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I've written quite a bit in this blog about central vacuum systems and their use in green building. Sixty years ago my husband's father founded Central Vacuum Stores. He began selling vacuum cleaners. We have diversified over the years, but we don't want to get too far from our roots. We are really excited about the Blue Line Sanitaire by Electrolux. These vacuums are the workhorses of the industry. So much so, Electrolux is giving a ten year warranty on these machines. They are ideal for industrial use, but we know that homeowners will love their power and longevity and their new enhanced filtration. The Sanitaire S677 is equipped with ARM & HAMMER® odor eliminating capabilities, this highly featured upright offers a unique combination by capturing allergen sized dust particles while eliminating odors caused by mold and bacteria, leaving the room smelling fresh and clean. It also has the CRI Green label which means it can satisfy any job requiring a higher level of filtration. The CRI Green Label signifies a superior cleaning vacuum that has passed stringent testing for soil removal, dust containment, and carpet appearance retention. The unit's innovative dual zipper design makes bag changing quick and easy.

Other Great Features:

• 7 Amps of Power • Disposable Dust Bag • 35' Power Cord

10 Year Warranty on the Motor

See the Sanitaire S677D on our website

Power 7 amp
Filtration Allergen
Container Disposable Dust Bag
Dust Capacity 9.5 dry qts.
Cleaning Path 12''
Cord Length 35'
Tools- N/A
Hose N/A Motor CFM 145
dB per ASTM 81

From the OnQ Legrand Website:

"As the recognized leader in Home Systems, On-Q/Legrand understands the importance of preserving our environment. This is why On-Q has committed to developing Home Systems that not only make life better in the home, but preserve life outside the home as well.

On-Q/Legrand strives to make sure all our facilities are implementing programs to help preserve our environment, such as recycling, decreased energy usage and decreased water and paper consumption.

Our efforts even go outside our own walls. On-Q offers educational materials to all of its employees on how they can lead a greener life. We also offer an employee purchase program that encourages employees to put green On-Q products in their own homes. With small efforts such as these, we believe that we can help build not just greener houses, but also a greener world."

Look at OnQ's Six Ways to Green

ATTENTION: Green builders often choose Beam central vacuum power units for the homes they build. If you would like to buy a Beam on the Internet, it is going to get harder beginning May 1, 2008. In an effort to build a stronger dealer network and cut down on unauthorized Internet companies selling their product, Beam has placed some restrictions on their dealers who sell on the Internet. Because Central Vacuum Stores is an Authorized Beam Dealer, from now on we will only be allowed to ship Beam power units and attachment sets within 100 miles of our physical location. For us, that's Tampa Bay. If you are outside of this area, give us a call at 1-800-221-8227 and we will help you locate a Beam dealer in your area. If you run across anyone selling Beam central vacuums and they do not have bold text explaining Beam's new policy, then they are not an authorized Beam dealer, and you need to be careful. Consider this, a Beam product purchased from anyone other than an authorized dealer may not have a factory warranty. Don't take that risk...If you buy a Beam make sure you buy from an authorized dealer. If you just want to buy a central vacuum on the Internet, we have products equivalent to Beam central vacs, manufactured by the parent company of Beam. You may want to look at this Electrolux PU3900. See the Electrolux PU39002 on our website

Today Oprah Winfrey highlighted the Home of the Future on her television show. One of the products shown was an accessory for a central vacuum system. Beam manufactures a product called the Kick Sweep. There are many other names for this product. They are also called vacpans, and VacuSweep by other manufacturers. Whatever name they go by, they all do the same thing, they allow you to sweep up dirt and dust into your central vacuum system. In previous posts we have already determined that central vacuum systems are essential for indoor air quality, but the vacpan is a great feature for convenience. Learn More About a Central Vacuum System Vac Pan

On Friday, April 25, Oprah Winfrey highlighted the Home of the Future on her television show. This home included a myriad of green features. One of the products included was the Beam ZoneVac. Beam is owned by Electrolux, the same company that owns Eureka. The Beam ZoneVac is the same product as the Eureka Yellow Jacket. This is a small central vacuum that fits under a counter or in a cabinet. You can attach a vacpan to the system, also. Learn more about it at Central Vacuum Stores.

Learn About the Beam ZoneVac (Eureka Yellow Jacket)

The cost for this product is really reasonable, running $119 for the unit and $169 for a complete package. It is also a great alternative for folks who live in small homes and don't have room for a traditional central vacuum system.

In the latest copy of the NAHB green building standard, on page 73, section 902.10, you will find that builders, hoping to accumulate green points, get 5 points for a central vacuum system exhausted outside. There are a couple of interesting things to consider...first you only get the points if you vent that system outside. I firmly believe that unless it is impossible, every central vacuum system should be vented outside. This is the only way to guarantee that you are not venting dust back into your home. If you have ever had a central vacuum system or been around a home that has a central system that was not vented outside, you know that after a couple of years the system begins to smell like dust,your animals, or dirt. When you vent outside this simply does not happen. Secondly, if you get your hands on a copy of the entire green building standard it is obvious that a central vacuum system might be one of the very easiest, and least costly ways to accumulate five points. If you are considering a green building project, a central vacuum system is really an important component.

Green Central Vacuum Information

In any green building project, indoor air quality is a primary concern. I don't know about you, but I do not want to save the planet at the expense of my lungs. This site has some interesting information about IAQ. INSPECTAPEDIA
He says, "Central Vacuum Systems, if properly installed, vent directly outside, avoiding the issue of stirring up indoor particles during house cleaning. It's a more-costly but great idea. Just be sure the vac is properly vented. I've inspected homes at which the central vacuum machine was in a laundry room or basement, venting its dust back into the home."

I would have to disagree with him about the central vacuum systems being more costly. A good HEPA vacuum runs between five and a thousand hundred dollars. We have an Imperium central vacuum that takes a high quality HEPA bag on sale for $249. Even if you add attachments, pipe, fittings, etc., you can still be in the ball park of a good HEPA vacuum cleaner.
Check out the Imperium CV280

In your green building project don't pass on a central vacuum system because you think it is too expensive, check out the options that are available. A central vacuum system is the only 100% dust free way to clean.

Who says technology and green building don't mix? That is the subject of an article in TecHome Builder Magazine. An EarthCraft house has been built in Atlanta, Georgia and will be featured in the Southern Building Show in June. An OnQ/Legrand intercom was part of this project. OnQ intercoms are innovative and the size is awesome! They fit in traditional gang boxes used for electrical switches.

Read the TecHome Article Here

Learn More About OnQ/Legrand Intercoms

For those who are committed to a green lifestyle, a central vacuum is an outstanding choice. I guess you could sweep your floors, but if indoor air quality is an issue, this will only stir up the dust and exacerbate your breathing difficulties. A central vacuum made of recyclable steel with no paper bags is a green alternative to traditional vacuums made of plastic with throw away bags. Central vacuum systems can be retrofitted into most homes. So whether you are building a green home or upgrading your existing home to include green features, a central vac is a feasible option. Systems that are made of steel and have no paper bags include, VacuMaid by Lindsay, Imperium, and Honeywell.

More Central Vacuum Information

Central vacuum systems are becoming a standard addition in green building for a variety of reasons I have discussed in previous posts. However, once you have your central vacuum system in place, there is the possibility that at some point in the future you will have a clog in your tubing. Many homeowners never experience this, but for those of us who have, it can be a frustrating experience. It really isn't a big deal and clogs are usually cleared fairly easilly. At Central Vacuum Stores when we book a service call to unclog a system, we never book it for more than 30 minutes, and usually it takes less than 15! Check out our article on "ehow". It is a step by step guide to unclogging a central vacuum system. How to Unclog a Central Vacuum System