How to Select Green Cabinets...

Choosing what is actually green these days can be head-spinning, how can you always be certain that what you are choosing is the best option for you and the environment? For cabinet selection, here’s one good way to know if your cabinet of choice is sustainable:  The  Environmental Stewardship Program Seal (ESP) is an environmental certification program that specifically targets kitchen and bath cabinets, developed by The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).  This Seal is what assures you that the manufacturing practices and materials used meet...

Passive House Building Materials...

People often ask about and are surprised to find out that the building materials to build a super-energy efficient Passive House are the same as what may be used in a typical or traditional home. Tessa, our designer, wrote a little editorial on the subject: “Are the materials to build a Passive House the same as a traditional house?” Emphatically yes!  That is the beauty of the approach, it is open to developing technologies, but entirely achievable with common place American building materials.  The simple answer is we just end up using a bit more of those...

South Sound Green Tour Success...

Despite driving rains and aggressive squalls on Saturday, the turn out for the tour was outstanding, and even better on Sunday with the beautiful sunny weather! Folks are genuinely intrigued and curious to learn more about the new efficient technologies and how they can play an active role in a ‘greener’ or more sustainable lifestyle. Mid Century Modern ~ Passive House by Tessa Smith Our designer, Tessa Smith, presented on Passive House design and the inherent lifestyle value, environmental benefits and the surprising cost savings of designing and building to...

Green Home Guide-USGBC...

The US Green Building Council recently launched GreenHomeGuide.com. For homeowners or potential homeowners (those seeking their next home) who are making the move to green, this site is a good clearinghouse for answering many questions, it’s also a great aide towards helping a homeowner to ask good questions. The site features exclusive content written by experienced working professionals from across the nation, many architects, designers and other industry folks. The first page opens up with a rolling set of relevant and provocative questions all pertaining to some...

June 25 Insulating Concrete Forms –...

Insulating Concrete Forms – Installation Training  Thursday June 25th 9am-4pm The is the next course in our Green Building Education Series. Everyone completing the course will receive an Amvic ICF Installation Training Certificate Registration: Contact classreg.ecobuilding@gmail.com or call 360. 754. 6152 Sign-in: Begins at 8:30 Location: Regional Education & Training Center @ Satsop | 150 Technology Way, Building 34 , Elma WA Cost: $95 Class Description: This Construction Course is part of the Green Envelope Series. A one-day seminar on construction using...

April 17 & 18 South Sound Green Tou...

The South Sound ECO-Builders-Guild Hosts: The South Sound Green Tour Innovation – Education – Inspiration April 17th and 18th, 2010 A community event to celebrate green innovations through education in sustainable building and inspired living. This year’s tour will showcase the greenest homes and buildings in our area that incorporate significant use of solar or other renewable energies, new and reclaimed materials, low energy consumption and water conservation technologies, and sustainable design techniques. Educational sessions will be held at various...

American Clay Earth Plaster...

American Clay Earth Plaster is a wonderful, earthy wall finish that can span the style range from Tuscan rustic to modern. We’ve used this product on several projects this past year and it’s just a lovely material. It works well for remodels and new construction and really adds a touch of class no matter what the architectural style of your home. Clay used as a building material has been around for ages. In this case, with the refined application techniques, it has such a nice ‘hand’ to the finish, and it has a living and organic quality that...

Passivhaus (Passive House) I...

With concerns about rising energy costs and detrimental climate changes, it’s no wonder uber energy efficiency is finally starting to catch on. The Passivhaus Institute has created the highest energy standards to date in our country. Imagine heating your house with the btu’s generated by repeatedly throwing a squeaky toy down the hallway for your royal indoor Retriever. The concept of the Passive House (Passivhaus in German) – PHIUS for short in the United States — was first developed by Professor Bo Adamson and Doctor Wolfgang Feist. The first...