1. Energy Efficiency:
Geothermal heating, cooling and hot water - We used Envision by Waterfurnace is 30 SEER a/c; up to 500%. Read the article about our system in MetroMode Magazine. Learn more about geothermal. Find a contractor anywhere in the U.S.
Geothermal Contractors in Ann Arbor:
Meadowlark Builders, (734) 332-1500
Michigan Energy Services, (888) 339-7700
Haley Mechanical, (800) 871-7993
Jetstream Heating & Cooling, Geocomfort System - Tom Fauser (734) 668-8010
Fact: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said geothermal heat pumps are, "the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today."
Occupancy sensors - Wattstopper on all light switches - turns off lights automatically in unoccupied rooms. California now requires these in all new home construction.Installed by Dan Delzoppo Electric
734-930-1630 - Our favorite contractor!Available at Gross Electric in 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 665-8676
Available online at EcoHaus
Cellulose Insulation: blown cellulose made from recycled newspaper. R-50 in attic / R-18 in walls. Attics can be easy DIY projects. But, for walls we strongly recommend a professional with the right equipment and experience to ensure proper fill.Installed by:
Farmer's Insulation in Ann Arbor - Guy Murphy
(734) 769-0066Note: Our infrared camera test showed excellent coverage. Great job Guy!!
Learn more
Open-cell spray foam insulation in basement between foundation and floor framing. Provides an excellent air and thermal barrier. This is also an excellent choice for attics and walls.Arbor Insulation
sales@arborinsulation.com
734.786.1664
Energy Star appliances - Helpful hint: For 50% - 75% off on energy efficient appliances look for a Sears Appliance Outlet Store near you (there's one in Livonia and Taylor, MI)Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you could save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
Energy-saving light fixtures; compact fluorescent lights throughout"A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings." The End of the Light Bulb as We Know It. US News & World Report, 19 December 2007.
Easy Do-it-Yourself Items to eliminate air leaks and gaps in your house:Great Stuff foam for sealing around window casings, basement gaps, chimneys, attics, etc. When you add up all the little gaps in your house, it can be the equivalent of leaving a window open all year long. Check out the Great Stuff website "Interactive House" for cool tips on sealing your home.
Rope Caulk to help seal those pesky gaps in your old windows. Available in brown or gray. You can purchase rope caulk online or at any local hardware or home improvement store. Cost: $5.25Check out the Brill Luxus 38 and the all new Brill Razor Cut 38
We LOVE these mowers!! This ain't your granddaddy's push mower. You'll wonder why anyone uses hard to push, noisy, smelly, polluting gas mowers.
Smart Strip - WE LOVE THIS!! Power strip designed to kill that Vampire Power that is sucking hundreds of watts . . . even when you're not using your electronics. Click "shut down" on your computer or "off" on your TV remote and it will automatically turn off all the peripherals too - DVD, Wii, surround sound, printer, fax, hard drives, or whatever. It will pay for itself in a few short months. Available online at Amazon and other retailers.
2. Water Efficiency:
The Average U.S. Home Uses 300 - 700 gallons per day! Look for the new EPA Watersense label for outstanding water savings.
High efficiency 1.5 gpm Bricor showerheads and .5 gpm faucet aeratorsA family of 3 will save around 11,000 gallons of HOT water every year. This is not only a water saver, but a huge energy saver as well. This brilliant technology will pay for itself in as little as 7 months!! Every shower should have one of these. No more excuses. Simply the best shower you can get.
Online Retailers $64.95: Black Energy and EFI
Caroma High Efficiency Toilets (HET) - dual flush allows for half flush (.8 gallons) or full flush (1.6 gallons). Caroma is beautifully designed. And, with a 4" trap, they are nearly impossible to clog. Can save thousands of gallons of water per year. They'll pay for themselves in a few years. Other Brands to Look For: Kohler, Sterling and Toto too!Find a Caroma Retailer: http://www.caromausa.com/distributors/
Available online: BuyPlumbing for under $400
Rainwater capture used for irrigation - We got ours made from reused Michigan oak wine barrels from St. Julian Winery. There are plenty of places to buy rain barrels or you can make your own. Believe it or not, for every inch of rain that falls on a catchment area of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater. 5 inches of rain falling on a 2,000 square foot roof area will generate about 6,000 gallons of rainwater!3. Materials:
Bioshield Floor Coatings. Antique heart pine floors sanded then refinished using natural penetrating Bioshield Hard Oil #9 for a durable, water resistant and non-toxic finish. You can often catch great closeout deals on the Bioshield website.Find a retailer
New Hudson MI 48165 (US)
Phone: 248-437-1370
Bathroom floors made from second hand marble. Highly durable.
Medicine chest mirror made from antique picture frame.
Other Materials Considerations:
Reused salvaged trimwork wherever possible
Sustainably Harvested Wood: When buying new wood, insist on Forest Stewardship Council‘s FSC Certiciation or Rainforest Alliance Certification.
Donate excess materials for reuse - Habitat for Humanity Restore or Ann Arbor Reuse Center
Compost bins for yard and kitchen scraps
1 Gallon trash can in kitchen - prevents us from creating too much waste for landfill
Compost pail at kitchen sink to collect kitchen scraps for compost - not the disposal or trash.
Reclaimed brick walkways - reuses material and minimizes stormwater runoff.
4. Indoor Environmental Quality:
Fact: Indoor air is sometimes three times more polluted than outdoor air. According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes, furniture, flooring, wood & cabinet adhesives, mold and poor ventilation are among the leading causes.
Third Party Certification for Indoor Air Quality: Look for Green Seal or GreenGuard certification.
Zero-VOC Paints: These are the best small brands are superior paints for everyone, but particularly for the chemically sensitive: Safecoat, Yolo Colorhouse,Major brands (sometimes cost a little less and are now widely available) FreshAire Choice from Home Depot, Olympic Premium Paint (Available at Lowes), Pittsburgh Paints, Sherwin Williams Harmony (NOTE: Harmony is NOT GreenSeal or GreenGuard Certified and is only a "low"-VOC rather than zero-VOC) and others. Just make sure you ask for Zero-VOC paint at the paint or hardware store.
Wood floor finish: For our antique heart pine we used Bioshield Hard Oil #9 (see above) Different coatings are suited for different woods. So, make sure you ask what is best for your wood floor. Also, check out the premium line of eco-friendly finishes from SafeCoat. Bioshield and SafeCoat are both available online at www.EcoHaus.com
Whispergreen Panasonic high-efficiency motion sensor bath fan - improves indoor air quality, reduces mold and uses minimal energy. This fan is virtually silent and uses very little energy. We love it! Available at
Gross Electric - 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor
734-665-8676Online at WestsideWholesale ($130 - $160) Plumber's Surplus ,
Zero or Low-VOC Adhesives: Henkel Green Series zero-VOC adhesive for sub-floor in new bathroom. You will love the ways these clean up!! No more nasty chemicals to remove the other nasty chemicals that get stuck on your hands. Best of all . . . almost NO SMELL.
Furniture: antiques or reused are the best - Craigslist, Freecycle, or eBay - But, if you must buy new make sure it is durable and free from toxic brominated flame retardants (PBDEs / BFRs), PVC or formaldehyde and is made from FSC or Rainforest Alliance certified wood. Many major brands are going green. Check these out: Crate & Barrel, Lee, Bob Williams+Mitchell Gold. Also, look for products that are C2C (Cradle 2 Cradle) certified.Rugs and Floor coverings made from natural materials - free from toxic flame retardants (PBDE) or vinyl
Our Wish List:
Energy Recovery Ventilator - ventilate fresh air and recover 80% of heat loss ($700 - $2,000 installed)
Solar and/or Wind Power to provide our remaining energy load ($30k-$50k)
Solatubes for natural daylighting in the closets and dark spaces. ($300 each)
More forward thinking political leaders
Tell us what is on your greenovation wish list . . .
5 comments:
I'm curious why you went with blown cellulose insulation in the attic instead of using spray foam there as well (in addition to in the basement). I suppose you don't have settling problems when you're doing a flat surface like an attic floor (as opposed to walls) but I thought spray foam insulation was still considered a better choice because it eliminates air flow.
I'd love to know more about your thought process!
Also - I'm curious what your thoughts are about cellulose insulation made from recycled newspapers vs. cotton from recycled blue jeans....
Both blown cellulose and spray foam are excellent options for the attic. Foam has the advantage of acting as a vapor barrier and gives you the ability to seal the attic roof, rather than the floor. This creates what's called a "hot roof." A hot roof can then easily be turned into extra living space if your attic allows. If you use blown cellulose, you do have to go through the extra, but quite easy, step of sealing all those pesky air gaps left by joists, light fixtures or chimney.
Cellulose has number of advantages as well. First, it is a recycled and recyclable material - making it an excellent life cycle choice. It is also a bit less expensive than spray foam. It is also non-toxic at every stage.
While most spray foam is not toxic in its installed state (manufacturers of icynene foams claim you can eat - but until I see them swallow a piece, I wouldn't try this at home), it is toxic in its manufacture, and care must be taken to avoid contaminating the environment and the workers. Further, foam, like other plastics has an unknown lifespan. The good news is that it scores high on durability. The bad news is that it may be around long after your house. There are spray foams being made from bio-based sources such as soy. These can be friendlier choices, but are more costly.
Both are excellent insulators and should be seriously considered. We are using spray foam in the basement joists to help provide both thermal and air barriers. For the price, we were able to get a higher R-value with cellulose. There is no bad choice here.
As for cotton batting made from blue jeans, it is another good option with the added benefit of excellent sound insulation. Cotton batting is much more expensive and does not have any significant advantage over cellulose. Again, it's still not a bad choice.
thanks so much for the great tips and the great blog. I love it!
we are very excited to hear about your excellent experience with your geothermal system and are considering having it installed a new (used) house we are getting ready to buy on west side ann arbor.
I will definitely visit your blog again when we are ready to do it.
Great to see this site. A very good idea. There is a new store in A2 called Go Green (as in environment). Anyone check it out yet? These are some great ideas. I did an energy analysis with Infrared Energy Analysis located here in town. Added insulation in basement, attic and sealed ductwork. As for wishlist, I'd like to explore the Brac grey water system. I have yet to find anyone locally that has installed.
Glad to see you guys mention FSC lumber. Sustainability is crucial, and FSC is probably the strongest certification for forestry. Lewis Lumber is an FSC certified lumber company. I recommend them, they have been good to me.
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