Solutions for Less Stress Home Living

Cook Remodeling has moved its blog!

2011-02-09T10:52:00.004-07:00

Check out the newly remodeled, renovated, improved site!

You will find the article, "Help Stop Viruses from Spreading in the Family" posted there.
Please go to: http://www.cookremodeling.com/blog/

Cash for Clunker Appliances Comes to Arizona April 12, 2010

2010-04-10T14:07:00.026-07:00

up
update: the rebates were distributed
in 3 hrs and 38 minutes!

Mark your calendar and set your alarm clock!

Arizona’s Rebate Program will begin
taking reservations for participation in
the program on April 12 at 6 AM sharp!

Anyone who is an Arizona resident,
who reserves a rebate for a new,
qualified energy efficient appliance to
replace their old, and follows the
guidelines can obtain up to $425
cash back.

If you live in another state you can
check here to see when your state's
program schedule.

Do you have an old, inefficient clothes washer, dishwasher,
or water heater?

You will need to call 1-877-307-5366 or go on-line AFTER 6 am
Monday April 12th to obtain a confirmation number on the type of
appliance you intend to replace, limited to one per household.
Be patient, it may be difficult to get through, but you'll need to persist-
Iowa ran out of money in six hours! Once a state's money is gone,
that's it. You can try to get on a waiting list for money not claimed.

The U.S. Department of Energy has granted Arizona $6.2 million dollars
from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to help
individuals replace old and inefficient appliances with new Energy Star
appliances. The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office selected
appliances that will save energy and conserve water, and estimate there
will be 35,000 rebates available that may be gone in a day.

To be eligible, the purchase must take place after the start of the program,
and the new appliance must meet specified efficiency requirements
(see chart). You must agree to recycle or donate the appliance being
replaced.   New homeowners without appliances are not eligible, as the
intent is to replace existing energy gobblers. Energy Star/Water Sense
clothes washers can qualify for either $125 or $200 (depending on level
of efficiency), dishwashers: $75 or $125, gas water heater: $200,
gas tankless water heater $300, and an electric heat pump water heater
(new to market in April), $425.

You will have a month to purchase the “green” appliance, and after sending
in required documentation, you will receive a prepaid Visa card as a
reimbursement. There may be random inspections to verify the purchase
was put into personal use. Unused rebates will be given to people on a
waiting list.

If your old appliance is not worth donating, the City of Chandler will recycle
appliances whether you are a resident or not, but you need to take it to
their center. Call 480-782-3510 to schedule your drop off. You may want
to ask at the time of purchase if the retailer will recycle your old one for
you when they deliver your new unit. If your unit works, you can call
Stardust Building Supplies at 480-668-0566, or St. Vincent de Paul
at 602-266-HOPE for pick up, to name a few.

It is so much better to give to someone in need,
rather than give to the landfill!

National "Fix A Leak Week" March 14-18, 2011

2010-03-11T14:05:00.006-07:00

Did you know that nationwide one trillion gallons of water are wasted because of running toilets, dripping faucets, and other leaks every year? That the average American home annually pays for 10,000 gallons they did not need or benefit from, and water waste causes prices and even water use restrictions to go up? That's why Watersense is promoting "Fix a Leak Week" to prompt homeowners to check their plumbing and irrigation systems for leaks.

The Environmental Protection Agency officially launched "Fix a Leak Week" last year in Phoenix, Arizona. A translucent water tank was set up in the driveway of longtime residents Dennis & Debbie Jobin that showed how much water was lost with 2 old leaking toilets and a showerhead. Two hundred gallons were wasted in one week!

Be "green" and maybe save some green by making the time to survey your house. Before going to bed (or work), check your water meter, then check it again in the morning (upon return) before any water is used, including irrigation, to make sure there have been no leaks. If there seems to be, carefully inspect your home. Check the bathtub/shower faucets, are they dripping? When you examine your bathroom and kitchen faucet, look underneath to see if there is any evidence of a leak. When the house is quiet, take the lid off each toilet, inspect the unit and listen. Check the water lines to the clothes and dishwasher, water treatment appliances (heater, purifiers) and refrigerator as best you can. In your yard, turn off your irrigation system and let the ground dry--are there any damp areas to indicate water seepage? Could there be a crack in your pool or pool lines? If you cannot find the leak, you'll have to call in a locator to check your hidden pipe system.

Here's a true story of a team of experts who couldn't figure out the problem!

I knew of a contractor who was called in by a frantic homeowner whose water bill had more than quadrupled in a month's time, although nothing had changed in their routine. How could so much water be lost with no signs of a leak? He had called every kind of expert. They checked the water meter, it was accurate. Every pipeline, faucet, and appliance was checked, and there was no leak. No one could figure the mystery, yet on some days his meter showed close to a hundred gallons were used when no one was home! The stress took its toll, and he was home in bed, too sick to get up or go to work. While he was laying there in his misery, he heard his downstairs toilet flush, and he was home alone! Armed with his video camera, he crept downstairs to catch the water bandit, and he captured it on video! It seems his house cat had learned how to flush the toilet, and there it was entertaining itself, flushing the toilet, then striking at the swirling water as if it was trying to catch something getting away, then flushed it again, over and over and over! Mystery solved!

--Remember to be green in the community too! In a public restroom one of the toilets was running because the trap could no longer make a seal. I would estimate a gallon of water was being wasted every five minutes at the rate it was flowing! I shut off the water valve and put up the seat, and put the lid of water tank on the seat's base to signal, do not use and tip off the maintenance crew of the problem since I didn't know how to find them. If there is water flowing down your street, and it hasn't been raining, trace the water to the source. Maybe someone forgot to turn off a water hose, and you can be a good neighbor and turn it off. Water is a precious resource that we all depend upon!

Do your part. Every drop counts!

Why a "Bidet Rinse" is as Standard as Hand Washing

2010-01-13T12:04:00.011-07:00

Let's Get Personal

I remember the first time I saw a bidet. I looked at it, and wondered why some people would want to use one. It seemed awkward to imagine transferring from a toilet to a bidet, as well as sitting in the opposite direction. I guessed they used toilet paper before transferring, and again to dry off. In my mind I couldn't justify using up the space in a bathroom to have one. Eventually I found someone I felt comfortable asking, and they told me using a bidet is as standard of a routine as washing one's hands after using the bathroom, it simply was primitive, even barbaric (their description) to not rinse clean after using the toilet. I still was not sold.

At a Kitchen and Bath Show for professional designers, I saw that manufacturers were making a bidet and toilet combination. I had more interest, for at least in doing a remodel it did not require additional plumbing and space for a bidet, and who wants something else to clean? It sure seemed like an expensive experiment--what if the person didn't like it? or if it stopped functioning? It seemed like a hassle to have to replace a toilet that works fine to have a bidet, especially if you all ready had bought a dual flush unit to conserve water.

My girlfriend has a plumbing business, and she put a toilet/bidet combination in her showroom. She told her staff of plumbers that they had to try it at least once, so if their customers had questions, they would be familiar with the product. They rolled their eyes at the idea. What she never would have predicted, is the brawny men would always opt to use it! That was quite an endorsement for me--if these tough guys like it, anyone would! My interest grew in finding a good product to recommend.

Recently I found a company, Brondell that makes a Swash seat (pictured above), that a homeowner can install on their existing toilet in less than an hour. When I asked an "expert" as to why would one want to rinse after toileting, she offered a great explanation. "If your arm was dirty, you would not instinctively take a dry paper towel to try to rub it clean. You would want to get the area wet to help with the removal of the dirt." That made sense to me! I obtained one.

In my younger days, I used to shower daily. Being able to "swash" helps me feel clean and fresh every day. The seat and self-cleaning nozzles (one for posterior and one for feminine washes) are made of antibacterial material, the water is warm*, it even comes with a dryer* so you can cut down on toilet paper! (*models vary)

Brondell has also designed a product called, Perfect Flush you can add to your toilet to make it a dual flush unit. With a dual flush switch, it will use half as much water for a flush for those eight out of ten times that just has liquid waste. Its use can save between 3000-7000 gallons of water a year! Eric Corey Freed, author of Green Building & Remodeling for Dummies said, "The brilliant simplicity of Perfect Flush makes it one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to conserve water in your home."

Use the code COOK during checkout at Brondell to receive a 10% discount on all their products!

Anti-Construction Amendment Stripped from Healthcare Bill

2010-01-12T16:29:00.034-07:00

March 18, 2010 update

Thanks to the lobbying efforts of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and others, the unfair burden on small construction companies was removed from the Healthcare bill. For now, the government won't be forcing small construction businesses to have to lay off their employees or face bankruptcy because they could not afford the mandate to provide health insurance or pay fines if they have five or more employees (for all other industries it is 50 employees). However, Senator Merkley's spokesperson Julie Edwards said the amendment could reemerge as a stand alone bill or be reattached to another bill.

(originally posted January 12, 2010)
Putting Mom & Pop Out of Business
That's what will happen to small construction companies if the Senate's Version of the Health Care Bill becomes law (H.R. 3590)!

On Christmas Eve, behind closed doors in a back room deal, the influence of Big Union Lobbyists succeeded in tacking on a mandate to burden small construction companies in the Senate's version of healthcare as proposed by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.).

All other companies with 50 or more employees will be asked to comply with all the bill's mandates or pay penalties. Not so if you are in a construction related company. If you have only FIVE employees, or 250,000 annual payroll, you will be required to comply or pay fines which will devastate the industry. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry surveyed its members, and found 96% oppose the new provision. They believe that if the amendment is kept, thousands of remodeling and constructions firms will face bankruptcy.

It is an unprecedented assault on a single industry that is made up of mostly small businesses. In response to historic losses in which companies volume dropped upwards of 60% causing layoffs or closures, the unemployment rate for construction workers is 22%. Now they want unemployment to increase? As a remodeling business owner, I am sure that will happen.

Our company has always offered group health insurance to our employees since we first hired a crew in 2001. Because we are small, our premium is high compared to a large company, so we can only afford to help with 50% of the premium. Some of the employees are covered though their spouse's work and opt out of our plan, so that makes it doable. This labor burden increases our costs and pricing and we do lose some sales to companies who do not offer their employees insurance, but we do what we can to keep offering a health plan because it is the right thing to do.

If this is passed with this final hour addition, the only way for us to survive would be for us to cut back to 3 employees. Those that would be laid off will lose their health insurance benefit they currently have! Does that make sense???

As Mom & Pop would say, "Play fair!"

Please go here to tell your elected representative in Washington D.C. that you do NOT think it is right for the industry of construction to be singled out. All companies should have the same requirement of having 50 employees to be mandated to comply with all requirements, if that is what the law will be.

If you are a small business owner, you may want to click here to join the National Federation of Independent Businesses to be better informed, and get involved.

Thank you for taking the time to let your representative know you don't think it is right to single out the construction industry and force many companies into bankruptcy, causing many people to lose their jobs.

Shifting Perspective to Lessen Stress

2010-01-11T21:54:00.014-07:00

How A Husband Came to Help in the Kitchen

Do you have the stress of differences of how and who should get the household chores done?

It would be a tragedy in life to not fulfill our call to give love and receive love. If we haven't experienced the love of God form those significant in our life, living can be quite painful, and loving those in most need of love can be difficult. We live in a wounded and wounding world, and it is a challenge to not react to someone not being loving, and to choose to love unconditionally.

One can have a custom designed, quality built home--all the creature comforts, but that cannot compensate for dissatisfaction or discord in a marriage relationship. I remember a Reader's Digest quotable quote, "After you're married, its easy to find reasons to divorce, the challenge is to find the reasons to be married."

Last week, I had the opportunity to listen to Ronda Chervin, Ph.D., a philosophy & theology professor, and author give her talk, Freed to Love. Her story was a great inspiration, which she gave me permission to share:

'While dating, courting, it is easy to exhibit all the positive traits of our feminine and masculine nature, but as life's challenges grew, so did the surfacing of the negative traits. When my first children, twins, were 3 years old, my husband became so asthmatic that he was unable to work. I found myself having to work full time, and be responsible for all the house work. I threw myself into the perspective that Christian love meant self-sacrifice, but it is not love when you are seething with resentment. As I clung to my perspective that I was doing everything, I grew in anger. My world became that a good day would mean I got my way. I did not have any good days--and my unhealthiness grew. No matter how great the burden was for me--the children being needy, work being taxing, my being sick, he would never help in the kitchen. He might say, "you look tired, why don't you make us some tea and muffins," and that was the extent of his helpfulness.

One day our parish was having a Mass to celebrate marriage. I was there alone, for my husband was not wanting to participate in such occasion. There I was looking around at all the couples feeling sorry for myself, and reminding myself how he wasn't like how I wanted him to be. The priest asked us all to stand. I stood even though I was by myself. He said, God wants us ALL to love unconditionally, and you can't love if you don't forgive, and God wants us ALL to forgive. It was like God was speaking to me. I knew I was supposed to forgive, but this time I really heard it, even though I didn't fully understand how I could forgive so much hurt! I hung onto my wedding ring and repeated the prayer of forgiveness. As I prayed to God to help me forgive my husband, I felt the anger drain out of me, and healing pour in. I felt changed. I came home, and for the first time ever, my husband met me at the door. I looked in his eyes, he looked into mine and said, "You look tired. Why don't you sit down and let me make you some tea." Shocked and speechless, I let him guide me to sit down. As he went into the kitchen, I sat there pondering how such a miracle could have taken place. Suddenly I knew the answer. When I forgave my husband, all the anger dissipated, so now my husband when he looked into my eyes he could see my heart, instead of just my anger. He could now see my need, my tiredness, and I, in turn, could see his heart now too. With this new perspective nurtured by prayer and Scripture study and participation in Dr. Abraham Low's Self-Help Systems, I came to affectionate perspective that he came from the family of the fiddler on the roof--he's just not the type to do "woman's work" and it would be a rare day to find him in the kitchen. I came to accept him and love him as he was, and focus on his many good traits, and celebrated for what he did give. Yes, my husband was more laid-back as a person, and after his death I would have given a million dollars just to see him relaxed in his recliner emanating his love of life and affection for our family.'

I hope you found this woman's story moving, inspiring, and helpful in making life at your home more love full. One other resource that I have found to be most helpful in finding the joy in life of loving others unconditionally is Dr. Greg Baer's Real Love. We cannot change others, but if we change, others will too!

May 2010 be a year of expanded heart capacity to love! -- a great way to banish life's stresses!

Valuable Gadgets in the Kitchen!

2009-12-28T12:17:00.017-07:00

It can be the little things in life, that make a major difference!

Starting with Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, to New Year's (and Bowl games!), there are lots of gatherings and people to prepare for, some include out of town guests. With all the extra activities and effort to make something special, does something stand out as a time saver? Do you have a clever gadget in your kitchen that makes what you do easier?

I've got one that is such a stress buster, because it is so fun to use! It reminds me of the carefree days of childhood in the midst of trying to assemble a meal. Anything that makes one pause and laugh is priceless! Everyone that sees my garlic cutter, wants one for themselves, so I want to share it with you.

Won't you share with us your favorite?

Being a remodeling business owner, time is precious, and I don't get to spend time preparing tasty dishes as I would like. I am very grateful that my Mother was able to get out of Nebraska to visit us this Christmas before the blizzard made travel impossible, and I wanted to make a special dinner for her. She likes to eat light at night, so the menu was salad, homemade vegetable soup and garlic sourdough toast lightly dusted with goat cheese, with a raw/live, antioxidant rich blueberry-raspberry pie for dessert (sweetened by dates/no sugar or flour/gluten), all organic. Now I can't very well chop garlic, get it on my fingers, then press an almond date pie crust into a pan! Who wants blueberry pie with the flavor of garlic! Using this handy-dandy gadget pictured above, you pop in the cloves, and play car on your counter! You zoom around and the garlic gets chopped into uniform pieces.

I negotiated a savings of $1.00 for all my readers for the Zoom Rolling Garlic Cutter-- lowering the price to $8.98! They also will give 20% off of the items in the giftbasket shop until January 12th. Just make sure to type in "cook remodeling" in the comment box for your savings! They are located in the U.S. garlic capital, Gilroy, California, and sell their own food and sauces.

Happy New Year!

A Unique Bathroom Product for Pampering

2009-12-09T12:23:00.045-07:00

Whether it be Christmas, St. Valentines, Mother's or Father's Day, a birthday, or anniversary, what better than to give a loved one (which includes you!) something that reminds them how special they are? Have you found something that communicates your thoughtfulness of how to make their life better, that they are loved?

Its no fun to go to the mall and wander around hoping to find something that will be a unique and useful gift that will be greatly appreciated. After milling about with crowds, it doesn't take long for some motives to deteriorate to finding anything that may do.

I have spent time researching to find unique, innovative eco-friendly products that will transform the bathroom into a spa-like experience. They will not require remodeling, but installation by a licensed electriction is recommended. Here is a fabulous idea that will conserve energy and may conserve water--and how do they do that?

I love taking a shower, it is so relaxing, yet I am aware that every moment that I linger after I am rinsed, water is being wasted. Why do I delay? Because the water is so warm, and I know when I shut it off, I will be chilled and my muscles will tense back up. At the same time, I really don't want to add excess moisture to the air, which germs and mold love, nor hassle with fogged mirrors.

Pictured above is a product new to the United States, in fact, there isn't another one like it, a body dryer! You might be the first person in your city to have one! Over 15,000 have sold in Europe. It is a perfect gift for that someone who has everything. The unit has precision cut holes to provide a vortex of warm air surrounding the body to dry a person from top to bottom in a matter of minutes. It is an easy transition from being enveloped by warm water, to warm air.

There are many green advantages:

It reduces or eliminates the need for body towels, using about 70% less energy as compared to the laundering of towels.
In the winter it can easily prewarm the shower area.
In the summer it helps eliminate the moisture in the air so the air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard.
If you like long hot showers, by using the body dryer, you will take the excess moisture out of the air to reduce opportunities of mold and mildew growth.
What I like best is it is truly a convenience and time saver. No longer does one have the additional step to fumble with a hair dryer--you have both hands free to shape and style your hair, so you are ready to get dressed and go when you step out of the shower!
If you have strength or mobility issues, it could be the answer for safety and independence.

The retail price is $2590 for a custom color; $2350 for metallic, bronze, or pearl colors. Shipping is additional. Ask us how you can save up to $695! Fill out a request for more information at Cook Remodeling.

Do you know of any other eco-friendly products for that spa experience?

The Best Products from the 2009 International Green Building Conference

2009-12-01T11:39:00.019-07:00

Part 5 of 5

There were two products that were very exciting for me at the International Green Building Conference. The first uses 100% recycled materials, and the second provides a great environmental solution; both concepts that are important to Cook Remodeling.

Rubbersidewalks, Inc uses a patented, low energy technology to transform a vehicle tire into a square foot of paver. California alone discards 34 million car tires a year, nationally we dispose of 300 million tires, which have a long life in a landfill! The woman-owned business is doing so well, they are lowering their prices 5-10% in 2010! Terrewalks has many advantages over concrete. It provides more friction when wet, is 5% cooler (good patio and poolside surface), never cracks or chips, reduces heat island effect, and has no off gassing (concrete puts out 6% of CO2 emissions). It is tree friendly in that it accommodates root growth since water can travel through the seams into the ground, the material does not leach into soil, performs in all climates, and can be used for driveways. The material offers so many benefits over concrete--like being easier to clean, quieter, more comfortable to walk/jog on, provides easy access to utilities to name a few.

If you have ever driven to Los Angeles on Hiway 10, you have seen the large propeller wind turbines –80 of them in 8000 acres of land. There has been a lot of controversy over the number of birds they kill and the amount of space it uses. Mariah Power has invented a superior alternative, a vertical axis wind turbine (in photo above). It is a pole-mounted column with 2 feet long slender horizontal stabilizers for three 20-30 feet high vertical blades that catch the wind and turn to generate electricity called, Windspire. I can’t even imagine how many of those 4 ft wide turbines you can fit in that 8000 acres! Barring any building code restrictions, one could place it in your backyard, for it is ultra quiet. It costs about $10,000 supplying an average of 2000 kWh of energy per year (depending on how windy it is your city). One homeowner interviewed said he recovered half the cost in rebates and tax credits, and it generates 25-50% of their home's electricity, which they can monitor via computer. You can see in that video link how easily they spin. That’s good news!

The Windspire offers the lowest price renewable energy product in a one-kilowatt range. It does depend on wind to move it, but unlike solar panels, it can work at night as well. So I asked, is it bird friendly? One of the representative said he saw a dove perched on a stabilizer while it slowly turned around and around. I also queried, What if you knew there was an impending high winds? They told me it is hinge mounted so you can lower it to the ground. It is very intelligently designed and is grid ready.

Solar Lighting and Solar Power

2009-11-25T13:11:00.018-07:00

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

2009-11-23T15:17:00.014-07:00

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

2009-11-13T11:34:00.014-07:00

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

2009-11-12T22:42:00.002-07:00

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!