water

Author

Michael Anschel

Otogawa-Anschel Design + Build

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.

Resources

On the Web!: 

U.S. Green Building Council, usgbc.org

All things green building, greenbuildingadvisor.com

Materials database, pharosproject.org

Read Up!: 

Cats' Paws and Catapults:Mechanical Worlds of Nature and People, by Steven Vogel, Norton, 2000.

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction, by Christopher Alexander, Oxford University Press, 1977.

Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live, by Sarah Susanka, Taunton, 2009.

Act Locally!: 

Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build Minneapolis, MN 612-789-7070 otogawa-anschel.com

Author

AMY PICKETT and CHAD SKALLY

Skally Management

Too often when we talk about living green, we focus on homeowners rather than renters. At Skally Management, a family-owned and -operated real estate management company in St. Paul, we're changing that concept by finding innovative ways to practice Eco-Management: sustainable, responsible real estate management designed to have a positive impact on our local environment and community.

We encourage renters to see their landlords as partners in living green. Try to start a face-to-face discussion with them, rather than using

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

Xcel Energy, xcelenergy.com

Eureka Recycling,
eurekarecycling.org

Neighborhood Energy Connection, thenec.org

Author

EARTHWIZARDS.COM

Most homes have driveways. We use driveways for vehicle storage and to provide access to our homes and garages from the street. We use driveway surfaces that are sturdy enough to hold the weight of automobiles, to tolerate freezing weather and summer heat, and to stand up to snow removal.

Most driveways are made from asphalt, concrete, paving stones, or gravel. All of these are considered "impermeable" surfaces because they do not allow water to pass through them. That's right-standard pavers and standard

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
pca.state.mn.us/sustainability

Your Watershed District,
mnwatershed.govoffice.com

True Story of a Green Driveway Transformation,
frankejames.com/debate/?p=98

Read Up!

Making Paths and Driveways, by Claude H. Miller, Kessinger Publishing, 2007.

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture, by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne, Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.

Act Locally!

Earthwizards, Inc.-
earthwise contracting and design
Minneapolis, MN
763-784-3833
earthwizards.com

 

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,
pca.state.mn.us/sustainability

Your Watershed District,
mnwatershed.govoffice.com

True Story of a Green Driveway Transformation,
frankejames.com/debate/?p=98

Read Up!

Making Paths and Driveways, by Claude H. Miller, Kessinger Publishing, 2007.

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture, by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne, Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.

Act Locally!

Earthwizards, Inc.—
earthwise contracting and design
Minneapolis, MN
763-784-3833
earthwizards.com

Author

BRITT CARLSON

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Use cold water to wash. 90 percent of the energy used by a washer is for heating water.

Wash only when dirty. Most pants and some shirts can be worn two to three times before washing.

Line dry clothes year round. A large drying rack will make this easy and convenient. The U.S. Department of Energy rates clothes dryers as the second biggest user of household energy.

Buy concentrated laundry detergent in refillable containers. This cuts down on shipping weight and garbage.

Footnotes/Endnotes

On the web!

Planet Green’s Guide to Green Laundry, planetgreen.discovery.com
/go-green/green-laundry

Energy Star, your resource for Energy Efficient Washing Machines and More, energystar.gov

Author

JEANNIE PIEKOS

Bag-E-Wash

You do not have to feel guilty about using a dishwasher. Many studies have proven that dishwashers are much more cost-effective and energy-efficient than washing dishes by hand.^* Maximize your dishwasher's environmental effectiveness with these helpful tips:

Run your dishwasher when it is completely full.

Do not pre-rinse your dishes. Newer models do it all.

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

Bag-E-Wash,
bag-e-wash.com

Biokleen,
biokleenhome.com

Earth Friendly Products,
ecos.com

Restore Products,
restoreproducts.com

Seventh Generation,
seventhgeneration.com

StemGrip, stemgrip.com

Author

By Sara Grochowski

Do It Green! Minnesota

What ever happened to stepping outside for a “breath of fresh air?” It is often said that the air inside a home could be more toxic than outside. However, it seems our environment is becoming contaminated, and scientists continually are finding links to the impact on human health. Air quality is not the only concern; the water we drink, food we eat, grass or gardens we cultivate, even the furniture on which we rest can affect our health.

Author

John F. Neville

The SEA Group

Here are a few easy things you can do to cut your home energy use. Convince the entire family to follow these steps, and you may find that it doesn't take any time or cost any money to improve your home's energy efficiency.

Electricity

Footnotes/Endnotes

WaterWise

Center for Energy and Environment

 

Adventures with Energy
Governor's Office of Energy Resources
270 Washington Street SW, Suite 615
Atlanta, GA 404-656-5176