House/Home
Getting Started with Green Building and Remodeling
The key to successful green building lies in two things: planning and communication. One of the big challenges in green construction and design is sorting through the vast ocean of information including all of the facts, fictions, and applications. Location, climate and building type all can change the assembly of materials and methods of installation. Consider also the composition of the actual building materials, and concerns such as sustainability, safety, and durability.
Greener Design and Remodeling
If you are reading this article, you may already know the importance of considering our planet's resources when designing our homes. Determining the most sustainable solutions is a real challenge. Should you invest in solar panels? Should you buy the carpet with the Green label? Which design solutions have the highest impact?
In order to help you make these important decisions for your home, designers Greg Kraus, Chie Morioka, and Scott Barsness of Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build provide some helpful tips.
Native Plantings: A Beautiful Solution for Minnesota Shorelines
Here in Minnesota, shoreline living is not limited to the rich and famous. According to the MN DNR, Minnesota has 11,842 lakes and 69,200 miles of natural rivers and streams. We have over 13 million acres of lakes, streams, and wetlands, which is equivalent to one quarter of the area of the entire state. Correspondingly, 200,000-225,000 lucky Minnesota families own lakeshore homes, and countless others live along rivers, streams and wetlands.
Shades of Green: Healthy Basement Renovations
Basements are notorious for being damp, dark, inhospitable places - the antithesis of what we like to associate with green and healthy living. As a rule, the basements in older homes were not designed to be functional living spaces. Yet for many of us, the basement represents potential bedroom, recreational or home office space at an affordable cost.
While some basements are unsuitable as living space, others can be transformed as long as some "green building science" principles are followed. The following is a partial list of things to consider:
A Sampling of Minnesota’s Sustainable Building History
Andersen introduced the Pressure Seal double hung window, which uses a removable sash and pressure-seal weather-stripping to keep out wind and precipitation.
1966
The Perm-Shield System, by Andersen, made its debut. The patented, tough vinyl exterior for wood windows was low maintenance and energy efficient with insulating glass.
1972
Tips for a Non-Toxic Homes
From the water we drink, to the foods we eat, to how we maintain our yards and clean our homes, we can be exposed to chemicals in many ways. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only a small fraction of the more than 75,000 registered chemicals have gone through complete testing for human health concerns. Some chemicals have immediate toxic effects. Others are toxic to our bodies only after repeated, long-term exposure.
Eco Roofing Options
Replacing your home's roof can be expensive and, given the importance of a roof to your home's health, it is important to review all the options available. If chosen wisely, the material used to roof your home can directly impact your energy savings and provide other environmental benefits.
The Environmental Benefits of Making Dirt, Not Waste
The energy saving benefits of recycling have been touted for years, but calculations about the environmental benefits of composting are just surfacing. Recent studies confirm that composting is an effective and accessible way to reduce greenhouse gases.
Reducing CO2 with Appliances
The typical Minnesota household uses about 10,700 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity every year to run appliances, electronics, and lighting. Given the mix of fuels used to generate electricity, this usage equates to an average of over 19,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions per household per year. Reducing electricity usage (through conservation and efficiency) is the single most effective way that a household can decrease its carbon footprint—even more than reducing vehicle use.
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