I would like to thank Kenny Myers for this guest contribution about the trend toward sustainability. – GM According to some so-called experts, green building and sustainable technologies are nothing more than a fad and fossil fuels will undoubtedly make a return. However, it’s hard to believe that rhetoric when so many businesses and homeowners are…
Author Archives: GBE FACTS
07
Mar
Mar
On the surface, some homes are deceptively clean-looking, with visible vacuum cleaner lines running down the carpeting, and the smell of household cleaners fumigating the air. However, there are many hidden health hazards that can lurk in air filters, air ducts, carpet fibers, fans and more that can make breathing very difficult. Replace Air Filters:…
16
Feb
Feb
Thanks to David Glenn for providing this thoughtful article on solar power. Energy is expensive. Thanks to the laws of thermodynamics, it’s just not possible to get more energy out of a system than you put in. Thus, when it comes to generating power, you’ll always be stuck with a bad investment. However, there is…
12
Feb
Feb
As compared to traditional lighting, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been getting a lot of publicity for the benefits and advantages as far as energy efficiency goes. LED lighting is by far smartest solution as well as the most power saving compared to other illumination methods available in the industry. The LED revolution is a…
12
Feb
Feb
The Green movement has reached the construction trade. From affordable public housing that has adopted green construction methods — such as ergonomically designed furniture in common areas and the use of sustainable, renewable building materials — to the use of green building standards throughout the country, construction companies are embracing the opportunity to construct eco-friendly…
29
Dec
Dec
Thanks to Agnes Jimenez, for providing this post on how to build your own solar panels. There is no second opinion about the enormous benefits of solar electricity. With the ever rising prices of fuel and hence the on-grid electricity, the only viable option we are left with is to switch to the off-grid solar…
17
Dec
Dec
Is your garden waste or rubbish attracting foxes and vermin to your home? Are you worried that, perhaps, these unwanted critters will find their way to your yard where you store your rubbish? There are a few things you can do to prevent your area from attracting unwanted and unhealthy pests. By investing in a…
05
Dec
Dec
Here is an interesting way to approach building an easy-to-assemble living space, configured to be as small or large as you wish. HIVEHAUS, a new concept in the modular building space – “inspired by nature- influenced by modernism and constructed using unconventional building techniques,” writes the UK-based company. Each hexagonal HIVEHAUS cell is a self-contained…
02
Dec
Dec
“Lucid Stead” Project Statement – Phillip K. Smith, III After the long, dusty, bumpy, anxious trip out into the far edges of Joshua Tree, you open your car door and for the first time experience the quiet of the desert. It’s at that point that you realize you are in a place that is highly different than…
18
Nov
Nov
Last Friday was National Recycling Day. Today, we honor a recycling pioneer, Colorado architect Doug Eichelberger, who designed and built an outbuilding in 1995 made from salvaged materials that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill. Doug Eichelberger’s Trash Barn
05
Nov
Nov
The number #1 reason why homeowners pay more As any homeowner will know, maintaining the appearance and integrity of your home can be a demanding task, requiring hands-on application and extensive personal research to find not only the best products for your home, but also the most effective ways in which to apply them. Windows…
01
Nov
Nov
The Green Building Council’s Leadership LEED system is no longer the only program the General Services Administration (GSA) endorses for federal building construction and renovation; now there is Green Globes. The Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes has received a recommendation from the GSA during a scheduled review of the building certification system. Government construction is…
24
Oct
Oct
Read Sammy Medina on Fast Company for the story on this storm-proof bamboo house design from H&P Architects. Photos: H&P Architects
10
Oct
Oct
Any commercial activity that relies on heavy plant machinery also has a vested interest in making sure that downtime, whether due to maintenance, improvements or repairs, is kept to an absolute minimum. Continued operational effectiveness has to be maintained if disruptions to production processes are to be avoided and this can present particular problems depending…
03
Oct
Oct
Whether you are thinking about constructing a new building, you have already entered the planning and design stages for your building, or you are renovating a building, you understandably want to take a closer look at what it takes for your building to qualify for LEED certification. This is a special type of certification that…
14
Aug
Aug
As manufacturing costs of solar panels and equipment have decreased, many hotels are investing in the realization that patrons are more likely to visit and return to a hotel that is more green. Hotels around the world are mounting solar arrays in order to improve the natural habitat of humanity while saving money on energy…
23
Jul
Jul
A green roof or a living roof has a profound effect on the quality of life of an individual and the surrounding community alike. Its influence is particularly noticeable in urban areas, where concrete and unnatural materials dominate the landscape. Besides the obvious aesthetic appeal, having vegetation on the roof has many practical advantages over other available roofing solutions, spanning from long-term financial gain to improving living conditions on a grand scale. The following is a brief introduction to some of the benefits of green roofs.
11
Jul
Jul
If you are the kind of person that appreciates a green lawn in the summer, no doubt you have been burned with an outrageous water bill during the dry periods of the year. Water bills can get to be outrageous, as much as $500 per month in hottest periods of the year for an average-sized lawn.