Well, I finally made it to the radio. Imagine a weekly radio show dedicated to sustainability. Nica thought it was pretty good and pretty funny. The podcasts can be downloaded at www.philau.edu/ecomanandtheskeptic.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Renovation Nation
Renovation Nation. That's where we've been living for some time. Now we'll have company. With a camera crew.
Renovation Nation is also the name of the green home renovating program on the Planet Green Network. The program is hosted by Steve Thomas, formerly of This Old House.
What company will we have, you ask (or maybe you don't)?
Besides being a huge fan of home renovation shows—this one in particular—we've been selected to be a part of an episode in the near future. You have no idea how hard I'm trying right now not to let my total geek-out excitement come through on this post. I like to think I come across as calm and level-headed in public so I save the geeking out for my immediate family.
When I told my nine-year-old about appearing on the show she gave me this knowing look, then said, "this is like a dream for you, isn't it?"
Why, yes dear, yes it is.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Cosmetic Progress!
Finally, the holidays are over, and I have a minute to post new pictures before the new school semester begins in 13 hours.
View from kitchen to dining/living area
View of entry way
Remember the truly grody kitchen? I'm pleased to say that the current state is much more enjoyable and doesn't make me gag. Not exactly mid-century modern, but sustainable products were used.
The floors are bamboo. If we could've only used the grove in our yard—that would have been super sustainable! Alas, we purchased these planks made from plants harvested after eight years of growth.
We went back and forth with counter material (I wanted Quartz, he wanted laminate). I read somewhere that it has been discovered that granite counters can off gas. Good thing we couldn't afford them! I found a manufacturer of bamboo countertops (Totally Bamboo), so that's what we went with. They're very nice. Warm. Very much like butcher block.
I decided not to use a toxic sealer, so every few months I spread pure tung oil on them. Try asking for tung oil at your local Home Despot (yes, I said Despot) and check out the puzzled looks you get.
I decided not to use a toxic sealer, so every few months I spread pure tung oil on them. Try asking for tung oil at your local Home Despot (yes, I said Despot) and check out the puzzled looks you get.
The living and dining rooms are taking shape as well. So much has happened that sometimes I forget that we've only been here for six months.
Below are some photos of the rest of the main level.
View from kitchen to dining/living area
View of entry way
Next month we'll be tackling a new roof in preparation for the solar array!
Monday, December 22, 2008
8 Projects
One of the things about our house that people might want to know is that we went to considerable trouble to find a house with an unobstructed southern exposure. This will allow us to maximize the efficiency of the solar panels we are going to install. anyway that's just a side note.
Project 1 Energy Audit
Of course all sustainable projects must include an energy audit as early in the process as possible. This is something that will happen as soon as possible!
Project 2 New roof/photovoltaic Installation
One of the things that set us back a bit was the harsh realization that we really needed to put a new roof on the house before installing our PV system. We are considering using a new product from www.readysolar.com. It’s basically solar in a box with much of the infrastructure needed to support a PV system built into the panel system. This should greatly reduce installation costs and the system pricing seems pretty reasonable.
Project 3 Rainwater harvesting
As we get our roof completed, we plan to reorute the rain water leaders to a central location just in front of our laundry/mechanical room. This will allow us to install a cistern at a later date which we plan to use for washing machine and gardening, if not toilet flushing on the lower level bathroom.
Project 4
Solar Hot Water
With the money we receive back from rebates and incentives on our PV installation, we plan to install solar hot water for domestic hot water use and potential for radiant floors on the lower level of our house.
Project 5
Pellet Stove
We like the idea of being self sufficient, meaning that if the grid goes down, we can still function at a minimum level of comfort. A pellet stove would be useful because we could purchase a large supply of fuel pellets and store them in the garage.
Project 6
Large Kitchen Window
One of the great things about the orientation of our house is that lots of low winter sunlight enters the house providing free heat in the winter. We would like to enlarge the kitchen window (south facing) for views and for heat gain, while also providing shading to protect against high summer sun.
Project 7
Edible Landscapes
We are working on an early idea of something called front yard CSA’s. During WWII, 40% of food was grown in people’s front yards. We’d like t bring that concept back and join with other neighbors in growing a wide variety of vegetables that will be available during different times of the year. We’ve talked to our farmer friend Dave at Weaversway Coop farm, and he seemed intrigued by the idea.
Project 8
Bamboozled
WE have a large strand of bamboo on our property. So far the only use we could find for it is to make charcoal for cooking. Apparently, you can’t burn bamboo in a fire place. It does not provide much heat, burns quick, and explodes when the knuckles are heated up. But making charcoal would be interesting to try, but we since we don’t have a lot of time or expertise, this project is a bit further down the pike for us.
Project 1 Energy Audit
Of course all sustainable projects must include an energy audit as early in the process as possible. This is something that will happen as soon as possible!
Project 2 New roof/photovoltaic Installation
One of the things that set us back a bit was the harsh realization that we really needed to put a new roof on the house before installing our PV system. We are considering using a new product from www.readysolar.com. It’s basically solar in a box with much of the infrastructure needed to support a PV system built into the panel system. This should greatly reduce installation costs and the system pricing seems pretty reasonable.
Project 3 Rainwater harvesting
As we get our roof completed, we plan to reorute the rain water leaders to a central location just in front of our laundry/mechanical room. This will allow us to install a cistern at a later date which we plan to use for washing machine and gardening, if not toilet flushing on the lower level bathroom.
Project 4
Solar Hot Water
With the money we receive back from rebates and incentives on our PV installation, we plan to install solar hot water for domestic hot water use and potential for radiant floors on the lower level of our house.
Project 5
Pellet Stove
We like the idea of being self sufficient, meaning that if the grid goes down, we can still function at a minimum level of comfort. A pellet stove would be useful because we could purchase a large supply of fuel pellets and store them in the garage.
Project 6
Large Kitchen Window
One of the great things about the orientation of our house is that lots of low winter sunlight enters the house providing free heat in the winter. We would like to enlarge the kitchen window (south facing) for views and for heat gain, while also providing shading to protect against high summer sun.
Project 7
Edible Landscapes
We are working on an early idea of something called front yard CSA’s. During WWII, 40% of food was grown in people’s front yards. We’d like t bring that concept back and join with other neighbors in growing a wide variety of vegetables that will be available during different times of the year. We’ve talked to our farmer friend Dave at Weaversway Coop farm, and he seemed intrigued by the idea.
Project 8
Bamboozled
WE have a large strand of bamboo on our property. So far the only use we could find for it is to make charcoal for cooking. Apparently, you can’t burn bamboo in a fire place. It does not provide much heat, burns quick, and explodes when the knuckles are heated up. But making charcoal would be interesting to try, but we since we don’t have a lot of time or expertise, this project is a bit further down the pike for us.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Busy Couple Of Months
Renovations, maintenance and a new school year. Boy, oh boy, has it been a busy couple of months!
Rob and I had both been feeling a little demoralized by the economy and not getting everything done all at once (we can be impatient people). To lift us up I thought I'd put together a list of the things we've accomplished so far. I really need to get pictures of what the house looks like now. Maybe one day next week after homework and dinner!
Greening of the Fleming Home
Kitchen
CFLs throughout
Renewable resource materials
- Bamboo countertops with natural oil sealer
- Bamboo floors
Energy Star appliances
Filling the dishwasher to maximum capacity before running
Green cleaning products
Low VOC paint
Living Room
CFLs
Renewable Materials
Bamboo floors
Passive Solar heating (windows)
Dining Room
CFLs
Cloth napkins
Passive solar heat
Bed rooms
CFLs
Ceiling fans
Passive solar heat (master bedroom)
Bathroom
Dual flush toilet
Laundry
Energy star washer
Garden
Low water plants and lawn (we hardly ever water)
Whole House
Green cleaning products
Low VOC paints
Programmable thermostat
Paperless bill pay
Buy local food
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Getting There
So, we thought we have the kitchen done by now. As a matter of fact, we thought all the cosmetics would have been completed. Alas ...
Kitchen
5/31/08 7/22-08
Living Room
5/31/08 7/2/08
Taking this much time on cosmetics did allow us to think more about incorporating earth-friendly materials. At first we were so happy to find oak floors in the living room and planned to refinish them. But the room was the "odd man out" since the other floors needed new materials. We decided to go with bamboo for the kitchen and dining room, but we were undecided about the entry hall. Natural linoleum? Then we'd have linoleum, bamboo, and oak all on the same level in an open floor plan. There is such a thing as too much texture.
Then the plan was to extend the bamboo to the entry hall. Brilliant! Down to only two surfaces. Now the floor guy had to be scheduled to refinish the oak living room. But wait! why not do bamboo on all the floors? It seemed sinful to cover up the oak, but eliminating the dust and chemicals involved in refinishing seemed a perfect solution. And now we just have to wait for the floor guy.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Fortress of Sustainablility
This is what I've decided to call our house (I also call Rob's car The Golden Pius, but thats for another time). Not that the place is a fortress. It isn't even very sustainable yet. Oh, but it will be.
Speaking of sustainable—or rather, not so much—we had the pool service guy come to check out the pool that came with the house. Let's go back a few months. I had this fantasy that we would be living like the rich and famous, lounging in our yard by the pool, all the while trying to rationalize a sustainable lifestyle with a water hogging, chemical guzzling money pit. Well, the pool guy helped with that one. The pool has so many issues that the cost of of getting it running would blow the budget for a pellet stove and a solar hot water system. The pool is now the future sight of the fortress greenhouse.
I thought the blog was long overdue for some photos. Here are a few shots from our early demolition:
Is this a beautiful kitchen or what???
Under the living room carpet: Oak!
Under the dining room carpet: Not oak!
There are also oak floors in the bedrooms and upper level hall. Big bonus. The kitchen, dining room and family rooms need new flooring. We're scheduled to move in next week. Who's idea was this?!
Speaking of sustainable—or rather, not so much—we had the pool service guy come to check out the pool that came with the house. Let's go back a few months. I had this fantasy that we would be living like the rich and famous, lounging in our yard by the pool, all the while trying to rationalize a sustainable lifestyle with a water hogging, chemical guzzling money pit. Well, the pool guy helped with that one. The pool has so many issues that the cost of of getting it running would blow the budget for a pellet stove and a solar hot water system. The pool is now the future sight of the fortress greenhouse.
I thought the blog was long overdue for some photos. Here are a few shots from our early demolition:
Is this a beautiful kitchen or what???
Under the living room carpet: Oak!
Under the dining room carpet: Not oak!
There are also oak floors in the bedrooms and upper level hall. Big bonus. The kitchen, dining room and family rooms need new flooring. We're scheduled to move in next week. Who's idea was this?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)