IDEAS FOR GLOBALGREEN PROJECT
- Cinderblocks for the outside walls of the structure. They’re cheap, easily obtainable and durable. Water-sealant paint on the outside wall of the structure is also recommended.Red Zinc Chromate should perform adequately in this task. It’s used to create water-tight seals on Ship Hulls, Angle Iron for duct and pipe hangers and Metal Roofs.
- Plaster for the interior walls instead of Sheetrock would be ideal. Instead of gutting the building of its insulation and replacing it after a flood, the property owner would just let the walls dry themselves out. However, there are few contractors in the marketplace that still do this kind of work.
- Concrete Board would make an excellent alternative to plaster walls.
It’s relatively cheap, installs the same way as Sheetrock and is water-resistant.
This particular material is normally used in Bathrooms around the toilet & shower/tub area for that very reason.
II.) Reducing Electrical costs.
- Have large windows in as many rooms as possible to let in Sunlight. Besides, lighting the room without using electricity, Natural light makes the home look warmer and feel more inviting to buyers.
Double-pane Storm windows are highly recommended for our particular application. They tend to cost more but, they are more resistant to flying debris in inclement weather and oftentimes, energy-efficient as well.
- If the wall is a bathroom or bedroom facing a neighboring home, install a clerestory window. These are small windows are placed on the wall above eye level. They let in the sunlight (which will be reflected off of the ceiling, thereby distributing the light in an even fashion) and keep Peeping Toms from spying on your family.
- Paint the walls white (or some other very light color) so the available light source will reflect off of the walls.
- Use low-wattage bulbs where possible.
- Use Energy Star appliances and electronics.
- Install Dimmer switches for the electrical lighting in the building.This way, a homeowner can reduce the light level to whatever level suits their purpose and reduce electricity usage.
- Better yet, install motion-sensing dimmer switches that automatically turn lights on and off when you enter or exit the room. Ex.) Mytech's Motion-Sensing Wall Switch (about $50, available at
http://www.energyfederation.org). These motion-sensors cost much more than a traditional light switch (which normally cost less than $10 a piece) but, the energy savings should more than make up for that.
III.) Reducing Heating costs
- Use windows with the appropriate solar-heat-gain coefficient (SHGC). This is measured on a scale of 0 to 1. In a warm climate like New Orleans, an SHGC rating of 0.40 or lower would be appropriate.
http://www.efficientwindows.org will be a useful resource in determining how to choose the best windows for this application.
IV.) Insulation
- Traditional R-13 Fiberglass insulation is to be avoided. Flood waters ruin this material and it also promotes the growth of mold inside the walls when wet.
- Cellulose would be a better choice. Although costs vary by location (and even among applicators in an area), cellulose is generally priced competitively with fiberglass. It is also less expensive than foamed-in-place applications. The Dry form of Cellulose (which is blown into the walls with a special machine and hose) is preferable.
- Facts about Cellulose:
Positive Stuff
1.)
Its Green. It's made of 80 percent post-consumer recycled newsprint.
2.)
Its Durable. The fiber is chemically treated with nontoxic borate compounds to resist fire, insects and mold.
3.)
Its Safe. Cellulose insulation is made of paper, but the chemical treatment provides permanent fire resistance.
4.)
It Stops Air Leakage. Air leakage through cracks, voids and gaps in the building envelope is responsible for a lot of a home's heat loss. Tightly packed cellulose provides a thermally efficient, cost-effective and comfortable solution. (This should also help with heating costs during the winter months by preventing heat dispersal.)
Negative Stuff
1.)
Cellulose is hygroscopic. Meaning, it’s able to soak up and retain liquid water. Undetected leaks can wet cellulose, causing it to sag within framing cavities.
Water leaks can compress the blanket of fiber and in extreme cases can create a void space, degrading the insulation's thermal value.
2.)
Chemicals used to protect cellulose from fire make it potentially corrosive in wet environments. Tests conducted by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory show the chemicals used to treat cellulose can corrode metal fasteners, plumbing pipes and electrical wires if they are in contact with wet, treated cellulose for an extended time.
3.)
Installation is a job for experienced professionals, especially the wet kind of cellulose insulation. Adding moisture to the wall cavity is a touchy subject - one the fiberglass industry likes to promote as dangerous to structural and human health.
The truth is; a bad application can be dangerous and ineffective.An inexperienced applicator can introduce an unsafe level of water into a wall system, which can result in mold, mildew and rot.
V.) Plumbing
- Use PVC for the water pipes where possible instead of lead or metal. They don’t rust or otherwise degrade with time. This will also ensure that the pipes never make the water unsuitable for Human use.
VI.) Home Cooling
- Have windows on opposite sides of the room. The homeowner can open them to allow a breeze to flow through, keeping the home cool with a reduced need for AC and Ceiling Fans.
- Use EnergyStar-rated AC units and Ceiling fans with the highest possible energy efficiency.
- Don’t leave electrical lights on in a room when you aren’t using that light.
Those light bulbs can generate some serious heat.
- Turn off ALL electrical devices that are not in use. They all generate heat and they
will increase the ambient temperature.
SOURCES
“Daylight Savings” by Melody Warnick
July/August 2005 issue of Smart Homeowner Magazine
http://www.smart-homeowner.com/articles/9368/
“The Mysteries of Switches” by Charlie Wing
May/June 2002 issue of Smart Homeowner Magazine.
http://www.smart-homeowner.com/articles/6290/
“Cellulose Gets in the Groove” by Paul Fisette
September/October 2005 issue of Smart Homeowner Magazine.
http://www.smart-homeowner.com/articles/9494/
My 11 years of experience as a Contractor in the Greater New Orleans Area.
