Where to find information about green building products
One of the most frequent questions we get is:
"Where can I find information on green building products and materials?"
The short answer is: Light House Sustainable Building Centre on Granville Island is a place to come and see, touch and experience a variety of green building products.
The longer answer:
1. Light House. We have a real resource centre on Granville Island, where the public can come and see green products and learn about them. We also have a great deal of resources on line. For example, someone just recently read the May 5th, 2006 Globe and Mail article: “Renovating with respect” by Marcie Good and came back to the SBC asking questions about the materials used in the Goodland / Hanvey home (see the “Hanvey / Goodland home case study”). We were able to direct them to see the “Ideas That Last” exhibition on the SBC website where you can find the project and then download a list of resources and strategies which might be useful. They also had specific questions about the granite (it is from Quadra Stone in south Vancouver, and was installed by North Shore Stoneworks), the wheatboard bought from Eco-lumber Coop (see the SBC forum on reclaimed_wood_for_floors) and the carpets (purchasing details available on the GVRD website below).
3. Salvaged building products are available at ReStore (which has many locations throughout BC) and Jack's Used Building Materials Ltd 604-299-2967 - both in Burnaby, BC. To find other companies that do this, see the GVRD's Directory of Salvaged Building Materials Suppliers (pdf).
4. A variety of green building products and service listings:
- The Healthiest Home and Building Supplies Store (http://www.thehealthiesthome.com) is “Canada's premier green building store” located in Calgary, AB.
- Seattle's environmental HOME CENTRE (www.environmentalhomecenter.com/) has a great selection of green home products, all of which you can buy online.
- Green Home Environmental Store (http://www.greenhome.com) has a very wide selection of green home products, all of which you can buy online.
- GreenHomeGuide, Inc. (http://www.GreenHomeGuide.com) is California centric, but it has some good general info, a very nice elegant and simple product directory, service directory and retail directory
- Green Works Building Supply (http://www.greenworksbuildingsupply.com) is a Vancouver based, green building store.
- Electrix (http://www.eclectrix.org/) is located in White Rock that sells a number of organic and green building products.
- Green Paint (http://www.greenpaint.ca/) is another green building product store located in Vancouver, and is able to ship their products across Canada.
- Green Homes For Sale (http://greenhomesforsale.com/) has nice overall layout – simple, clean and attractive database-type info but presented very well.
- http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/ - another great californian resource, but it has products that may be of interest to BC buyers.
- Uk Green Building Store
(http://www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk/store.php) - Master list of Native Plant Societies and Organizations (http://www.prairienet.org/gpf/natives.php) in all states and provinces.
Meta-efficient: a guide to the most efficient things in th world
Some amazing, some bizarre and some blindingly common sense. This list of wierd, wonderful and revolutionary green technologies and products is changing all the time.
Visit the Meta-Efficient website and be inspired.
Nice!
Thanks Helen, Hadn't seen this site before.. . which then lead me to Renourish, a resource for graphic designers. Nice and thoughtful definitions on sustainability and why it's important for the graphic design community.
Retrofitting toilets for dual-flush
QUESTION: Can Ichange my low-toilet to dual-flush? If so, how and who could do it
alternative wood floor finishes
We received a question recently about environmentally friendly alternatives to standard wood floor varnish. There are many options!! The below list of options were found through the GVRD’s product directory and the Seattle Environmental Home Centre – ask your contractor about which option suites you:
Organic linseed oil is available locally here:
Canadian Building Restoration Products (they sell “AFM Naturals Clear Penetrating Oil” which is “100% organic flax, linseed, hemp and soybean oils, isoaliphate, cobalt-free and lead-free driers”
1434 Rupert Street
North Vancouver, BC V7J 1E9
Canada
Phone : 1-888-311-5339
Email : sales@cbrproducts.com
http://www.cbrproducts.com
Another oil option is “Tried and True Solvent Free Oil Finishes” which is “manufactured from highly polymerized linseed oil combined with beeswax. Tried and True Oil Finishes do not contain any of the petroleum-based solvents or heavy-metal driers that are typically added to products labeled as "boiled linseed". Tried and True Oil Finishes have no VOC emissions.” It is available at the Environmental Home Center in Seattle (address below).
Safecoat® DuroStain (Interior) and (Exterior) searching for ‘stain’: <http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/BuildSmart/Apps/searchResult.aspx?keyword=stain> - it is also sold by Canadian Building Restoration Products in North Van (address etc above).
There is also a product called “Eco-House Natural Wood Finishes” - it says they are: “Eco-House Natural Resin & Oil and Beeswax Wood Finishes are manufactured in Canada from renewable raw materials that are biodegradable. Eco-House Floor and Furniture finishes are water-resistant, easy to maintain, pleasant smelling and odourless within days. They contain only chemically inert, non-smog forming solvents. Eco-House clear wood finishes do not contain UV protectants, i.e. they are suitable for indoor-use only. ” ...and this product is listed on the GVRD directory and is available from:
Eco-House Inc.
P.O. Box 220 Station A
Fredricton, NB E3B 4Y9
Canada
Phone : 1-877-ECO-HOUS
Email : henry@eco-house.com
http://www.eco-house.com
There are a number of Biosheild products on the GVRDs directory ( Bioshield Hard Oil, Bioshield Natural Resin Floor Finish)- and the listed vendor is:
Environmental Home Center Showroom
1724 4th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134
US
Phone : 1-206-682-7332
Email : customerservice@environmentalhomecenter.com
http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com
There are a series of OSMO products available through the Environmental Homes Centre in Seattle – like the following one “OSMO Polyx-Oil (the original Hardwax Oil) is our favorite floor finish. Made from natural oils and waxes, it’s as durable as polyurethane but doesn’t coat the floor with plastic. Unlike polyurethane, it can be repaired in spots. And it’s anti-static, so dust isn’t as likely to collect."
Also listed at the GVRD’s directory: Livos Interior Wood Stains (“ivos offers a variety of transparent interior wood stains for wood treatment. Livos Stains contain only biologically and environmentally responsible ingredients, grown without pesticides. Stains release no harmful vapours or gases. ”) and the vendor for that is:
Sensitive Design
2423 Lawson Avenue
West Vancouver, BC V7V 2E7
Canada
Phone : 1-604-925-4602
Email : sdoise@shaw.ca
http://www.sensitivedesign.com
Another option is a “zero VOC two component liquid urethane rubber” available from:
Gaco Western Inc.
18700 Southcenter Parkway
Tukwila, WA 98188
US
Phone : 1-800-456-4226
Email : info@gaco.comhttp://www.gaco.com
Another option is Crystal Urethane which is "an environmentally friendly interior wood finish. It's low "off-gassing" limits the need for protective equipment. The final look stays the same for years with no discolouring." Available from:
Timber Pro Coatings Ltd.<
6260 Graybar Road
Richmond, BC V6W 1H6
Canada
Phone : 604-270-4244<
Email : monty@timberprocoatings.com
http://www.timberprocoatings.com/
You could also try a low VOC Urethane Finishes and water-based floor polyurethane available from:
Benjamin Moore & Co.
26680 Gloucester Way
Aldergrove, BC V4W 3V6
Canada
Phone : 778.549.0340
Email : info@benjaminmoore.ca
http://www.benjaminmoore.ca
Re-finishing oak floors
QUESTION: I want to finish my oak floors. What is the most sustainable product I can use and where can I buy it?
Material options for decks
Question:
Has anyone done a comparative study of deck options? Would appreciate any help
There is little life-cycle analysis information for decking materials. The difficulty is because how a deck performs is related to so many external factors such as how it is assembled, the orientation and exposure, how it is maintained, etc.
Off-gassing is less of an issue outside. By comparison, aesthetics and durability rank much higher (along with cost of course). Some options:
Cedar has the lowest ecological footprint and Ecolumber Coop has FSC cedar decking that is price-competitive with conventional cedar. Cedar decks look gorgeous but the do need regular maintenance. Cedar will take a beating when installed on a shady northern exposure and where it is not allowed to drain. There are some water based stains available which you can find on the GVRD green building product directory and the major paint companies generally carry low-voc stains. Having installed cedar shingles and trim to the north side of our house in North Vancouver, we eventually elected for Sikkens Setol stain because of its durability. However, we will still need to re-stain in a couple of years.
Plastic wood is VERY durable and is made out of recycled plastic and cellulose so has a good production story although I am concerned about issues of disposability. It also needs little maintenance, although it is a relatively new material and I have not seen how it ages. Perhaps someone reading this can provide some feedback.
Concrete pavers can also offer a durable solution. There is a new product from Westcon Pavers called SF-Rima which allow water to drain through. Pavers will need a power wash from time to time if installed where moss/algae may form. You might want to check out ReStore and or Jack’s New and Used for salvaged concrete or brick pavers. Note: a good means to cleaning algae without chemicals is to powerwash with HOT water.
Window Replacements
Question:
Hi SBC,
I would like to replace several single pane windows in my 40-year-old Burnaby home with energy efficient ones. I would like to see an easy to read comparison of the relative merits of various window types (wood, vinyl, aluminum, other?) for our climate in terms of energy efficiency, cost, maintenance required, and toxicity so that I can weigh the tradeoffs and make a decision. Can you please point me to this – I'm sure it's been done somewhere.
I would also like SBC's recommendation on the best kind of replacement windows, if you have a position and some sources where I can find them. Hope that's not too tall an order!
Answer:
The Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation offers a series of renovation fact sheets that help homeowners to plan and assess the various elements of home renovations. The following three links offer a suite of planning tips related to choosing new windows for your home.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_021.cfm
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_022.cfm
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_023.cfm
The Sustainable Building Centre generally does not take a position on specific materials suppliers, however it is widely recognized that fiberglass or metal/plastic clad wood frames are becoming very popular among consumers conscious of the green/durability features of their windows. Other features to search for are double or triple glazing, gas filled, insulated frames and spacers, and low-e coating. Please refer to the links above for further information on these and other relevant features.
Kitchen questions: cork floor and concrete
Question:
We are about to start a renovating a 50-year-old house that we have just purchased
and I have two kitchen related questions.
1. Do people have experience with using cork flooring in kitchens? Can cork
be sealed well enough to withstand food spills and frequent washing? How often
will it have to be refinished? Will non-VOC finishes be enough in this application?
Are there other maintenance issues I need to be aware of?
2. I am considering a concrete counter top and would appreciate any experience
that people would like to share on this issue.
Thank you very much.
Answer: (from another uer of the greenbuilding listserve)
"I installed a cork floor in my kitchen last spring and it has been great.
Although the tiles are "prefinished" I put one layer of water based
polyurethane over the entire floor once installed to ensure that nothing gets
in between the tiles, although that may have been unnecessary. Food and water
spills have been no problem. I haven't wet mopped it like I would a tile floor
though. I clean it like I do my wood floors; damp moping and spot cleaning.
We use our kitchen ALOT and it still looks and works great for us."
The SBC is also installing a concrete countertop and we will be asking our
installer to give some help here.
concrete countertops
Concrete is a very suitable material for counters for many reasons. Being a short lived liquid; it can be poured into anything that will contain it until it becomes solid. This allows for much flexibility in design, and favors a product that is made close to home. During the mixing process, many materials can be added to it, making it a strong candidate to incorporate post consumer waste. Recycled glass can be used to replace the aggregate and sand in varying proportions. Other industrial waste materials such as fly ash and silica fume can replace some of the portland cement. This not only makes the product more sustainable, but also strengthens its inherent properties.
Pigments can be added to the cream, while custom aggregates and colored glass create an infinite variety of options. Traditional edge profiles such as a bull nose or odgee are also possible. Recent advancement in admixtures has made this once porous material, extremely dense and stain resistant. Unfortunately it has gotten a bad rap from the likes of concrete guru's such as Fu Tung Cheng.
Although a brilliant designer, Cheng tries to pass off stains as "the patina of the concrete". This has proven to not be very successful with general public, and provoked a few articles in popular decor magazines denouncing it as a credible counter surface. There are two schools of thought when installing a concrete counters, cast in place or precast.
Cast in place is done on site and can be very messy, especially if any polishing is necessary. Precast concrete is poured in a controlled environment, and installed onsite after a minimum 2-week cure time. Seems are treated much like granite, using epoxy, or silicone. Thickness of the counter can be from _” up to 6”. Anything over 1.5” will probably mean some re-enforcement of the cabinets.
I hope this helps to answer some questions; I can be reached via email at:
info@sdconcrete.com
Nolan Mayrhofer, Stone Design, www.sdconcrete.comlocal granite for counter tops (used in the Hanvey renovation)
QU: Can you provide a name of local granite for counter tops (used in the Hanvey renovation) and a supplier?
Fox Island granite is only available through Quadra Stone in Vancouver (604 266 5341) and was installed in the Hanvey renovation by North Shore Stone.
Buying fridges
Refrigerators and freezers are two of the most significant energy-consuming appliances. Even though federal law mandates minimum energy-efficiency levels, there are variations from model to model. Compare EnerGuide labels to find the model with the features you want that uses the least energy.
Look for models with an EnergyStar label. EnergyStar qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency. EnergyStar qualified refrigerator models use at least 15% less energy than required by current standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. www.EnergyStar.gov provivdes an online list of the various models and the relative energy performance.
Some fridges are equipped with built-in water lines. Although more expensive to install becasue you need a plumber, you then don't need a separate water cooler with the additional consideration of the transportation and treatment impacts of bottled water.
Generally, the larger the fridge the more energy it will consume. If you are replanning your kitchen, think about how much food you really need to store in the fridge so that you only buy the size you need. If your kitchen is open plan, investigate how noisy the fridge will be.
Freezers on the bottom are ergonomically more effective, as access to the freezer is mouch less frequent that to the fridge compartment. This configuration also allows you to store larger items than a side-by-side.
Bear in mind that BC Hydro will pickup and recycle your old, inefficient fridge and give you $30 for it.
Looking for used household items
I am renovating my apartment and I am looking for used household items, like bath-tubs, furnishings, a variety of building materials and finishes. Where can I buy these things cheaply?
Reply:
One good place to start is a place called "Jack's New and Used" in Burnaby - the phone number is 604-299-2967 and the address is 4912 Still Creek Ave. I've heard from people that have used them that they are good - give them a call to see if they have anything that you are looking for. See our earlier discussion of reclaimed wood floors.
Also - if you want more companies that do this, you can find the GVRD's Directory of Salvaged Building Materials Suppliers here: http://www.gvrd.bc.ca/buildsmart/pdfs/2005salbldgmatsuppdirectory.pdf.alternatives to Styrofoam rigid insulation
Someone recently called us from Tofino to ask if there was a natural alternative to Styrofoam rigid insulation for use under a sub-floor.
Answer: check out the GVRD product directory www.gvrd.bc.ca/buildsmart. Dow has a XPS Styrofoam SM product that contains 20% PC and 20% PI content is 100% recyclable and no VOC's. Other products available: check with manufacturer for installation information and with a design professional to ensure it is being used correctly.
Salvaged building materials in Prince George
On Tue, 16 May 2006 we received the following question:
My question concerns recycling cedar boards that were used to cover two ceilings and some walls in my Prince George, B.C. home. The house is about thirty years old and the cedar has been in place since it was built. I bought the house over one year ago. I would like to remove the cedar as I want to lighten the ceiling areas and paint the walls. I would like to know what my options are as regards using this cedar in other projects.
Thank you very much,
Salvaging in Prince George
Dear Salvaging in Prince George,
Thanks for your question. Your options for using the cedar boards depends on what shape they are in. Your situation seems similar to the Hanvey / Goodland renovation - see case studies and articles of their eco-home reno.
In short, your cedar boards may be able to be used as flooring, walls, or ceiling in yours or another building. Do you want to keep them in your building? If not, there is a used-building product exchange locally.Habitat for Humanity has an outlet ReStore in Prince George. In their own words: “ReStores recycles overstocked, second-hand items, used, discontinued and salvageable building materials donated by manufacturers, stores, contractors and individuals. These donated items are used in two ways: to build simple, decent houses for low-income families serving the Habitat mission and to be re-sold to the general public to finance building projects.” If you don't want to use the cedar boards in your own home, that would be the place to go to make sure they have a good home, and end up being used by someone else.
Please let us know how it turns out!
recycled plastic planter box
I received the following question on 5/16/06 7:58 AM:
Hello, I am looking for a recycled plastic planter box for a urban installation and I am unable source anything here in Victoria. Are you aware of anything? Thanks for your time,
"Gardening in Victoria"
Dear "Gardening in Victoria"
In Victoria, for salvaged building and landscape supplies you can look at Habitat for Humanity "Restore" and the BC government surplus warehouse. I am not aware of anywhere you can buy a recycled planter box in Victoria, thought, but I did find the Abundant Earth store in Washington, which sells them.
There is also the NorthWest Builder's Network, Inc. in Oregon. Clearly there is a need for something closer - if anyone finds or knows of anything closer, please let us know.