Information on making building and remodeling projects more eco-friendly.
This post first ran in 2017. What Are VOCs? VOCs – volatile organic compounds – are carbon-containing chemical compounds that vaporize easily at ordinary temperatures and are released into the air. VOCs are all around us. They can occur naturally – they give certain evergreens that “piney” smell – or in man-made products like paint.
(This post originally ran in 2016.) Solar shading is a system of controlling the effects of the sun’s heat and light for your home or office. It allows you to make the most of natural light, heat, and shade for a more comfortable, eco-friendly environment. Benefits A well-designed solar shading system helps you regulate the
Climate change, energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint are driving aspects of home design. Solar panels are an option that many homeowners are considering. You might be surprised to learn that a French physicist began making discoveries about solar energy around 1839. The first patents for solar-powered engines were filed in the 1860's. By
Here’s What Your Home Needs to Welcome Your New Vehicle. So, you’re planning to make the leap into electric vehicle (EV) ownership. Congratulations! Whether it’s the quiet ride, zero tailpipe emissions or freedom from fossil-fuel dependency, owning an EV is a major step toward a cleaner, smarter future. But before you settle into the smooth
Do they exist? The hunt is on for home-building materials and designs that can withstand the rages and changes brought on by climate change. Once-in-a-hundred-year floods, fires and storms are becoming much more common occurrences, taking lives and wreaking havoc. Homeowners are rattled and rightly so. Insurance rates are rising, and some insurers are leaving
No, not that kind of grass – the lawn kind of grass. Many homeowners and even commercial businesses in Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties maintain significant areas of lush green lawns and grassy areas. If you live in Marin County, you can cash in on this offer through Marin Water’s Rebate and receive funds for
Every year, the debate rages about the clock switching ritual of daylight saving time as we chase the sunlight. We recently experienced the Spring Forward, with all its morning grogginess, sleep deprivation and for some people, the increased likelihood of strokes and heart attacks. That certainly can get us thinking about the effect sunlight has
There are lots of ways to increase your home's energy efficiency and reduce your impact on our environment, from small, simple changes to larger projects that may cost more up front but will save you money in the long run. Easy and Free These are the low-hanging fruit for increasing energy and water efficiency –
Salvaging What Matters in Home Building When an older home undergoes extensive remodeling, or a complete tear down, what happens to the debris? Most of it ends up in landfills. Let’s dust off that old adage, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” There are a multitude of reasons to think this way. It will
Building design can have a signficant impact on your health. According to the landmark National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS), conducted between 1992 and 1994, people spend an average of 87 percent of their lives in enclosed buildings, where pollutants like tobacco smoke, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), asbestos, pesticides and carbon monoxide can prolilferate and,
