This certainly leads one to conclude that green building is taking hold and will continue to influence building in the years ahead.  With this in mind, here are eight green building trends to be aware of:

1. Greening of Existing Buildings Half of the firms surveyed in the Global Green Building Trends Report have mentioned plans for green retrofits to an existing building in the next three years.  In fact, certifications for LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M) have already exceeded new construction certifications in terms of total floor area!  With a little shorter payback period, and similar expectations for reduced operating costs and increased building values when compared to new green buildings, there’s no surprise that firms are increasingly looking at renovation options for increasing the environmental benefits for existing structures.
2. Disclosing Green Building Performance Increasingly, more cities and states will join the likes of Washington D.C., Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Washington state, and California in requiring buildings, especially large buildings, to perform energy audits.  Audits consist of reporting utility data to a governing body, along with building size, configuration, and age to allow for benchmarking.  This data can then be made available to tenants, buyers or even the public at large in hopes of influencing investment in energy efficiency.
3. Water Conservation Already a major factor in building in many parts of the world, water conservation will continue to get more emphasis in the U.S.  Rainwater capture systems and other devices that will help reduce water use and improve water efficiency will become increasingly common building design elements.
4. Net-Zero Energy Buildings As builders look to differentiate their buildings in terms of energy efficiency, they will begin to turn to net-zero energy buildings.  These buildings represent the pinnacle of energy efficiency, for now, and provide greater marketing and branding opportunities than LEED or Energy Star certifications.  (Check out GBTV coverage of the Green Leaf Inn; first net-zero energy hotel being built in North America.)
5. Avoiding “Red List” Chemicals As LEED begins to award points for avoiding materials proven to be harmful to human health and the environment, look for builders to place a larger emphasis on using alternatives to these materials.  Building product manufactures will likely begin to market to this trend with more openness about their products contents as they look to differentiate their products.  Certainly something to be on the lookout for.
6. Green Building Mandates A step above simply disclosing green building performance, cities and states will also begin to mandate environmental building requirements.  Applying mostly to public and large scale private buildings, though eventually to all buildings, these mandates will strong arm efforts to conserve energy and water and promote recycling, and use of more sustainable materials.  Nearly two dozen large cities have already codified such mandates.
7. More Solar! The culmination of the increased push for net-zero buildings and new building mandates from governments is that solar will take an even greater role in green building.  Whether home based systems, larger systems financed through third parties, or solar collectives – solar energy will increasingly be integrated into green building plans.  Emerging practices such as solar air-conditioning and building integrated photo voltaic, where solar panels serve as materials in parts of the building envelope, should also help spur further solar incorporation.
8. Home and Building Automation Though much of the technology for home or building automation has existed for years, it is now becoming easier to use and more affordable. These systems come in all sorts of forms, from the simple to the complex, and have proven to be an adequate line of defense against energy waste, especially from HVACs, lighting, and appliances.  Builders should continue to integrate these systems into old and new buildings alike.

Now it’s your turn! What green building trends have you noticed?

A Waste Management Blueprint

A major key to managing construction waste, especially controlling costs, is planning.  Construction professionals should be quite familiar with the value of planning; after all, it would be immensely difficult to successfully complete any project without doing so.  And managing waste is no different.  During the pre-construction phase, project owners, architects, engineers, and construction managers can follow some of the following guidelines to help reduce and better manage waste:

Specify waste reduction goals, targets, and documentation procedures within contracting documents.

Identify materials that can be recycled or reused, and how those materials can be transported for such purposes.

The following are all common materials found on construction sites that can be recycled:

• Metal (Both ferrous and non-ferrous)
• Cardboard
• Paper
• Plastics
• Wood (Be careful that it is not painted or stained!)
• Concrete
• Gravel and other aggregates
• Drywall
• Asphalt roofing
• Window glass
• Carpeting

Just because something doesn’t appear on this list doesn’t mean it can’t be recycled or diverted from a landfill in some other way. There’s a market for just about everything these days!

• Design building dimensions to correspond with standard material sizes, especially lumber.  This will reduce material wasted and wood accounts for nearly a third of all construction waste.
• Order materials to optimally fit your needs; try avoiding having excess materials delivered to the project site. Doing this can really save your pocketbook.
• Work with suppliers towards reducing unnecessary packaging on materials, or even better, ask if they can provide reusable/returnable packaging.
• You can also work with suppliers to buyback any unused supplies. That can be a win-win for you and the supplier, not to mention the landfill!
• Develop methods for storing materials that will reduce their susceptibility to damage.
• Estimate how much waste a project is likely to produce and what it will cost to remove that waste in a variety of ways, such as traditional garbage collection, recycling, salvage and reuse, etc. You might be surprised to learn that throwing everything away might not be the most cost effective strategy!

Reducing Waste on the Job

Once on the job site there are numerous things that workers and managers can do to control and better dispose of waste.

• Sort waste as it is created into things that can be recycled, things to be reused, and things to be thrown away.
• Recycled items can be comingled together or separated into different types, such as wood, cardboard, metal, classified plastics, concrete, etc.  It’s obviously more environmentally friendly to recycle specific materials separately rather than all materials together, but it can also be more cost effective to do so. This reduces contamination of the materials, which lessons their value, and eliminates the recyclers sorting cost.
• During demolition or remodeling projects attempt to salvage materials, especially doors and windows since they are not recyclable, to be used during construction.  If an item can’t be used on your current project, it can be saved for future use, sold to someone that can use it, or even donated.  Organizations that build for the disadvantaged greatly appreciate supplies and donations can be tax deductible!

• Don’t throw away materials at the end of a project just because there isn’t enough left to complete another project.
• Instead of throwing wood and metal scraps away, keep them at cutting and fabricating locations to be used as test pieces.
• Chip branches and trees that are cleared from a project and use as landscaping mulch.
• Excess insulation can be used within interior wall cavities or above attics, if not used on another job, rather than being discarded.
• Limit the use of adhesives, finishes, laminates, and other protective coatings because they limit the reusability and recyclability of materials at the end of their useful lives.  Unfortunately super glue doesn’t salvage very well.
• Avoid using temporary support systems when possible since they usually are discarded as waste at the end of a project.

The amount of waste that can be diverted from landfills and the savings you can see from that vary depending on a host of factors. Compacted job sites don’t allow for separate collection containers for each recyclable material, forcing commingling of materials, something that decreases diversion and can impact costs. Proximity to recycling centers also impacts what can be recycled and whether it can be cost effective.  Unfortunately, even though some materials can be recycled there isn’t always someone in the area that will do it. This is an area where planning ahead can really help. Even if a job site makes recycling and reusing difficult, you can still help reduce waste by being more efficient with materials and saving leftovers for the future.  In fact, preventing waste is more beneficial than recycling!

Planning ahead and following some of the practices noted above can make a major difference in the amount of waste your construction project creates.  This is good for both the environment and often times your bottom line. Too bad more things don’t work in that favor. Construction waste management may never have the artistic qualities of the actual construction, but it can help us build a more sustainable planet.  And that is a sight that can rival even the most spectacular project.

Greenest School on Earth

On the small island of Bali in Indonesia, extraordinary bamboo structures rise out of the jungle, surrounded by lush organic gardens and bisected by the Ayung River, comprising one of the most beautiful school campuses imaginable, simply named – Green School.

After only five years of operation, Green School in Bali has garnered attention and acclaim from all over the world for its pioneering efforts to interweave academic learning with environmentally sustainable practices. In fact, it was awarded “Greenest School on Earth” by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council.

Our Bamboo World

Green School is built almost entirely from bamboo, down to the chalkboards and chairs. The classrooms were intentionally built without walls, so the students could feel a connection with the environment around them. The “Heart of School” building, which houses the administrative offices, IT lab, school library, art rooms and meeting spaces, is a three-story, 60-foot bamboo structure of three interconnecting spirals in the shape of a double helix.  The school has been a finalist of the Aga Khan Architecture Awards for its daring design. This exceptional learning environment inspires students to be as creative and innovative as their surroundings.

Academic Program

Green School serves an international population of 270 students from 55 countries in Pre-K through Grade 12, with boarding available for Grades 8 and up.  The school also supports a scholarship program for local Balinese children who would otherwise not be able to afford the fees.

Green School offers a student-centered curriculum designed to cultivate and challenge all aspects of a child’s human capacities. It includes all of the traditional subjects. But academic education at Green School comes wrapped in rich layers of experiential, environmental, and entrepreneurial learning – plus the creative arts. As much as possible, lessons are taken out of the classroom and applied in hands-on ways that have a connection to the natural world. The goal is simple but ambitious: to provide students with the skills and content to be effective and successful competitors in an ever-shrinking world while at the same time expanding their sense of being more environmentally responsible citizens with a different sense of possibilities for how we can continue to develop as a fragile planet.

The Design

The campus has been designed and built to have as small an impact as possible on the environment. Therefore, only a handful of trees were cut down, and most of those were successfully replanted elsewhere (several structures still feature live trees growing through their roofs), and buildings were erected according to the natural topography of the land, so no moving of the earth was required. Bamboo is the primary structural material used, but other local, natural, and renewable elements are also employed, including alang-alang thatch, volcanic stone, rammed earth, and the traditional Balinese mud wall.

Open air structures allow for natural light and ventilation, and aided by ceiling fans and an innovative system of enclosable, air-conditioned bubbles, stay cool even during the hottest days in the jungle. Green School grows much of the food it consumes, including organic rice, fruit and vegetables. The school is also off-the-grid through a combination of solar, micro-hydro power and biogas systems.

Environmental Initiatives

Green School is home to a number of innovative environmental initiatives, including a project in association with the Begawan Foundation to breed several endangered bird species, including the beautiful Bali Starling, in specially built aviaries and a program that teaches local farmers to grow the traditional, organic rice that most Balinese have given up in favor of more fertilizer and pesticide-intensive strains. Green School students take part in these programs; a great example of “learning by doing” and getting involved with local communities.

For more information please see greenschool.org , ‘like’ Green School on Facebook  and follow @greenschoolbali on Twitter.

The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not necessarily represent those of GreenBuildTV. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.

GreenBuildTV sat down for an echat to find out more about this amazing project.

GBTV:  Where did you get the idea to build a greenhouse using recycled two-liter soda bottles?
BCS: Well, each year BCS adopts a theme for the entire school year. The theme for the 2009-10 school year was “Waste Not, Want Not”.  We wanted to do something really visual and graphic to not only amplify this theme, but reinforce our entire Green School philosophy. Thus, the Recycled Plastic Bottle Greenhouse concept was born and became the BCS project, serving as a perfect example of sustainability and recycling.

GBTV:  What was your first step?
BCS:  First a Greenhouse Committee was formed that went after funding to assist with the project.  They successfully received a GE grant for the building of the greenhouse along with a GE team of volunteers that helped with the project and participated in classroom instruction and activities.

In addition, the school received two $1,000.00 grants from the Bethlehem Garden Club that aided in the purchase of materials for  classroom instruction and building.

GBTV: What role did the children play in helping to support this project?
BCS:  It truly was a team effort. Everyone played a role in supporting this project and building the recycled bottle greenhouse!

Delmar architect, Jeff Chaney – a LEED Coordinator, drew up renderings and plans for the construction of the greenhouse. Parents like Annette Gallo from the PTSO group, who spearheaded the effort, faculty and outside volunteers, all worked together to round-up, collect and clean the bottles.

Our local grocery store chain, Hannaford, was instrumental in setting up bins at their stores to help us gather enough bottles to use. We needed 1,500 bottles for the ‘cells’ and an additional 500 ‘extra’ for replacement as required.  Collecting close to 2,000 2-liter bottles proved to be quite daunting, but with the generosity of area grocers like Hannaford and the Adirondack Bottling Company donating 100s of bottles, the goal was achieved with time to spare.

Roberta Sandler from the Greenhouse Committee and others set up various “cleaning parties” throughout the summer of 2011. Students, teachers, parents, grandparents, BCS board members, GE Volunteers and teen in-service volunteers lent their energies to washing, cutting and counting bottles.

With the construction expertise of local contractor, Jim Thompson and his assistant, Moises, the structure was finally brought to life.  Students, teachers and more volunteers, installed the bottle walls. The plastic acts as insulation for the greenhouse while allowing the sun’s rays to penetrate and provide the proper environment for plant growth.

The greenhouse was deemed complete in time for our Greenfest held in May, 2012.

GBTV: How are you incorporating the greenhouse in your school curriculum?
GCS: The greenhouse is an important part of the school’s science curriculum. With the greenhouse on site, we now have a physical focus on environmental education, emphasizing the ‘growing greener’ philosophy.  In addition, the greenhouse is used to grow plants from seeds, which are then sold at our Greenfest event as a fundraiser, as well as other community events.

Next steps include full development and articulation of our greenhouse science curriculum with the hope of eventually putting everything into book form, and connecting with other schools around the world who are interested in doing the same thing; building their own greenhouse, establishing a greenhouse science curriculum and forming a “sister school” relationship. The eventual goal is to work together as partner schools, developing new ideas and materials.

BCS also hopes to reach the point where the food grown in the greenhouse can be served to students and at community events, as well as providing a healthy source of food to be sold to members of the school and surrounding community.

The school-wide theme for 2012-2013 is “Stewards of a Big Green Planet.”  We can’t wait to see what BCS accomplishes this year!

The Bethlehem Children’s School is committed to providing child-centered, integrated learning opportunities for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade which benefit the whole child and develop the skills, attitudes and understandings to enable self-growth and positive relationships to the environment.

Using the Environment as an Integrated Context (EIC), students are supported in their personal development to ask and respond to questions which enable holistic learning, build self-awareness and develop actions which empower an ecologically sound lifestyle. www.bethlehemchildrensschool.org

Early on, people used a black-painted water tank, mounted on a roof, to gather the sun’s rays.  Today, however, a variety of solutions are available to anyone looking to harness the sun’s energy for water heating purposes – and they promise to be far more effective, efficient, and attractive than a black tank on your roof.

A few of the more common solar thermal collectors today include: the flat plate, evacuated tube, and parabolic trough.

Flat Plate Collectors  

Developed and in use since the 1950′s, flat plate collectors remain the most common type of solar thermal collector. These collectors consist of a dark flat-plate that absorbs solar energy and is protected by a transparent cover to help reduce heat loss.  A heat-transport fluid, such as air, antifreeze, or water, is then used to take the heat from the absorber, to where it can be used to heat water.

Plates are usually constructed of copper or aluminum, though some polymers can also be used, especially in climates susceptible to freezing.  Given average sunlight, flat plate collectors can produce one gallon of hot water for each one half to one square foot of collector surface.  This makes flat plate collectors ideal for residential or commercial buildings with high demands for hot water.  Flat plate collectors generally have a useful life of over 25 years.

Evacuated Tube Collectors

Evacuated tube collectors have been in use for the last thirty years.  This system contains a series of evacuated glass tubes, with each containing an absorber plate.  These absorber plates are fused to a heat pipe, which then transfers the heat to a transfer fluid, such as water or antifreeze, so it can be utilized to create hot water.  A vacuum surrounds the outsides of the tubes which helps reduce heat loss to the outside from convection and conduction.  With these inherent defenses against heat loss, evacuated tube collectors are more efficient than flat plate collectors when operating in cold weather, or when asked to produce significantly hot water, such as that used in some industrial operations.

This protection against heat loss, though, can work against evacuated tubes in snowy conditions, when they lack the heat needed to keep snow from accumulating upon the collector.  Evacuated tube collectors though are more productive in cloudy weather or other times of diffused sunlight compared to flat plate collectors or parabolic troughs.

On average, evacuated tube collectors have less absorber plate area than flat plate collectors, however, evacuated tube absorbers are more efficient on a per square meter basis.  This makes evacuated tube collectors suitable in situations where roof space is limited. Their lack of aerodynamic ability also means you won’t have to worry about them flying away when that next gust of wind blows.

Little is known yet about the longevity and durability of evacuated tube collectors since many of its features have only recently been developed. These issues, coupled with the higher upfront cost of the system compared to flat plate collectors have slowed evacuated tube collectors from becoming more widely used. For most residential and commercial situations it is more cost effective to use flat plate collectors than evacuated tube collectors.

Parabolic Trough

A third and more recent development in solar thermal collectors has been the parabolic trough.  The surface of a parabolic trough is a polished metal mirror, which has been shaped into a parabola.  Sunlight is reflected off this mirror towards a tube that runs the length of the parabolic trough’s focal line.  This tube is filled with a fluid that absorbs the heat and can be piped to another location to heat water.  Parabolic troughs are usually aligned on a north-south axis, and then use a tracking motor to follow the sun as it moves across the sky each day.

The ability to track the sun across the sky allows the parabolic trough to be more efficient than the other systems during sunny conditions.  However, production is greatly diminished during diffused light conditions because diffused light cannot be concentrated passively.

And compared to flat plate and evacuated tube systems, parabolic trough systems are more expensive. The average homeowner would be wise to invest in either of the other two systems discussed because of the long payback period for this type of system. For many commercial applications, though, a parabolic trough system can be quite suitable.

One particular parabolic trough product is SunTrac’s Sun-Tracking Solar Thermal Panel.  This panel, which is 8 feet by 4 feet and 7 inches deep and weights nearly 200 pounds, can heat water anywhere from 60 to 120 degrees Celsius.  This fact makes it practical for businesses that rely on extremely hot water.  It utilizes a photo sensor and motor to track the sun east to west each day, though this feature can be turned off to avoid temperature stagnation.  Suntrac’s system has been designed for a 30 year life, though its motor and electronics have been proven to last much longer.

Which system is right for me?

Deciding which of these systems to install for your project can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow to make choosing the right system easier.

• Projects with a limited budget, a need for normal hot water, regardless of volume, and an average amount of sunny days are ideal candidates for flat plate collectors.
• Locations that experience a large proportion of cloudy or partly cloudy days should look at evacuated tube collectors to maximize effectiveness.
• If extremely hot water is needed, evacuated tube collectors and parabolic troughs should be considered because they provide greater efficiency.
• When roof space is limited, evacuated tube collectors can provide a suitable solution.
• For those looking for a long lasting system, flat plate collectors and parabolic troughs offer the most assurances.
• Evacuated tube collectors and parabolic trough systems can be made capable of serving as backups for a central heating system if they achieve certain efficiency levels.
• You should also be aware of your current water heating costs when attempting to figure out how long any one of these systems will take to pay for itself.  Payback period comparisons can be very useful in sorting out the financial aspect of this type of project.

Regardless of the system that appeals to you and your situation, you can be confident that your system is environmentally friendly and will pay for itself over the long haul.  You can also take comfort in the hot water you’ll have available at your disposal.

Solar thermal collectors certainly have come a long way since the days of placing a black tank on the roof…

To find out more about this ground-breaking project, GreenBuildTV sat down for an e-chat with Shane B. Griffith, the Public Information and Government Relations Officer for the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP).

GBTV: How did the idea for this project begin?

HACEP: When the American Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) issued the Notice of Funding Availability for the construction of energy efficient green communities, HACEP saw an opportunity. We then applied for Category 4, Option 1, which would provide  $300 million to be disbursed among 36 public housing authorities like HACEP across the country.  HACEP proposed to use our competitive funds toward the construction of what would become known as the Paisano Green Community.

Once accepted, we made a bold move and embarked on a national design competition to solicit the very best ideas from the top architectural firms in the country.  The RFP for this project required very high energy efficiency standards and included samples of designs that we liked from all over the world.

It was only after the architect and general contractor were selected that we realized we could extend the efficiency to Net Zero by using super efficient insulation designs and materials, coupled with onsite solar and wind energy generation technologies.  So this project really evolved into a greener and more sustainable community than we originally proposed.

GBTV: How did El Paso’s famous 302 days of sunshine a year dictate your design choices?

HACEP: Taking advantage of El Paso’ most abundant natural resource, the sun, was an obvious choice in guiding the design decisions. The strategy was to conserve as much energy as possible and to convert the sun and wind into energy only when absolutely necessary.  To help accomplish this, all windows face north and south rather than east and west. And all windows are recessed away from the exterior walls, providing an overhang for natural shade. This helps prevent the intense El Paso summer sun from penetrating the buildings’ interior spaces. In the winter, however, these same windows are able to maximize the penetration of the sunlight due to the earth’s tilt and lower positioning bringing the sunlight into the building. By working with the sun to provide natural heating in the winter and softer light in the summer, we are able to conserve on both heating and cooling costs.

In addition, we used a roofing system that has a high albedo or reflection coefficient so that the energy of the sun is not absorbed by the buildings.  Similarly, we employ solar chimneys in the town home units whereby the hot air of the exterior wall is exhausted through the flashing, while cooler air is brought in.

GBTV: Did the total cost of the project require additional funding?

HACEP: The total cost of the project was $14.6 million with $8.248 from ARRA as expected. Additional funding came from the City of El Paso with $500K and from HACEP with $3.076M. An added $2.784M came from our Capital Fund Program.

GBTV: What is the most notable green element in this project?

HACEP: We’re very proud of the two Xzeres wind turbines that each generate 10kW of energy. They stand 80 feet tall at the tip of their rotors and act as an iconic symbol of the Paisano Green Community’s presence in central El Paso. Furthermore, the modern look of the buildings and the attractive color choices definitely turn heads as people drive by.

GBTV: What kind of energy savings can residents expect?

HACEP: Residents are very fortunate here. Because all of their energy is produced on site, they do not have to pay any electric bills.  They save 100% of their expected energy cost.  Their only financial outlay is their portion of their federally-subsidized rent.

GBTV: Anything you were not able to accomplish in this design?

HACEP: We wanted to be able to reuse gray water, but unfortunately, we had neither the time nor the budget to accommodate this parameter.  However, the design does channel rain and runoff into the tapestry garden to naturally irrigate the vegetation.

GBTV: What did you learn from doing this project that you’d like to pass on to others?

HACEP: There are a number of lessons that we learned from this project.  First, a design competition is an excellent way to solicit amazing architectural ideas in a short amount of time.  Second, the design team needs to team up with the project owner and general contractor in as far in advance as possible so that project parameters, budgets, and schedules can be hashed out.  This also allows for a greatly degree of responsiveness for value engineering to take place.

Finally, conservation needs to be the focal point of sustainable design, followed by the necessary renewable energy technology.  It is far more economical to conserve energy rather than having to produce or use energy from other sources.

HACEP will continue their trend of building energy efficient properties whenever and wherever possible. They recently completed a 15 unit LEED Silver-equivalent property for seniors in El Paso’s Lower Valley. Later this year, they will start building a 188-unit mixed income, mixed finance property on the Eastside that will also be built to LEED Silver standards.

The Paisano Green Community:

• Workshop8.
• Alternative Energy Sources – Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems and two 80-ft on-site wind turbines power the community and feed excess energy back onto the grid.
• Certifications – They are a certified Enterprise Green Community, have achieved Net-Zero energy status and are seeking LEED Platinum certification.

Check out our recent press release for the full story! And visit the Green Directory for all your building products and services!

And as with any launch – there will be bugs to work out.  So – if you see anything that’s not working or a problem – please let us know so we can fix accordingly!

Biomass is a renewable energy source that can be used to generate electricity or produce heat when burned. It can also be turned into automotive fuel, known as biofuel, which is commonly derived from starch crops, such as corn or sugar, vegetable oils and animal fats. Biomass has accounted for approximately 4% of the energy used in the United States during recent years and has helped users promote similar eco-friendly practices, helping save both money and the environment.  However – don’t go rushing out to ignite your trash quite yet…

Biomass: An Environmental Enigma

Biomass is usually burned to create energy, though its decomposition can also create methane, which can be captured and used for energy. Though the burning of biomass produces carbon dioxide, much like fossil fuels, it is still considered carbon neutral in most cases. This is because the carbon dioxide released from biomass is considered “new carbon,” having been part of the planets recent life cycle. Burning fossil fuels, however, releases carbon that has been removed from the atmosphere for millions of years, and is, therefore, adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This carbon neutrality can be very fragile, so care must be taken when choosing which materials to use and how to obtain them.

For example, wood is an excellent and plentiful source of biomass. Yet harvesting trees simply for fuel can be very detrimental to the environment.  Harvesting trees can require an immense amount of carbon.  And when you consider the amount of carbon dioxide a tree can absorb, you’re then looking at a large carbon deficit.  And we haven’t even considered the actual burning of the wood!

The answer, though, is simply. By using naturally felled trees or wood byproducts, such as wood pellets or wood chips, from commercial or industrial activities, you are reclaiming and re-purposing a product that would probably be on its way to our landfills; very environmentally friendly indeed!  In general, if you have to go out of your way to create something to use as biomass fuel, then you probably aren’t helping the environment.

Discarded Energy

Items that are usually classified as municipal waste account for only about 11% of the energy created from biomass.  Most of that energy is created on an industrial or governmental scale, because it is expensive to create energy this way.  As of 2011, there were 76 waste-to-energy plants in the U.S.  Most produce electricity through the combustion of waste, though some also capture the methane gas that is produced by decomposition and burn that to generate electricity.

So unfortunately your trash probably won’t be helping you save on energy.  However if your local landfill utilizes municipal waste to produce energy, it can still help the environment.  62% of municipal waste qualifies as biomass, and when it is burned it reduces in volume by almost 90%!  This can significantly help reduce the strain being placed on our landfills, while also providing us with energy. To us, that sounds like a win-win situation for everyone.  You can also help make energy production from landfills more efficient by recycling and composting applicable materials since this makes sorting the waste easier and enhances the decomposition of all waste.  Don’t fret though; there are still ways that you can utilize biomass for your energy needs in both an environmentally and financially responsible way.

Biomass You Can Use

Wood and wood byproducts are by far the most common forms of biomass used to create energy in the United States.  Many homes and businesses throughout the country already take advantage of this resource to provide heat.  With the addition of a wood burning boiler, proper installation, and a consistent supply of wood you can also utilize this form of biomass.  Wood burning boilers often require a large initial investment, but over the long haul can provide financial savings in fuel cost; how much depends largely on where you live.

U.S. residents in the Northeast can save by switching to wood based fuel, but not as much as the rest of the country since wood and its byproducts are more expensive in that region.

Those U.S. residents, outside of the Northeast, who live close to commercial or industrial entities that use wood, can expect to save the most on heating fuel costs.  You have to love low delivery costs; saves the wallet and the environment.

The Biomass You Probably Already Use

Almost half of the biomass energy used in the U.S. is consumed in the form of biofuel, and if you drive a motorized vehicle then you’re probably already utilizing biomass.  Most gasoline and diesel fuels contain a percentage of ethanol, usually derived from corn or sugarcane, which qualifies as a biofuel.  Ethanol in its pure form or when used as an additive to fossil based fuels has helped reduce the amount of pollutants, especially particulate matter and carbon monoxide, put out by motorized vehicles.  We can’t help but endorse results like that!

Despite the established benefits of biofuels, especially ethanol, debate still rages as to whether food crops like corn should be used to create fuel. This concern is both scientific and political, but it has led to the exploration of potential non-food biological alternatives.  Everything from switch grass to algae to fungus has proven to be viable alternatives.  Though the mass utilization of these alternatives is still years away, the future remains promising for biofuels, especially amid continually rising oil prices.  Besides, how can you not help but get excited about the development of the fungus market!

Biomass certainly doesn’t quite share the clean energy prowess that other renewable energy sources are noted for, like solar and wind, but it does provide us a way to productively utilize our growing amount of waste.  That is certainly more than we can say for fossil fuels.  Because it can be accessible and affordable to a multitude of people, especially as biofuel, biomass will remain an important source towards achieving a more sustainable energy future.  It’s just too bad you can’t use your garbage to power your home – but maybe someday…

There are so many models on the market, and so many features to consider, that the choices can be overwhelming. How will you know which toilet is right for you? Let’s take a look at some of the options available.

The Common Toilet

The most common type of toilet used in homes is your standard gravity-assisted toilet. This type of toilet relies on gravity to flush waste. The water in the tank is stored at a higher level than water in the bowl and is released into the bowl when the handle is pulled. The natural siphon created by the flushing water pulls the waste through the trap way, down the drain, and into the sewer.

The older models of gravity-assisted toilets are not exactly environmentally-friendly. Those manufactured prior to 1980, on average, use six gallons of water per flush (gpf), with many of these water-guzzlers still used in homes today. And while toilets manufactured between 1980 and 1994 were designed to be more efficient in their use of water, they still use about 3.5 gpf. Multiply that by the number of users per day, plus the number of flushes per user and… well… that’s a lot of water going down the drain.

Today’s gravity-assisted toilets are designed to conserve water without compromising efficiency, and they continue to be the most popular choice on the market. Check out these options:
Stealth 0.8 GPF Toilet by Niagara Conservation
Archer Comfort Height Toilet by Kohler

Pressure-Assist Toilets

Pressure-assist toilets are more commonly found in restaurants and commercial settings, although newer models are also available for residential use. Unlike gravity toilets, which depend on the force of gravity to pull the water and waste from the bowl, pressure-assist toilets use air pressure to push waste from the bowl. Water is stored in a canister located inside the toilet’s tank, and air pressure is created when water enters the tank. When the toilet is flushed, the pressurized water forces a strong, efficient flush. On average, pressure assist toilets flush about 1.1 gpf.

The most common complaint about pressure-assist toilets is that the flush can be relatively noisy. They’re also more expensive than gravity-flow models. And while spare parts are made identically by all manufacturers, they can be difficult to find.

Up until about 10 years ago, pressure-assist models offered better performance than gravity models. With improvements in gravity toilets in recent years, both now offer equal flushing power, making the choice more a matter of personal preference than performance.

If you’re in the market for a pressure-assist toilet, check out these options:

Cadet Elongated Pressure Assist Toilet by American Standard
Barrington Pressure Lite Toilet by Kohler

Dual-Flush Toilets

While dual-flush toilets have been available in Europe for years, they’re relatively new to the American market. They were originally introduced to help conserve water by allowing users to choose type of flush, based on need. Depending on the model, users have the option of a regular flush of 1.6 gpf or a reduced flush of .8 gpf.

Dual-flush toilets are available in both gravity and pressure-assist models. They’re pricier than standard single-flush toilets, and fewer style choices are available, but still an excellent choice. Check out the following options:

Aquia Dual Flush Toilet by TOTO
FloWise Dual Flush Round Toilet by American Standard

The U.S. EPA has developed the WaterSense label for high-efficiency toilets (HETs) that use 1.28 gpf or less (20% less than the current federal standard of 1.6 gpf) while performing as well as or better than their less efficient counterparts. By selecting a toilet with the WaterSense label, a typical family can reduce the amount of water used for toilet flushing by 20-60%. This can result in a savings of as much as $2,200 in your water bills over the lifetime of the toilet, meaning the toilet will pay for itself in a few short years. Plus, rebates are often available when replacing your old toilet with a high-efficiency model. Check with your local water utility company to see if rebates are available in your area.

According to the U.S. EPA, if all older, inefficient toilets in the United States were replaced with WaterSense labeled toilets, 520 billion gallons of water could be saved each year. This is equivalent to the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days!

Additional Options

Other than flushing performance, there are a few other things you should take into consideration when purchasing a toilet. While they generally don’t impact either your pocketbook or the environment, they’re important things to take into consideration, and include the following:

One-piece or two-piece toilet:  One-piece toilets are a single unit containing the tank and bowl, whereas two-piece toilets are the traditional design of a separate tank and bowl. One-piece toilets are easier to clean and are less prone to leakage than two-piece models. However, they’re considerably heavier, harder to install, and a bit more expensive.

Bowl shape; round or elongated:  Until recently, residential toilet styles had round bowls. Today, many toilet manufacturers offer the option of elongated bowls as well, which are 2 inches longer and more comfortable for many people. However, they are not ideal for all bathrooms. Before you upgrade, take some measurements, as toilets with elongated bowls may not fit easily in tight spaces. You certainly don’t want to install a new toilet, only to find out that you can no longer open doors or drawers!

Bowl height: Standard toilet bowls come in a 15-inch height. A taller, “Comfort Height” size of 17-19 inches is also available. Comfort Height toilets are more comfortable for taller people, are easier on the knees and back, and comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. However, they’re more difficult for small children to use and can be less comfortable for shorter people. Comfort Height toilets are also slightly more expensive than toilets of the 15-inch height.

Rough-in dimension: This is the distance from the center of the toilet flange (the hold-down bolts) to the wall. The standard distance is 12 inches, but 10-inch and 14-inches rough-ins are also available. Make sure to measure this distance before you purchase a toilet, and choose a toilet with the same size rough-in as your existing toilet. Don’t forget to account for the thickness of your baseboard.

Tank lining: If your current toilet experiences “sweating” on the outside of the tank during the hot and humid summer months and you plan to replace this toilet with a gravity-assisted model, you may wish to consider spending an additional $50-100 for a lined, or insulated tank, which will help prevent the buildup of condensation on the outside of the toilet tank. If you are purchasing a pressure-assist model, however, the tank will not sweat, as the water is contained inside an inner tank.

Unique Features: Trendy custom features such as seats and flush mechanisms may be appealing, but they can be difficult, if not impossible, to replace down the line. Colored toilets should be avoided as well, especially if you’re planning on selling your home at some point during the life cycle of your toilet. Today’s color trends will be soon be outdated (remember the avocado green of the 1970s?), and colored toilets will make your house harder to sell.

What to do With Your Old Toilet

Now that you’ve taken the environmentally-conscious step of purchasing a high-efficiency toilet, you certainly don’t want to add one more toilet (i.e., your old one) to the landfill. There are still plenty of uses for that old porcelain throne. Here are several options:

Recycle it: Toilet recycling programs typically crush the toilets and use the porcelain to make concrete for roads and sidewalks. You may need to make a few phone calls to find out who will be able to recycle your old toilet. A good place to start is your local recycling center or water conservation office to find out if such a program exists in your area. You can also contact your local solid waste company for recommendations. You may need to remove non-porcelain parts from the toilet, such as bolts and the seat, and dispose of them separately.

Sell it:  If your old toilet is in good condition, you may be able to sell it. You’d be surprised at how many people are interested in old toilets, including local artisans.

Donate it: The Habitat for Humanity’s resale stores, called ReStores, sell new and gently used home goods. The proceeds support local building projects. A listing of area stores is listed on their website. Check with your local store first to see if they accept toilet donations.

Re-purpose it: Creative gardeners may wish to create a unique planter out of the toilet. Fill the bowl and base with dirt and plant some flowers.

Remember, purchasing a new toilet could be an essential part of your water-saving program at home or work!

On Our Own

The Serenity Gardens community will not be connected to the electric utility grid. Instead, we are creating our own grid. The property includes multiple potential sources of renewable energy including a river with hydroelectric potential (see Fig 1), solar, biomass and wind. We are currently in the process of assessing each of these resources – both the amount of energy available from each, and the cost to develop it.

Individual Household Usage

The current estimate is that the combined capacity of micro-hydro and solar PV alone will be able to supply 100% of the demand, at an average per household consumption of 200 kWh/month; a value generally considered adequate to supply the basic needs of a well-designed, small, efficient home in the tropics. This is based on an assumed 2 kW of solar PV per household, plus 50 kW from the river.

Always Evolving

Various interconnection systems are being evaluated, each with its pros and cons. The simplest and most straightforward system – but also the most costly and least efficient – would be for everyone to have their own stand-alone system with solar panels and batteries, and then be hooked up to the centralized system for supplementary battery charging.

A better interconnection method would be an AC-coupled mini-grid.

• Fewer panels and batteries would need to be purchased
• They would be installed in fewer, larger arrays, rather than on each house.
• This system can provide the same amount of power at lower cost because it has fewer parts
• The panel arrays can be more optimally placed, and it allows more efficient use of the energy available. It can also be easily added onto as demand increases.
• For more specifics, click here. Our detailed energy use guidelines are also available for download here.

One of the more exciting aspects of creating a community from scratch like this, is that we are constantly finding new ways to use the land for the maximum benefit of the entire community.

Share your thoughts and ideas on the Serenity Gardens EcoVillage energy plan.

For more information on this project, check out their website or follow them on their various social media platforms.  Please note that the views and opinions expressed on the Serenity Gardens EcoVillage site are those of the project authors and do not necessarily represent the views of GreenBuildTV.

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