SoCal Contractor

Solar Attic Fan Fan

Roy — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:57:52 +0000

Attic fans are great! They reduce the load on the A/C, get rid of mold causing moisture and cool your roof, extending the material life. With solar operated attic fans, they only work when needed and don’t use any energy; lots of benefits, no drawbacks. Solar attic fans get two thumbs up!

To find out more click here

…and surfing too.

Roy — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:15:48 +0000

I’m an avid surfer and a strong supporter of the Surfrider Foundation. I was very excited to discover that the surfing manufacturers are becoming more aware to the environment, something that most surfers are already. New grip pads are being made with cork ( http://surfshop.wavetribe.com/Eco-Deck-Pad-p/wtpadcork3.htm) or recycled tires , Matuse wetsuits are made of Geoprene, a polymer derived from limestone (http://www.matuse.com/) and surfboards are made from recycled surfboards http://espn.go.com/action/surfing/blog?post=3972128.

It just makes sense.

P.S – Wave Tribe has all your green surfing supplies and learn about recycling your surfboards at resurf.org

Put the Wind Back in Your Sails

Roy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:40:03 +0000

I know that living in a major city usually does not come with a lot of land but if you do have some space you should consider a light duty wind turbine.
Why not take advantage of this natural resource that is just blowing by? wind turbines can start as low as a few thousands of dollars and depending on the size can reduce your electricity bill by up to 70% or more. Here is how it works, your house uses the power (KWh – kilowatt-hours) generated by the wind turbine first, when demand is more than the turbine can provide, it takes it from the grid. There are no batteries, the turbine is connected directly to the house electricity box. If more KWh is produce than needed, the “extra” electricity will be returned to the grid giving you a credit (or even money back) from the utility company

If you are looking for return on investment, don’t hold your breath. It will take anywhere from five to twenty years to cover the cost but there are many other benefits to consider:

Utility bills will only get more expensive – with time, your turbine will save you more money.
Partial independence from the grid.
A good investment for retirement (New wind turbines are designed to last 20 years or more with hardly any maintenance)
It’s good for the environment.

Definitely worth considering, now more than ever, with government tax breaks of up to 30% .

Not Your Grandparent’s Solar Panels

Roy — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:25:47 +0000

Solar panels will reduce your energy bills and even get you money back. Forget about bulky, inefficient panels that make your house look like a science experiment. Check out these solar tiles, sleek and efficient, they blend right into your natural roof line.

Enjoy!

Modern Hobbit Lair

Roy — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:23:13 +0000

This house built in Switzerland, is one “out of the box” thinking that brought it right back into the… earth. Every once in a while someone reminds us that when it comes to building, imagination is the only limit. This architect most likely read Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”and built his idea of a hobbit dream home. Our ancestors lived in caves for many reasons, protection from the elements, predators, rivals and also because they were there. A cave makes a very solid home, insulated from the elements, noise and uses local materials. This modern day Hobbit lair has all these advantages and none of the disadvantages. A large window face brings natural light into the whole house, a shallow construction prevents the “bomb shelter ” feeling. With minimal impact on the views and the environment, it almost make sense to start building these houses on the Hollywood Hills.

Now, how do we fit it into the California Building Code???

Ego Building

Roy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:29:19 +0000

I was in Rancho Mirage (California) over the weekend and got the chance to visit a construction site… a BIG construction site. Most homes around there are second homes and mainly used as winter homes. This house is being built on three lots with truly amazing architecture but the size just blew me away. It’s not that I have never seen a big house before, it’s just that seeing it exposed reminded me how many resources it consumes. Consumption that will not be limited to the construction of the house, it will cost about $10,000 to heat and cool every month! And do not forget the maintenance and chemicals it takes to clean and landscape this mammoth of a property. In the face of drastic climate change, which do we need-more monolithic homes or more trees? These are not the times for ego building but time for eco building.

There Is an Option

Roy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:01:35 +0000

Insulation… yuck! is one of the most horrible materials to work with (standard fiberglass). It’s pink, it itches and I don’t like either. It is definitely not environmentally friendly, so why are you still using it?

Today, there are many more friendly insulation products that are easy to work with, eco-friendly and cost the same or just a little bit more than regular insulation. The extra cost is a long term investment for everybody, the contractor, the owner and the earth. The new insulation products out on the market today range in material, efficiency, code compliance and price. The important thing is that there are many alternatives out there, we have other options. If you’re a contractor, you don’t have to increase your estimate with more expensive insulation material, but it’s your social responsibility to at least offer your client an alternative.

Here are a few examples for alternative insulation:

Knauf EcoBatt® Insulation
UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber insulation
UltraTouch Nature Blend Cellulose
Structural Insulating Panels (SIP)
Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF)
Mineral Wool
Straw Panels

There are many other types of insulation material out there and many more are being researched as I write these words. Some are more expensive, some are less but one thing is certain; the more we buy it, the more affordable it will be (just like organic food) Go Green!