LEED

Shop Green ‘Til You Drop! Is sustainable retail development an oxymoron? Not according to the many retailers and retail developers profiled in Jerry Yudelson’s latest green building book, Sustainable Retail Development: New Success Strategies (Springer, October 2009), written for the 70,000-member International Council of Shopping Centers. For the past two years, Yudelson has been ICSC’s Research Scholar for Retail Real Estate Sustainability. In the book, he profiles retail sustainability efforts worldwide and presents a solid business case for greening retail operations and shows how leading companies are advancing sustainable retail businesses.

Sustainable Retail Development maintains that green retail buildings and retail development that will grow significantly in importance over the next half-decade, a trend being seen throughout the developed world.

This book is a practical and comprehensive guide to greening retail real estate, featuring green building and marketing strategies, corporate sustainability programs and features a 10-point “action program” for greening any retail real estate portfolio.

While it’s aimed at professionals in design, construction and operations of shopping centers and retail stores, it provides a good read for anyone interested in how sustainability thinking and green building design are changing this huge commercial sector. With projects and concepts featured in full color, the book features more than 30 green retail developments from North America, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia, as well as interviews with 25 leading industry experts.

You can order the softcover version of the book from the ICSC or from Amazon.com.

Testimonials:
Mary Lou Fiala, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Regency Centers:
“Sustainable Retail Development does an excellent job of discussing the opportunities available to retail developers for adopting high-performance building design. Addressing and understanding the split incentives between retail developers and their tenants is the first step to finding solutions that reward both sides.”

Martin Townsend, Director, Building Research Establishment, U.K.
“An authoritative book which is not only a pleasure to read from cover to cover, increasing the knowledge of the reader with the turn of every page, but also a book that can easily be used for quick reference. A must for all wanting to know about the current state of sustainability in the retail sector.”

“Jerry Yudelson has done a first-class job in collecting constructive initiatives, examples and ideas from all over—not only from the USA—to assist retailers and retail property owners everywhere in pursuing a more sustainable business model.”
—Milton Cockburn, Executive Director, Shopping Centre Council of Australia

“In good economic times, or in bad, green buildings and operations are here to stay. Jerry Yudelson provides a glimpse of some of the best industry practices worldwide, strategies to implement an effective green business plan and an invaluable road map for sustainable retail real estate.”
—Arco Rehorst, Technical Director, Multi Asset Management, Gouda, The Netherlands

“[To think, feel and act sustainably, companies need to be able to draw on best industry practices and] Sustainable Retail Development provides an excellent source for such practices in retail real estate. With examples from Austria to America and from Australia to Portugal, it gives a practical view of sustainability and what green shopping centers and retail stores can contribute to the corporate bottom line.”
—Prof. Dr. Filipa Fernandes, Spar European Shopping Centers, Salzburg, Austria

“Jerry Yudelson provides powerful insight into both why and how retail shopping centers should design and build green.”
—Romily Madew, Chief Executive, Green Building Council of Australia, Sydney

“Sustainable Retail Development is a very impressive work. Undoubtedly, it will be an invaluable resource for architects and other professionals involved in the design, construction and renovation of shopping centers and retail stores."
—Lauren Yarmuth, Principal, YRG Sustainability, Denver/New York

"Sustainable Retail Development" is a great snapshot of the transformation that the professional and consumer market will begin to witness in the retail industry. Jerry Yudelson provides a solid overview of what retailers should know to position themselves for the green transformation.”
—Justin Doak, Founder, Ecoxera retail consultancy, Austin, Texas

Well to make a long question "short". I have been working on getting financing for my Eco Friendly cafe for the past 2 years. Every bank I approach has denied my loan request because I am a start up business. I have proven through my exhaustive research, in my business plan that just such a business would thrive in Bloomington Indiana. I have a proposed location that is being built and the developer is going for LEED certification (the location of the building is in the downtown Bloomington area next to Indiana University).

What I need to find out is if there are any places out there that I can acquire a business loan based on the "green" aspect of my cafe. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated in this. The location that I am interested in will be finished by summer of 2010. So I have a little time, but I really want to get this going ASAP!!

Sincerely,

Chip Hartleroad

Celtic Quest Cafe

www.myspace.com/celticquestcafe

stcafe

As the trend toward Building Green gains momentum, California – with its eye on harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as recurring drought conditions and other environmental woes – remains ahead of the curve in encouraging businesses and individuals to reduce overall energy usage, which is a common measurement of green building.

The state’s Green Building Regulations that go into effect on July 1 require a gradual 15% reduction in overall energy use, the equivalent of achieving the LEED® silver rating for new construction for the entire state. Construction and landscaping alternatives that are as varied as Energy Star-certified home appliances, elevators that move only when passengers are present, and artificial grass for water-saving landscaping are all part of the building green movement in California.

Before California adopted its Green Building Regulations, the standard for green and sustainable buildings in California and nationwide was and still is set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization.

The California Sustainability Alliance says the state’s Green Building Regulations are the most aggressive energy and environmental goals in the nation. “The good news,” the Alliance says, “is that many different types of resources and support are now available to help us achieve these ambitious goals.”

Developers have gradually taken advantage of those “resources and support” to erect more green projects

The first systematic study of the green building market in California – by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego as reported by the online edition of the San Diego Tribune – found that a growing number of developers are putting up buildings meeting stringent environmental standards, and that tenants have been willing to pay top dollar to rent space in them.

A study for the American Solar Energy Society determined that under an “aggressive deployment forecast scenario” more than 40 million Americans could be working in renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE and EE) industries nationwide, and that those industries could be generating $4.53 trillion in annual revenues.

Back in California, the trend is well under way and can be seen in very specific, grass-roots initiatives. Water restrictions enacted in much of Southern California within the past several months, as well as programs such as the rebates for artificial turf and other water-saving measures offered through agencies including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), have spurred interest in green building solutions by homeowners and developers.

For example, demand for rebates from the Metropolitan Water District has been so high since the program began, that on April 1, the program initiated a rebate reservation system. The district is a cooperative of water agencies serving 19 million people in six counties throughout Southern California. Rebates offered through the district start at $0.30 per square foot. Different water agencies offer different rebates.

“It’s really gotten people to consider alternatives to traditional landscaping,” said Larry Reno, district manager of NewGrass Landscape & Design. “That’s great that it’s raised awareness of artificial turf.”

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED as it is commonly called, was established by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop a rating system for green building. It is the measure for design, construction and operation of green buildings. LEED advocates sustainability through a whole-building approach in 5 areas of performance in human and environmental health. Those 5 areas are:
• Energy efficiency
• Sustainable site development
• Water savings
• Materials selection
• Quality of indoor environment

The rating system is tailored to each project and coincides with LEED specific programs. A handful of these programs are New Construction, Existing Buildings, Commercial Interiors, Core and Shell, Homes, Neighborhood Development and Schools. The rating system fosters global endorsement of sustainable green building and improvement through the “creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.” The criterion is developed by leaders in their specific industry and ranked in 4 levels of certification; in ascending order those levels are: certified, silver, gold and platinum. These LEED certifications are directly related to the number of credits earned in each of the 5 performance categories listed above. Currently, the LEED standards are applicable to new commercial construction, major renovation, interior projects and existing structure operation. However, standards are being developed to include construction for commercial core and shell, neighborhood development and new homes.

The members of the USGBC recently approved a revision to the LEED rating system that will be effective in March. This update, known as LEED 2009, hopes to bring about more consistency within the family of LEED rating systems, more focus on energy and climate issues through the use of more scientific benchmarks and an evaluation of building technology. The point system for all LEED programs will consist of 100 points with a possible 10 point “bonus.” Previously the system was based on 64 points with a potential for 5 bonus points. A sliding scale was created to earn marks for optimizing energy efficiency, with a maximum of 19 points, as compared to the former maximum of 10 points. With changes like this you can see that the projects hoping to be LEED certified will need to have a much heavier focus on energy performance. Some of the other changes reflected in the LEED 2009 rating system are:

• 20% reduction in water-use is now mandatory for certification; previously you would have earned 1 point for water-use reduction.
• The “Sustainable Sites” category will contribute to almost 24% of the maximum score, this is about 4% higher from the old rating system.
• LEED 2009 offers bonus points to those that put an emphasis on their regional environmental goals (to be published in March).
• The “Energy and Atmosphere” category now makes up nearly 32% of the total score; formerly it was approximately 25%.
• Access to public transportation earns 6 points as opposed to 1 point prior to the revisions.

I would venture to believe that USGBC anticipates applicants to shine their spotlights on energy use and renewable energy sources – as that has been a driving force as of late.

Some of you reading this may already know that it’s not easy being green (thanks Kermit) and in order to obtain LEED certification you have to put yourself to the test through the USGBC’s certification process. The USGBC’s website has a multitude of information about the process, helpful documents and guides, a listing of professionals that are LEED accredited and schedules for LEED training workshops and conferences. The certification is performed by a third-party who will evaluate the building to ensure that it meets the highest standards of sustainability. If you’re uncertain as to whether or not your building has the potential to be LEED certified, take a moment to review the LEED checklist.

Going through this process has incredible rewards for not only for the environment but from a financial standpoint. When your building is LEED certified you qualify for special tax rebates, zoning allowances and benefits in hundreds of other cities. The federal economic stimulus package also provides existing buildings the opportunity to take advantage of these benefits by properly retrofitting current equipment and structures. As you can see, LEED is the yardstick by which the green building industry is measured through its efforts to champion environmental friendliness and efficient use of energy. In my final installment of this series I’ll discuss how sustainable building should stay afloat amidst the economic downturn – yes some industries will thrive during this and I believe sustainability is just now gaining popularity. Until our next discussion, go green!

See more at www.acreageanywhere.com

SHARONVILLE, OH — The Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (http://usgbc-cincinnati.org/) will share information about Greater Cincinnati LEED-certified buildings and “green” initiatives during the CSI Construction Products Showcase, “Build Green Cincinnati and Build Green Workshops” on March 11 from 5 to 8:30 pm at the Sharonville Convention Center, 11344 Chester Road. Attendees can visit the USGBC-Cincinnati’s exhibit at booth #415.

Attendees at the 30th annual Showcase will see examples and demonstrations of the newest, most innovative products and services available in the design and building industry, as well as the people committed to advancing these products and services. “Build Green Workshops” will be available prior to the Showcase from 1:30 to 5 pm. Cost is $25 for all workshops combined.

The Showcase is a collaboration of the Construction Specifications Institute, the American Institute of Architects—Committee on the Environment, the International Interior Design Association, and the U.S. Green Building Council.

More Information is available at www.csicincinnati.org/exhibitors.html.

The United States Green Building Council-Cincinnati Regional Chapter's Vision is that all buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health, prosperity and vitality of all life within a generation. The Chapter's Mission is to transform the way regional buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous built and natural environment that improves the quality of life. Learn more about USGBC-Cincinnati at: http://usgbc-cincinnati.org.

Subfloor Types and Basic Installation Considerations

There are many different types of subfloors over which wood flooring can be installed. There are certain basic attributes that are critical for successful wood flooring installations done over all types of subfloors. The subfloors must be dry and will remain dry year round. The moisture content of wood subfloors must not exceed 12%, wood flooring moisture content must be within 3% of wood subfloor moisture content and concrete must not exceed 3 lbs. per a calcium chloride test, or 2 lbs. when installing over radiant heat. The subfloor material must be structurally sound. It also needs to be clean, thoroughly swept and free of all debris. For glue down installations, the subfloor must be free of wax, grease, paint, sealers, old adhesives, etc., which can be removed by sanding. Additionally the subfloor must be level or flat to 3/16” per 10-foot radius.
Wood Subfloors

Nail down installations are most common over wood subfloors, but glue down and floating installations are also possible. Wood subfloors must be well secured, by using a nail or screw every 6” along the joist to avoid squeaking. If the subfloor is not level, sand down high spots and fill low spots with a polymer-modified cementitious leveling compound such as Chemrex Self Leveling Underlayment from BASF. CDX plywood must be at least 5/8” thick for joist spacing up to 16” on center and a minimum of 3/4” thick for joist spacing greater than 16” on center (19.2” maximum). OSB should be at least 3/4” thick. Underlayment grade particleboard can only be used with the glue down method. If using an existing wood floor it must be smooth, level, well adhered and unfinished (if gluing down new flooring).
Concrete Subfloors

Concrete must be fully cured, at least 60 days old, and should have a minimum of 6-mil poly-film between the concrete and the ground. If it is necessary, grind high spots down and level low spots with a polymer-modified cementitious leveling compound or Ardex K-15 Leveling Compound. If gluing down onto concrete which is on or below grade, it is recommended to install sheet vinyl first and then glue the wood flooring on top of the vinyl, as this provides an effective permanent moisture barrier. An alternative to sheet vinyl is to use a concrete sealer approved by the manufacturer of the adhesive that you have chosen. If using EcoTimber HealthyBond Adhesive, the approved concrete sealer is Taylor Nu-Flor 500, which EcoTimber distributes. A concrete slab on/below grade that measures dry today may become moist tomorrow due to rising groundwater. Installing a moisture barrier may be viewed as an insurance policy against concrete becoming wet in the future, which can lead to subsequent floor failure.
Other Subfloors

Gypcrete can be used in floating installations only. Gypcrete, otherwise known as lightweight concrete, is not strong enough to hold together when a wood floor that is glued to it expands and contracts. If the flooring planks buckle and lift, they may pull pieces of gypcrete up with them.

Resilient tile and vinyl tile subfloors can be used with glue down or floating installations. Vinyl must be new and non-urethane coated. Ceramic tile, resilient tile and sheet vinyl must be well bonded to the subfloor, in good condition, clean and level. Do not try to sand existing vinyl floors, as they may contain asbestos, which are harmful to your health.
Installing Over Radiant Heat Subfloors

When installing over radiant heat subfloors it is good to know the facts. Most flooring is not warranted for installation over electric radiant heat systems, as these can heat up too quickly and damage the wood. However, many eco-friendly flooring products can be installed over radiant heat and arewarranted for such use by their manufacturers. It is important to check with the manufacturer because not all products are warranted for such use, and typically only hydronic (hot water) systems are approved. For many warranties, the system must be able to control the surface temperature of the subfloor so that it never exceeds 82°F. Also, it is essential that the subfloor be maintained at within 15°F of its normal operating temperature at all times.

Radiant heat systems keep the wood flooring very dry, so if the system is turned completely off (for example, during hot summer months), the flooring will absorb moisture. When the system is turned back on again it will dry the wood very quickly, which is the most common cause of damage. After the system has been off or not functioning, the floor should be brought back up to normal operating temperature very slowly, over the course of several days.
Eco Friendly Flooring Finishes: Factory Applied & Site Applied

Floor finishes can be applied prior to installation by the manufacturer of the flooring or on site by the floor installer. Each process has advantages and disadvantages:

The following are several advantages to having a factory finish. The factory finish is applied in a controlled environment with no air-borne dust or other impurities. Sub coats containing special additives like aluminum oxide can be added which will greatly increase the wear-resistance of the finish. Extra coats can be easily added by rollers, 9 coats of finish is not uncommon for a factory finish, while 2 to 3 coats is typical for a site applied finish. The finish tends to be much more durable than the best available site applied finishes (about twice as durable is a good rule of thumb). Shorter installation times and labor means a much lower overall installed cost. Factories apply finishes for much less than contractors. Improved indoor air quality - factory finishes are cured by ultraviolet rays in the factory and are completely inert by the time they are put in the box. There is no off gassing of solvents, VOCs, or other harmful chemicals.

There are also disadvantages of a UV-Cured factory finish. The seams between the planks are not sealed, potentially allowing spilled liquids to leak down and damage the wood. Also, the seams may require top coating to seal seams in areas where frequent spills are expected (restaurants, bathrooms, etc.). The end-user cannot change the wood’s color with stains without sanding off the factory finish.

The advantages of a site applied finish consist of creating a smooth, sealed surface over the entire floor. It allows the installer to customize colors with stains, bleaches and dyes. It also allows the installer to select gloss level and permits the use of spot-repairable oil finishes.

There are also disadvantages of a site applied finish. The wood must be sanded prior to coating, resulting in dust, longer installation times and substantially higher labor costs. The end user must wait for finish to dry completely, meaning they are forced out of their home for longer periods of time. Site applied finishes contain solvents and other drying agents that off-gas harmful chemicals into the air for days, weeks or even months after installation (depending on the type of finish). Even “natural” plant-based oil finishes off-gas harmful chemicals. Some “natural” oils have higher VOC contents than urethane finishes. Contractors often make errors that result in finish bubbles, applicator marks, sanding marks, dust in the finish, and poor adhesion. Expensive and highly inconvenient mistakes are common. The long-term durability is much lower than with factory applied finishes.

Care & Maintenance of Eco Friendly Wood Floors

Proper care and maintenance is essential for the performance of any wood floor. Wood flooring should be one of the last items in the construction process to be installed. Once the flooring is installed it should be protected to avoid any damage that could be caused by tradespeople. If using glue down or floating installation methods, do not allow foot traffic or heavy furniture on floor for 24 hours after installation is complete.

In order to prevent scratches it is wise to adhere to the following steps. There is no such thing as a “scratch proof” wood floor, but following these basic procedures will reduce the likelihood and frequency of scratches.

* Felt padding should be permanently affixed to the legs of all furniture before it is moved into the space.
* Do not allow people to wear spiked heels on the floor, these will severely damage even the hardest wood floors and finishes.
* Pet claws should be properly trimmed at all times.
* Work boots and shoes that may have pebbles lodged in the soles should be removed prior to entering.
* It is important to remove grit. Care should be taken to prevent dirt, sand and grit from accumulating on the surface of your floor. They will act like sandpaper and abrade the finish. Walk off mats should be placed inside and out at all exterior exits, and the floor should be swept or vacuumed frequently. All mats or rugs should be cleaned and/or replaced on a regular basis. They should also be moved occasionally to allow natural color changes caused by light to occur evenly in all areas.
* Be sure to always use proper cleaning products. To clean a factory urethane finish, vinegar mixed with water (applied with a slightly damp mop, never a wet mop) is effective at removing scuffs, dried spills, and dust film. Floor waxes, oil soaps and petroleum-based cleaners should not be used under any circumstances.
* Take precautions to avoid standing moisture. Water and wood floors do not mix. Never wet mop a wood floor, and always clean up spills and standing water as soon as possible. With water or any other cleaning agent, be sure to thoroughly ring out the applicator or mop prior to applying it to the floor. A damp mop is fine as long as the moisture is limited to an amount that will evaporate almost immediately. Moisture that is allowed to seep into the seams between the planks may cause damage to your flooring. Do not allow soiled mats or rugs to stay on the floor as they can trap moisture on the surface.

Common Pitfalls of Wooden Flooring

Many wood flooring complaints and claims are a result of conditions that are beyond the control of the manufacturer or seller of the product. It is important to be aware of and to educate customers as to some of the most common pitfalls to avoid. It is critical to make sure that you do not have wet concrete slabs at time of installation. Inadequately cured concrete slabs will continue to release moisture after flooring is installed, which can cause movement and other problems for wood flooring. On- and below-grade concrete slabs can become wet if groundwater rises. Adequate curing times and proper moisture barriers are essential.

Improper heating and ventilation can cause damage. Most wood flooring is manufactured to perform best within relative humidity (RH) ranges of 35% to 65%. It is important to run heating and humidity control systems in advance of installing wood flooring so that job site conditions at the time of installation are similar to those that will prevail when the space is occupied. Conditions that are too dry can cause as many problems as conditions that are too wet! Dry climates can present environmental conditions that are very hard on wood flooring. This is not an issue with just eco friendly flooring, it is an issue with any wood flooring from any source. Wood floors are products of nature, and as such are subject to natural forces.

If you expect your wood flooring installation to experience humidity levels lower than 35%, the guidelines below may help prevent problems. Keep in mind that it’s not only desert and mountain areas that experience dry conditions – in cold climates, humidity levels indoors during the heating season can be extremely low. A high rise building in New York City might be as dry as a home in Arizona during the coldest months of the year.

* Use Humidifiers: The best way to avoid problems caused by excessive drying is to regulate the moisture in the space with humidifiers, which should be functioning throughout the life of the floor. (Don’t turn them off if you are away from home). Most flooring manufacturers require that humidity be maintained within certain levels (usually 35% to 65%) in order for the warranty to stay valid.
* Avoid Sudden Humidity Change: Just as it is important to protect your floor from extreme dryness, it is equally important to protect it from moisture. If the wood takes on moisture and is then subjected to its normal dry conditions, the rapid drying may damage the floor. Painting, plastering, or anything else that artificially adds moisture to the space should only be done if dehumidifiers are in place to remove that moisture from the air before the flooring has a chance to absorb it.
* Install Engineered Flooring Right Out of the Box (Except Exotics): If engineered flooring is allowed to dry too quickly it can cause stresses within the planks, which may result in cracking, cupping and other problems. For best results, leave the flooring in its packaging on site. If acclimation is recommended (as with some engineered exotics when installed in dry conditions), only open the ends of the boxes. During installation, only open as much as needed to work from. Once the flooring is laid, the factory finish will help seal the floor so that the moisture escapes more slowly, preventing damage.
* No Wet Mopping: When you wet mop your floor in a dry climate, the dry wood will absorb moisture (causing expansion) and then shed it very quickly (causing shrinking) once you’ve finished mopping. This rapid change in dimension of the planks causes cupping and other damage. To clean the floor, use a lightly damp applicator that does not allow moisture to sink into the seams.

Some species and formats are more susceptible to damage from excessive drying than others. For example, White Tigerwood and Hickory will tend to perform better than Maple; and Vertical Grain Bamboo will tend to perform better than Horizontal Grain Bamboo. Generally, engineered bamboo or Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) is not recommended in dry climates unless humidity conditions are carefully controlled. Maple is somewhat unstable as well.

The products that are most likely to survive without problems in dry out-of-warranty environments are: hand scraped Hickory, White Tigerwood, and properly acclimated solid flooring such as bamboo, woven bamboo and solid exotics.
Wood Surface Scratching

This is one of the most common complaints that flooring dealers receive from customers who have had a floor installed and then return a few weeks later unhappy that their floor is scratched. Educating the customer before the floor is installed can often prevent these complaints. The key solutions to the common pitfalls are proper maintenance and managing customer expectations. Always make sure that your customer reads the manufacturer’s care and maintenance instructions before they occupy the space where the floor is installed. And remember, there is no such thing as a scratchproof wood floor!
Refinishing an Eco Friendly Wooden Floor: Screening & Top Coating

Screening and top coating is a method for renewing the finish on a wood floor without actually removing the old finish and sanding down the wood. It will repair most signs of wear and create a uniform, sealed surface on the floor. It is relatively quick and inexpensive and can be repeated indefinitely. With screening and top coating, even the thinnest wood veneer wear layer can last forever because people walk on the finish, not on the wood. Factory applied finishes can be top coated just like jobsite applied finishes. In areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and spaces where food service occurs, top coating a newly installed factory finished wood floor can help prevent against moisture damage. In heavy food service areas such as restaurants, two to three top coats are recommended.

There are both mechanical and chemical systems for screening, i.e. roughing up the surface of the old finish so that new top coats can adhere to it. The mechanical method usually involves putting a Scotchbrite pad on a standard drum flooring sander and operating the sander in a normal fashion. Chemical systems are offered by Bona Prep (Bona Prep Recoating Adhesion System) and Basic Coatings (Basic Coatings “TyKote” Sandless Recoating System). The manufacturer’s instructions should be followed.

Our zero energy off grid modern house construction update from our wonderful contractor, Ron Bernaldo! Here he explains the progress and his thoughts, as a contractor who has not worked with structural insulated panels (SIP), or a house kit like our passive solar casa ti house kit.

"Eh, I would say it doesn't take a lot of technical expertise to put the panels together but there are quite a few steps involved, so it's not a speedy process.

We got the 44' wall done, and the one 16' wall done, and the first piece around the corner... it wasn't a wonderful day weather-wise, and I had to take care of some things on another job... but all-in-all we've got one guy filling in the framing, 2 setting panels, and the most experienced carpenter following us just framing in the doors & windows.

The factory rep checked in with us... and I had some questions that they walked me through.

I prefer screws to nails or staples, so I deviated from traditional instructions on that.

I put up a 44' wall today.
Normally we have braces all over the place, and there overnight.
I went up to that wall today, and we couldn't shake it.

It's a neat design. I'm really happy with it.

The panels go together EASY. But you do have to do things as you go along, and that's what slows you down.

One more solid day could get us all the way around the perimeter.
If I can get the perimeter done in 3 days, I might do this in 7 days. (That's my goal.)

One of those interior walls will need to go up first to set the roof panel... so that will slow the perimeter/exterior down.

The only thing I'm unhappy with is the amount of material that did not come with the kit. We need material for the clerestory, for the framing of interior, etc. - so I need to account for that.

But I am still considering in my mind the framing for the extending of the roof on one side... that will eat up time.

That's about it!"

Copeland's note: The house kit is *just* the SIPs and SIP parts, of which I had been clear. I will ask him tomorrow why or what he thought would else have been included- they do come with a window and door schedule, but we are very clear about our "bare bones" - which makes it affordable and flexible for the consumer, who could then make their own decisions according to their style and budget.

There is rain in the forecast, which will certainly slow them down... and I also rescheduled the cladding delivery (it was supposed to be delivered Friday) for next Friday (they only deliver on Fridays), because of the rain. Remember, in a rural lot, you do NOT want to get a truck full o' metal modern cladding stuck in the mud!

I am really looking forward to spending the first night with our children in this house, and sharing it with our friends and family. David Day Design did a beautiful job on an affordable, passive solar house kit for Green Modern Kits.

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GreenerBuildings News: October 23, 2008 ===========================================================

Welcome to the latest edition of GreenerBuildings News. We are committed to bringing you the latest information and resources on the full spectrum of environmental issues related to buildings and facilities. Log on to http://www.GreenerBuildings.com for more up-to-date news, tools, case studies and other resources related to greener building practices. A full-color, graphic version of this newsletter is available online at: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/enewsletter

=-=-=-=-=-=-= A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR =-=-=-=-=-=-= F

rom Rob Watson: There is a growing emphasis on greening America's schools, and not a moment too soon. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, with 50 million students and 5 million faculty approximately 20 percent of the country's population is involved on a daily basis with the 120,000 K-12 schools in the U.S. — significantly more if parents are included.

As USGBC CEO Rick Fedrizzi's letter notes, America's existing building stock represents a huge and largely untapped resource that can put our citizens to work, reduce costs and conserve our natural resources while providing lifelong lessons for our future leaders. Check out this week's newsletter for news on the Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools, which was spurred by the USGBC in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Mayors and is led by progressive mayors such as Miami's Manny Diaz and Seattle's Greg Nickels. The Mayors' Alliance will focus on partnerships with local businesses to support the implementation of green measures.

Since LEED for Schools was launched in 2007, nearly 1,000 schools have registered and over 100 have certified. For more information and resources about LEED for Schools and tools to advocate for green schools in your area, visit www.buildgreenschools.org. The Clinton Global Initiative's K-12 greening program will support this effort ... Read the rest online at: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/enewsletter

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THIS WEEK ON GREENBIZ RADIO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

How to Navigate the Green Seas http://www.greenerbuildings.com/podcast/2008/10/17/how-navigate-green-se... By Tilde Herrera GreenBiz.com Executive Editor Joel Makower discusses his new book, "Strategies for the Green Economy: Opportunities and Challenges in the New World of Business." He offers three keys to help companies assess how well they are doing and answer the question: How good is good enough? You can listen to GreenBiz Radio online, download episodes to your computer or subscribe to our the RSS feed at: http://www.GreenBizRadio.com

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FEATURES AND COLUMNS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Green vs. Greed -- An Open Letter to Green Building Professionals http://www.greenerbuildings.com/blog/2008/10/23/green-vs-greed Rick Fedrizzi, the CEO, president and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council writes about the strength and resilience of green building movement in these tumultuous economic times. Holcim Honors Top Green Building Projects in North America http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/22/holcim-honors-top-green-... An arts and education center in New York, a day labor station in San Francisco and a lake restoration and research center in Canada are among the nine winners sharing $270,000 in prize funds in the prestigious North American Holcim Awards competition.

=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE LATEST GREEN BUILDINGS NEWS =-=-=-=-=-=-=

U.S. Mayors, USGBC Join Forces to Green Schools http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/20/green-schools

The U.S. Conference of Mayors has formed the Mayors' Alliance for Green Schools, which will work with the U.S. Green Building Council toward the goal of making the nation's schools environmentally friendly within a generation.

Indiana Hospital, California Library Snag LEED Gold, Colorado Capitol Goes Green http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/21/leed-gold-green-capitol Community Hospital South in Indianapolis and the San Mateo Public Library Main Branch have attained LEED Gold status, and Colorado’s Capitol has become the first LEED-certified state house in the country.

South Africa Joins World Green Building Council http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/22/south-africa The Green Building Council of South Africa has been accepted as the 13th full member of the World Green Building Council.

Johnson Controls, Dow Chemical Added to Pew Center's Green Business Council http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/22/pew-center Energy efficiency giant Johnson Controls and Dow Chemical have been named to the prestigious Pew Center Business Environmental Leadership Council.

Green Energy Resources Eyes 1M Tons of Storm-Damaged Texas Wood http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/20/green-energy-resources-e...

New York renewable energy company Green Energy Resources is working to obtain up to one million tons of hurricane-damaged forest wood from southeastern Texas.

USGBC, Marriott, Enterprise Honored for Work to Green Travel Industry http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/21/green-travel-tourism Travel + Leisure magazine named the U.S. Green Building Council, Marriott International and Enterprise Rent-A-Car among its winners of the 2008 Global Vision Award.

Giant Eagle Supermarket Tapped as First LEED Gold Grocer http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2008/10/17/giant-eagle Supermarket retailer Giant Eagle earned LEED Gold status for a store in Columbus, the first to receive such a high eco-friendly rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.