How much are my current appliances costing the Earth? Should I replace them? If so, what will happen to the old appliance? Do I really need this appliance?

 

• A Consumer Guide to Purchasing Energy Efficient Products for the Home: PDF of Energy Star pamphlet with lots of FAQs, tables, and list of resources http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/saveenv.pdf

• Appliances that cut energy costs (basic guide): 2001 article from Earth Share that details how much you can save by replacing appliances http://www.earthshare.org/tips/appliances.html

• Energy Star, main website: www.energystar.gov

• Guide to reducing appliance energy use:  UK site with lots of tips about reducing individual appliance use http://www.theyellowhouse.org.uk/themes/appli.html

• Phantom or Vampire energy (appliances that continue to use energy even when they're not in use, such as microwaves or hibernating computers): This website includes a calculator for figuring out if you're being "vampired": http://www.kouba-cavallo.com/phantom.html

• Canadian/U.S. tests on toilets (complete with photos of their soybean-paste tests): http://www.cwwa.ca/pdf_files/MaP_7th_Edition_06-07-07.pdf

• Composting toilets, article published on for-profit Gaiam website: http://community.gaiam.com/gaiam/p/WhatisaCompostingToilet.html

• Guide to High Efficiency Toilets (from Detroit Free Press): http://www.watercasa.org/pdfs/Detroit_Free_Press.pdf

• Retrofit Single Flush to Dual Flush: http://www.twoflush.com/

• Terry Love’s review of toilets, excellent review with a handy chart : http://www.terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm

• Grey water, general: http://www.graywater.net/

• Sink Greywater for Toilet: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/watersaver_tech.php

• Consumer Guide to Energy Efficient Water Heaters: http://aceee.org/consumerguide/topwater.htm

• Dept. of Energy Guide to Heating Your Water: http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/

• Solar Hot Water Heaters http://www.toolbase.org/TechInventory/TechDetails.aspx?ContentDetailID=874&BucketID=6&CategoryID=9

• Q&A about hot water heaters: http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/Common/askrachael/waterheating/

• Tankless Water Heater: http://www.toolbase.org/TechInventory/TechDetails.aspx?ContentDetailID=599

 

Why am I undertaking this contruction/remodeling project? Will the whole project, including the materials and the methods used, lower my ecological footprint on the planet? What effect is the project having on my spiritual well-being and that of others, in the short- and long-term?

 

• Maryland Environmental Design Program - provides the business community, local governments and interested citizens with the information and on-site technical assistance they need to identify, implement and evaluate actions to enhance and restore natural resources in and around developed environments.  http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/

• Sustainable Building Resources Directory, a dynamic database of Green businesses, programs and organizations that are located in the mid-Atlantic or that have representatives in this region. http://www.sbrd.org/directory.html

• U.S. Green Building Council, National Capital Region – Includes local events for do-it-yourselfers and professionals interested in green building/remodeling: http://www.usgbc-ncr.org/main.swf

• Virginia Sustainable Building Council – events, resources, bulletin board, training: http://www.vsbn.org/index.html

 

By thinking creatively, can I discover new ways to re-use materials? How will the materials be used when I am finished with them? What impact will using these materials have on the people who live in or visit my home? To the Earth?

 

General

• Amicus Green Building Center, Kensington, MD, Home page says it is the Mid-Atlantic's “greatest collection of genuine "green" products, resources, and expert support to help you create a healthy, environmentally friendly, stylish, energy smart and sustainable building.” http://www.amicusgreen.com/

• “BEES” Program –Software program that helps you select cost-effective, environmentally preferable building products.  http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees.html

• “Green” Materials (from Green Home exhibit of National Building Museum): http://www.nbm.org/Exhibits/greenHouse2/greenMaterials/materials.html

• Nature Neutral – Charlottesville, VA firm listed on Co-op America; home page says that it provides environmentally preferable products and building supplies for construction, renovation and everyday living: http://www.natureneutral.com/

• Community Forklift: http://www.communityforklift.com/  Community Forklift's mission is to operate a business enterprise for the recovery and reuse of salvaged or surplus building materials.

• Habitat for Humanity Restore (in Maryland (http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore_detail.aspx?place=45) and Alexandria http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.restorenova.org)

• The Loading Dock: Baltimore, Maryland’s building materials reuse facility. http://www.loadingdock.org/

• Ecodomo: D.C. firm that sells leather tiles for flooring, which they say is made of sustainable materials: http://www.ecodomo.com/

• Greenfloors – Fairfax, VA firm that advertises on Co-op America site: http://www.greenfloors.com/

• GreenHome’s guide to flooring, including link to directory: http://www.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/entry/803/C220

• Energy Star Windows: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_windows

• Make Your Own Window Quilt: https://www.motherearthnews.com/Homesteading_and_Self_Reliance/1983_November_December/The_Homemade_Thermal_Shade

• Pella windows – (windows of FCNL renovation): http://www.pella.com/

• Tips on Windows: http://www.earthshare.org/tips/window.html

• Window Quilts (note—this is not a recommendation for this particular product; it’s included because they have a nice FAQ): http://www.commonwealthsolar.com/cwquilt.htm

• Bubble Wrap Your Windows: http://builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/bubblewrap.htm

 

Is the professional I am hiring familiar with energy efficient methods and materials? Will the work be done in a way that is gentle on the Earth?

 

• American Institute of Architects, D.C. Chapter, list of local architects doing sustainable design: http://www.aiadc.com/firmdirectory/index.php?cat=43

• Arlington County, VA certifies “Green Home Choice” contractors, architects, and building material suppliers from throughout the D.C. region. Click here for a description of the program and scroll down to find a list of those who’ve received certification: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EnvironmentalServices/epo/EnvironmentalServicesEpoGreenHomeChoice.aspx

• Calvert Jones, mechanical renovation (heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, etc.) “Green Advantage” certification. http://calvertjones.com/index2.html

• Chesapeake Climate Action Network list of local solar and sustainable suppliers and builders: http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=32

• Energy Efficiency Contractors List from “Simplicity Matters Earth Institute.” All in Maryland: http://simplicitymatters.org/local_referrals/energy_efficiency_contractors.htm

• Furbish Company – does living roofs, solar/geothermal HVAC systems, vegetative walls, straw bale construction. Did the green roof for FCNL. http://furbishco.com/

• Green Renovation: http://www.greenwaverenovation.com/ - Local D.C. contractor with “Green Advantage” certification, which means they can get you LEED credit (which has tax advantages in some areas)

• Harvey Hottel.com – heating/air conditioning firm that did the geothermal unit for the FCNL building; located in Gaithersburg: http://www.harveyhottel.com/

• Helicon Works, architect interested in energy efficiency, recommended by Chesapeake Action Network: http://www.heliconworks.com/index.htm

• Jos. Klockner Co. – Takoma Park construction company that lists itself on Co-op America as a “green builder” http://www.klockner.net/

• Kfoury Construction – they did the FCNL renovation: http://www.kfoury.com/index.php

• MarionConstruction – locally owned, women-owned company with experience in Green Building: http://www.marionconstructioninc.com/

• Sigi Koko, Architect, Down to Earth, 1527 N. Stafford St., Arlington, VA 22207
  Email: sigikoko@earthlink.net  Does green architecture, including straw bale building. Did the straw bale housing at Heathcote (Quaker community in Maryland). See the HGTV episode about one of her buildings here: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_home_building_builders/article/0,1797,HGTV_3722_1399731,00.html

• Sustainable Design (will evaluate your home for energy efficiency, solar energy potential; located in Gaithersburg) http://sustainabledesign.com/index.html

• Sustainable Design, “green building technical consultant,” located in Richmond and Silver Spring, http://www.sustaindesign.net/index.php (NOTE: This is different from the one listed above)

 

Am I using my fair share of energy? How much temperature variation can I tolerate? What is the “greenest” way I can stay within that temperature range? Am I striving to lessen my energy burden?

 

• General Description:  http://www.reddawn.com/featart11-98.html

• Clickable by State :http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/directory/directory.asp

• Harvey Hottel.com – heating/air conditioning firm that did the geothermal unit for the FCNL building, located in Gaithersburg: http://www.harveyhottel.com/

• Aurora Energy (Annapolis, MD company that does solar energy): http://www.aurora-energy.com/Index.html Also see list of Energy Efficiency Contractors, above.

• Average Daily Solar Radiation for Washington D.C.: http://www.thermotechs.com/washing.htm

• BP Solar – website walks you through the process, and helps to calculate costs. For profit company. www.bp.com/genericsection.do?categoryId=3050485&contentId=3050766

• Chesapeake Wind and Solar (Jessup, MD company that installs both kinds of alternative energy on buildings) http://www.cwsenergy.com/index.htm

• Dept. of Energy guide to Solar Energy: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf

• PV-based electrical systems (article): http://www.gaiam.com/retail/gai_content/learn/gai_learnArticle.asp?article%5Fid=2250&category%5Fid=168

• Save Our Sky Home Heating Cooperative, Takoma Park, MD: http://tpss.coop/news.2005.4-5.feature1.html  Includes step-by-step guide to heating by corn pellet

• Corn Pellet Stoves - http://www.cornburnersinc.com/  Links to available products for corn pellet or wood pellet-burning stoves

• Fuel Cost Comparison http://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/fuel_cost_comparison_calculator/

• Pellet-burning stoves, good general intro article from Mother Earth: http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature_and_environment/1995_October_November/Pellet_Stoves_Wood_Energy_For_All

• General info – website with articles, comparisons, and forums to discuss all the various kinds of stoves: www.hearth.com

• Green Power Network (also see their excellent explanation about green power): http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/about/index.shtml)

• Can I Buy Green Power in My State? http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml

• Pepco Green Energy Program: http://www.pepcoenergy.com/NaturalGasElectricity/greenEnergy.aspx Click on “Buy Today” and follow instructions for customers in the Mid-Atlantic region.  You may want to consider buying RECs on-line directly from New Wind Energy (in blocks of 100 kWh) rather than signing a customer of WGES, which is much more expensive.  Thus you’ll continue to buy standard electricity from Pepco, and your purchase or RECs effectively makes that power “green”.  Before ordering RECs, you’ll need to look at your Pepco bill to see how many kWh you consume each year. 

• Montgomery County Renewable Energy Credits: Starting January 1, 2007, you will receive rewards through your energy supplier or Renewable Energy Credits marketer for the clean energy you purchase. County residents will receive 1 cent and non-residential groups, such as business and congregations will receive 1.5 cents for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of eligible clean energy consumed. The Department of Environmental Protection estimates that on average, the additional cost for purchasing clean energy is 2.5 cents per kWh. Program rewards will offset about 40% of this cost. Details about the Clean Energy Rewards program, and participating suppliers, is online at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cleanenergyrewards