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A New Language - Building and Renovating Sustainably
Our home is situated on a beautiful 2.5 acre wooded site which is part of a larger woodland area. We purchased the land in 2004 and our house was completed in 2008. Throughout numerous seasons and before signing the sale agreement for the land, we assessed the trees, terrain, wind direction, and location of the sun. The sunrises are dazzling, the breezes almost constant, and the views ever changing. Because of the time spent at our site, we realized the advantages of turning the axis of our home to incorporate passive solar features, catch the breezes for cooling, and enjoy the farmland and mountain views. After months of research and visiting homes under construction, we made the decision to build with a material our area is known for and use locally made concrete. The basement and first floor walls were constructed with Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF). The second floor is built with Structural Insulated Panels (SIP) which were made in western PA. Both systems exceeded the R-values required by the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code for walls and roofs.
We harvest our heat and cooling from the earth with a ground source heat pump, also called a geo-thermal system. The EPA rated fireplace insert provides extra warmth and ambiance on the coldest winter days and nights. The conservation and wise use of energy is a part of the overall construction of the house and the way we live. Most of the indoor materials, caulks, finishes, and paints have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) to off gas into the home's interior and trigger respiratory reactions. Fresh air enters and stale air leaves via an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV).
With the guidance of our county service forester, I researched and interviewed professional foresters and loggers to assess the health of our wooded lot and to help us evaluate which trees to remove before construction. We also hoped to use the wood from some of those trees in our home. The wood from the harvested trees became the hardwood floors, bathroom vanities, and decorative trim. Finished hackberry and black walnut boards cover the construction beams giving them a beautiful rustic finish. In addition, we cut approximately 8 cords of wood from the smaller downed trees and acquired a huge pile of wood chips which we used for mulch. Before cutting the logs into firewood, we kept an eye out for hollow logs and logs with holes that could be used as a home for smaller animals. Those logs were scattered through out our woods. We also created brush piles which smaller animals can use for protection.
Native plants, shrubs, and perennial plants from our previous home were used for landscaping along with some massive rocks removed during excavation. We replace invasive vegetation with native plants, shrubs, and trees whenever possible. Recycling and upcycling is a way of life for us along with the composting of leaves, clippings, and vegetable matter.
Our home offers us shelter, provides warmth and coolness, energy efficiency, ambiance, and a resting place at the end of the day. The wildlife continues to seek shelter and food from our sustainably managed woodlot.
Following the completion of my home, in 2009, I coordinated and implemented the renovation of my parent's 1960's ranch home. The complete renovation of the kitchen and main bath and a partial renovation of other rooms were completed using sustainable/green products and practices wherever possible. I contracted with a construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycler which allowed 90% of the materials removed to be recycled. Kitchen cabinets, fixtures, and older appliances were donated, sold, or salvaged and reused. Furnishings from consignment and discount shops, as well as borrowed accessories, were used to stage the house for resale.
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A New Language - Our Role In Reducing Atmospheric Carbon
Earth Week offered Lehigh Valley residents the opportunity to hear two environmental experts speak, Dr. George Woodwell from the Woods Hole Research Center and Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org. I was fortunate to hear both.
Their work, research and message emphasize the same thing: we all need to do something to lessen the amount of carbon in our atmosphere. For so many, that seems like a daunting task. Most of us are everyday people with jobs, families and a multitude of other responsibilities. Isn’t a problem like this better left to the scientists? What can we do? I believe we all have a role to play in reversing the carbon numbers. Here are a few things you can do.
TREES, we’ve all heard this before. Planting trees will help remove carbon from the atmosphere. Do some research before you buy and plant. Is it a native tree? Will it grow too big for the space you have available? When that happens, most people want to have their trees topped. Don’t do it. Why not? You’ve removed the structural branches with the leaves that help clean the air and the tree will struggle to stay alive. It will send out many weak branches quickly to try and compensate for the loss. The tree is weaker and less healthy.
Let’s suppose you’ve chosen the right tree for your space. Will the tree shade the south or west side of your home to help cool it in the summer, and when it’s leaves fall, warm that area of your home in the winter? If so, you now have the benefits of passive cooling and solar heat gain. (You probably thought all solar was too expensive.) Planting evergreen trees near your home can help block the cold northwest winds in winter. Your home will now be warmer and the evergreen will provide coolness in the summer. By planting a tree, you’ve reduced carbon in the air and reduced the amount of fossil fuel you need to heat and cool your home. That’s a win-win.
To be sure, we will all need to do more and this is just one simple example. What else can you come up with? There are 365 days in one year. If we all did one earth friendly action each day, imagine the difference we can all make!
*** Editor’s note:
Marie North of South Whitehall Township, is a CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ADVISOR.
Article was published on Parkland Press GUEST VIEW (http://parkland.thelehighvalleypress.com) on April 27, 2017
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A New Language - Repurposed, Recolored, ReStore Earth Day Project
Potting Cabinet
Habitat ReStore recently hosted a contest in honor of Earth Day. All submissions needed to be an item purchased at the store and then repurposed. I submitted a Potting Cabinet as my entry. I was thrilled to find out my entry received the most votes!
This cabinet was probably made to hold recyclables in a small household and could still be used for that purpose. The three doors tilt forward and each one holds a plastic bin. I decided to "Repurpose" it as a Potting Cabinet. Either way, it would work nicely in a small apartment, kitchen, or laundry room.
Each door on the Potting Cabinet is labeled to identify what is in it; pots, potting soil, and a place to recycle and then compost used soil and old plants. One drawer can hold a shovel, hand pruners, and garden gloves. The other can house seed packets, plant food, labeling sticks, and a pencil. The potting tray on the top was a box that held fruit I purchased at the grocery store many months ago. I kept it thinking I might find a use for it. The bottom of the tray is a piece of cardboard from the back of a tablet which I covered with decorative plastic wrap. The potting tray makes it easier to hold the soil in one place when potting a plant. The wheels under the cabinet were recessed and it was shorter than it is now. I attached two pieces of scrap wood to the bottom of the cabinet and then reattached the wheels. This raised the cabinet 2 inches. It can still be used by children but is also very comfortable for average height adults. The trim on the cabinet was scratched so I lightly sanded it down, used a latex primer, and then “Recolored” it with the "ReStore" Paint Color Spring.
Repurposing can be a lot of fun and you can be as creative as you want. Some things to know before you repurpose a piece of furniture is to look at how it’s constructed. This piece is well made but I was fooled by the wood finish on the doors, sides, and back panels. The panels are a composite material covered with contact paper that looks like wood. I really wanted to paint the panels but it’s a good thing I noticed the contact paper. I don’t believe it would’ve held the paint and it might have peeled off. Be aware of any piece that has old paint on it. The paint may contain lead. (Do not sand very old paint without a proper mask or respirator.) A tile on the top of the cabinet is cracked. I decided to leave it as is since it didn’t affect how I would use the piece.
Every time you find a new use for an item, it’s one more piece given a useful life, you’ve saved some money, and kept it out of the landfill. A BIG THANK YOU to ReStore for this fun idea to celebrate Earth Day, repurpose useful items, and bring out our creativity!
