Champion Indoors's blog

Though this post seems off-topic - I think the message is an important one and pertains greatly to the work and goals of everyone on this site. I felt it important enough to share. Cross-posted from my site - enjoy.

Poppy Tom & Baby Zoe

The last month has been a challenging one to say the least... It's been full of births and deaths, and many ups and downs - thus - the roller coaster of "life."

When I lost my great grandma Grace a few years ago, it was a peaceful affair in the sense that she was 98 years old, had lived a full life and was very ready to die. That feels so different in comparison to losing people suddenly, or when they appeared to be healthy, or when they are only an infant or even when you just haven't gotten to enjoy them as much as you want to...

Case in point: I was in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago visiting my grandparents. My grandma who is only in her early 70's is beginning to slip into the later phases of Alzheimer's. What a wicked disease. There are still many glimpses into the woman she once was - the woman who rocked me to sleep when I was a child and had many adventures with me as an adult, but her memory and mind are slipping away right before our eyes. It breaks my heart...

After only being back home for a week, we got a phone call telling us that Tim's dad was in ICU so we jumped on a plane to Florida. Tom McCune is a strong-willed man whom I loved the moment we met. He is a lung cancer survivor, likes boats, wine and funny jokes - a man after my own heart! Tom underwent brain surgery this past month and had gotten just past the halfway mark of his radiation treatments when he suddenly contracted pneumonia, which with one lung is a dire situation. We are now on day 5 and things don't seem to be improving. Tim's parents have been married for over 40 years so I can't begin to imagine how that must feel, though I try. All I can do is be here for support and to offer whatever help is needed. I am silently praying that I will get to hear Zoe call him Poppy while he is holding her - time will tell.

Last night I found a quote that I added to the blog I created for Tom so that all of his friends could stay posted on his condition. It touched my soul and I've been in a contemplative state since I read it. It says:

"In spite of illness, in spite even of the archenemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways."

So what does this have to do with anything??? As I have been thinking so deeply of life and death and love and loss I remembered when I read Eckhart Tolle's "The Power Of Now," and how at the time when I read it and for a long while afterward, I consciously applied those lessons to my daily life. I savored each moment, every feeling, tasted my food, gave compliments freely, and remembered to express my love and gratitude openly and freely to all of those I love and to the people who touched my life in a special way.

I am in love with the Gandhi quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world" because I believe it is true and has merit. Our lives have the power to touch future generations as well as the people that come into contact with us in this life as well. Through our words, our work and our actions. It is for this simple reason that I write these words today, with the hope that you the reader will stop a moment to think, and cherish your life and those who share it. Just like the earth we all call home, everything has a cycle. Our time here is short - but there is still so much we can accomplish. Let it be today.

My good friend Kim who has been trying for years to have a baby just finally gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Mateya. Looking at a photo of her expression while holding her new daughter brings me peace.

To feel is to live. To live is to feel. Please remember the power of now...

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

I came across designer Katherine Hamnett today while researching pesticide poisoning. She is going on my list of "Incredible Women I'd Love To Meet."

She's been designing since the 1970's, and has been on an environmental crusade for most of her career. Her fight for organic cotton is commendable and inspiring. It also doesn't hurt that her clothes are completely fabulous!

As consumers we hold the power to assist Katherine Hamnett by demanding organic cotton from manufacturers and stores and holding those businesses accountable for the ethical treatment of the people around the world who are making these products.

Check out Katherine Hamnett's Site and while there, be sure to read Clean Up Or Die

There's also a nice write up on her on Inhabitat's site.

Time to snuggle with the baby on the couch and read the latest Body+Soul magazine.

Happy Sunday!

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

The 10th Annual Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Meeting and Expo will take place October 14-17 in Las Vegas.

I'm super excited about the fact that Bill Nye the Science Guy is our keynote speaker and will be discussing IAQ and energy conservation. If you've ever wanted to learn more about indoor air/environmental quality, I would highly recommend this conference (and I'm not just saying that because I'm presenting...)

To read more see: IAQA Meeting & Expo

Hopefully I'll see you there!

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Western Heritage Furniture

With so much attention on "green building", it's odd to me that more people aren't focusing an equal amount of energy into their interior furnishing choices. We hear about paint, flooring options and adhesives; though there hasn't been a big hurrah over the places where we hang out the most at home -on our furniture.

The beginning of that "shift" took place just last week when the Las Vegas World Market Center's furniture tradeshow introduced the "Living Green Pavilion." The Pavilion was co-sponsored by the Sustainable Furniture Council and Channel Logic, Inc.

Josh Dorfman, "The Lazy Environmentalist" and Founder/CEO of Vivavi was on hand as the fabulous host of the party on Wednesday afternoon in the Greenhouse Gallery. He is both interesting and charming, and in my opinion far from lazy (though the story of how his book came to be cracked me up.)

I was on hand to answer questions in Western Heritage Furniture's satellite booth in the Green Pavilion. People loved that the furniture is made using reclaimed (mostly barn) wood from the U.S., is hand-made in Jerome, AZ and has available upgrade options for no/low VOC sealants and substrates such as wheatboard or formaldehyde-free MDF.

Western Heritage Furniture in Jerome, AZ

I hung out with the lovely Mr. John Stein from Keiri/Organo who shared some pasta with me on a borrowed table, and admired Zola's wonderful upholstered eco-friendly furniture. The fun and funny Mark Gruman, one the Sustainable Furniture Guru's kept me entertained and thirst quenched by bringing me coffee or cocktails depending on the hour.

I am happy to have been part of the very first Living Green Pavilion as I see it only going up (and big) from here. It's about time!

And remember - what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Shhhhh...

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

I just returned from a week in Vegas which I'll be writing about tomorrow, and happened upon this article while getting caught up on my emails and news.

I'm a big fan of Michelle Kaufmann's Glidehouse designs, so was excited to see this article.

You can check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/yot835

Great job Michelle!

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Part 4 - Indoor Air/Environmental Quality

Where does indoor air quality fit into all of this and how does this pertain to me?

The one reoccurring theme throughout any of the previously stated guidelines, or pertaining to green building in general; is the importance of good indoor air and environmental quality. When one delves into the health statistics stemming from environmental exposure, it’s easy to see why the need for awareness is so much greater. Take for instance:

- Of chemicals commonly found in homes, 150 have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological abnormalities. (Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission)

- Cancer rates have increased since 1901 from only 1 in 8,000 Americans, to 1 in 3 today. By the year 2010, this disease will afflict 1 of every 2 individuals. (Source: American Cancer Society)

- In the past 50 years more than 75,000 chemicals have been introduced into the environment. Today 300 synthetic chemicals are found in the bodies of humans. Even newborn babies have synthetic chemicals passed on from their mothers. (Source: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals, a European Union program)

- At any given time, there is 3.36 million tons of household hazardous waste to contend with in our country. Source: Chec's Health House, the resource for Environmental Health Risks Affecting Your Children)

Prevention of poor indoor air and environmental quality plays a large role in the green building movement. Occupant comfort is also addressed in this category which would include thermal comfort and daylighting.

Whether the goal is general health benefits, employee productivity, less absenteeism for students or employees, or a combination of all of the above; many of the studies which have been conducted are showing amazing results.

- A study by Carnegie Mellon University measuring the relationship between increased lighting control and productivity showed an average increase of 7.1% in productivity. (Source: eBIDS.)

- Sales in stores with skylights were up to 40% higher compared to similar stores without skylights (Source: California Board for Energy Efficiency Third Party Program).

- Students with the most daylighting in their classrooms progressed 20% faster on math tests and 26% faster on reading tests in one year than those with the least day lighting. (According to a Heschong Mahone Group study, “Day lighting in Schools,” conducted on behalf of the CA Board for Energy Efficiency).

Common and possible sources of indoor pollutants would include: biological contaminants (including mold, bacteria, etc.), radon, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, and of course asbestos and lead in older homes.

Careful planning and implementation of viewing the project as a “whole building system,” is done from the beginning of the design phase, through the selection of interior products, HVAC design, and use planning.

Where do IAQ Professionals fit in to the green building industry?

According to U.S. Green Building Council statistics, the annual market for green building in products and services is $7 billion, representing 37% growth over the prior year (based on 2004 figures). This figure is expected to climb – and climb quickly. While cost will always be part of the equation; just like eating organic foods can be more expensive, the same may be expected when it comes to safer, alternative building materials for your client’s home or building, as well as the products and furnishings that go into it. For many people, the slightly higher cost is worth it for any number of reasons including: occupant comfort and improved health, energy and water savings, and of course adds value to their investment.

Many building teams (which would include the architect, builder, interior designer, etc.) understand the value and need for an IAQ/IEQ Professional. Who can better explain the importance of a healthy home!

Along those same lines, many builders are often willing to employ a consultant to teach them about preventative measures which can be utilized within the building process.

Interior designers can also benefit from the assistance of an IAQ/IEQ professional. With so many new products out there, many people can become quickly confused, and with green going “mainstream” we are bound to see an increase in “greenwashing.” Greenwashing is a term used to describe the “green” benefits of a product, that can often times only be sorted out by researching the particular product and delving into the MSDS. Again, teamwork comes into play with both the aesthetics coupled with occupant comfort and safety.

As IAQ/IEQ professionals, we have the opportunity on a daily basis to help make a difference. Simple things like recommending the use of no or low VOC paint, sealers, and other products can play a part in improving the indoor environment. Recommending clients upgrade their air intake filters to HEPA and installing carbon monoxide detectors is another good example. Asking your clients about their choice and use of cleaning products and giving them safer alternatives has the ability to potentially save a child’s life. You can perform preventative healthy home assessments with unlimited possibilities to make a positive impact.

Where do we go from here?

If interested in green building, I would encourage you to attend a green building conference such as West Coast Green or Greenbuild to learn more.
Green building is a definite win-win situation for all of those involved in the process. We have come a long way and still have a much longer way to go…

The question is, will you walk, or ride a bike???

As Mahatma Gandhi once said; “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Think green!

Just wanted to give everyone an update on this story. The police have not been able to locate the man who supplied the family with a commercial pesticide which killed their child.

They have just released his name and photo.

Please read the full story here: http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/072407/loc_072407029.shtml

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Part III - Statistics and Reasoning

So… what are some of the reasons and statistics to support the benefit of building green?

Regardless of whether or not you saw Al Gore’s global warming documentary, global warming is gaining the attention of the media and scientists worldwide. The building industry, including how we power these buildings, how we live in them, and what we put in them, has played a significant role in global warming.

Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface; in turn, the earth radiates energy back into space. Atmospheric greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases) trap some of the outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse. Without this natural “greenhouse effect,” temperatures would be much lower than they are now, and life as known today would not be possible. Instead, thanks to greenhouse gases, the earth’s average temperature is a more hospitable 60°F. However, problems may arise when the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases.

Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%, methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%. These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth’s atmosphere. Sulfate aerosols, a common air pollutant, cool the atmosphere by reflecting light back into space; however, sulfates are short-lived in the atmosphere and vary regionally.

Why are greenhouse gas concentrations increasing? Scientists generally believe that the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for the increased concentration of carbon dioxide. Plant respiration and the decomposition of organic matter release more than 10 times the CO2 released by human activities; but these releases have generally been in balance during the centuries leading up to the industrial revolution with carbon dioxide absorbed by terrestrial vegetation and the oceans.

What has changed in the last few hundred years is the additional release of carbon dioxide by human activities. Fossil fuels burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 98% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions. Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions. In 1997, the United States emitted about one-fifth of total global greenhouse gases. (Source:http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/climate.html)

US buildings alone are responsible for more CO2. emissions than those of any other entire country in the world except China. (Source: Kinzey et al., “The Federal Buildings Research and Development Program: A Sharp Tool for Climate Policy,” 2002 ACEEE proceedings, Section 9.21.)

Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-1.0°F since the late 19th century. The 20th century's 10 warmest years all occurred in the last 15 years of the century. Of these, 1998 was the warmest year on record. The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased. Globally, sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century. Worldwide precipitation over land has increased by about one percent. The frequency of extreme rainfall events has increased throughout much of the United States.

Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change. Scientists expect that the average global surface temperature could rise 1-4.5°F (0.6-2.5°C) in the next fifty years, and 2.2-10°F (1.4-5.8°C) in the next century, with significant regional variation. Evaporation will increase as the climate warms, which will increase average global precipitation. Soil moisture is likely to decline in many regions, and intense rainstorms are likely to become more frequent. Sea level is likely to rise two feet along most of the U.S. coast. (Source:http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/climate.html)

Energy use is therefore extremely important to consider. Buildings represent 39% of U.S. primary energy use (including fuel input for production), and represent 70% of U.S energy consumption. (Source: 2003 U.S. DOE Buildings Energy Databook)

The savings which can be realized through the green building process, both new builds and retrofit/remodels is not arguable. Coupled with the use of Energy Star rated products for both your home and business, the immediate and long term savings are a big part of green building incentive.

For example, tenants can save about 50 cents per square foot each year through strategies that cut energy use by 30%. This can represent a savings of $50,000 or more in a five-year lease on 20,000 square feet (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). On average, green buildings use 30% less energy than conventional buildings.

Water use, material use, and waste are also heavy contenders when opting for green building. Conserving water is often as vital as saving energy. Buildings use 12.2% of all potable water, or 15 trillion gallons per year. (Source: U.S. Geological Service, 1995 data.) Many things incorporated into a green building; including the landscaping, take water usage strongly into account.

Buildings use 40% of raw materials globally (and 3 billion tons annually). Combine this with the EPA’s estimate that 136 million tons of building-related construction and demolition (C&D) debris was generated in the U.S. in a single year – and you will have an understanding for the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” (Sources: Lenssen and Roodman, 1995, “Worldwatch Paper 124: A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns are Transforming Construction,” Worldwatch Institute and the EPA)

On the forefront of the green building industry has been the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Program.

What is LEED®?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. (Source: U.S. Green Building Council)

LEED’s rating system basically gives “points” in all of the above stated goals, with various levels of “green-ness.”

Several other organizations have developed their own green building guidelines, specs, and initiatives as well including: the National Association of Home Builder’s voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines (http://www.nahb.org), Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines (http://www.csbr.umn.edu/B3/), Federal Guide for Green Construction Specs (http://www.wbdg.org/design/greenspec.php), and the American Lung Association Health House Builder Guidelines (http://www.healthhouse.org/build/04HHBuilderGuidelines.pdf)

Think green!

To be continued...

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Part II - Basic principles of green building

So… what are the basic elements or principles of green building?

Wikipedia sums it up nicely - Green building is the practice of:

1. increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials, and

2. reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.

Green building is also sometimes known as "sustainable building" or "environmental building". The practice can lead to benefits including reduced operating costs (by using less energy and water), improved public and occupant health (due to improved indoor air quality), and reduced environmental impacts (for example, by lessening storm water runoff and the heat island effect).

Green building is an essential component of the related concepts of sustainable design, sustainable development and general sustainability.

Practitioners of green building often seek to achieve not only ecological but aesthetic harmony between a structure and its surrounding (natural or built) environment. The appearance and style of sustainable homes and buildings can be nearly indistinguishable from their less sustainable counter-parts.

Green design often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through passive solar techniques and using plants and trees through green roofs and rain gardens. (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building)

To be continued...

Cross-posted from my site. Enjoy.

Part 1 - Laying the groundwork.

Ask ten people their definition of “green building,” and you’re likely to get ten completely different answers. While many perspectives of green building are more personal in nature, the basic concepts remain the same.

Green Building, which has quickly become a buzzword with the media, consumers, and manufacturers of every product under the sun, seems to have reached its tipping point. What was once reserved for the “alternative hippie” crowd, or the rich upper class – has finally found its way into mainstream America. Do a Google search on “green building construction,” and you get over 39 million hits! People are interested!

This interest IMHO stems from several basic realities –
1. Global warming and environmental concern is a very hot topic.
2. Consumers are more aware of the health effects which are associated with poor indoor air and environmental quality. Through the media, personal journeys, and the stories of others; many more people are beginning to “think” about what goes into their homes and bodies.
3. Energy costs. Energy costs continue to climb, our natural resources are being quickly depleted, and big businesses are learning about the large amount of money which can be saved by reducing their energy costs. Regular consumers can reap the rewards as well.
4. Over-development of land. While development is a reality, having a conscience about the impact to that land, and how the land will be used, is becoming a necessity as open spaces dwindle.
5. Incentives. Because of all of the above, many incentives such as tax credits and positive exposure have lured people in.
6. We live in a technological era where there is a mass of information available at our fingertips. Gone are the days of pouring over stacks of books at the library… We are quickly becoming a more self-educated society.
7. It just makes sense – and cents!

As it is with everything, there is never one single “silver bullet” to undo the damage which has already been done, create an instant utopia, and not come with some trials and tribulations. But – green building is surely a step in the right direction.

To be continued...