Solar Lighting and Solar Power

International Green Building Conference Review

Part 4 of 5

It is becoming more efficient, affordable and aesthetic to harness the power of the sun!

You can lower your need for electricity by channeling the sun’s light through Solatube. They have recently improved minimizing heat transfer, and it qualifies for the 30% tax credit (currently good through the end of 2010). Remember to check if there are other rebates or incentives in your area. This high performance product is energy star rated. It uses advanced optics to flood a space with natural light, without the accompanying heat, which is more beneficial than a skylight. Our family bathroom does not have an exterior wall and has attic space above, so there was no other way to enjoy daylight before. It was as dramatic as night and day to add the Solatube. Not only did it flood the room with natural light, it brightened the hallway, and one’s mood!

Another major savings for consumers is the significant drop in pricing for solar panels (customarily placed on the roof)—some 40% over the last year according to Chad Corwin, a market research specialist for Kyocera Solar. He told me that thin film is less efficient, to look at the products energy output, with a benchmark of 5.52 watt per hour. All states are establishing standards of how much of their energy will be generated from a renewable source. For example, Arizona is considered a progressive state, since we do not classify nuclear power as a renewable energy source, so there will the requirement for utility companies to cooperate with net metering—the selling of excess power back to the utility company. Chad pointed out to me, that homeowners generating their own power can be considered a competitor, loss of revenue for a utility company. I hadn't thought of that before. With the requirements of a percentage of energy that must be from renewable sources, utility companies need to cooperate with homeowners who harvest the power of the sun.

There are several companies that have developed solar roof tiles, an example is shown in the picture above. Time Magazine (Nov. 23, 2009) featured, The 50 Best Inventions of the Year, and coming in at # 13 was the Solar Shingle by the Dow Chemical Company. Their innovative solar shingle unveiled in October, is expected to cost 10-15% less than traditional solar panels, and is to be widely available in 2011. Solar shingles will be easier and less expensive to install than solar panels.

Kyocera was chosen to be the company to supply the Toyota Prius a solar ventilation system, an optional feature for the hybrid car, to cool a car's interior when it is parked. And for those of you who do not live in the desert you cannot appreciate the need for this! --I first moved to Arizona in July, soon after the record temperature of 122 degrees. I did not have tinted windows yet, and after the car was parked for several hours in the treeless parking lot, when I tried to drive it, the steering wheel burned my hands! Who knows, hopefully soon the technology will bring us affordable solar cars!

Stay tuned, I've saved the best for last!

Green Surfaces: Counters, Floors

International Green Building Conference

Part 3 of 5

Consentino provides the most natural colors in their maintenance free quartz surface countertop, Silestone. Quartz is valued for its density--being not porous, and uniformity of color. They have developed a new line, Eco, which is composed of 75% post-industrial and post-consumer waste—which includes mirrors that gives it bits of eyecatching sparkles. It comes in ten colors, and costs 10-15% more for this green product. One user cautioned that they had issues with scratches and divots as of August 2009, and he recommended to investigate if they have worked out those bugs in the processing.

PaperStone products are composed of 100% recyclable post consumer waste. It can withstand 350 degree heat, one can sand out any scratches, and can be used in applications just as quartz. It can be specified for sinks, countertops, even wall paneling. Of course I asked, how does it hold up to water? The product is produced in the state of Washington, and a couple hundred Starbucks uses the material for their drive-thru shelves—which is exposed to frequent rain—and years later, there have been no problems. You can specify integral sinks in a different color if you would like. They come in earth tone colors, have a matte, leather look. I was surprised how heavy the samples were!

For more information on different types of countertop materials available, their benefits and drawbacks, check out the matrix at CookRemodeling.com.

Amtico International offers resilient, customizable flooring that is slip resistant with the look of ceramic stone, slate, marble or wood that is FloorScore certified for being a low voc* product and adhesive (*low chemical offgassing) for homeowners. Being a member of the SEN Design Group for select Kitchen & Bath Professionals, we were introduced to this company who is better known in the United Kingdom. Their original brand for residential is Amtico and they added a lower priced line, Spacia. It is recyclable, with 95% of their products made in the U.S.A., and is comprised of 20-36% recycled material. Not only is their product easier on the body’s joints, it is easy to maintain. One does not have to worry about grout lines darkening and needing to be sealed, or cleaning them after a spill or pet accident. It also offers ease of installation, it does not require use of a noisy, dusty saw, and you can walk on it the same day. Not only can you order the “tiles or planks” in the size you want, you can mix and match the looks for a custom design. They also offer templates for motifs and borders for that finishing touch.

Good News on Conserving Water from the International Green Building Conference

Part 2 of 5

WaterSense is the new Energy Star!

It would be more accurate to say: electricity is to Energy Star as water is to WaterSense (remember those statements from SATs and ACTs?)

Most people are aware that “Energy Star” rated appliances have met strict guidelines to be energy efficient. Now be on the lookout for the “WaterSense” conservation rating for toilets, shower and bath faucets, and irrigation systems. According to Kohler's research, WaterSense faucet can reduce water use by 30%, saving a typical family 11,800 gallons of water a year.

I had the opportunity to interview representatives from Delta and Moen at the International Green Building Conference (IGBC), and they told me that within a year, ALL of their bathroom faucets will be WaterSense certified. I had the opportunity to tour Delta's headquarters in Indianapolis in 2008, and I was very impressed with the company culture. They have what I call a drop-in synergy center for facilitate getting in the creative zone for design. They have developed Diamond Seal technology so faucets are built to last, which is also very green, keeping things out of the landfill!

There has been a great challenge for determine the rating guidelines for efficient showerheads—what good would it do to lower gallons per minute if it took twice as long to rinse out shampoo? Or if the aeration cools the water so much that you end up using more hot water? If you have a bath shower combination, a good way to test your shower head is if the water running out of the tub spigot feels to be the right temperature, and when you channel the water to the shower and you have to turn up the hot water, the aeration is significantly cooling the water. Delta has solved this by developing a technology to make the water droplets larger, so they retain their temperature, and you still get a drenched feeling with the lower gallons per minute flow. Moen put a toggle switch in their rain shower, so the user can get a concentrated stream to rinse out shampoo. Their showerhead has a spoke design with stream channels so there is better coverage over the body. A WaterSense showerhead will save a typical family an equivalent of 385 bottles of water in a week! Kohler was also present in the exhibit hall, and have earned the recognition of being WaterSense Manufacturing Partner of the Year for 2008 and 2009.

Do you use a water softener? It typically uses salt, electricity, and a lot of water to backwash—typically 120-150 gallons a week to take out the minerals of calcium and magnesium to avoid scaling and deposits. Because of the significant waste of water, and that it dumps a lot of sodium into the water system, California is banning salt-based water softeners. How can one protect pipes, hardware, appliances, and surfaces from hard water damage? You can get a water conditioner that does not use electricity or salt. One type of water conditioner uses magnets to change the surface structure so they do not deposit, and can help descale buildup. I learned this interviewing a representative of Superior Water Conditioners at IGBC. A salt free water conditioner uses nanotechnology filtering to change the ion structure so the minerals will not cling to surfaces, but will not descale deposits. Know that one will not get that slick feel that salt “softened” water gives.

Product offerings are always changing. Ask your remodeling professional what products they’ve researched and recommend that are eco-friendly or "green." You can see a list of some companies we use and are very happy with their product and customer service here (at the bottom of the page).

Light Rail Travel to the International Green Building Conference

My commitment to ongoing professional education usually requires long distance travel several times a year. How great for me that year’s International Green Building Conference was held in Phoenix!

It was my first time to use the light rail, and I am grateful that to have that transportation option. I had lived in Boston before moving to Phoenix, and was used to using the subway system to get about. It is very challenging to develop subway lines in a large, densely populated city, and I thought that since Phoenix didn't have that challenge, they would have a great transportation system worked out. Well, we are starting to move in that direction!

For those who have not used Phoenix's new light rail, it was a clean, smooth ride. I felt safe. Besides the less stress benefits of not having to drive, or find/pay for parking downtown, I was able to meet some wonderful people. On the way there, I dialogued with an Artist who was given a pass to the Green Conference by her Architect friend. She shared with me her experience living in and raising her family in what is considered an underground home in the East Valley, and how remarkable are the savings that her and her husband enjoy with low utilities. She said she had a small kitchen, and I asked if she had frameless cabinetry so she could maximize her storage space. She did not know what type of cabinetry she had, and with one question, I could tell she did not. I explained it to her the advantages of gaining an additional 10-20% more space to use in cabinets and drawers, and gave her Cook Remodeling’s website which has an article on cabinetry.

As we approached the stop close to the Phoenix Convention Center, the gentleman sitting in front of us told us that he was returning to the Green Building Conference. He told us he had preregistered the day before, and he would be happy to show us where we need to go to check in. He said otherwise it may take us a long time to find where to go with so many people, and he was right! We really appreciated his help navigating through the crowds.

On the way back, after a long day on my feet, I was glad to be able to sit back and relax. Not only did I travel across town faster not having to drive in the 5 PM traffic, I got to finish reading about Dorothy Day, an amazing woman, my assignment due that night for Just Faith, a social justice ministry formation class. With that time to recharge, I was ready to create dinner, eat, and go to class.

My next posting I will share some of what I learned at my day at the International Green Building conference!