Have you met the Eco Animals?
Our response to the environmental crisis can be captured by the imaging us as various animals:
The wise owls – They are the people that have seen the future and are warning us of peril if we do not act now. Listen to the wise owls.
The eco eagles – They see the future, plan the response, may be entrepreneurs and lead us to the positive changes. Listen to and watch the eagles.
The eco hares – They get the message. Their response is start – stop – but they will get there. Cheer for the eco hares.
The eco tortoises – They get the message also and will methodically get there. Cheer for the tortoises.
The eco ostriches – They do not want to know what is going on. Give them a wake up call.
The eco dinosaurs – We know who they are.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Insulation Myths
Green Renovations – Insulation myths
Steve Maxwell writes a column for the Toronto Star as well as being the editor of Canadian Home Workshop magazine. A recent article of his, laid out the true story of fiberglass insulation ratings, vs. actual tests. What Dr. Tony Scott at Brock University found was that closed cell foam insulation rated R-17 delivered R-17 while an R-19 building only delivered R-4 due to air movement within the hollow wall / fiberglass during very cold weather. The closed cell foam was an air barrier and superior insulator. Cool! Well not so cool in -25 weather. Something to think about.
Challenge – what to insulate with on an old brick house – drill holes and blow in insulation or add rigid foam to walls. If the wall cavities are smooth (old brick likely have lots of mortar pushed out in air space) then blown insulation will provide some insulating value although there will be pockets. Moisture migration may also be a factor. Better solution is cover with 2” of rigid foam on the outside if the walls are to be resided or inside if the interior walls are to be replaced. This comes from another article of Steve’s. Check out Steve’s information at www.stevemaxwell.ca
Steve Maxwell writes a column for the Toronto Star as well as being the editor of Canadian Home Workshop magazine. A recent article of his, laid out the true story of fiberglass insulation ratings, vs. actual tests. What Dr. Tony Scott at Brock University found was that closed cell foam insulation rated R-17 delivered R-17 while an R-19 building only delivered R-4 due to air movement within the hollow wall / fiberglass during very cold weather. The closed cell foam was an air barrier and superior insulator. Cool! Well not so cool in -25 weather. Something to think about.
Challenge – what to insulate with on an old brick house – drill holes and blow in insulation or add rigid foam to walls. If the wall cavities are smooth (old brick likely have lots of mortar pushed out in air space) then blown insulation will provide some insulating value although there will be pockets. Moisture migration may also be a factor. Better solution is cover with 2” of rigid foam on the outside if the walls are to be resided or inside if the interior walls are to be replaced. This comes from another article of Steve’s. Check out Steve’s information at www.stevemaxwell.ca
New is Old
What is “new” is old
Many of the “new” technologies we are embracing for new home design and renovation planning are not new at all. They are often old ways of conserving energy. I would like to use the example of my grand parents’ farm in the Peterborough area.
The home faced south, with large maples to shade the home in summer, but letting sunlight warm to enter the home in winter. Lathe and plaster walls and wood floors allowed for thermal heating in the winter. Spruce trees on the west side acted as both a wind break and provided afternoon shade. The house had high ceilings allowing heat to rise up through the home and out the upper windows. Windows were on all sides for summer breeze flow. Rainwater was collected from the gutters and stored in a huge basement cistern, which provided wash-water and a summer cooling. The home wasn’t perfect. It took a lot of wood and in later years, oil heat to keep warm in winter, but it worked.
Many of the “new” technologies we are embracing for new home design and renovation planning are not new at all. They are often old ways of conserving energy. I would like to use the example of my grand parents’ farm in the Peterborough area.
The home faced south, with large maples to shade the home in summer, but letting sunlight warm to enter the home in winter. Lathe and plaster walls and wood floors allowed for thermal heating in the winter. Spruce trees on the west side acted as both a wind break and provided afternoon shade. The house had high ceilings allowing heat to rise up through the home and out the upper windows. Windows were on all sides for summer breeze flow. Rainwater was collected from the gutters and stored in a huge basement cistern, which provided wash-water and a summer cooling. The home wasn’t perfect. It took a lot of wood and in later years, oil heat to keep warm in winter, but it worked.
LEEDership
LEEDership in the Green World
LEED has become the standard for green building design and construction. It is a new term. LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED principles are basically reduce reuse and recycle, but on a much more detailed level. LEED looks at the environmental sensitivity of a site, occupant’s health, sustainable materials, low eco-footprints and construction practices. Buildings can be registered as Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum (top rating). Individuals can write an exam to be accredited (LEED AP). The LEED process is managed by the Canadian Green Building Council.
LEED is truly leadership in today’s growing green world.
I will be studying this fall for my accreditation exam following my initial LEED training. I will keep you posted on more LEEDs and my accreditation process later.
For more information go http://www.cagbc.org/
LEED has become the standard for green building design and construction. It is a new term. LEED is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED principles are basically reduce reuse and recycle, but on a much more detailed level. LEED looks at the environmental sensitivity of a site, occupant’s health, sustainable materials, low eco-footprints and construction practices. Buildings can be registered as Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum (top rating). Individuals can write an exam to be accredited (LEED AP). The LEED process is managed by the Canadian Green Building Council.
LEED is truly leadership in today’s growing green world.
I will be studying this fall for my accreditation exam following my initial LEED training. I will keep you posted on more LEEDs and my accreditation process later.
For more information go http://www.cagbc.org/
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