to build, operate and maintain.

The book then discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building, including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as for architects and remodeling contractors.

David Johnston was named one of the top 50 remodelers in the U.S. in 1990. He developed the first green remodeling program in the U.S. and is creating a national green certification program for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Kim Master is a green building consultant. Both are from Boulder, Colorado.

The All Things Windows Glossary

2009-10-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

I ran across this list of terms and though I would share with those in the market for new windows.

Glossary

A
AAMA. American Architectural Manufacturers Association. A national trade association that establishes voluntary standards for the window, door, storefront, curtain wall, and skylight industries.
Absorptance. The ratio of radiant energy absorbed to total incident radiant energy in a glazing system.
Acrylic. A thermoplastic with good weather resistance, shatter resistance, and optical clarity, used for glazing.
Aerogel. A microporous, transparent silicate foam used as a glazing cavity fill material, offering possible U-values below 0.10 BTU/(h-sq ft-°F) or 0.56 W/(sq m-°C).
Air infiltration. The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows and doors.
Air-leakage (air infiltration).The amount of air leaking in and out of a building through cracks in walls, windows, and doors.
Air-leakage rating. A measure of the rate of air-leakage around a window, door, or skylight in the presence of a specific pressure difference. It is expressed in units of cubic feet per minute per square foot of frame area (cfm/sq ft). Formerly expressed as cubic feet per minute per foot of window perimeter length (cfm/ft) but not now in use. The lower a window's air-leakage rating, the better its airtightness.
Annealed glass. Standard sheet of float glass which has not been heat-treated.
Annealing. Heating above the critical or recrystallization temperature, then controlled cooling of metal, glass, or other materials to eliminate the effects of cold-working, relieve internal stresses, or improve strength, ductility, or other properties.
ANSI. American National Standards Institute. Clearing house for all types of standards and specifications.
Argon. An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer.
ASHRAE. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
ASTM. American Society for Testing and Materials. Organization that sets standards for testing of materials.
Awning. Window similar to a casement except the sash is hinged at the top and always swings out.

B
Balance. A mechanical device (normally spring-loaded) used in single- and double-hung windows as a means of counterbalancing the weight of the sash during opening and closing.
Bay window. An arrangement of three or more individual window units, attached so as to project from the building at various angles. In a three-unit bay, the center section is normally fixed, with the end panels operable as single-hung or casement windows.
Bead. A wood strip against which a swinging sash closes, as in a casement window. Also, a finishing trim at the sides and top of the frame to hold the sash, as in a fixed sash or a double-hung window. Also referred to as bead stop.
Blackbody. The ideal, perfect emitter and absorber of thermal radiation. It emits radiant energy at each wavelength at the maximum rate possible as a consequence of its temperature, and absorbs all incident radiance.
BOCA. Building Officials and Code Administrators.
Bottom rail. The bottom horizontal member of a window sash.
Bow window. A rounded bay window that projects from the wall in an arc shape, commonly consisting of five sashes.
Brick molding. A standard milled wood trim piece that covers the gap between the window frame and masonry.
Btu (B.T.U.). An abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, the heat required to increase the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

C
Casement. A window sash that swings open on side hinges: in-swinging are French in origin; out-swinging are from England.
Casing. Exposed molding or framing around a window or door, on either the inside or outside, to cover the space between the window frame or jamb and the wall.
Caulking. A mastic compound for filling joints and sealing cracks to prevent leakage of water and air, commonly made of silicone, bituminous, acrylic, or rubber-based material.
CFM. Cubic Feet per Minute.
Check rail. The bottom horizontal member of the upper sash and the top horizontal member of the lower sash which meet at the middle of a double-hung window.
Clerestory. A window in the upper part of a lofty room that admits light to the center of the room.
Composite frame. A frame consisting of two or more materials for example, an interior wood element with an exterior fiberglass element.
Condensation. The deposit of water vapor from the air on any cold surface whose temperature is below the dew point, such as a cold window glass or frame that is exposed to humid indoor air.
Conduction. Heat transfer through a solid material by contact of one molecule to the next. Heat flows from a higher-temperature area to a lower-temperature one.
Convection. A heat transfer process involving motion in a fluid (such as air) caused by the difference in density of the fluid and the action of gravity. Convection affects heat transfer from the glass surface to room air, and between two panes of glass.
CRF. Condensation Resistance Factor. An indication of a window's ability to resist condensation. The higher the CRF, the less likely condensation is to occur. Based on AAMA standard.

D
Degree day. A unit that represents a one-degree Fahrenheit deviation from some fixed reference point (usually 65° F) in the mean, daily outdoor temperature. See also heating degree day.
Desiccant. An extremely porous crystalline substance used to absorb moisture from within the sealed air space of an insulating glass unit.
Dewpoint. The temperature at which water vapor in air will condense at a given state of humidity and pressure.
Divided light. A window with a number of smaller panes of glass separated and held in place by muntins.
DOE-2.1E. A building-simulation computer program used to calculate total annual energy use.
Double glazing. In general, two thicknesses of glass separated by an air space within an opening to improve insulation against heat transfer and/or sound transmission. In factory-made double glazing units, the air between the glass sheets is thoroughly dried and the space is sealed airtight, eliminating possible condensation and providing superior insulating properties.
Double-hung window. A window consisting of two sashes operating in a rectangular frame, in which both the upper and lower halves can be slid up and down. A counterbalance mechanism usually holds the sash in place.
Double-strength glass. Sheet glass between 0.115" and 0.133" (33.38 mm) thick.
Drip. A projecting fin or a groove at the outer edge of a sill, soffit, or other projecting member in a wall designed to interrupt the flow of water downward over the wall or inward across the soffit.

Edge effects. Two-dimensional heat transfer at the edge of a glazing unit due to the thermal properties of spacers and sealants.
Electrochromics. Glazing with optical properties that can be varied continuously from clear to dark with a low-voltage signal. Ions are reversibly injected or removed from an electrochromic material, causing the optical density to change.
Electromagnetic spectrum. Radiant energy over a broad range of wavelengths.
Emergency exit window. Fire escape window (egress window) large enough for a person to climb out. In U.S. building codes, each bedroom must be provided with an exit window. The exact width, area, and height from the floor are specified in the building codes.
Emittance. The ratio of the radiant flux emitted by a specimen to that emitted by a blackbody at the same temperature and under the same conditions.
Evacuated glazing. Insulating glazing composed of two glass layers, hermetically sealed at the edges, with a vacuum between to eliminate convection and conduction. A spacer system is needed to keep the panes from touching.
Exterior stop. The removable glazing bead that holds the glass or panel in place when it is on the exterior side of the light or panel, in contrast to an interior stop located on the interior side of the glass.
Extrusion. The process of producing vinyl or aluminum shapes by forcing heated material through an orifice in a die. Also, any item made by this process.
Eyebrow windows. Low, inward-opening windows with a bottom-hinged sash. These attic windows built into the top molding of the house are sometimes called "lie-on-your-stomach" or "slave" windows. Often found on Greek Revival and Italianate houses.

F
Fanlight. A half-circle window over a door or window, with radiating bars. Also called circle top transom.
Fenestration. The placement of window openings in a building wall, one of the important elements in controlling the exterior appearance of a building. Also, a window, door, or skylight and its associated interior or exterior elements, such as shades or blinds.
Fiberglass. A composite material made by embedding glass fibers in a polymer matrix. May be used as a diffusing material in sheet form, or as a standard sash and frame element.
Fixed light. A pane of glass installed directly into non-operating framing members; also, the opening or space for a pane of glass in a non-operating frame.
Fixed panel. An inoperable panel of a sliding glass door or slider window.
Fixed window. A window with no operating sashes.
Flashing. Sheet metal or other material applied to seal and protect the joints formed by different materials or surfaces.
Float glass. Glass formed by a process of floating the material on a bed of molten metal. It produces a high-optical-quality glass with parallel surfaces, without polishing and grinding.
Fogging. A deposit of contamination left on the inside surface of a sealed insulating glass unit due to extremes of temperatures or failed seals.
Frame. The fixed frame of a window which holds the sash or casement as well as hardware.

G
Gas fill. A gas other than air, usually argon or krypton, placed between window or skylight glazing panes to reduce the U-factor by suppressing conduction and convection.
Glass. An inorganic transparent material composed of silica (sand), soda (sodium carbonate), and lime (calcium carbonate) with small quantities of alumina, boric, or magnesia oxides.
Glazing. The glass or plastic panes in a window, door, or skylight.
Glazing bead. A molding or stop around the inside of a window frame to hold the glass in place.
Greenhouse window. A three-dimensional window that projects from the exterior wall and usually has glazing on all sides except the bottom, which serves as a shelf.

H
Head track. The track provided at the head of a sliding glass door. Also, the head member incorporating the track.
Header. The upper horizontal member of a window frame. Also called head.
Heat-absorbing glass. Window glass containing chemicals (with gray, bronze, or blue-green tint) which absorb light and heat radiation, and reduce glare and brightness. See also Tinted glass.
Heat gain. The transfer of heat from outside to inside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
Heating degree day. Term used by heating and cooling engineers to relate the typical climate conditions of different areas to the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a building. The base temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. A heating degree day is counted for each degree below 65 degrees reached by the average daily outside temperatures in the winter. For example, if on a given winter day, the daily average temperature outdoors is 30 degrees, then there are 35 degrees below the base temperature of 65 degrees. Thus, there are 35 heating degree days for that day.
Heat loss. The transfer of heat from inside to outside by means of conduction, convection, and radiation through all surfaces of a house.
Heat-strengthened glass. Glass that is reheated, after forming, to just below melting point, and then cooled, forming a compressed surface that increases its strength beyond that of typical annealed glass.
Hinged windows. Windows (casement, awning, and hopper) with an operating sash that has hinges on one side. See also Projected window.
Hopper. Window with sash hinged at the bottom.
Horizontal slider. A window with a movable panel that slides horizontally.

I
ICC. International Code Council. A national organization that publishes model codes for adoption by states and other agencies. Codes include the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
IECC. International Energy Conservation Code published by the ICC. The successor to the Model Energy Code, which is cited in the 1992 U.S. Energy Policy Act (EPAct) as the baseline for residential Energy Codes in the United States.
Infiltration. See air leakage.
Infrared radiation. Invisible, electromagnetic radiation beyond red light on the spectrum, with wavelengths greater than 0.7 microns.
Insulated shutters. Insulating panels that cover a window opening to reduce heat loss.
Insulating glass. Two or more pieces of glass spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single glazed unit with one or more air spaces in between. Also called double glazing.
Insulating value. See U-factor.
Insulation. Construction materials used for protection from noise, heat, cold or fire.
Interlocker. An upright frame member of a panel in a sliding glass door which engages with a corresponding member in an adjacent panel when the door is closed. Also called interlocking stile.

J
Jalousie. Window made up of horizontally-mounted louvered glass slats that abut each other tightly when closed and rotate outward when cranked open.
Jamb. A vertical member at the side of a window frame, or the horizontal member at the top of the window frame, as in head jamb.
K
Krypton. An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating windows to reduce heat transfer.
KWH. KiloWatt Hour. Unit of energy or work equal to one thousand watt-hours.

L
Laminated glass. Two or more sheets of glass with an inner layer of transparent plastic to which the glass adheres if broken. Used for safety glazing and sound reduction.
Lift. Handle for raising the lower sash in a double-hung window. Also called sash lift.
Light. A window; a pane of glass within a window. Double-hung windows are designated by the number of lights in upper and lower sash, as in six-over-six. Also spelled informally lite.
Light-to-solar-gain ratio. A measure of the ability of a glazing to provide light without excessive solar heat gain. It is the ratio between the visible transmittance of a glazing and its solar heat gain coefficient. Abbreviated LSG.
Lintel. A horizontal member above a window or door opening that supports the structure above.
Liquid crystal glazing. Glass in which the optical properties of a thin layer of liquid crystals are controlled by an electrical current, changing from a clear to a diffusing state.
Long-wave infrared radiation. Invisible radiation, beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (above 3.5 micro meters), emitted by warm surfaces such as a body at room temperature radiating to a cold window surface.
Low-conductance spacers. An assembly of materials designed to reduce heat transfer at the edge of an insulating window. Spacers are placed between the panes of glass in a double- or triple-glazed window.
Low-emittance (Low-E) coating. Microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce the U-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow. A typical type of low-E coating is transparent to the solar spectrum (visible light and short-wave infrared radiation) and reflective of long-wave infrared radiation.

M
Meeting rail. The part of a sliding glass door, a sliding window, or a hung window where two panels meet and create a weather barrier.
Metal-clad windows. Exterior wood parts covered with extruded aluminum or other metal, with a factory-applied finish to deter the elements.
Micron. One millionth (10-6) of a metric meter.
Mil. One thousandth of an inch, or 0.0254 millimeter.
Model Energy Code (MEC). The Model Energy Code is cited in the 1992 U.S. Energy Policy Act (EPAct) as the baseline for residential Energy Codes in the United States. It has been succeeded by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) published by the International Code Council (ICC).
Mullion. A major structural vertical or horizontal member between window units or sliding glass doors.
Muntin. A secondary framing member (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to hold the window panes in the sash. This term is often confused with mullion.
Muntin grilles. Wood, plastic, or metal grids designed for a single-light sash to give the appearance of muntins in a multilight sash, but removable for ease in cleaning the window.

N
Nailing fin. An integral extension of a window or patio door frame which generally laps over the conventional stud construction and through which nails are driven to secure the frame in place.
NFRC. National Fenestration Rating Council.
O
Obscure glass. Any textured glass (frosted, etched, fluted, ground, etc.) used for privacy, light diffusion, or decorative effects.
Operable window. Window that can be opened for ventilation.
Operator. Crank-operated device for opening and closing casement or jalousie windows.

P
Pane. One of the compartments of a door or window consisting of a single sheet of glass in a frame; also, a sheet of glass.
Panel. A major component of a sliding glass door, consisting of a light of glass in a frame installed within the main (or outer) frame of the door. A panel may be sliding or fixed.
Panning. In replacement window work, the outside aluminum trim that can extend around the perimeter of the window opening; used to cover up the old window material. Panning can be installed in the opening before the window, or can be attached directly to the window before installation.
Particle dispersed glazing. Glazing in which the orientation of small particles between two sheets of glass is controlled electrically, thus changing its optical properties.
Parting stop. A narrow strip, either integral or applied, that holds a sash or panel in position in a frame.
Peak load. The maximum thermal load to be provided by a heating or cooling system in a house.
Photochromics. Glazing with the optical properties that change in response to the amount of incident light.
Picture window. A large, fixed window framed so that it is usually, but not always, longer horizontally than vertically to provide a panoramic view.
Pivot window. A window with a sash that swings open or shut by revolving on pivots at either side of the sash or at top and bottom.
Plastic film. A thin plastic substrate, sometimes used as the inner layers in a triple- or quadruple-glazed window.
Plastics. Artificial substances made of organic polymers that can be extruded or molded into various shapes including window frames and sashes.
Plate glass. A rolled, ground, and polished product with true flat parallel plane surfaces affording excellent vision. It has been replaced by float glass.
Polyvinylchloride (PVC). An extruded or molded plastic material used for window framing and as a thermal barrier for aluminum windows.
Projected window. A window fitted with one or more sashes opening on pivoted arms or hinges. Refers to casements, awnings, and hoppers.

R
R-value. A measure of the resistance of a glazing material or fenestration assembly to heat flow. It is the inverse of the U-factor (R = 1/U) and is expressed in units of hr-sq ft-°F/Btu. A high-R-value window has a greater resistance to heat flow and a higher insulating value than one with a low R-value.
Radiation. The transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves from one separate surface to another. Energy from the sun reaches the earth by radiation, and a person's body can lose heat to a cold window or skylight surface in a similar way.
Rail. Horizontal member of a window sash.
Reflectance. The ratio of reflected radiant energy to incident radiant energy.
Reflective glass. Window glass coated to reflect radiation striking the surface of the glass.
Refraction. The deflection of a light ray from a straight path when it passes at an oblique angle from one medium (such as air) to another (such as glass).
Relative humidity. The percentage of moisture in the air in relationship to the amount of moisture the air could hold at that given temperature. At 100 percent relative humidity, moisture condenses and falls as rain.
Retrofitting. Adding or replacing items on existing buildings. Typical retrofit products are replacement doors and windows, insulation, storm windows, caulking, weatherstripping, vents, landscaping.
RESFEN. A computer program used to calculate energy use based on window selection in residential buildings.
Roof window. A fixed or operable window similar to a skylight placed in the sloping surface of a roof.

S
Safety glass. A strengthened or reinforced glass that is less subject to breakage or splintering.
Sash. The portion of a window that includes the glass and the framing sections directly attached to the glass, not to be confused with the complete frame into which the sash sections are fitted.
Screen. Woven mesh of metal, plastic, or fiberglass stretched over a window opening to permit air to pass through, but not insects.
Sealant. A compressible plastic material used to seal any opening or junction of two parts, such as between the glass and a metal sash, commonly made of silicone, butyl tape, or polysulfide.
Shade screen. A specially fabricated screen of sheet material with small narrow louvers formed in place to intercept solar radiation striking a window; the louvers are so small that only extremely small insects can pass through. Also called sun screen. Also, an awning with fixed louvers of metal or wood.
Shading coefficient (SC). A measure of the ability of a window or skylight to transmit solar heat, relative to that ability for 1/8-inch clear, double- strength, single glass. It is being phased out in favor of the solar heat gain coefficient, and is approximately equal to the SHGC multiplied by 1.15. It is expressed as a number without units between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient or shading coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater is its shading ability.
Sheet glass. A transparent, flat glass found in older windows, now largely replaced by float glass.
Short-wave infrared radiation. Invisible radiation, just beyond red light on the electromagnetic spectrum (between 0.7 and 2.5 microns), emitted by hot surfaces and included in solar radiation.
Sill. The lowest horizontal member in a door, window, or sash frame.
Sill track. The track provided at the sill of a sliding glass door. Also, the sill member incorporating such a track.
Simulated divided lights. A window that has the appearance of a number of smaller panes of glass separated by muntins, but actually is a larger glazing unit with the muntins placed between or on the surfaces of the glass layers.
Single glazing. Single thickness of glass in a window or door.
Single-hung window. A window consisting of two sashes of glass, the top one stationary and the bottom movable.
Single-strength glass. Glass with thickness between 0.085" and 0.100" (2.162.57 mm).
Skylight (operable or pivot). A roof window that gives light and ventilation.
Sliding glass door. A door fitted with one or more panels that move horizontally on a track and/or in grooves. Moving action is usually of rolling type (rather than sliding type). Also called gliding door, rolling glass door, and patio sliding door.
Sliding window. A window fitted with one or more sashes opening by sliding horizontally or vertically in grooves provided by frame members. Vertical sliders may be single- or double-hung.
Smart window. Generic term for windows with switchable coatings to control solar gain.
Solar control coatings. Thin film coatings on glass or plastic that absorb or reflect solar energy, thereby reducing solar gain.
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). The fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window or skylight, both directly transmitted, and absorbed and subsequently released inward. The solar heat gain coefficient has replaced the shading coefficient as the standard indicator of a window's shading ability. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits, and the greater its shading ability. SHGC can be expressed in terms of the glass alone or can refer to the entire window assembly.
Solar radiation. The total radiant energy from the sun, including ultraviolet and infrared wave lengths as well as visible light.
Solar screen. A sun shading device, such as screens, panels, louvers, or blinds, installed to intercept solar radiation.
Solar spectrum. The intensity variation of sunlight across its spectral range.
Sound Transmission Class (STC). The sound transmission loss rating of a material over a selected range of sound frequencies. The higher the number, the less sound transmitted.
Spectrally selective coating. A coated or tinted glazing with optical properties that are transparent to some wavelengths of energy and reflective to others. Typical spectrally selective coatings are transparent to visible light and reflect short-wave and long-wave infrared radiation.
Stile. The upright or vertical edges of a door, window, or screen.
Stool. The shelf-like board of the interior part of the window sill, against which the bottom rail of the sash closes.
Stop. The molding on the inside of a window frame against which the window sash closes; in the case of a double-hung window, the sash slides against the stop. Also called bead, side stop, window stop, and parting stop.
Storm windows. A second set of windows installed on the outside or inside of the primary windows to provide additional insulation and wind protection.
Sun control film. A tinted or reflective film applied to the glazing surface to reduce visible, ultra-violet, or total transmission of solar radiation. Reduces solar heat gain in summer and glare. Some can be removed and reapplied with changing seasons.
Superwindow. A window with a very low U-factor, typically less than 0.15, achieved through the use of multiple glazings, low-E coatings, and gas fills.
Switchable glazings. Glazings with optical properties that can be reversibly switched from clear to dark or reflective.

T
Tempered glass. Treated glass that is strengthened by reheating it to just below the melting point and then suddenly cooling it. When shattered, it breaks into small pieces. Approximately five times stronger than standard annealed glass; is required as safety glazing in patio doors, entrance doors, side lights, and other hazardous locations. It cannot be recut after tempering.
Thermal break. An element of low conductance placed between elements of higher conductance to reduce the flow of heat. Often used in aluminum windows.
Thermal expansion. Change in dimension of a material as a result of temperature change.
Thermal mass. Mass in a building (furnishings or structure) that is used to absorb solar gain during the day and release the heat as the space cools in the evening.
Thermochromics. Glazing with optical properties that can change in response to temperature changes.
Thermogram. An image of an object taken with an infrared camera that shows surface temperature variations.
Threshold. The member that lies at the bottom of a sliding glass door or swinging door; the sill of a doorway.
Tilt window. A single- or double-hung window whose operable sash can be tilted into the room for interior washability.
Tinted glass. Glass colored by incorporation of a mineral admixture. Any tinting reduces both visual and radiant transmittance.
Transmittance. The percentage of radiation that can pass through glazing. Transmittance can be defined for different types of light or energy, e.g., visible light transmittance, UV transmittance, or total solar energy transmittance.
Transom. A horizontal transverse beam or bar in a frame; a crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Also, a window above a door or other window, built on and commonly hinged to a transom.
Transom window. The window sash located above a door. Also called transom light.
Triple glazing. Three panes of glass or plastic with two air spaces between.

U
U-factor (U-value). A measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through a material or assembly. It is expressed in units of Btu/hr-sq ft-°F (W/sq m-°C). Values are normally given for NFRC/ASHRAE winter conditions of 0° F (18° C) outdoor temperature, 70° F (21° C) indoor temperature, 15 mph wind, and no solar load. The U-factor may be expressed for the glass alone or the entire window, which includes the effect of the frame and the spacer materials. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window's resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating value.
UBC. Uniform Building Code.
Ultraviolet light (UV). The invisible rays of the spectrum that are outside of the visible spectrum at its short-wavelength violet end. Ultraviolet rays are found in everyday sunlight and can cause fading of paint finishes, carpets, and fabrics.
V
Vapor retarder. A material that reduces the diffusion of water vapor across a building assembly.
Vent. The movable framework or sash in a glazed window that is hinged or pivoted to swing open.
Vinyl. Polyvinyl chloride material, which can be both rigid or flexible, used for window frames.
Vinyl-clad window. A window with exterior wood parts covered with extruded vinyl.
Visible light. The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that produces light that can be seen. Wavelengths range from 380 to 720 nanometers.
Visible transmittance (VT). The percentage or fraction of the visible spectrum (380 to 720 nanometers) weighted by the sensitivity of the eye, that is transmitted through the glazing.

W
Warm-edge technology. The use of low-conductance spacers to reduce heat transfer near the edge of insulated glazing.
Weatherstripping. A strip of resilient material for covering the joint between the window sash and frame in order to reduce air leaks and prevent water from entering the structure.
Weep hole. A small opening in a wall or window sill member through which water may drain to the building exterior.
Window. A glazed opening in an external wall of a building; an entire unit consisting of a frame sash and glazing, and any operable elements.
Window hardware. Various devices and mechanisms for the window including catches, fasteners and locks, hinges, pivots, lifts and pulls, pulleys and sash weights, sash balances, and stays.

Large Appliances....Done!

2009-10-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

After searching and searching for the best deal on appliances, we stopped looking today.
Sean McClanahan, store manager with Hahn Appliance Warehouse located at 41st and Memorial, took time out to give us a personal tour of the warehouse. From what we found through our research, Hahn offers the best overall pricing for the consumer looking for a one-stop-shop.

We're going with a Frigidaire stainless steel line with a Samsung stainless refridgerator because Frigidaire doesn't carry a French door/side-by-side with a bottom freezer. La-ti-da, right?

Many thanks to Sean and the folks at Hahn for giving us a great package deal.

http://www.hahnappliance.com/

Sean can be reached at:
918-622-6262
seanm@hahnappliance.com

More Side Porch Stuff

2009-09-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

It's official - my favorite room it the West side porch off the master bedroom. Operable 6ft casement windows and a sliding glass door gives any king/caveman a means of fresh air or escape. Porch dimensions are about 13ft long x 8ft wide...now conditioned space with interior LED can lights...whoa, baby! That adds about 100sf to the total square footage of the main house.

The sliding glass door has a lock at the bottom, top and middle...Pella isn't fooling around with security and door strength.

Master Shower, Hall Bath - Check

2009-09-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

We needed to install these two items before Mike with M&S plumbing could check us out for the final plubming inspection. We went with a Sterling shower and bath. Thanks to Heatwave Plumbing supply for delivering it as soon as it came off the truck.

Next, we'll pop in the high pressure, low volume shower heads.

As seen standing in the master bedroom, through the soon-to-be pocket door.

I thought this funky gray cement-like base for the shower and bathtub was interesting.

Motha, Should I Build The Wall?

2009-09-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

So my main man Jim Belden says, "yeah, I think I can do your stone work too."

Pretty clean, eh? I think over time the weathering will blend it all together.

Below are my stone masons, Isaac (9) and Nate (6), showing off their traps and deltoids.

Jim even emulated the original stone mason's grout cuts/scratches.

Jim, you're an animal.

A little dash of this, some more of that...

2009-09-17T19:01:00.001-07:00

Wide shot of the new Pella FSC-certified high efficiency wood windows on the east porch. Could I have added a few more adjectives to those windows? The porch casement windows really tie in the other windows on the front, don't you think?
The last Solatube went in on the garage apartment. Thanks David! David Perkins has really shown extreme patience, working around a string of rainy weather. This one will have a dimmer switch on it so you can turn the sun off whenever you want. Some hungover TU student will thank me for that stroke of genius one day. And that TU student better not be one of my kids.
A little bit closer on the new window. This sucker weighed 255 pounds! The next one is a single 10ft casement window that weighs over 500 pounds! we're gonna get a posse together to tip-toe that one into place.
Colburn Electric trenched a 36" deep line from the power pole to the home and another one from the home to the garage apartment. Burying these lines will eliminate the low-hangine eyesores and really open up the space for some future relaxation and back yard fun! The Colburn guys are animals.

Hey John, watch out for the sewer pipes dude! :)

Repurposing Stones from Fireplace

2009-09-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

You might be thinking, what the heck are they doing to that beautiful fireplace? And I concur, it strikes an emotional chord to deconstruct something that had a real purpose for so many years.
Jim Belden is putting his pneumatic chisel to work on this old smoke stack. The point is, we needed matching stone to fill some wall space so instead of spending time and money locating stone that probably wouldn't match the space we're filling on the opposite side of the house for a fireplace we definitely were never ever going to use, we said, "Hey, why don't we just use this stuff here?" Truth be told, it was Lorrie Hoefling, our green building guru, who suggested it. Great idea Lorrie!

Here you can see the stone pile and the holes we're filling. We're moving the side door to the back, giving the home owner direct access to the backyard space...wait until you get a load of what we're doing back there...

And here she blows...we're going to build some bookshelves, so that this beautiful glassed in space will function as a wonder place to get away and do some reading in natural light. We also ran a ventilation duct out here. We'll score the concrete and seal it. Throw a rug down and viola! We're in business. These Pella windows are going to knock your socks off.

A Look At America’s Growing “Small Living” Movement

2009-09-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Thought this article touched on a variety of important points that fall into the theme of our current green retrofit. Exerpt from Enviromental News Network:

"In a super-sized obsessed age, we’ve now fallen into the gap where we believe our home should also reflect a shift toward the grandiose. Yet this obsession with gigantism has completely dwarfed our sense of self. Whereas even meals used to be an art form, the rising trend on bigger (and ultimately considerably ridiculous creations) is aimed at promoting a consumer culture that ironically strips us of culture.

Some would even argue that in addition to relinquishing culture, we rescinded our identity as we grow increasingly lost amidst a rising expanse of materialism. With consumer culture, it’s no longer about what we have, but about how much we can stuff into ourselves, pile on ourselves, and collect around ourselves. An inflationary ideology that compromises quality for quantity, the idea that more is better and less is miserly can be traced back to Hollywood and celebrity, two groups that promote a culture of excess that majority of star gazers flock to emulate.
Yet an undercurrent movement referred to as “small living” is creating waves as a chic counter culture against wasteful consumption. An increasing number of global citizens are realizing that bigger is not better, that more is not necessarily feasible, and that a continued practice of parasitism is not in our mutual interest....

...Small living is simply much cheaper. It’s cheaper to furnish your place, utility costs are lower, and smaller spaces are generally much more affordable to rent or purchase. It was Leonardo da Vinci who first said, “small rooms discipline the mind and large ones distract it,” – and perhaps he was right. Surprisingly, there are a number of other benefits that go with smaller spaces, which anyone who’s walked the walk will quickly recognize."

To read more, please see: http://blog.enn.com/

Out Riding Fences, for So Long Now

2009-09-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

ONCE AGAIN.....BEFORE>>>>

AFTER!!!!!

Holy smokes - what a turnaround. Wait until we drop some VOC-free dark brown stain on it from Anchor Paint, a Tulsa-based paint/coatings manufacturer...Mama Mia!
You may be thinking....yeah, but what's up with that driveway? Oh, don't you worry. We're cooking up something and we'll report back.

Oh Yeah....Pella is in da House!

2009-09-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

Looky, looky...Sookie, sookie! The windows arrived onsite yesterday and the first wood window was installed in the south east bedroom today. Oh, they're gonna be smokin'.

http://web.pella.com/aboutus/Pages/GreenCommitment.aspx

Ta Da! Thanks TAMKO, Metal Seams and Tile!

2009-08-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Metal Seams and Tile stayed late last Friday evening and finished the roof and even put a little cover on the outdoor display sign for us.

I'll report back later on the awesome performance characteristics of the TAMKO MetalWorks product but for now, just enjoy...

I was giving this guy a hard time by calling him crazy for jumping ontop of this sign with no fear. I was really scared. I built it...so I knew he was truly endangerd. He just laughed at me.

Moving Gas Lines to House

2009-08-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Somehow we qualified to have our gas meter moved from the street up to the house....FOR FREE!

ONG started digging across the street yesterday so they could tap into the lines that feed our house -- Sorry Leslie! ONG dug a huge hole in my neighbor's yard to fix my gas line. "That's what friends are for..."

I think my son would rather watch this guy that go to run club in the morning.

More Loads of Fun

2009-08-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

We took our third load of metal to Borg Compressed Steel last week. Borg is located at 1032 N Lewis Ave in Tulsa (918) 587-2437.

There are other metal recycling facilities located throughout Tulsa - see the Sustainable Tulsa green directory for details on the closest one to you:
http://www.sustainabletulsa.org/greendirectory.php

or

call the Met: (918) 584-0584 or http://www.metrecycle.com/

You're not gonna get rich recycling. You've gotta do it because it's the right thing to do. This little load hauled in a $50 windfall towards the project. It was a little over 1,000 pounds.

They drop a huge magnet into the bed of the truck and pull it right out. Great experience for young kids to see how this all works.
The mountains of metal found through the facility are amazing.

Bolder Moves, Moving Boulders

2009-08-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

The house only had a side door access to get the the back yard. So, we thought a cool and practical update for modern living would be to fill in the side door and one window using stone from the fireplace. We'd utilize a south facing window and create a back-door, creating new direct access to the back door. Good for families with kids as well as better utilization of a patio, deck or outdoor space.

The space created from using from the fireplace's stone on east side porch, will be replaced with bookshelves. The bookshelves will come in handy, as the new glass we ordered will make the porch a well-lit reading space.

Refining Our Cabinet Options

2009-08-23T09:43:00.000-07:00

Next week, we meet up with Ralph Lackner, President of locally owned Jay Rambo company, to submit our final plans for the cabinets. Above: Ralph discussed electrical locations with Colburn Electric.

The Pipes, the Pipes are Calling

2009-08-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Above: Mike threads a pipe section for a new gas line to accommodate the new tankless gas hot water heater system, manufactured by Rianni. Mike from M&S Plumbing is a licensed plumber with experience in green construction projects. Mike helped finish Shelby Navarro's green home on Rockford here in Tulsa.

Mike had to dig out a good section of the old sewage piping to fit the new connections.

On the Fence

2009-08-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

With a flurry of contractors on site last week - HVAC guys, plumbers, electricians - my main man Jim was forced outside to attend to the fence. At first blush, it appeared as though the fence, falling down in some places and braced up from the Winter storm of 2007 in others, was headed for the landfill. Not so. Fortunately, the fence posts and most of the wood was treated. Only the horizontal support lumber was rotten. We're not sure why the previous owner used untreated wood for such a small and relatively insignificant part of the original fence project.

Before:

During:

After:
Well, we're not there yet...but we're zipping off 6in from the tops and bottoms of the existing fence and reusing everything we can. This isn't just environmentally friendly, it's cheaper than buying new lumber! Look for a great Anchor Paint exterior stain on the final product. Keep charging Jim!

The new HVAC is here! The new HVAC is here!

2009-08-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love the part in The Jerk when Navin R. Johnson (Steve Martin) says, "The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here. I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now."

We'll, I'm not THAT excited (yes I am) but when I got home from work the other day, the sight of the big Carrier pallet was a beautiful sight to see.

The next day, a team of professional installers swarmed the job site and were seen up, down and all around hoisting the main unit into the attic, running ducting throughout the house and per the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design specifications for ensuring indoor air quality, all ducting is kept sealed throughout the process until the entire system is ready to go online. This keeps any contamination like dirt, dust, mold, smoke, chemicals or are anything else out of the ventilation system while construction is in progress.

Air Solutions Heating & Cooling Inc. is a Factory Authorized Dealer for Carrier. Keith Hilligoss and all the guys at Air Solutions know what they're doing, which is why Carrier awarded them the coveted President's Award in 2008.

Eventually, the attic will be blown with spray foam insulation, keeping this unit within the conditioned space and adding to the efficiency to this already efficient system. We've gone with Carrier's Infinity™ Series. This is Carrier's premier series of products offering the highest in excellence that Carrier's experts have developed. For details about this system, see: http://www.residential.carrier.com/systems/infinity/index.shtml#/home

High-efficiency air conditioners cost more up front than mid-range or minimum-efficiency units (which start at *est. $2,500 to $3,000), but will result in the lowest monthly energy bills and often include additional energy-saving features. Experts say these 16 to 23 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) air conditioners make sense if you want to make a long-term investment, live in an area with high electricity rates or long air-conditioning seasons, and are willing to pay more at the time of purchase so you can reduce your use of electricity. Most high-efficiency air conditioners are two-stage units, which cool efficiently with less on/off cycling, and they all use the more environmentally friendly coolant R-410A instead of R-22 (Freon). However, your home may need ductwork renovations to accommodate these units, which would add to their total cost. Carrier uses a proprietary coolant called Puron. For details: http://www.residential.carrier.com/knowledge/innovation/puron.shtml

Banner Weeks for Colburn Electric

2009-08-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks to John (left), Darrin (center) and Bill (right) for running all the electrical wiring, positioning receptacle boxes and riddling me with questions every morning for the last couple weeks! My bad - I had know idea how much information I failed to think about before getting you out to the job site. Special thanks also goes out to Bart Colburn for partnering with us on this unique energy efficient residential retrofit.

A well thought out electrical plan is important element to figure out BEFORE the electricians get to the house! Where do you want cable tv boxes, ceiling fans, power outlets, types of power required for appliances (gas, electric, 110v vs 220v), height on the walls, phone jacks, can lights, etc.

We're also going to bury the existing power lines from the pole to the house and house to garage. We'll provide a Before and After comparison when we get there.

Front and Center!!!!

2009-08-01T22:23:00.001-07:00

More Tubes! More Roof! Front Porch Update!

2009-08-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

We're pick'en up steam folks.....I'm still thinking October....

Relax, Enjoy Your Solatubes

2009-08-01T21:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, You could say I was a little anal about where the Solatubes should go. But, David Perkins (918-808-4242) was more polite and accommodating than I deserved. You wouldn't believe the amount of even, natural light that these pump into your living space.

To ensure the roofer and the Solatube installer knew what the game plan for the Solatube locations while I wasn't on site, I over did it a little and staple-gunned signs in all 6 locations. Yeah, 6. We're pretty excited.

Tip: Consult your roofer as soon as you know you're going with Solatubes or any roof penetration.

Contact David Perkins, Authorized Installer/Local Distributor
Cell: 918-808-4242
www.solatulsa.com

Yes, We'll be Energy Star Rated too...

2009-07-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Meet Jason Fisher.

Jason Fisher is the new Account Manager for the PSO ENERGY STAR Homes Program. He is a Certified Home Energy Rater. Jason wrote the technical and training curriculum for a building supply company training program and conducted training in the US and Canada. Jason serves on the board of directors as a founding member of the US Green Building Council's Oklahoma Chapter. He is a committee member on the LEED for Schools Task Force, and a committee member on the Insulating Concrete Form Association's New Membership Committee. Mr. Fisher served as the ICF Technical Advisor and Crew Leader during an episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition filmed in Oklahoma. He has appeared as a green building expert on KTOK 1000 AM, OKC Metro TV News Show, and Home Talk USA with the Cajun Contractor. Jason looks forward to working with ENERGY STAR Homebuilders across the state. Jason currently lives in Midwest City and will relocate with his family to Tulsa soon. You can reach Jason at jfisher@icfi.com or 918-519-0214.

Tulsa Cabinet Manufacturer Sells Sixth Sense

2009-07-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

It’s not often that you can say custom cabinetry and ESP in the same sentence but I recently figured out how. In fact, I found a local cabinet manufacturer that embeds ESP into its products. Okay, not the Extra-Sensory Perception kind of ESP but another type that also gives you a pretty good feeling. More on that in a moment. I had an opportunity to view the Jay Rambo Company through an industrial ecology lens, taking into consideration its processes, product life cycles and how it approaches sustainability, pollution prevention and waste management.

The Jay Rambo Company is a cabinet manufacturer based in Tulsa that specializes in handcrafted custom cabinetry. Jay Rambo also provides custom closet systems, stand-alone armoires and outdoor grilling solutions. A wide range of options and product combinations differentiates Jay Rambo from other cabinet manufacturers. However, these options bring additional challenges to remain efficient. This is where ESP comes in handy.

Jay Rambo was awarded the Environmental Stewardship award in 2007 and expects to receive the award again for 2008. The Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) is a voluntary standard for cabinet manufacturers administered by Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association. There are 146 ESP certified companies and brands but only one in Oklahoma – Jay Rambo. ESP certification is awarded annually and is based on 5 categories: air quality, product resource management, process resource management, environmental stewardship and community relations.

To reduce waste and increase the efficiency of their raw materials, “We use sophisticated computer-aided equipment systems for planning, cutting and sanding. Most equipment is supported by vacuum ventilation systems to take away sawdust and waste to holding stations located outside the building,” says Jay Rambo Plant Manager, Ron Gniech. Ron was right – the 80,000 square foot facility was practically sawdust free.

The ESP requires that particle board, plywood and medium density fiberboard (MDF): meet established formaldehyde emission levels; finished products must be finished domestically; and finishes used shall emit no greater Hazardous Air Pollutants than allowed by local plant operating permits. Particleboard and MDF must meet standards for recycled/recovered fiber content.

Most of Jay Rambo’s hardwood is purchased through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program. SFI forest certification promotes responsible forestry practices. SFI chain-of-custody certification tracks wood from certified lands through production and manufacturing to the end product. This element may qualify your project for the National Association of Home Builders’ National Green Building Program (NAHB Green) or for LEED Credits. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a certification process by the U.S. Green Building Council that provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction.

Jay Rambo recycles saw dust waste, cardboard waste, hazardous waste, and paper waste. The company routinely gives to Habitat for Humanity, including one time when it donated over $15,000 in hardware to Habitat’s building materials re-use operation. The Company has provided free cabinets to churches and other charitable organizations around Tulsa. Jay Rambo also volunteers time and staff to Tulsa Tech’s Architecture and Construction classes as panel judges and guest speakers.

So if you’re thinking about greening your next cabinet project, try using ESP and tap into your sixth sense.

Design Charrette -- A Success!! (Thanks TulsaTech)

2009-07-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Mid-Town Residential Retrofit Goes Through Hands-on Brainstorming Session
Mid-town Tulsa home renovation seeking rare, dual green building certification.

It was a meeting of the minds this month, as team members in charge of key building systems met at TulsaTech to discuss a “green” home renovation aimed at saving energy, water and using local product manufacturers and service providers when possible. The meeting, also called the Design Charrette, is an important first step in the planning process and an effective tool for developing strong, successful designs and communicating the project goals to the critical players. Charrettes serve as a way of quickly generating a design solution while integrating the aptitude, interests and fresh viewpoints of a diverse group of people.

“Lorrie has been a strong proponent of a dual-certified (NAHB/LEED) home from the start,” says Chad Burden, owner and OSU Tulsa graduate student studying environmental science with an emphasis in green building and sustainable construction practices. The home will be the main focus of Chad’s master’s thesis project through OSU Tulsa’s Environmental Science graduate program.

Standards for rating a building's "greenness" have been established by several organizations, using point systems to rate energy, water use, materials, design and more. The largest and most recognized green building codes are The National Association of Home Builders' Model Green Building Guidelines and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The home will be dual certified upon completion (LEED-H/NAHB National Green Building Standard).

“We are excited to see this home go for dual certification,” says Lorrie Hoefling. The LEED and NAHB are well thought out standards for Greening a home and making it the most energy efficient as possible. Builders like to have a choice and they will get a highly energy efficient home from either one of these standards.

Key product manufacturers and service providers associated with the project are below. Those bolded attended the Design Charrette.

-- Lorrie A. Hoefling, Residential and Commercial Green Consultant and PM
-- Metal Seams & Tile, a Tulsa-based roof installer
-- TAMKO Building Products, a Joplin, MO-based product manufacturer
-- EnviroGLAS, a Plano, TX-based recycled glass countertop manufacturer
-- Tulsa Granite, a Tulsa-based counter top fabricator
-- Pella, a door and window product manufacturer located about 500 miles from Tulsa
-- Perk Inc., premier local SolaTube dealer in Tulsa
-- Air Solutions, a Sand Springs-based HVAC service provider representing Carrier and others
-- Jay Rambo Company, a Tulsa-based custom cabinet manufacturer
-- Kohler, a maker of fine plumbing fixtures and products
-- M&S Plumbing, a Tulsa-based professional plumbing service provider
-- Ozark Foam InSEALators, Missouri-based service provider, representing Demilec Foam Insulation
-- Todd Stephens, a Tulsa-based professional drafting and design service provider
-- Jim Belden, a Tulsa-based general contractor
-- Colburn Electric, a Tulsa-based electrical service provider
-- Anchor Paint, a Tulsa-based coatings product manufacturer
-- Temple-Inland, an gypsum board product manufacturer with a facility in Oklahoma
-- M&M Lumber, a Tulsa-based lumber company and supplier of Tech Shield, the premier manufacturer of laminated oriented strand board (OSB)
-- Triple "C" Companies, an Oklahoma based lighting sales and design firm for over 30 years
-- HeatWave Supply, a locally owned and operated premier plumbing supply company
-- Broken Arrow Electric Supply, Inc., supporting electricians and contractors for over 25 years

About The Home Renovation Located at 3530 E. 21st Place Tulsa, OK
Details about this project can be found at www.obgreen.blogspot.com. The project began in February and should be completed by September, followed by eight weekends of open houses aimed at public education.

Contact Information: Chad Burden 3536 E. 21st Place Tulsa, OK 74114 918-629-5498 chadbb@okstate.edu

###

Reusing Hardwoods - More Pics

2009-06-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Wanted to give you a few more pics of the work we've done during the hardwood floor excersize. Don't just tear it out and thorw it away - are you nuts?

Look how pretty it can look again, with a little care and a little....wait...... a lot of effort is put into it! :)

Jim and Darlene Belden are animals, working through this Oklahoma summer heat and saving these beautiful oak hardwood floors. Can't find nicer people with more integrity than the Belden's.

The Hole....... again

Ready for action.

We'll look to buy salvaged materials if we don't have enough of the original flooring to cover the new floor plan.

Decking Complete, Next Up -- the ROOF!

2009-06-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Special thanks goes out to Sean Stevens and Wade Davis at M&M Lumber, who are extremely knowledgable on a variety of sustainable product offerings (Tulsa: 918-627-1926), Perry Stephens at Cedar Creek Lumber (Oklahoma City: 1-800-375-6025) and the great people at Louisana-Pacific, who gave us a nice first-time buyer rebate on their Tech Shield radient barrier product for the decking, which is essentially an oriented strnd board (OSB) with a thin piece of aluminum lamentated to one side.

www.lpcorp.com/radiantbarrier/radiantbarrier.aspx

A radiant barrier is installed in buildings and homes to minimize radiant heat gain in summer, and to minimize radiant heat loss in winter.

Oh, and congradulations to Cedar Creek Lumber, who just became a FSC-certified wholesale lumber company: http://www.cedarcreek.com/index.cfm?id=5

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. Using lumber from FSC-certified lumber yards also gives you credits for projects seeking LEED certification. We don't have any FSC-certified lumber yards in Tulsa, but keep asking for it. The market drives the progress. We CAN make a difference, just by asking companies for things we want.

Managing Asphalt Shingle Waste

2009-06-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

Doing anything that falls outside the status-quo takes proactive over-communication and buy-in on the front-end of a business arrangment when securing your roofing contractors and waste management service providers. It also requires plenty of research if C&D waste managment options aren't readily available, as is the case in Tulsa. I bet I spent more than 15 hours on the phone and online investigating C&D waste recycling options for Tulsans trying to the do the right thing. Whew, brutal! Most people won't go the extra mile to do this...but now you don't have to!

In Tulsa, Harley Hollan (918-317-7777, ask for Dale) will drop a container off at your site and deliver to APAC (918-438-2020), where they offer a variety of C&D waste recycling, to include: concrete, wood, and asphalt shingles. APAC will take shingles with the nails in in and felt, but not with wood shingles/decking. Harley Hollan recommends you order a container strickly for the shingles so there isn't a bunch of mixed waste to rummage through, although they will go through and separate it if needed. Plan ahead and talk the project through with all contractors and service providers involved. The last thing you want to do is inform the roofer that you want them to recycle the shingles the day they come to do the tear-off -- it ain't gonna happen.

Most roofers are used to bringing their own trailers so they can pull them up close to the house. So if you do order a container, make sure you try to drop it off near the house so the roofers can pitch it right in. The easier you can make it for the roofer, the more likely they are to use this new procedure. You can also arrange for the roofer to take to APAC -- call ahead to confirm everything. You have to hand-hold everybody because this is all new to them.

Letter to Tulsa City Councilor

2009-06-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share this letter we sent to our City Councilor for District 4 in Tulsa (no response, even after 3 follow-up phone calls/re-sent emails/left messages). Don't mean to throw anyone under the bus, but come on.

____________________

December 18, 2008

Jason “Eric” Gomez
TULSA CITY COUNCILOR DISTRICT 4
918-596-1924
dist4@tulsacouncil.org

Greetings Eric,

This is the first letter I’ve written to my City Councilor (I know, shame on me!), so let first me give you a brief background about me. I live in Jefferson Hills and I have recently acquired the house next door which has been uninhabited for almost 8 years. As part of the requirements for my Environmental Science graduate program at OSU Tulsa, I aim to conduct a major renovation in order to certify the home using the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) program. I was happy to learn about your extensive background in the restoration, remodeling and construction industries, so the main point of this memo should hit close to home with you.

As you know, any construction project generates a lot of waste – whether it is new construction, a remodel or demolition (aka “deconstruction” to all you greenies out there). In fact, construction and demolition (C&D) waste accounts for an enormous amount of the waste stream in the United States – some estimates say up to 30%. While most of this waste accrues to landfills, the majority of the waste stream is potentially reusable or recyclable. As I began conducting pre-planning work on what C&D materials I could divert from the landfill, it became apparent that Tulsa was ill prepared to handle a variety of C&D waste materials. I spent a good deal of time calling around and surfing the net (including the M.e.t. website) but didn’t have much luck finding information or businesses/recycling facilities in the Tulsa area that for reclaiming/reusing C&D waste materials for the following items:

· Carpet (not the pad)
· Asphalt shingles [since this letter, I have found that APAC provides an asphalt shingle recycling service]
· Old framing wood/studs
· Attic insulation
· Plaster

Carpet and asphalt shingles are huge sources of waste and can be recycled in many cases. Concrete is actually the largest C&D waste component but since my home has a pier and beam foundation it wasn’t an issue for me. Material such as gypsum board can be ground up and used in many different ways such as in the making of Portland cement or as recycled content for new drywall.

Is there any legislation in the works to address this unique need? If not, can we create some to incentives for businesses and citizens? Cities and agencies throughout the United States have successfully employed numerous waste mitigation strategies for C&D waste. President-elect Obama has mentioned the new green economy in nearly ever major speech he has given recently. His economic stimulus package has sparked a need for the country to be ready for change and I can’t think of a more appropriate issue to be “shovel ready” than the C&D waste sector.

What will happen when companies looking to move to or expand in Tulsa learn that they will not be able to meet green standards? As someone who has been “in the business” as well as in city government, I’m sure you’ve thought more about some measures we can take to help establish a starting point. There are many best practices steps that local (and state) governments can take to encourage C&D debris recycling including - but not limited to - implementing policy, providing tax incentives, rebates, sales tax exemptions and low interest loans to recycling businesses. Contractor strategies, building code specifications, and a practice called "optimum value engineering" can also help to minimize the C&D waste stream.

Best regards,
Chad Burden, City of Tulsa Master Recycler

Diverting Waste From Landfills - C&D is Low Hanging Fruit

2009-06-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Data collected in 1998 by the EPA estimated 136 million tons of building-related Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris was generated in the United States. Thirty percent of all solid waste produced in the United States is C&D waste, excluding road and bridge debris. Wood and concrete are the most typical waste materials. Additionally, most C&D debris is nonhazardous and is not regulated by EPA. The most common management practice for C&D debris is landfilling, including C&D landfills, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills and unpermitted sites. There is a trend toward recovering and reusing C&D debris. However, within the building industry there is a general lack of C&D waste recycling awareness. This fact, coupled with the problem of how C&D waste is defined and how it can be reused, is a barrier to widespread solutions for diverting C&D waste. Most construction, demolition and renovation companies are considered Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators. Recent deconstruction projects have demonstrated environmental and economical benefits of diverting building materials away from traditional demolition waste streams.

Get ready Tulsa, the C&D waste diversion industry -- also known as "Deconstruction" -- is coming.

Salvaging the Oak Floors

2009-06-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

Chris Ornelas is taking each board and grinding off the nails so we can get them ready to run through a planer.

Some of the sub-floor had some REALLY bad issues. I won't tell you what rotted out some of these spots....it'd make you sick.

The ever-peppy Lorrie Hoefling, our LEED AP, did a great job prepping each of the rooms so Jim could get right down to business when it came time to pull up all the flooring.

Half-way there! This will be the new super-sweet kitchen will go, designed and manufactured by Jay Rambo Company, a local gem with nationwide appeal. The open window on the left will be removed and replaced by a new southfacing door, which will open up the the back yard.

This was the kitchen floor that had some pretty bad water damage. The west side door will be rocked in to create some much needed wall space. Don't worry -- Solatubes will be pumping natural light in, one free photon after another.

In Yo Facia

2009-06-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

Finally, forward progress on the roof! Up with the facia boards.

We're using cedar. Cedar possesses physical properties and characteristics unsurpassed by any other softwood species. It has exceptional dimensional stability with minimal tendency to shrink, swell, cup, twist, or warp under even the most extreme weather conditions. The durability of cedar is superior to other domestic softwoods. Its natural composition resists moisture, decay, insects and other natural elements that can quickly damage other softwood species. Cedar is exceptionally workable, with superior ability to be sawn, take nails, glue and other fasteners.

Neat link to a website advocating the use of cedar wood:

http://www.cedar-siding.org/about_us/media/press_releases/press_release0310_lovecedar.asp

They have everything on the Internet, don't they? Gee, thanks Al Gore!

Chad

DEMO COMPLETE! THANKS TTC!!!

2009-06-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Mike Covington, Linda Parker and the entire Tulsa Tech construction team who helped do all the heavy lifting throughout the demolition process.

You guys rocked it! Have a great summer.

Best wishes on your future goals and employment.

Chad

P.S.: For those interested, TulsaTech offers a wide range of construction curriculum including: Basic Safety, Construction Math, Hand Tools, Power Tools, Introduction to Blueprints, Basic Rigging and more. Contact Amanda Wiley for details: 918-796-1226.

http://www.tulsatech.edu/

Colburn Electric

2009-04-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks goes out to Darrin Van Riper (918-521-9016) for all of his patience and help getting the project up and running from the electrical perspective. Colburn Electric has offered to work with Tulsa Technology Center's students to provide them with real-world exeperience a part of their education. That's giving back to Tulsa!

Through 30 years, Colburn has earned a solid reputation for quality -- in terms of the people who work for them and in terms of the service they provide clients. They approach every assignment, large or small, with the same integrity of performance. Darrin is a great ambassador.

Now I just need to get started on my electrical schematic! It's always something...aaaargh!

Wait, this is fun right?

cb

Air Solutions - Heating & Cooling Inc.

2009-04-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Had a chance to meet with Keith S. Hilligoss, President of Air Solutions (918-241-2362) this week. Super helpful and knowledgable about the Carrier product lines. We took a stroll through the house and to his credit, he sees what we see - a diamond in the rough.

Our home has never had central heat and air, so we'll be looking at a a variety of elements important to the new system. For example:

The first place to look to minimize the impact of a mechanical system isn’t the equipment; it’s the building design and construction. LEED-H and NAHB building standards ensure a tight building envelope, which can help reduce distribution requirements.

Air Conditioning Equipment – The two most important issues with compressor-based cooling systems are energy efficiency and potential ozone depletion from refrigerants. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) ratings compare cooling capacity (in Btu to energy inputs (in watts) and are helpful in evaluating central air-conditioner performance.

Air Filtration Systems – Air filtration is an important part of the HVAC design. Quality products should have high filtration efficiency over a range of particle sizes, be energy efficient, and durable. ASHRAE measures filtration standards based on: arrestance efficiency, dust-spot efficiency, and Minimum Reporting Value (MERV) ratings. High efficiency air (HEPA) filters are designed to capture extremely fine particles.

Heat Pumps – Heat pumps are similar to air conditioners – but in addition to removing heat, they can reverse their cycle to pump heat into a building when needed. Air-source heat pump heating efficiency is measured as the Heating seasonal Performance factor (HSPF), which is the ratio of thermal energy output (in Btu) to electrical energy input (in watt-hours).

Indoor Air Quality

Energy Star rated

More to follow! We feel like we're in great hands - from manufacturer to local service provider. Carrier can do it all for Tulsans. Thank you Carrier and Air Solutions!

Chad

4/21 - As Seen on TV!

2009-04-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Wanted to post a couple of media hits we've had over the past few weeks. We're extremely thankful for Channel 6 (CBS) and Tulsa World for the wonderful coverage:

http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=10118556

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&articleid=20090408_32_A2_Caudnn392310&archive=yes

We also look forward to coverage by OETA, the PBS affiliate as well as Channel 2, the NBC affiliate.

GO GREEN!

Chad