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

Why You'll Love Thermally Modified Wood 

DesignNY Magazine

January 16

Written by Karen Marley

Thermally modified wood (TMW) is gaining traction in the U.S. as an intelligent new building material. Kevin DeMars of Attica Millworks, Inc., one of only a few U.S. TMW specialists, answers some questions on this ingenious product.   

Q.  What is thermally modified wood?

A. It’s wood that undergoes a precise application of heat and steam that changes the
wood’s cellular structure. No chemicals are involved. Consequently, the wood
becomes more stable and durable. It won’t grow mold.       

Q.  Why was the technology developed?

A.   The process has been in Europe since the Vikings but the 1990’s launched its
development as a science-based commercial technology due to the sauna
industry. Saunas generate heat and humidity. These are disastrous when
combined with wood.   

TMW provides all of wood’s attractive qualities without the problems of rot and
buckling. The thermal process gives wood those coveted dark, rich tones ...  naturally.
No chemical stains are needed.  

Q.  Where does the best TMW come from?

A.   In the U.S. the best TMW comes from wood that’s grown and processed domestically,
then shipped to Europe for the thermal modification. There are several
domestic manufacturers but they lack the European experience. This is critical
because if the process isn’t done correctly, you lose the benefits. However, the U.S. is learning quickly. 

Q.  What species can be thermally modified?

A.   Any species! Actually, some take it better than others. We prefer ash but have mastered others such as red oak, hickory, poplar, maple, spruce, and pine.

Q.  Since TMW looks and acts like tropical woods, is there a benefit to TMW over exotics?

A.  Definitely. Thermally modified ash will look and act like ebony, ipe, or wenge. None
of these exotics are sustainably harvested, despite their marketing. Meanwhile,
the U.S. has the best forest management in the world. 

Q.  Why is TMW a smart building material?

A.   Unlike other hardwoods, TMW will work anywhere – kitchens, basements, decking,
bathrooms – even radiant heated floors. There is no twisting, cupping, or gapping. With over a billion dollars in moisture damage to wood each year, imagine the savings with TMW! Consumers enjoy a 15-25 percent savings over traditional hardwoods so now being responsible to the environment actually saves money. 

Thermally Modified Wood is available at World Class Supply 

Getting Started with OSMO Hard Wax Oils

Wood that is used indoors is subjected to wear and tear. Therefore it needs protection that won't impair the natural properties of the wood. Wood must be allowed to "breathe" so that it retains its elasticity and has a positive effect on room climate

Once an Osmo interior finish has been applied, the wood retains its natural appearance and feel. While is surface will become hard-wearing, non-abrasive, water-repellent, and dirt-resistant. It will be protected against everyday accidents of water, wine, beer, cola, sodas, etc. Should any minor damages occur, surfaces can easily be touched up with no visible brush marks.

Colors allow a lot of flexibility, using different shades , including the clear coat in with the initial coat.

Original Polyx-Oil (3054)

Ideal for solid wood flooring or cork flooring, as well as wood furniture, trim, cabinets, toys, composites and oriented strand board.

Osmo Polyx-Oils are hardwearing and extremely durable

Preserves the look and feel of natural wood

Available in 0.75, 2.5, 10 and 25 liter containers

Economical — 2.5 liters covers approx. 300 sq. ft with 2 coats

Benzene free solvent — leaves nothing toxic behind when dry

OSMO Polyx hardwax oil instructions PDF

OSMO Polyx hardwax MSDS - PDF

Pro Polyx-Oil (5125)

Finish two coats in just one day

Healthier, solvent-free

Under 50 g/l VOC

Low odor

Leed compliant

Excellent coverage - 1 liter covers 700 square feet per coat

Fast application with bladed trowel and low speed buffer

Protects wood from the elements while allowing for a natural wood grain feel

Engineered oil and wax provides added durability

OSMO Pro 5125 Instructions PDF

OSMO Pro 5125 MSDS - PDF



OSMO DETAILS

OSMO Floor Finish

One of the Best Hardwood Floor Finishes

 Osmo Polyx-Oil (Hardwax Oil) 3054 Satin

Do not confuse this with traditional oil finishes.  OSMO Hardwax Oil is an engineered finish made with sunflower, soybean and thistle oil plus two hard natural waxes—carnauba and candelilla.  Includes just enough highly refined mineral spirits to allow easy application. A Brazilian palm tree, Copernica cerifera, produces the carnauba in its leaves, berries and stalks. Villagers cut down fronds, dry them for several days, and then beat off the wax. The candelilla comes from the outer coating on a desert shrub, Euphorbia antisyphiliti, that grows in northern Mexico. Farmers boil the leaves and stems with water and acid to release the wax. This remarkable finish offers excellent durability and renewability with a unique lustrous finish. It will never crack, blister or flake off. Instead of forming a plastic film, like polyurethane does, OSMO Hardwax Oil has open pores that "breathe." This allows any moisture that does get through to get back out again without pushing off the finish.

Because it is microporous, Hardwax Oil works well in rooms with high humidity, such as kitchens. It meets German standards for resistance to stains from wine, cola, coffee, tea, fruit juice and, of course, beer.

Spot repairs are easy. There's no need to strip the whole floor or even to remove old Hardwax Oil. For minor repairs, just scuff the damaged area with fine steel wool, coat with OSMO Liquid Wax Cleaner and buff lightly when the cleaner is dry. If a more extensive fix is needed, use Hardwax Oil. Make repairs regularly, and the finish will last indefinitely.

While this product provides no protection against ultraviolet rays from the sun, it is not suitable for outdoor use. OSMO makes many other wood finish products some which are intended for outdoor use. 

This is an oil-based product. Like most finishes—even water-based ones—it needs a solvent to perform properly. OSMO uses the safest one that works with oil-based finishes: benzene-free, low-odor mineral spirits. This is an aliphatic petroleum distillate, which means it is a petroleum product that has its carbon atoms arranged in open chains instead of rings. The more toxic, aromatic or ring hydrocarbons have been removed, resulting in a milder odor. 

OSMO Polyx 3054 and all OSMO products can be seen at:  OSMO Polyx Oil

When Zero doesn't really mean Zero

The EPA has determined that the off-gassing from architectural coatings is estimated to account for about 9% of the VOC emissions from all consumer and commercial products. It is important to understand that the EPA’s test method for VOC’s, any paint with VOC’s  5 g/l or less can be called zero VOC so even paint labeled zero VOC may not actually be truly zero VOC.

 Now I know that 5 g/l is very low in the big picture and I may be nitpicking but I was always taught that 0=0,  not 0=5 or less