Sustainable Lawncare Information and Solutions

Millions of dollars are spent each year designing, implementing, and maintaining urban landscapes. Unfortunately, long-term problems are caused when these processes are not carried out properly. Many of these problems can be avoided or reduced by utilizing sustainable landscape practices. A landscape developed with sustainable practices will improve the environment by conserving resources and reducing chemical applications. A sustainable landscape will also reduce labor inputs making it less expensive to implement and maintain.
The key to creating a sustainable landscape is understanding that the design process should be considered first. Plant selection, implementation, and maintenance build on the design process, each having sustainability as a major consideration.

According to one estimate, 40 million acres of land is devoted to turfgrass in the United States with nearly 75 percent in home lawns and more than 30 billion dollars spent on annual lawn maintenance1. It is no wonder that the large amount of resources allocated to lawn care and the impact that they have on the environment has called the sustainability of lawns into question. This critical attention has challenged lawn managers and turfgrass research programs across the country to develop and work toward more sustainable, lower input turf/lawn ecosystems. While SULIS defines sustainability in a general way, sustainability as it relates to lawns can be defined as a lawn area that requires few material inputs while having a positive impact on the environment. Creating and maintaining a more sustainable lawn begins with proper selection of the best adapted grass species and varieties. Proper site preparation, lawn installation, and appropriate follow-up care will help reduce the need for inputs of the established lawn. The Sustainable Lawn Care Information Series (SLC) consists of the following chapters.
	Upper Midwest Home Lawn Care Calendar for Cool Season Grasses The lawn care calendar is a guide for maintaining lawns in the upper midwest area. It covers the general care needed to maintain an average home lawn typically found in this geographic area. It is not intended to cover all aspects of lawn care, or to cover all different growing conditions that may exist on a specific property.
	Environmental Benefits of a Healthy, Sustainable Lawn As a groundcover, healthy lawns provide important environmental benefits to our communities. Properly established and managed lawns, combined with good sustainable landscape design, can help protect and preserve water quality.
	Grass Plant Growth and its Relationship to a Sustainable Lawn Understanding a few basic principles of grass plant biology is important. Planning maintenance to take advantage of the natural growth cycles and habits of grass is the first step in developing a more sustainable lawn care approach.
	Turfgrass Selection for a Sustainable Lawn Lawn sustainability begins with good landscape design. Selecting the best adapted species and varieties for particular areas of the landscape is just as important as choosing trees and shrubs best adapted to the different locations within a landscape.
	Establishing a New Lawn to Achieve Sustainability The best time to build in sustainability is when an area is first being prepared for a lawn. Following tried and true methods for site preparation and grass establishment will help insure a successful and sustainable lawn for many years to come.
	Renovating an Existing Lawn to Achieve Sustainability Introducing lower input grasses into an existing lawn will often be the first step in establishing a more sustainable lawn cover. Also, using the elements of sustainable landscape design to evaluate appropriate locations for lawn areas will help create a more overall sustainable landscape.
	Understanding and Using Lawn Fertilizers A vast array of fertilizers are available for use on lawns. Choosing those best suited to your site (such as near water bodies) or to the plant species and varieties in your lawn, does not need to be intimidating. A healthy lawn, achieved with modest inputs of the proper materials, can be very satisfying.
	Mowing Practices How a lawn is mowed largely determines the need and frequency of maintenance required by that lawn. Sharp blades and proper height of cut will help keep grass growing vigorously and maintain adequate shoot density to completely cover the soil surface.
	Watering Practices Efficient watering practices are important to all homeowners who want to conserve water, maintain a sustainable, healthy turf and reduce maintenance costs. Understanding how grass plants use water and their ability to tolerate dry conditions is the first step to putting the right plant in the right place to perform the right function. This is a key concept in establishing a more sustainable lawn.
	Weed Management Too often, the term "sustainable lawn" has been associated with lawns allowed to become neighborhood weed patches with no resemblance to a "maintained" lawn. While lawns maintained on very low inputs may have a few weedy plants in them, having well-adapted grass species and varieties will help keep significant weed infestation to a minimum.
	Home Lawn Disease and Insect Pests Properly maintained and healthy turfgrass will tolerate the presence of low levels of pest populations without suffering permanent damage. Healthy turfgrass usually recovers more quickly from insect and disease infestations. However, there may be times, even in healthy lawns, where some pest control is needed to prevent significant damage.

World Class Supply carries Pearl's Premium grass seed, which once established requires no watering, is ever-green, only needs to be mown once a month.  This translates to the saving of  time, equipment, gas and machine pollution from the usual 7-10 day grass mowing. 

So Many Ways to Build Low Cost Green homes

 


Want to build green?  There are loads of possibilities for everything from natural building like Cob and Straw Bale to re-purposed materials such as shipping containers.  One design-build provider, Blu-Homes offers pre-fabrication as part of their solution for green and affordable.


Blu-Homes factory-crafted prefab homes use Blu’s proprietary steel frame technology to create homes that are strong, durable and more spacious and light-filled than traditional homes.

This process—combined with sophisticated 3-D technology to design, engineer, build and finish a  home—enables Blu to complete a prefab home in less than nine months all at a fixed and transparent cost.

Click here for full article and photo gallery of Blu home samples.


Find Green Materials for construction, lawn and garden at World Class Supply

TED Talks: Catherine Mohr presents green building and embodied energy

In this  short, funny, data-packed talk at TED U, Catherine Mohr walks through all the geeky decisions she made when building a green new house -- looking at real energy numbers, not hype. What choices matter most? Not the ones you think.

http://www.ted.com/talks/catherine_mohr_builds_green.html

Catherine Mohr began her career as an engineer, working for many years with Paul MacCready at AeroVironment to develop alternative-energy vehicles and high-altitude aircraft. Her midcareer break: medical school, where she invented a brilliantly simple device, the LapCap, that makes laproscopic surgeries safer.
Mohr now oversees the development of next-generation surgical robots and robotic procedures, as the director of medical research at Intuitive Surgical Inc., where she's the clinical design leader for the DaVinci Surgical Robotic system. She also works at Stanford's School of Medicine, where she studies simulation-based teaching methods to teach clinical skills to budding doctors. And she's a senior scientific advisor to the GlobalSolver Foundation, an innovative funding and study group that looks at ways to match up scientists and money to help the world's oceans.

Now visit World Class Supply for materials that do a world of good!

Scottsdale's ideas for Green Remodeling

Here are some thoughts from Scottsdale Arizona about everything from water conservation to flooring to heating sources.

Contact World Class Supply for a variety of sustainable building supply

How Scottsdale does Green. Design Principles....

Scottsdale Arizona provides an extensive 18 page guide to designing Green. Be sure to also check out the useful Resource Links in this Guide.


Need green building supply?  World Class Supply provides eco-friendly windows, doors, sustainable grass seed and materials products and coatings.

5 Ways You Can Lower Your Utility Bills This Summer

Excerpted from : thegoodhuman.com

May 01st, 2013

The easiest way to increase the amount of spare cash you have each month is by simply spending less. Now we can all cut down on our luxury items, or spend less on going for days out or meals with friends. But wouldn’t it be much better to cut down on the cost of your utility bills instead? Here are five ways you can lower your utility bills this summer.

1. Utilize Rain Barrels

Collecting rainwater from your roof and using it to water your garden will slash the amount of water consumption your household uses during the hot summer months. During the growing season, homeowners can save around 1,300 gallons of water, which adds up to a large amount on the water bill. Just half an inch of water is often enough to fill a 50-gallon rain barrel. If you install a few of these barrels, you may not need to turn the main tap on all year.

2. Plant Trees in Your Garden
Planting trees to the south and west of your house can lower energy consumption by around 5% in the summertime due to the shade it provided on the house. The bigger the trees the better, as they provide more shade for the house.

3. Use Solar Shades

If your home has lots of south-facing windows, the solar energy entering your home could be dramatically heating the property and costing you money to try and keep it cool again. Solar shades are a low-cost, effective way to reduce the amount of heat entering your home, and this will dramatically lower your electricity bill as you will not have to use fans or air conditioning nearly as much.

4. Keep it Clean

If you’re using an air conditioning unit, it’s essential that you carry out a monthly maintenance routine in order to keep the filters clean and the system working efficiently. A blocked filter can cost you money as the machine is not working as effectively as it could. Also, keeping your house clean tidy, and clutter free will increase the airflow around the property which also helps to lower the cost of cooling.

5. Alter Your Diet

During the summer months when you spend all day trying to keep the house cool, putting the oven on for hours at a time to cook your dinner or bake a cake is simply counter-productive. This can cause a huge temperature rise in your home and will cost more money to keep the temperature low during this time. Either cut down on your oven use and eat more salads and cool foods, or shut the kitchen door so that you are only heating one room.
Each of these simple steps may only make a small difference to the cost of your utility bills over the summer. If you make a lot of new habits over the coming months, trying to reduce energy consumption in lots of different ways, you will notice the reduction in your bills.

Find money saving and eco-friendly building and cleaning solutions at World Class Supply !

How And Why To Choose Low/No VOC Paint

Excerpted from : thegoodhuman.com

March 26th, 2009

You know that smell – that freshly painted room that looks great but gives you a headache. In fact, if I am gone all day long and it’s warm out, when I get home I can still smell the paint in my house from 4 months ago when the landlord repainted it prior to us moving in. That is how long the chemicals in “regular” paint can last! That is why when I painted a room in our old apartment in California, the last time I painted much of anything, I used a Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint, and I was amazed at the lack of overpowering smell. I was painting my home office with this paint and when I was done I actually went right to work, surrounded by drying paint. No headaches, no nothing. It was tremendous. Some VOCs are greenhouse gases and therefore contribute to global warming and others are just bad for your health. While a few VOCs occur naturally from cows and trees, many come from manufactured products such as paint thinners, paints and varnishes and dry cleaning solvents. These VOCs contribute to illnesses and have been determined to be a cause of ”˜sick building syndrome’. The EPA has found concentrations of VOCs in indoor air to be 2 to 5 times greater than in outdoor air due to paint and other products. Lucky for us, major paint companies are now making low or no VOC paints we can use, which really reduce our exposure to these chemicals. 

Mythic Paint

– This low odor, zero toxicity paint from Mythic Paints is a non-toxic, ultra low odor paint that provides the durability and coverage you expect from a premium paint without the off-gassing VOC’s and cancer-causing toxins that emit years after drying.

Bioshield Natural Paint

– The BioShield collection of paints, stains, thinners and waxes is made primarily from naturally-derived raw materials including citrus peel extracts, essential oils, seed oils, tree resins, inert mineral fillers, tree and bee waxes, lead-free dryers and natural pigments.

While there are many other products available, the most important thing you can do is pick any one of them over your “standard” paint.  Picking one of these products is safer for you, your home, and our environment, so choose wisely next time you go to paint.

Purchase these and other earth-friendly products at World Class Supply

What Are Solar Roof Shingles?

April 01st, 2013

EarthTalk is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com).

Q: I’m getting my roof redone and have heard about solar roof shingles. Are they available—and are they practical for the Northeast?

Solar shingles are photovoltaic cells designed to look like and integrate with conventional asphalt roof shingles. First commercially available in 2005, solar shingles were much more costly than traditional “bolt-on” photovoltaic panels, and thus were used mainly by those wanting to go solar but maintain a traditional roofline. But more recently solar shingles have become price-competitive with bolt-on panels, and are getting much more popular accordingly. Eco-conscious home and building owners might find solar shingles especially attractive when they are re-shingling anyway since the solar shingles also double as functional, protective and weatherproof roof shingles in their own right.

The biggest name in solar shingles is Dow’s Powerhouse line, which uses cutting edge Copper Indium Gallium Selenide solar cells (aka “thin-film” solar) to turn sunlight into electricity via a supplied inverter box. The Powerhouse shingles generate 12 watts per square foot and are “grid-tied,” meaning they’re designed for structures already connected to the power grid and can send excess power back to the grid. They are wireless, snap together and can be installed by regular roofing contractors just like (or alongside) conventional asphalt shingles (an electrician needs to set up the inverter box).

Dow reports that a typical residential cluster of 350 solar singles on a roof could slash one’s household electric bill by 40-60 percent. Such an installation can cost a homeowner over $20,000, but federal, state and local incentives can bring the cost to half that in some areas. Powerhouse shingles are currently available (from Dow-authorized contractors) in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Another leader in solar shingles is building products manufacturer CertainTeed. The company’s Apollo line of grid-tied monocrystalline solar shingles and roofing tiles offers efficiency similar to larger “bolt-on” photovoltaic arrays at around the same price (and incentives similar to those for Dow may also apply) but with less bulk: Each Apollo tile is less than an inch thick and will integrate with, replace, or lay on top of existing asphalt roof shingles or tiles and generate 12 watts of power per square foot.

CertainTeed says a typical installation will save homeowners 40-70 percent on their electric bills. Their Apollo products are available across the U.S. but the company recommends using one of their authorized roofing contractors to make sure they are installed properly.

Now is an especially good time to go solar—shingles or otherwise—because costs have started to come down and the federal government is still offering 30 percent tax credits with no cap on the purchase of solar electricity equipment. Twenty-seven states and several cities offer additional incentives that can get pricing on solar gear and installations down even lower. For more information check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE), a free online resource provided by the North Carolina Solar Center and IREC with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Subscribe:www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Purchase Eco-Friendly Building Materials, Cleaners and Grass Seed at World Class Supply!

7 Reasons Why Cork Flooring Reviews Favor This Eco-Friendly Floor Installation

By Rika Susan

On EZine Articles

We are all becoming more aware of caring for our environment. Cork flooring reviews point to the latest floating ranges as a more eco-friendly DIY installation for your home. Due to innovative manufacturing techniques, this kind of home improvement has turned into a boon for the handyman.
Installation is relatively easy, even for a novice. You may not even need to purchase a separate underlayment.
Let's take a look at 7 reasons why natural cork floor coverings have become so popular among the DIY crowd.
1. Eco-Friendly Floors
During manufacturing, bark from the cork oak tree is used. Once harvested, it is ground and processed into sheets. These are then kiln baked to produce the flooring tiles. This type of floor covering can be used in homes and light commercial settings such as offices.
This is a highly regulated industry. Regulations require that a tree must be at least 25 years before it can be harvested. The tree isn't negatively impacted by the harvesting. The bark grows back in time, making for a renewable flooring source. This is why it is seen as an eco-friendly or 'green' interior design solution.
2. Durable And Resilient
Judging by cork flooring reviews, this kind of floor is comparatively resilient when it comes to impact. The cellular nature means that it contains microscopic air pockets. This creates a 'memory' in a sense that allows the surface to go back to its original state after impact or pressure. This also makes it a suitable choice if you have pets in your home, although you still have to make sure that you keep their nails short.
3. Family Friendly
Moisture Resistant: Cork contains a waxy substance called suberin. This is the secret behind the excellent moisture resistance of floating cork flooring. In spite of this, it is still safer not to let fluids stand on your new floor. Rather clean any spills immediately.
Insect Resistant: The waxy suberin also allows these surfaces to be highly resistant to insect infestation and molds and mildew. Many cork flooring reviews also mention that, if your kids suffer from allergies, changing from carpeting to cork may be beneficial.
Impact Resistant: The air pockets act as shock absorbers in a sense, facilitating excellent cushioning. This gives it a good level of impact resistance. The cushioning may also offer some measure of protection when, for instance, an elderly person falls on one of these floors.
Warm: The air pockets or cellular structure also traps warmth. This means that a floating cork floor will be more comfortable and warmer underfoot than many of the other options, such as laminates or vinyl.
Absorbs Sound Well: Again, due to the cellular structure, sound is absorbed remarkably well. Cork flooring reviews note that you won't get the hollow sound that is associated with laminates. This is very useful in areas where echoes can be a problem, such as in a hallway.
4. DIY Installation
The new floating cork floors come with locking systems such as Uniclic for easy DIY installation. This gives you access to planks that are installed in much the same way as a laminate floor.
As long as the sub floor is dry, clean and level, you should have very few problems. These ranges are usually not recommended for use in a basements, due to excessive moisture levels. Cork can be installed over surfaces such as tile, wood and concrete, but check with your supplier to be safe. Some brands come with a cork underlayment already attached, allowing you to use only a moisture barrier. In other cases, you may still have to purchase an underlayment.
5. Fairly Low-Maintenance
This is seen as a fairly low-maintenance option. Day to day dirt can be taken care of with a soft broom. Once a week or so, a quick wipe with a very slightly damp mop should be enough. Never use a wet mop. Clean spills immediately by blotting with a sponge or paper towel, before drying the floor with a mop. Never use harsh or abrasive cleaners.
6. Interesting Color Variations
The interesting color variations offered add to the popularity of these collections. No two floors will look exactly alike, due to natural diversity. Shading can stretch from a rich golden yellow to a darker nutty brown. You also get variety with the speckled patterning. If you are looking for creativity in your decor, this is one way of achieving your goal, according to cork flooring reviews.
7. Good Warranties
If you give your floor covering some tender loving care and use a touch of common sense, you should have the pleasure of a great looking floor for many years to come. Many of these ranges come with warranties of between 25 and 35 years.
The drawbacks of these floors include the more limited color options, compared to laminates, as well as the fact that the floor may need to be re-sealed from time to time. When you make your purchase, make sure that you get a product that has been sealed with something like a high quality UV varnish to give added durability.
Cork flooring prices may be a bit higher than that of vinyl, but you can easily get a wholesale deal if you know where to go.
If you can't afford to install a wood floor and would like to do your bit for the environment, cork flooring reviews claim that these collections can be a sensible second choice.

Purchase Cork Flooring and other renewable building materials at World Class Supply !

It's Easy Being Green with Green Remodeling

by Jon Nunan

Posted on Home Advisor

 

Today, residential green remodeling is more popular than ever. While commercial and industrial building are also concerned with green remodeling, residential construction is truly beginning to embrace the eco-friendly and renewable resources that are making new homes more energy efficient inside and out. If you are in the market for a new kitchen, bathroom, or even a whole new house, there are many ways to make your project more efficient, less wasteful, more valuable, and even safer for you and your family!

Residential Green Remodeling: The Idea
While a big part of residential green remodeling is a matter of choosing efficient appliances and using recycled or renewable materials during construction, professional green builders know that there's much more to it. Instead of simply swapping older components with newer, greener ones, green builders try to focus on the house as a whole. Though each individual eco-friendly choice you make can up the efficiency of your project, the best residential green remodeling is an intricate combination of components and practices that work together for a single goal: a project that consumes less energy during every stage.

Energy Audits in Green Residential Remodeling
In most cases, the first step in green remodeling (residential or commercial) is performing an energy audit, where the area to be worked on is scrutinized up and down for any possible energy waste. For example, while an eco-friendly homeowner might replace an old refrigerator with a more efficient model, the energy auditor will observe the placement of the windows, the thickness of the insulation, the material of the walls and flooring, and the lighting scheme surrounding that refrigerator looking for any possible way to reduce possible energy waste.

Green Kitchen Remodeling: One Scenario
To really get a better idea of the lengths residential green remodeling will go to, here are a few changes that might be made to an average kitchen space:
*Use indigenous stone for counters to cut down on energy waste from transporting non-local stone
*Use flooring that comes from renewable sources like cork or bamboo
*Insulate wall cavities with recycled blown-in cellulose
*Use low-VOC paint and stain on cabinetry and other surfaces to increase indoor air quality
*Install an efficient induction range to reduce energy use and increase safety
*Opt for Energy Star rated windows and appliances
*Replace old bulbs with compact fluorescents
*Create space for multiple waste receptacles to make separating recyclables, organic waste suitable for compost, and trash easier
*Install instantaneous water heater to reduce energy spent keeping tank-stored water hot at all times

Green Remodeling Certification
To make the most of federal, state, or local incentives, green remodeling certification is often required. LEED Certification is a rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council to help evaluate and recognize builders and projects that utilize green building practices and materials. LEED ratings grant points for projects that go green with sustainable sites, improved energy use and cleaner indoor atmospheres, the use of green materials and resources, and innovation and design processes that are congruent with green building. There are LEED accredited professionals and green builders out there, from architects to general contractors to interior designers, that specialize in green building and design. If you're interested in green remodeling certification for your project, contacting these professionals is the best place to start.
Of course, the financial incentives that come with green remodeling certification are a great benefit during your project, but the possibility of increasing resale value down the road should also be considered. As the average homebuyer becomes more concerned with energy efficiency and green building practices, the likelihood of getting a bigger return on a green investment increases. Who knows? That green certification may mean a difference of thousands if and when you house goes on the market!

Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.

 

Purchase green building supplies at World Class Supply

5 Green Home Improvements You Can Take to the Bank

by Matt Goering

Posted on Home Advisor

 

With talk of energy shortages, endangered species, and global warming dominating national headlines, it's easy to forget that going green with home remodeling is as good for your wallet as it is for the rainforest. Here's a list of 5 green remodeling projects that are good for the earth and save you cash at the same time.

#1—Install High Efficiency Replacement Windows
If you still think of a window as a single pane of glass that gives you a good view of the neighborhood, it's time to change your perspective. Modern energy efficient windows can reduce your home energy use by as much as 50% year round, and usually pay for themselves in just a few short years. If new windows are in your future, look for multiple paned windows, low e coatings, insulated frames, and gas fills. And don't forget that proper installation is just as important as buying quality windows when it comes to achieving high energy efficiency.

#2—Install a High Efficiency Heating System
Depending on the climate, heating your home can account for over 35% of your overall home energy costs. New, high efficiency furnaces and boilers can reduce those costs by as much as half, depending on where you live and how old your current heating system is. Look for units with AFUE ratings of 90 or better, and remember that poor installation can sabotage even the highest efficiency furnace.

#3—Install a High Efficiency Air Conditioner
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air conditioning accounts for 5% of the total energy use in the U.S., and costs American homeowners $11 billion annually. That said, upgrading to a high efficiency air conditioner can make a big difference when it comes to reducing your monthly utility bills. Energy Star rated units are required to have SEER ratings of 13 or higher, though the highest efficiency models on the market currently have SEER ratings of 20 and higher. As a rule, the higher the SEER rating, the more money you'll save.

#4—New Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen appliances are a major consumer of energy in your home. Thanks to the federal government's Energy Star program, however, they're also one of the easiest ways to improve the overall energy efficiency of your home. An Energy Star dishwasher or refrigerator, for example, can reduce energy use at those appliances by 40% or more, while an Energy Star rated clothes washer can save you over $500 over the life of the appliance!

#5—Insulate, Insulate, Insulate
High efficiency furnaces, air conditioners, and windows are all excellent ways to cut energy costs and save you money, but even the best windows and heating and cooling systems won't do much if your home's insulation isn't up to speed. Leaky windows and doors, and poorly insulated attic spaces, are some of the most common culprits of energy inefficient homes, so those are good places to start. For a more comprehensive evaluation of insulation levels in your home, however, consider bringing in a professional energy auditor to help you identify where you can reap the biggest returns when it comes to upgrading the insulation in your home, and sealing up areas where leaks are costing you money!

Remember, going green is a win-win proposition. Not only does it mean you're doing everything you can to foster a better world for generations to come, but by making smart decisions on which projects you undertake, it can mean big monthly savings on your utility bills and a fuller bank account to boot.

Matt Goering, formerly a carpenter and house painter, is a freelance writer for the home improvement industry who has published over 600 articles.

Find super-energy efficient windows and other green guilding supplies at World Class Supply!

Who Needs 3-D Design? 5 Reasons You Do

Whether you're remodeling or building new, 3-D renderings can help you save money and get exactly what you want on your home project

As Posted on Houzz

 

Dylan Chappell

Houzz Contributor and California Architect (http://dylanchappell.com/)

 

As a client, how can you avoid paying for design work you don’t want? Making sure you know what you're getting before you have it built helps.

Today there is no better way to understand and have a feel for new design than to see it in 3-D. Rather than your having rely on imagination to see if the bathroom door will be far enough away from the kitchen, 3-D allows you to virtually walk through your home before even approving any specs or designs. Want to see that living room wall with bay windows? No problem. Want to check out the view from the window? Step right up. Changed your mind and now want no windows? Hold on a sec.
Three-D design is a fast and efficient way to get involved in every part of the design process. When architects actually design with you, the client — and present other, different or better options — you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions on a design that's perfect for you.

How do you know if your architect works in 3-D? It's always a good idea to ask when you're interviewing potential candidates, and to take a look at their examples of drawings and 3-D presentations. Three-D design is becoming an industry standard, and finding a great architect who offers it should not be hard. The good news is, most firms don't charge more for 3-D; they either have it or they don't.

Here are five reasons 3-D design can work for you.

 

by Dylan Chappell Architects

1. Understanding traditional 2-D floor plans and elevations can be difficult. Many people can get the general idea from a floor plan but have trouble visualizing how the design is going to look. Being able to see and experience your design in 3-D will help you understand how it is going to work. The more you understand the look and feel of your design, the more comfortable you'll be at making decisions.

2. Designs can change and evolve in real time, during meetings with your architect. Meetings are the best way to be included in the design process and to make sure nothing is overlooked. What does a design presentation in 3-D look like? It could be a fly-through video or multiple perspective views of your project. I’ve found that the most efficient and productive 3-D design meetings are in the conference room with everyone sitting around the flat-screen, walking through the project room by room. This usually always brings up design questions, and changes can be made to the model during the meeting for instant results.

3. Design review boards generally respond positively to presentations that include 3-D. Three-D to show how a building relates to the existing environment or to a neighbor’s home is a very powerful tool when you're seeking design approval. I’ve had great success by rallying the support of neighbors when they can understand clearly how a building is going to look and feel compared to theirs. 4. Three-D design can help cut down on changes after construction has begun. Reducing the amount of changes during construction can help save time and money. But it can be hard to do until you really understand what the space will look and feel like, which is where 3-D design comes in.   World Class Supply carries eco-friendly building, cleaning and lawn products!

Green Home Prices Up, Study Say

A home in Eagle Rock, California featuring sustainable design. Photo: Flickr

News from Christina Caldwell  08/13/12 Earth911.com

Is a green-certified home worth the up-front cost? For many Californians, at least according to a new study, that answer is yes.

A new study by professors from the University of California Berkeley and UCLA shows that not only is demand for green homes still high in eco-minded areas, but certified green homes sell for around 9 percent more than less environmentally-savvy homes.

The study looked at 1.6 million homes sold in California from 2007 and early 2012. There seems to be a certain community attitude associated with green living dubbed the “Prius Effect,”according to the study’s authors, in which consumers that lived in areas where support for sustainability and hybrid ownership was high were willing to pay more for green certified homes.

Though, the willingness to pay more for green certification might be a trade off for the temperate climates of California. The study found that Californians living in warmer parts of the state like those in Central Valley were more willing to factor in capitalized cost savings than their northern and coastal counterparts.

Other studies that looked at green home purchases on a smaller level concluded that green certified homes in Seattle sell for an average of 8.5 percent more than their non-certified competition, based on a sample of homes sold between September 2007 and December 2009. In Portland, Oreg., that number rises to 12 percent, based on a study conducted from May 2008 to April 2009.

Higher prices aren’t just associated with homes. According to one UC Berkeley study, offices with green certifications rent for at least 3 percent higher and sell for 16 percent more than non-certified offices.

Check out green building supplies at World Class Supply!

Benefits of Using Clay Paint and Plasters

Tired of reading?  Watch this great little video!

Benefits of Using Clay Paint and Plasters
Uploaded on Oct 30, 2011


DirtCraftCA talks about the benefits of using clay paints and plasters in your home. They are beneficial even in the most conventional of homes, as clay paints and plasters can be applied over top of drywall.


Purchase Clay Paints and Plasters at World Class Supply

Know Your House: Components of Efficient Walls

Learn about studs, rough openings and more in traditional platform-frame exterior walls — and why thermal efficiency might not be a priority

Posted from Houzz

Bud Dietrich, AIA

Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes.

Two of the biggest developments of the industrial revolution were the mass production of dimensional lumber for framing, and the nail. Not only did these two products allow for homes to be built by the thousands, but they contributed to a uniquely American style of architecture. Houses were built of smaller, lighter sticks, rather than heavy timbers or masonry.

In the early 19th century, with the onset of stick-built homes, balloon framing became the norm. With this type of framing, the exterior walls are built of continuous wood studs that start at the foundation's sill plate and stop at the highest top plate. The wood studs that make up these walls can therefore easily be 18 or more feet in length. Balloon framing died out simply because of the unavailability of wood studs of such long lengths.

What came about is platform framing, the method used to build wood-frame houses today. It relies on each story of a house being built as a platform so that the exterior walls are built of wood studs no more than about 10 or 12 feet long.

Here's a look at a basic and traditional platform-frame exterior wall, as well as a variant of this system that uses far less material.

by Bud Dietrich, AIA » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

Basic 2-by-4 framing. The most common method of building a wood-frame exterior wall is to use 2-by-4 wood studs spaced 16 inches from the center of one stud to the center of another. These studs are then fastened to a 2-by-4 bottom plate and a double 2-by-4 top plate. Corners have three studs so that there's always a surface to fasten the next material (drywall, sheathing etc.) onto. Wood-frame walls such as these can be easily built on the wood floor deck and then tilted into place. Once tilted into place and made plumb (straight up and down), even and square (the corners are at 90 degrees or another angle, depending on the design), these walls are securely fastened to the floor structure. Other than the framing needed for openings, such as for doors and windows, the final structural element of a wood-frame wall is the exterior sheathing. Sheathing, usually OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood, is used in most homes to help make the structure rigid so the house doesn't twist or rack. This type of sheathing also provides a surface that siding can be attached to. There are other materials, such as rigid insulation, that can be used in lieu of OSB or plywood. When these materials, which will increase energy efficiency, are used, structural rigidity will be accomplished through bracing or special fasteners or other.

by Bud Dietrich, AIA » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

Openings for doors and windows. To accommodate doors and windows, the framings of walls have framed rough openings. In fact, most manufacturers produce windows and doors that fit within a specific rough opening. Knowing the exact window and manufacturer is important in the planning stage so that the carpenters build the walls as needed. The parts that form a rough opening are the king stud, jack stud (I'd love to know the origin of these terms), header, sill and cripple. Each piece has a job to do. For example, the jack studs support the header, and the header is used to span the opening. And it should be noted that with a typical 8-foot ceiling, the standard 80-inch-high door fits neatly into a rough opening made with a double 2-by-12 header. With the header placed tightly against the underside of the double top plate, the rough opening measures about 82 inches high. While this isn't the most efficient use of material (the header is often much larger than required), it has become the norm because of its simplicity.

by Bud Dietrich, AIA » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

Optimized framing. Wood framing began when wood was abundant and inexpensive, and a home's thermal efficiency wasn't a consideration. As a result, traditional wood framing uses far more material than it needs to, and the typical 3.5-inch wall thickness doesn't allow for as much insulation as is required for a thermally efficient house. More advanced framing techniques now use 2-by-6 wood studs in lieu of 2-by-4s, a single top plate and two studs in lieu of three stud corners. The benefits of using 2-by-6s include: Increased cavity space to accommodate more insulation Stud spacing that's 24 inches instead of 16 inches on center, resulting in less overall material To ensure structural integrity and accommodate the installation of materials such as drywall and sheathing, special clips and connectors have been developed for this framing method. For example, metal splice plates can seam together the single top plate. Optimized framing also uses headers that are sized as needed to span door and window openings. While this has the benefit of reducing material costs, it also achieves a distinct architectural look, as taller windows and doors can be had. Find unique and eco-friendly building supply at World Class Supply.

Spring Patio Fix-Ups: 10 Wonderful Ways With Built-in Benches

Laura Gaskill

Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.

Houzz Contributor.

If you are looking to make a lasting change in your outdoor space, you can't beat the durability and style of built-in seating. Fresh patio furniture is fabulous, but the right built-in bench, designed to suit your space to a T, can make your patio feel larger and more welcoming, and ramp up the style. See if any of these 10 useful ideas for transforming a patio with built-in benches could work for you.

by Sullivan Design Studio » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

1. Use one long bench for multiple seating areas. Make the most of your space by using a built-in bench long enough to span several seating areas. Vary the height of your bench so you can position an outdoor dining table at one end and make a lounge area at the other end.

by Swell Homes » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

2. Tuck a bench between planters for built-in shade. If you could use more shade in your patio, consider installing a bench nestled between a pair of big planters filled with trees. Check with your local garden center to choose a variety that does well in a pot and works with your climate.

by Cary Bernstein Architect » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

3. Make a statement with a big swoop. Have a steep hillside that's impossible to plant? Use it to your advantage by building in a unique curved bench. See the rest of this house

by Outhouse Design » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

4. Maximize a small space with a custom fit. A small space filled with lots of small furniture just feels cluttered — you can actually seat more people and increase the sense of space with a built-in bench that fits perfectly.

by Arterra LLP Landscape Architects »

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5. Integrate steps and seats for a smooth look. If you are working on a major patio remodel, take into account the steps, pathways and other elements during the planning process. Repeating materials, like the wood and concrete shown here, creates a cohesive look.

by Ryan Group Architects » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

6. Cozy wood benches up around the fire. If a fire bowl is the centerpiece of your patio, chunky wood benches are a natural choice. Try a pair filling out one corner, as shown here, or use curved wooden benches all around, campfire-style.

by Jane Ellison »

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7. Make room for kids and grown-ups. A unique design like the combo bench and table shown here can provide a perch for adults sipping wine just as easily as it can play host to toddler tea parties.

by Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates »

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8. Weather the elements with stone seating. A stacked stone bench and table have a rustic elegance that would be at home anywhere from New England to California and beyond. In the summer it can play host to gatherings, plumped up with colorful cushions. In the winter it adds organic beauty to the landscape.

by Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

9. Welcome friends with a curved border. Sharp, modern lines look crisp, but they are not for everyone. If you crave a softer look, try introducing a round shape to your patio with a gently curved bench made from stone or wood.

by McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects » Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »

10. Channel elements of your dream getaway. Love the Italian Riviera? A built-in stone seat with an architectural backrest and striped cushions, plus café chairs and a big umbrella nearby, will bring the look home. Even if you can't jet off to Italy, you can enjoy a pretty fabulous staycation in your own yard. Find eco-friendly building materials, cleaning products and grass seed at World Class Supply.

How to Be Sustainable and Earth-quake proof

Bamboo Houses Stand Up To Earthquakes

Lloyd Alter
Design / Green Architecture
June 3, 2010

It is called the "poor people's timber" and even in China it is not accepted as a modern building material. But bamboo, like lumber, makes a light, flexible house that is much better than "modern" materials at surviving earthquakes. Now International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is actively promoting it as a replacement.

"So far, massive construction or reconstruction means concrete structures in China, and bamboo is little known for this [building on a large scale]," says Shayam Paudel, INBAR's director of bamboo housing programs, in the Christian Science Monitor. Unlike the "Tofu" concrete structures that collapsed and killed thousands of kids in substandard buildings, bamboo makes a much simpler structure.
INBAR notes that:

-At least 600 million urban dwellers in Africa, Asia and Latin America live in "life and health-threatening homes". At least one billion people do not have access to safe and healthy shelter and the number will increase dramatically with population growth if the appropriate action is not taken (UNEP, nd).

-One billion people live in bamboo houses. In Bangladesh, 73% of the population live in bamboo houses. Bamboo provides pillars, walls, window frames, rafters, room separators, ceilings and roofs.

-It has been calculated in Costa Rica that only 70 ha of bamboo plantation are sufficient to build 1000 bamboo houses per year. If these houses were built with timber, 600 ha of natural forest would be destroyed each year.

-Studies show that processing of bamboo requires only 1/8th the energy for processing of concrete and 1/3rd of that of wood to create a building material of the same capacity. In comparison to steel, bamboo needs only 1/50 of the energy for processing (Roach 1996).

- Due to the lightweight and favorable elastic properties of bamboo, buildings made from it are very good at resisting earthquakes. All 30 houses in the epicenter of a 7.6 magnitude earthquake survived without any damage in Costa Rica.

- Bamboo possesses excellent strength properties, especially tensile strength. Study shows that bamboo is as strong as wood and some species even exceed the strength of Shorea robusta and Tectona grandis (Sattar, 1995).

According to the Christian Science Monitor:

While much of modern-day building in China is done with steel and concrete, ancient Chinese intellectuals preferred living in retreats made of bamboo, a plant whose qualities were often likened to the character of an honorable man.

In Yunnan Province, which borders Sichuan, the Dai minority still lives in bamboo homes. And in affluent Zhejiang Province, where bamboo is plentiful, local officials have been encouraging architects to design recreational infrastructure using bamboo.

Building experts in China who have been testing bamboo give it the seal of approval for building in the seismic zone.

"Bamboo can be an excellent engineering material. The technology is mature. We believe the bamboo and plywood with a steel frame should be good for earthquakes," says Chen Xu He, formerly a Chinese Academy of Forestry researcher, who tested the bamboo panels used in the INBAR models. via :Archinect