As of last Saturday, April 18 there were still tickets available for San Antonio's first Green Camp to be held May 9 on the grounds of the former Pearl Brewery. Tickets are free but you must register and obtain one to attend.
See our March 25 post An Unconference. Learn from and teach your green peers, exchange ideas and start solving problems for more information and links.
Showing posts with label green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green. Show all posts
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Going Green with Yolanda Green, Houston Green Living Television show makes for interesting viewing
Going Green with Yolanda Green airs on Houston's KIAH Channel 39, but we can watch it at 39online.com. The show is professionally produced. Yolanda is a knowledgeable and affable host. Although aimed at a Houston audience, viewers elsewhere will find plenty of good information. They call it eco-tainment.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"My Father, the Genius" tells the story of visionary architect through his relationships
The documentary, My Father the Genius, tells the story of visionary architect Glen Howard Smalls though his relationships with his ex-wives, colleagues and adult daughters. It is more about a daughter's attempt to understand a father who is unusual, to say the least, than his architecture.
Glen Howard Smalls, a graduate of the University of Oregon, was a founder of and an instructor at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Some of his designs such as the Biomorphic Biosphere seem less practical proposals and more like gossamer visions of another world. Others like the Green Machine incorporated ideas such as solar power generation and prefabrication that are part of many sustainable visions today.
This is an interesting film for anyone interested in not so famous architecture, relationships and the complicated personality that sometimes goes with a life of creativity. It is available for purchase and rental from Netflix.
This YouTube video isn't a trailer. It was put together by the soundtrack composer, Kaoru Ishibashi. But it may give you a taste of the film better than an actual trailer.
Glen Howard Smalls, a graduate of the University of Oregon, was a founder of and an instructor at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). Some of his designs such as the Biomorphic Biosphere seem less practical proposals and more like gossamer visions of another world. Others like the Green Machine incorporated ideas such as solar power generation and prefabrication that are part of many sustainable visions today.
This is an interesting film for anyone interested in not so famous architecture, relationships and the complicated personality that sometimes goes with a life of creativity. It is available for purchase and rental from Netflix.
This YouTube video isn't a trailer. It was put together by the soundtrack composer, Kaoru Ishibashi. But it may give you a taste of the film better than an actual trailer.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
San Antonio Roger Rasbach Mansion for sale (with pictures) (Post updated 12/2010)
(As of December 2010 this realtor still has the photos up and apparently it is still for sale. With that beautiful little lake why doesn't the city buy it and make a beautiful park just where it is needed!).
Several years ago Roger Rasbach spoke at SAC and many members of our group were able to attend. In the 1950's and early 1960's his designs were frequently featured in House Beautiful, including several homes built in San Antonio. His homes at that time were classic mid-century modern with many features we would consider elements of green building today, including careful siting, passive solar, use of local materials and use of natural ventilation.
A 1961 San Antonio mansion of his design is currently for sale. This allows us to take a peek at it by way of the realtor's site. Of course if you can talk your way into a tour of the $1,600,000 six thousand square foot, 5 bedroom 7 1/2 bath then that's another option.
Though the house near Callaghan and Vance Jackson has been renovated and changed quite a bit inside you can still see the exposed roof rafters, open floor plan, generous use of glass and local stone that marked his designs at the time.
Mr. Rasbach passed away July 30, 2003. Throughout his career he continued to develop his ideas. He became a pioneer of green building. His book "The Provident Planner" published in 1976 contrasted the improvident wasteful, inefficient and hard to maintain with the provident. He showed how to transform an improvident home into a provident one.
His newly built Provident Homes included Thermasave SIPS for insulation and steel framing to deter termites.
December 2010 Addition.
This post is getting some hits this month perhaps due to the offer for sale of a 1965 Rasbach home in Rollingwood Texas.
So I thought I'd add a little bit to it off the top of my head.
I'm no Rasbach expert but I did hear him speak, look at some of his House Beautiful designs and read the Provident Planner. Advertisement for the Provident Planner in Texas Monthly via Google Books.
To my knowledge, Mr. Rasbach's designs from the beginning to the early 1970's seem to have included lots of glass in a typical Mid-Century style. His rule of thumb for a Provident Home though was that it should have l0% or less fenestration, which is a far cry from his early work.
He advocated built in furniture, which is in line with his modernist background. He argued that built ins made for easier cleaning. Ease of cleaning is also why he advocated wide baseboards and door casements. He suggested that light switches be placed in the woodwork surrounding doors because such glossy painted surfaces would be easier to clean of the inevitable finger prints.
He didn't like the idea of people taking time out of their lives to paint and repaint walls.
His advice on flooring differed from today's green architects. While he advocated for permanence in driveways, he did not seek permanent interior flooring. (He wanted permanent concrete drives rather than temporary asphalt ones.)
Inside he suggested that a sacrificial surface be used in high traffic areas. Vinyl or rubber floors in the kitchen and hallways which could be replaced as needed while providing an easy to clean and relatively soft surface was his suggestion.
Several years ago Roger Rasbach spoke at SAC and many members of our group were able to attend. In the 1950's and early 1960's his designs were frequently featured in House Beautiful, including several homes built in San Antonio. His homes at that time were classic mid-century modern with many features we would consider elements of green building today, including careful siting, passive solar, use of local materials and use of natural ventilation.
A 1961 San Antonio mansion of his design is currently for sale. This allows us to take a peek at it by way of the realtor's site. Of course if you can talk your way into a tour of the $1,600,000 six thousand square foot, 5 bedroom 7 1/2 bath then that's another option.
Though the house near Callaghan and Vance Jackson has been renovated and changed quite a bit inside you can still see the exposed roof rafters, open floor plan, generous use of glass and local stone that marked his designs at the time.
Mr. Rasbach passed away July 30, 2003. Throughout his career he continued to develop his ideas. He became a pioneer of green building. His book "The Provident Planner" published in 1976 contrasted the improvident wasteful, inefficient and hard to maintain with the provident. He showed how to transform an improvident home into a provident one.
His newly built Provident Homes included Thermasave SIPS for insulation and steel framing to deter termites.
December 2010 Addition.
This post is getting some hits this month perhaps due to the offer for sale of a 1965 Rasbach home in Rollingwood Texas.
So I thought I'd add a little bit to it off the top of my head.
I'm no Rasbach expert but I did hear him speak, look at some of his House Beautiful designs and read the Provident Planner. Advertisement for the Provident Planner in Texas Monthly via Google Books.
To my knowledge, Mr. Rasbach's designs from the beginning to the early 1970's seem to have included lots of glass in a typical Mid-Century style. His rule of thumb for a Provident Home though was that it should have l0% or less fenestration, which is a far cry from his early work.
He advocated built in furniture, which is in line with his modernist background. He argued that built ins made for easier cleaning. Ease of cleaning is also why he advocated wide baseboards and door casements. He suggested that light switches be placed in the woodwork surrounding doors because such glossy painted surfaces would be easier to clean of the inevitable finger prints.
He didn't like the idea of people taking time out of their lives to paint and repaint walls.
His advice on flooring differed from today's green architects. While he advocated for permanence in driveways, he did not seek permanent interior flooring. (He wanted permanent concrete drives rather than temporary asphalt ones.)
Inside he suggested that a sacrificial surface be used in high traffic areas. Vinyl or rubber floors in the kitchen and hallways which could be replaced as needed while providing an easy to clean and relatively soft surface was his suggestion.
Green Camp SA, Saturday May 9, 2009: An Unconference. Learn from and teach your green peers, exchange ideas and start solving problems.
Green Camp San Antonio, May 9 2009 , 9 to 4 at the Pearl Stables on the renovated and reused Pearl Brewery grounds will be unlike any conference in San Antonio this year.
In fact the organizers call it an "unconference and a gathering of people to share & learn in an open environment with discussions, demos & interaction." Admission is free but you will need a ticket, which you can get from Eventbrite. Volunteers and donations are also welcome.
When you sign up for your ticket you will be asked for three topics you most want discussed at Green Camp. You will also be asked what presentations you could make. It isn't a top down event. The agenda is determined on the day of the event.
The Green Camp unconference is modeled on PodCamp which focuses on new media and BarCamp which focused originally on web applications but whose concept has been applied to explorations of public transit, health care and political organizing. PodCamp San Antonio Dos took place in May of 2008.
In fact the organizers call it an "unconference and a gathering of people to share & learn in an open environment with discussions, demos & interaction." Admission is free but you will need a ticket, which you can get from Eventbrite. Volunteers and donations are also welcome.
When you sign up for your ticket you will be asked for three topics you most want discussed at Green Camp. You will also be asked what presentations you could make. It isn't a top down event. The agenda is determined on the day of the event.
The Green Camp unconference is modeled on PodCamp which focuses on new media and BarCamp which focused originally on web applications but whose concept has been applied to explorations of public transit, health care and political organizing. PodCamp San Antonio Dos took place in May of 2008.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Boerne Sustainable Concept House owners share their home with the public
Some people who build an interesting house don't want anybody to know about it. Some people are willing to be on a home tour. Some even do a personal blog detailing the process. But Karen and Griz Adams of Boerne, Texas are going the extra-mile on their Sustainable Concept House to let people in on the process of building and in experiencing the results.
In July,when their sustainable home is completed they will host a week long open house to benefit the Cibilo Nature Center, which for three years will then coordinate continuing education programs for both architects and the general public including field trips to the house Topics will include solar energy passive and active, sustainable building materials, rainwater harvesting, gray water and LEED residential certification workshops. Already the Cibilo Nature Center has hosted one workshop. Another is planned for May 23, 2009 which will include a visit to the site.
The house is scheduled to be included in an AIA home tour in Fall 2009.
Karen, a PR consultant by trade, regularly updates an Express-News blog, Green Dream , on the process of building the house. Once they found the materials they wanted to use they contacted suppliers and used the power of possible good publicity to negotiate good prices. A medical diagnostics company will be performing a study to examine how a healthy home can impact health.
Ben Adam, AIA designed the 3500 sq foot home which will house the family of four and Karen and Griz's offices. Karen said they chose to go with 2 by 6 stick framing to show that mainstream construction methods, if done right would result in an energy efficient, healthy sustainable home.
The house which is on an infill lot in Tapatio Springs will be connected to the subdivision's sewer but not to their water. Rainwater catchment and gray water reuse are expected to meet all their water needs. The house will include passive solar design, a solar hot water heater and geothermal air conditioning.
The house is intended to achieve LEED Platinum status.
In July,when their sustainable home is completed they will host a week long open house to benefit the Cibilo Nature Center, which for three years will then coordinate continuing education programs for both architects and the general public including field trips to the house Topics will include solar energy passive and active, sustainable building materials, rainwater harvesting, gray water and LEED residential certification workshops. Already the Cibilo Nature Center has hosted one workshop. Another is planned for May 23, 2009 which will include a visit to the site.
The house is scheduled to be included in an AIA home tour in Fall 2009.
Karen, a PR consultant by trade, regularly updates an Express-News blog, Green Dream , on the process of building the house. Once they found the materials they wanted to use they contacted suppliers and used the power of possible good publicity to negotiate good prices. A medical diagnostics company will be performing a study to examine how a healthy home can impact health.
Ben Adam, AIA designed the 3500 sq foot home which will house the family of four and Karen and Griz's offices. Karen said they chose to go with 2 by 6 stick framing to show that mainstream construction methods, if done right would result in an energy efficient, healthy sustainable home.
The house which is on an infill lot in Tapatio Springs will be connected to the subdivision's sewer but not to their water. Rainwater catchment and gray water reuse are expected to meet all their water needs. The house will include passive solar design, a solar hot water heater and geothermal air conditioning.
The house is intended to achieve LEED Platinum status.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Welsh powder press invention turns waste wood, waste metal and plastics into bullet proof panels and more.
In the SASL we've long heard about the benefits of grinding construction waste on site. Such ground waste can sometimes be used as mulch, aggregate or a soil amendment. At the very least grinding substantially reduces the volume sent to a landfill.
But September 26, 2008 a Welsh company Protomax Plastics announced the creation of the P2 Machine which goes far beyond any waste grinder in use to date. Its birth announcement got little notice in the US but if its promise comes to fruition it will have long reaching effects on construction and waste handling.
They say:
Mark's Technology News , CNET Military Tech
But September 26, 2008 a Welsh company Protomax Plastics announced the creation of the P2 Machine which goes far beyond any waste grinder in use to date. Its birth announcement got little notice in the US but if its promise comes to fruition it will have long reaching effects on construction and waste handling.
They say:
We have recently designed, built and registered a patent on the P2 powder press. The P2 takes mixed waste and turns it into useful products such as hoardings, partition walls, transport trolleys and even armoured panels.For more information check out these reports:
The machine creates an outer skin of recycled plastic around a core of re-processed, sanitised mixed waste. The waste is reprocessed with a special formula, which makes it foam and create a solid light- weight panel or product. The waste can include elements of metal or wood, alongside plastic bags, bottles and industrial plastics.
Each panel or product can be made up to customer specification, the P2 machine can produce a simple foam filled panel, or a bullet proof door with all ducting and necessary fire ratings required by the customer. Both products would use a high level of mixed waste
This means that it would no longer be necessary to waste wood for hoardings (Construction Fencing )or shuttering, and then throw it away. Panels can even be coloured and contoured for shed roofing or partition walls.
The machine is mobile and could be used to produce modular emergency housing in crisis areas, where the locals could re-use much of their own resources. Medical waste has always been difficult to dispose of, particularly in 3rd world countries. The P2 method can re-process this material into sanitized products. Billions of used syringes need to be disposed of each year safely; there is now a method to do this.
Mark's Technology News , CNET Military Tech
Linoleum the misunderstood floor covering. It's historic, healthy, resilient, beautiful and Sustainable
Perhaps more people misunderstand linoleum than any other flooring material. It is thought to be modern but has been used in houses since the 1870's. Many people think of it as first cousin to vinyl but instead it is a combination of basic natural substances. It is easier on the legs than hardwood flooring, and healthier than carpet for allergy sufferers.In San Antonio, if you visit the historic Steves Homestead which was built in 1876 you won't find the linoleum on the floors which was there when the house was built. The restorers just couldn't live with covering the wood sub-floor with the historically accurate linoleum. But today as much as wood floors are loved, more people are appreciating the style of linoleum.
The basic ingredients of linoleum include flax seed oil (aka Linseed), ground wood, ground cork, pine rosin and ground limestone. With the exception of limestone which we in south Texas know to be plentiful, they are all renewable and biobased.
For people who are sensitive to lab created substances, linoleum can be the solution. Linoleum doesn't harbor the dust mites that plague many allergy sufferers.
Modern manufacturers of linoleum include Armstrong and Forbo Marmoleum.
Forbo offers elaborate border and corner designs in both vintage and modern styles.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Castor Oil adds bio content to Icynene insulating spray foam
If you are of a certain age you might remember castor oil as a cure-all that your grandmother prescribed for good health. Now Icynene has come out with LD-R-50, a water based insulating spray foam formula that uses castor oil to reduce the need for petroleum based polyol and which has a mean biobased content of 8% (+/- 3%) according to the International Code Council (ICC).
According to Icynene the castor bean has several advantages. It is grown on non-irrigated, marginal land which generally would not support food crops. The company says that production of castor oil has "low energy dependence". It can be harvested manually and does not require treatment with pesticides or fungicides. The castor bean itself has an oil yield of 40%.
Icynene LD-R-50 has been added to the USDA's Biopreferred catalog and can contribute to achievement of LEED and NAHB NGBS designations. It is also the first product for which a product report is available online from the ICC's Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation program.
USDA brings BioPreferred Showcase to San Antonio June 9 to 11, 2009
According to the Department of Agriculture (USDA) website, up to 10,000 government procurement professionals will be in San Antonio for the US General Services Administration's Expo 2009 June 9 to 11. In conjunction with the expo, the Dept of Agriculture will host the 2nd annual BioPreferred Showcase and Training.
Training session topics will include information on what makes a product "green" and how green qualities are measured, stories of Federal employees who have used biobased products for sustainable design, construction and renovation and those who have used bio-based products for sustainable maintenance as well as a look at the impact of biobased product government purchases on the economy, jobs, energy security, and the environment.
The GSA Expo 2009 is a free training conference and exposition meant for government officials and employees whether local, state, federal or military who influence or make government purchases.
The BioPreferred program was established as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. The USDA is in the midst of a process that will eventually lead to the authorization of products to bear a distinctive BioPreferred label.
Currently the Department maintains a catalog of BioPreferred biobased products particularly to help government buyers purchase bio-based products . Products on the list include office supplies, building materials, housewares and even toiletries.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
LEED 2009 Compared to LEED 2.0
You can find a LEED 2009 Scorecard Comparison showing differences between LEED 2.0 and LEED 2009 on JustGotGreener.org. *
LEED 2009 is part of of LEED 3.0 and applies to commercial construction. The US Green Builders Council states in their LEED 2009 FAQ that the most noteworthy advancements in LEED 2009 include a process that will allow continuous improvement in LEED, a scientific re-weighting of credits to reflect the impact of environment on health, and the addition of regionalism to the program which will give bonus credits for items that are most important for a particular geographic area.
LEED 2009 is part of of LEED 3.0 and applies to commercial construction. The US Green Builders Council states in their LEED 2009 FAQ that the most noteworthy advancements in LEED 2009 include a process that will allow continuous improvement in LEED, a scientific re-weighting of credits to reflect the impact of environment on health, and the addition of regionalism to the program which will give bonus credits for items that are most important for a particular geographic area.
*“Just Got Greener” is a voluntary program encouraging businesses to take a hands-on approach that is not only great for the environment, but also for their bottom line. Just taking one step to corporate sustainable practices into your business, is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference both now and for the future.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Innovative free Green house plans
FreeGreen offers free house plans for download. There are charges for prints and for customization but the basic house plans are free.
As of November 2008, some 10,000 plans had been downloaded which would make them the largest home plan provider in the country, unless you considered revenues. Part of their business plan involves product placement in their plans. Manufacturers pay to have their products included. But the placements are not obtrusive.
The plans available vary from the ultra modern View Box to the more traditional Rustic Retreat to a series especially designed to meet the needs of production builders, the Builder Line.
From Freegreen.com
"The Builder Product Line was created at the request of the FreeGreen Builder Community (although all users are encouraged to use these). Each of these plans has been developed to address builder needs, and allow multiple façade implementations of the same basic design. The floor plans are simple and efficient, and the exteriors are appealing and identifiable. All users will notice that images associated with these plans are more technical. This has been done on purpose to “cut to the chase” for our builders and explain what they need."
As of today, they offer eight families of house plans with several variations for each. Each house is rendered in 3 D which makes it an interesting site to visit even if you are not in the market for a plan.
As of November 2008, some 10,000 plans had been downloaded which would make them the largest home plan provider in the country, unless you considered revenues. Part of their business plan involves product placement in their plans. Manufacturers pay to have their products included. But the placements are not obtrusive.
The plans available vary from the ultra modern View Box to the more traditional Rustic Retreat to a series especially designed to meet the needs of production builders, the Builder Line.
From Freegreen.com
"The Builder Product Line was created at the request of the FreeGreen Builder Community (although all users are encouraged to use these). Each of these plans has been developed to address builder needs, and allow multiple façade implementations of the same basic design. The floor plans are simple and efficient, and the exteriors are appealing and identifiable. All users will notice that images associated with these plans are more technical. This has been done on purpose to “cut to the chase” for our builders and explain what they need."
As of today, they offer eight families of house plans with several variations for each. Each house is rendered in 3 D which makes it an interesting site to visit even if you are not in the market for a plan.
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