From Guest Blogger Marlena Stoddard: Full Green Ahead–Four Home Innovations Moving Us Toward a More Sustainable Future
We hear a lot about global warming, human impact on the environment, and threats to the future of the planet. But making an environmental difference is up to government and big business alone. We as individual citizens can contribute to a sustainable future on a daily basis by introducing some green changes into our lives. We all know about recycling, repurposing and the importance of alternative sources of energy. But what about the ways we use energy in our homes, the space we’re most responsible for? Here are four innovations we can make in our homes that will help contribute to a sustainable future.
Eco-friendly Flooring
Palm and bamboo woods are excellent choices for floors. Unlike the more traditional hardwoods, palm and bamboo grow quickly, reducing the impact of deforestation. Using recycled wood flooring is another green option to conserve the forests. Green carpeting made from recycled plastics and from highly sustainable wool are great choices as well.
Efficient Bathroom Fixtures
The average American bathroom accounts for a whopping 45% of all water used in the home. Check for leaks first: the amount of water wasted by drippy faucets can really add up. Toilets that use less water per flush are becoming more efficient by the day. These, along with water-efficient showerheads, can cut way down on daily water consumption. Using less water in the shower also means using less energy to heat it. Solar-powered water heaters are great green options as well.
Green Insulation
Insulating our homes cuts down on energy loss. But the materials we use for insulation may raise concerns about sustainability and safety. Some contain dangerous chemicals and emit toxins, while others are not recyclable. There are some interesting recent developments in sustainable home insulation products, however. Soybeans, wool, shredded denim, even hemp are all now being used for insulating homes. These materials allow us to save energy by insulating in the most eco-friendly way possible.
Low-E Glass
Windows don’t just let in light and fresh air. The kind of window and the way it’s installed can make a huge difference in the amount of energy used annually by the furnace and AC. Double-paned windows, like those from Statewide Energy Solutions, help retain heat in colder climates and cold in warm climates. They do this by acting much like the insulation in your attic—they trap air, which does not conduct heat well, between panes of glass. This prevents energy from the environment exchanging with the inside of the home. Selecting low-emissivity window glass (glass treated with coatings specially designed to keep heat outside in the warm weather and inside during the winter) can save a substantial amount of energy.
Green home innovations and renovations are becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers and builders alike. Every year brings new options and brighter prospects for a truly sustainable future.
Here’s another one: Instead of using 2 x 4 studs for exterior walls, use 2 x 6 studs. That way there is room for thicker insulation. Some new building codes require that, but there is no need to wait for that.
And you left out cellulose insulation made from recycled newspapers
I’m pleased to ket everyone know that my house, in addition to having 2 x 6 studs for exterior walls, also has cellulose insulation made from recycled paper.
Cellulose and fiberglass have comparable R values, but the testing method may not be entirely valid. The R value of fiberglass insulation drops with the temperature at which the testing is done. I have not seen an explanation for that, but I suspect that it is because at lower temperatures air has a lower viscosity which may increase convection through the insulation. If cellulose resists convection currents better than fiberglass then cellulose insulation would be more effective at low temperatures.
Perhaps someone might like to research this.
Frank, A great study came out in 2015 by the Building Science Corporation called The Thermal Metric Project http://buildingscience.com/project/thermal-metric-project
Basically if you have air tight wall systems, then the R value performs as rated. When a wall is not air tight the actual performance is below the rated R value. Batt insulation is commonly installed by un-trained or barely trained laborers who leave gaps around wires boxes and pipes other irregularities in a wall or ceiling. Dense blown cellulose fills all the voids around wires boxes and pipes so it is more sir tight. Fiberglass batts can be so full of open air that convection currents build up inside the batt reducing efficiency during extreme hot or cold. Newer batts are denser.
Bruce,
The article was interesting. I was surprised to find that most contractors were unaware that the R value changes with temperature.
My house has dense blown cellulose. There should be minimal air leakage in the walls. I think that it’s about as efficient as one could get without using exotic materials and methods.
The house was completed in April 2009. Before the design phase began I read books on insulation, moisture control, heating systems, cooling systems, etc. That was a lot of reading but I think that it was worthwhile.
I was not able to get everything I wanted. I wanted air conditioning with variable speed compressors but they were not available locally. By the time they need replacing perhaps variable speed compressors will be available locally. I have two separate central systems, one for downstairs and one for upstairs.
Dense blown cellulose fills all the voids around wires boxes and pipes so it is more air tight.
Most people would be amazed how much most builders do not know!