For now, I thought I would leave a few thoughts regarding the Green Real Estate/Construction and sustainability in general.

• Builders – They need desperate help with their marketing.  Green has become an extremely vague term and becomes more so everyday.  Using the term green will not make you sell.  An email I received recently from a builder had “Extra Bling for the Holidays” as the subject.  Really?  Bling?  *sigh*  No further Comments
• Industry in General – The term green is just, well, it needs to go away.  Green Construction is going to see some legal issues most likely.  If you don’t believe me, just check out the Houston Chronicle article from Christmas Day 2010 with the Attorney doing a Q&A with borderline very wrong information.  It was pretty sad actually.  Most builders that do LEED Homes have very well outlined contracts to help with this.  The side that needs the most help would be the Real Estate side of it.  Perhaps adendums from the Texas Real Estate Commission to help the Realtor community out with this?  I’ve suggested this before as well.
• Consumers -  Well, let’s just say maybe a buyer beware.  Ask a ton of questions.  Information on this blog will forever stay here.  Use it to help you if you want.  Find out what truly makes the home ‘green’.  Ask about offgassing of products,  Energy Efficiency, Insulation and of course certification.  Without the performance testing you truly do not know what you are getting.  For resale purposes the reports help as well.

From a marketing, not real estate standpoint, if you or your company need advice – I’m happy to help.  However, I’m not inclined to work for free so be prepared for a consultation fee.

Cheers to a New Year and New Beginnings.  Posts you may see in the future may be very random regarding things that interest me.  Including something I bought and am waiting to get delivered.  It’s a window weatherization product put out by the Duck company that comes with shrink wrap.  I figured for 8 bucks who could pass it up, right?  But regardless, posts will be no holds barred and fully opinionated.

I am even getting some really interesting requests to be added to the Business Directory on my site.  Quite honestly I find it scary, sickening, exciting and fantastic all at the same time.

Venturing out to various networking groups I meet some really interesting people doing fascinating things around town – and then I meet some that are just dumping more in to the Greenwashing that is becoming ever so common.  This was also discussed in a ‘Green Lifestyle’ class that I taught at Lone Star College at Cy Fair.  There were some absolutely great questions that arose out of that and so I thought I would address them here as well.  I wanted to put out some guidelines that you should consider when wanting to make some energy efficient, healthy or otherwise green changes within the home.

Certification of some kind -

Over the past year I have seen a tremendous increase in companies around Houston that advertise doing Energy Audits.  The costs range from $99 up to over $1000 – They range from doing a visual check to blower door and thermal scans of the property.  First and foremost the thing to consider is that there is a TRUE science between energy efficiency and indoor air quality.  One change can negatively affect the other.

If you are going to have an Energy Audit done at your property request one that is Certified to do so.  Check out Natresnet to find one near you.  A ‘visual’ exam that you pay through the nose for may disappoint you in the end.  Make sure you get a professional.

Visual exams are GREAT as long as they are done by the right professional that has been properly trained.

Claims of Saving you Money -

True Green industry professionals can save you money with changes that you make – But the really good ones will tell you if you are wasting your time or need to make other changes first.  Ask for documentation on savings for your particular home.  Ask if they have a guarantee and make sure that if they are selling you a product that claims to be cheaper than another ask for documentation from the manufacturer stating that the PERFORMANCE is equal.

Often times even though the products are identical in their purpose, it may be apples to oranges in performance.  A perfect example here would be new HVAC equipment or windows.

Certification of Products -

This is the interesting one lately.  All kinds of ‘self’ or ‘company’ certifications seem to be popping up.  Some will give you a hot water heater blanket, a couple dimmer switches and a tube of caulk and call your home green.

This is so not the case my friends.  Do your research to make sure you are getting what you really think you are.  Here is a good wiki explaining some of the hidden trade offs.

Testing -

If someone is wanting to sell you a product or service, ask what kind of testing is involved.  HVAC equipment is another good example of this.  You want to make sure that the product will actually work for your home and properly sized.

If someone wants to sell you renewable energy such as solar panels, find out how to prepare your home to save you money in the long run.  This is documentation.  

Otherwise Green Contract Work around the home -

If you are building or remodeling, get the background of who you want to do the work.  What has been their experience?  Do they have a clearly defined scope of work with the above documentation?  Are they willing to tell you that what you want is not necessarily what you need?

Ask for references and find out what they know about the labels or products you are considering and most importantly ask WHAT MAKES IT GREEN.

First of all, Tankless Hot Water Heaters have become, in just the past 2-3 years, very popular.  They are an excellent alternative to a Traditional Gas Water Heater.  The manufacturers of the equipment have rolled out fantastic marketing campaigns stating ‘Forever Hot Water’ or ‘Instant Hot Water’ and so on.  Let’s look at the two here:

Gas Tank Heater -

• Constantly heats the water when it gets below the set temperature.  Even if you are not home or not using any Hot water or on vacation for a month
• You only have as much Hot Water as the Tank can hold. Ex: 40 – 50 Gallons making it a nightmare when washing dishes and taking a shower at the same time
• Do not always qualify for the Federal Tax Credit due to energy efficiency
• You have to wait for the Hot Water to reach where ever you wanting to use it

Gas Tankless Water Heater -

• Only heats the water when in use therefore saving the expense of heating the water throughout the day
• The water heats as it goes over the Heating mechanism there by giving you more Hot Water for a longer period of time.  However, it can still only handle so much
• Do qualify for the Federal Tax Credit – you will get 30% tax credit but there is a $1500 cap.  If you are also changing out your windows and hvac you will not see that credit.  You will be maxed out.
• Is not quite ‘Instant Hot Water’ – It is instant at the point of heating but the water still has to get from Point A to Point B

The way around not having to wait for the water to get from point A to point B is to have a Point of Use Tankless Heater.  They are considerably smaller (and cheaper) but do the job say for example in the Master Bathroom on the complete opposite side of the home from where the water is being heated.

Now, there is the option of going from Electric Water Heater to Gas Tankless.  Keep in mind though that in areas prone to Electrical Outages the switch that starts the heat for the Tankless Gas Heater is run by Electricity.  With no power, there is still no Hot Water.

As for Solar Water Heating – I personally think that this is one area that we should all consider more often.  You can now get Solar Water Heating for as low approximately $3500 on some smaller homes.    Here are some of  the benefits:

• Because it is using a Renewable Energy (key word) it qualifies for a different tax credit than the Tankless.  It would be 30% with NO CAP
• No Electricity, No Problem.  Sort of.  There still has to be power for a pump to push the water but as opposed to paying for constant heating of the water by gas or electricity you are only using power to push the water
• The Sun heats the water.  Again, no gas or electricity
• There is the option for a Solar Backup/Tank combination – Allowing you to have hot water even during a power outage

You basically are not paying to heat your water again.  Which one is best for you?  That depends on your home.  My personal home does not have enough power coming to the house to start a Tankless Water Heater – So it would cost me appx. $1500 just to get more power from the Grid to use one.  If you are building, it depends on how the home is designed.  

Now, we can talk all day about which one is better or which would be better combinations.  In the end, it depends on what your specific needs and wants happen to be.

My recommendation, have some energy modeling done on the home prior to construction or remodeling and this will help to nail down the possible payback for what you are considering and weigh your options.    I have resources on companies that offer this service in my Business Directory.  A licensed HERS Rater can help with this.  Just be cautious of people that claim to do energy audits that are NOT licensed, they are popping up all over the place.  But, I’ll save that for another post in my rant section.

Well, this mentality is making its way through so many aspects of our lives.  However, when you look closely – even that store brand bag of potato chips is not the same as Lay’s.  It likely has artificial colorings, flavorings and preservatives that make it taste similar.

In terms of Green Real Estate, I’m starting to see the trend Greener home features try to be placed on the ‘Value Rack’ – It seems as though Energy Efficiency and building products related are being tossed in to the mix to add a perceived value.  Kind of like those potato chips.

We have a number of builders in the Houston area that are getting it right and doing everything possible to add REAL value.  Then there is the perceived value.

For example, an Energy Star builder that uses a Radiant Barrier to make a home more energy efficient.  (Not based on any builder in particular. Just using this as an example)  This home costs less per square foot than the competing builder in the community.  Why?  How could that be when the claims are that they are just as efficient?  I mean, it has a Radiant Barrier, right?

That’s simply not the case.  Not necessarily, anyhow. 

The Radiant Barrier is just one piece of the puzzle.  When a home is built to be Energy Efficient it starts before the slab is even poured.  When done correctly it takes everything in to consideration – From the floorplan, windows and even what direction the home faces sometimes. 

Performance testing in most Green Building Programs is required on every single home – where as in recent years some became accustomed to being able to only test 1 in every 10 or so homes. 

The homes with that excellent value per square foot are typically vastly different.  In production built homes the cost difference between a great and ok home is on average less than $15,000 when looking at apples to apples in size.   When you take in to consideration the cost to maintain the home, systems being replaced, how the home will look in 6 years when you go to sell…

Is it really worth it?  Combining this series now with my Dirty Little Secrets lets take an in depth look at the store brand bag of potato chips.  First and foremost – Do the homes really perform differently enough to make a difference in value?

Stay Tuned.

As some of my readers know, I have been working on my personal home over the past couple of years to get the Energy Usage down by adding insulation, contacting Free Lighting Corp to seal it up, change out light fixtures and appliances and other things that is proven can reduce usage.  My plan was to get everything changed out (including my windows) prior to changing out my air conditioner.  However, if you look at the chart above you can see that my unit decided to crap out on me right at the beginning of summer this year.  My bill reached an all time high and I gasped when I opened it up that month.

You see, I have always fought humidity in the home, condensation on the inside of my windows, needing to crank down the thermostat to feel comfortable…

I met Denny Patterson at Gulf Coast Green this past year as they had a 21 SEER Variable speed unit there for people to look at and we discussed efficiency in the home and hvac systems.  I was impressed with his knowledge so I contacted him to see what could be done to my A/C – obviously something was seriously wrong.

It was just worn out.  My 1200 sq ft patio home should NOT EVER use 3000 kwh per month especially as energy conscious as we are in this house.  My thinking was that in August if it kept going my bill would likely be about $600 if not more.  So, Denny and Airtron started putting bids together for me to change the unit.

I opted not to go with a unit that qualified for the Federal Tax Credit.  I suggest calling Denny for the specifics but basically with my home being built in 1982 and not brought up to today’s energy codes I simply did not feel that my home would benefit from such a high tech unit.

I opted to go with a variable speed 14 SEER Lennox that – being a variable speed it brings it up to the equivalent of a 15 SEER – The thermostat we went with was a programmable Honeywell that can not only be set for a certain Humidity level but can automatically toggle between Heat and A/C in those Fall Months in Houston where you wake up in the middle of the night freezing but using the A/C during the day.

What is Variable Speed?

The unit can run at TWO speeds.  A slow speed that simply reduces the humidity in the house and a faster speed to cool the house.  It allows the unit to not pull as much electricity unless it is needed.

It was an investment but I incredibly happy with it, quite possibly in my opinion the best investment I have ever made in the house.  The chart above for some strange reason is different than what is on my bill but the Bill shows my usage in August of last year to be nearly 1500 kwh – The other day when I got my bill the usage for last month was UNDER 1000 kwh.

Basically, had I dealt with the high bills and kept the old a/c running this unit will be paid for in a couple years.

Was it just the A/C?  I really don’t think so.  Being able to set the humidity in the house I am able to keep the Thermostat on 78 degrees even on 100 degree days and be absolutely comfortable.   It feels about 74 at that temperature.

The issue of condensation on the inside of my windows has also seemed to disappear for now.  The unit is so quiet I hardly know when it is on – and the guys balanced the ducts during the installation so that I do not have certain rooms hotter or cooler than another.

At this rate I project having an Electric Bill less than $100 in October and November and I am SO EXCITED to see what it ends up being.  I will update the post and let you know.

As for Denny and Airton I highly recommend them.  Their knowledge on how HVAC affects Energy Efficiency and the ability to properly size units, run the proper reports and so on is amazing.  If you are updating your unit to one that is more high tech and Energy Efficient you need use someone that can not only explain it to you but be able to maintain it properly to KEEP it efficient.

To contact Denny or Airton:

Denny Patterson – Airtron
713-830-6219
Denny.Patterson@resservices.com
TACLA014513E

For the most part, every community has a high end and a low end.  In the Real Estate Industry we call these Comparables.  Depending on the size, condition and location of the home- your home may be anywhere in between.  For the sake of this article, let’s focus on getting you at the top.

10.  Keep it Clean-  Sounds simple right?  Well, it pretty much is just that.  If you are thinking about selling take a few days and do some ‘deep cleaning’ or call in a maid service.  Clean out some of those closets that look jam packed full of linens and boxes.  It just needs to be tidy.  Get rid of those dust streamers on the ceiling fans, dust and wash the baseboards/door casings.  A clean and organized home leaves the impression of one that is well maintained.

9.  Maintenance-  Keep up with your property.  If you wait until it is time to sell, the cost of repairs may be so much that you won’t want to do it.  Set a schedule and paint the house every so often, change the roof in a timely manner, keep those fences looking good.  This way, it won’t be overwhelming when you need it the most.   Other items that would be on this list would be Hot Water Heaters, A/C and Heat equipments, etc.  Buyers really DO look at these things.  Wouldn’t you?

8.  Update-  Often times we confuse the term ‘Update’ with ‘Upgrade’.  Updating the home just means to keep it cosmetically as though it is recent.  Sometimes this just means changing out a couple of light fixtures, paint on the walls, color choices on the exterior and maybe even the flooring.

7.  Flooring-  Keep it clean or change it.  If you don’t want to mess with it, put down a tile or Hardwood Floor.  (A little Hint: If the color of the grout in the tile is your only issue, you can have someone come in and stain it for a minimal amount of money)  If you think you might be moving in 5 or so years, why don’t you change it now so that you can also enjoy it?

6.  Kitchen-  When your appliances are getting to look a little…used- Maybe you are getting tired of them?  Change those also, and don’t forget to buy Energy Star rated appliances!  If you want to spice it up a little bit more, change the color of them!  That would then be updating.  Then maybe change the paint and the light over the breakfast table, faucet on the sink.  You would have a whole new kitchen for less than $300.  Update the pulls on the cabinet doors/drawers, countertops maybe?

5.  Bathrooms-  The same thing goes here as in the Kitchen.  If money allows you can always update the shower and flooring.  If not?  Just changing out the light fixtures (Energy Star rated of course) a little paint or American Clay Wall Plaster and you will be lookin’ good!

4.  Exterior of the Home-  Painting the exterior was mentioned above, but there is so much more to the exterior of the home.  If you have gutters, clean them out regularly.  Not just to look nice, but to reduce the maintenance of your home as they can cause severe wood rot.  Speaking of wood rot, change out the wood that needs to go if there is any.  Get the roof changed or washed (don’t forget the radiant barrier) – Should you change out the windows?  Check with a local Real Estate Professional, but if this is something you want to do, you will likely get your money back on resale and THEN some.

3.  Reduce Your Energy Bills-  Now, this is something to do even if you don’t want to move.  It could be as simple as sealing around your doors and windows and upgrading to Energy Efficient (Energy Star Rated) items as you go through the home.  Make the home a little more affordable to actually LIVE in, and you will likely see the return when you go to sell.  On top of that, put a little more money in your pocket every month before you decide to make the big move.  First things First though, Get an Energy Audit!

2.  Upgrade-  If you are changing out items in your home, and the Comparables allow you to do so, Upgrade what you put in.  Remember, when you go to sell, the other homes around you will likely be your competition.   What can you put in that maybe some other homes won’t have?  Just don’t over improve your home!  I recommend getting with a local real estate professional to find out how much you have to play with in your Renovations if there is a chance you may move in the next 5 years.

1.  Curb Appeal-  This is number One!  Your front yard is the first thing that people see, make sure that you make a good impression.  Do a little bit of landscaping and maybe try to use Native plants to your Region.  People are busy and don’t always like to have High Maintenance yards, but we LOVE to enjoy them.  Try to Landscape somewhere in the middle.  Let it Dazzle but be easy to Keep that way.

It really is easy as that!  If you are having a hard time figuring out what to do to your home, contact a local Professional whether it be a Remodeler, Interior Designer, Landscape Company or Real Estate Professional.

My best advice would be to make a list.  Write down what you want to see in your home over the next ‘X’ years or months and how much they will cost.  From there it will probably be easier to figure out in what order you want to complete the tasks.

In Houston, the two programs that are getting a lot of Buzz and being asked about is Energy Star and Environments for Living.  Energy Star has done an amazing job branding itself as Energy Efficient.  The Energy Star logo is now a common sight on products that use Electricity as well as more and more builders hopping in to use the program.

When it comes to homes, Energy Star primarily focuses on how much Energy the products in the home use.  For example, the Dishwasher, lights, ceiling fans, hot water heater, etc.  An Energy Star home uses Energy Star rated products.  It is important to remember that Energy Star does not focus as much on the Envelope of the home.  Absolutely I agree that as many products as possible in the home should have the Energy Star logo- but this is where Environments for Living hopped in to bridge the gap.

Environments for Living is a program that appears to be growing with Light speed in the Houston area, but what does it mean?

The two main differences if you take a look at the Websites for the two >>ES<< and >>EFL<< are this:

• Energy Star: “at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (IRC)
• EFL: “seeking to achieve energy efficiency 50 percent above 2006 IECC“

EFL takes Energy Star as a basic minimum standard.  There is a minimum requirement for products in the home that have to bear the Energy Star Logo…and then builds on top of that, so at the same time they focus somewhat on different features of the home.

In both programs, you will find a focus on Air Infiltration meaning the home will not ‘leak’ as much air in or out depending on your climate but their end goal for energy usage are using different Codes with different requirements.

As Craig Lobel with EcoEdge Consulting puts it:

EFL energy models the actual floor plan and then makes recommendations on R-Values, SEER and AFUE.   I think it’s important to remember that floor to ceiling, wall to window, and wall partitioning differ from each home.  Their energy modeling process also gives the annual electricity and natural gas BTU usage for the home.  Also keep in mind, EFL backs their program up with a 3 year comfort and energy usage guarantee and geared towards being 50% more efficient on Heating and Cooling over a code built home in a given region.

Another part of the Thermal Envelope are the windows- how they are sealed and the minimum requirement for Solar Heat Gain.  Air Ducts in the attic must have a minimum R-Value, holes in the homes sheathing must be sealed to not only help with Air Infiltration but moisture management which is a HOT topic in Gulf Coast Regions such as Houston

If you get up in to a higher rating of EFL, the home also focuses on Water Efficiency and other GREEN features.

Both Energy Star and Environments for Living are great programs, they just focus on different things in the end.  Which one should a Homebuyer consider?  Well, that depends on what your needs and wants are…maybe even what price range you are in.

Check out the links that I have placed throughout this post and it may help to explain more in detail the difference between the two.  In my opinion, EFL focuses more on the envelope and the home as a system than Energy Star and should have a tighter blower door test rating in the end…if your focus is Energy Efficiency.

I have a confession. Sometimes I like to think of myself as smart. There are many smart people, right? I have a degree. I made it thru 12 years of the military, that’s gotta count for something. My home state is world famous for “Yankee Ingenuity”. Smart right? Well, Not… So… Fast! I’ve been learning ALOT this last year after opening Green Builders Source. So many things that a laymen’s understanding didn’t do justice. Let me share my latest discovery! CORK!

Seems, my layman’s understanding of cork was woefully inadequate! Sure, there are the cork boards, the underlayment of engineered flooring, and then my personal favorite, the wine cork! Yummy! But it wasn’t until 1999 that I had even HEARD of a cork floor. Tile? Yup! Wood? Of course! Marble? Have you seen the Duomo in Florence? But Cork? Apparently it was all the rage in Europe! And I just lived in Europe for 5 years? How could I miss it? How?

Well, being the ever curious, I started to pay attention every time information on cork was available. Jump to 2008 and Cork is now a top player for any green building project. The top green choices almost always start with: Cork, Bamboo, Linoleum, and locally manufactured tile. Many don’t know why Cork is on the “Short list” for Green. Bamboo is obvious as it’s a grass, it can be harvested and rapidly renew its stalks for a future harvest. Tile is sustainable, that’s green. Linoleum is very natural and long lasting. But Cork? The harvesting of Cork is not yet as well known nor is how and from where it is harvested.

Cork comes from the Cork Oak. A medium sized tree that can be found in southern Europe and northern Africa. An interesting piece of information that is quite indicative of our vocabulary is all trees generate cork as a layer between the old growth bark and the living inner plant cells. It is a major component of the tree bark that protects the inner growth cells and sapwood from disease, insects, and damage. (note this… it protects the tree from bacteria, insects, and damage) It can be harvested from any tree, but only the Cork Oak is commercially viable due to its thickness and ease of harvesting.

The harvesting is equally interesting and truly a sustainable commodity, if not entirely practical. A Cork Oak does live an amazingly long time, upwards of 200 years. However, the first harvest cannot be taken until the tree is 20 years old. This harvest is of poor grade and it is not till the cork has been harvested an additional 3 times, or when the tree is 50 that high grade cork is available. This thought quickly squelched my desire to create a Cork Oak orchard in Texas given my level of attention and interest would surely expire before the first harvest. I did entertain the “second generation” idea, but my children would probably be so bored of hearing of the future harvest, they surely would be interested in more rapidly rewarding endeavors. Maybe Bamboo is more our “speed”? That said, the following harvests can be made at 10 year intervals. This allows 15 or more harvests from one tree! Truly a quest for a forward thinking entrepreneur. Very forward thinking!

Here’s a summary from the Canada/Portugal Chamber website:

Given that a cork oak produces cork tissue until it is 150 or even 200 years old, during which time it may be stripped 15 to 18 times, and that the average ages of trees presently in production is 85 years and that the area under plantation is growing by an average of 4% a year, cork production can look forward to a rosy future in Portugal. There are at present more than 600 industrial facilities operating in Portugal, employing a labor force of about 15,000. Cork products were exported in 1990 to the tune of 80,433,356,000 escudos (corresponding to 105,516 tons). In the same period natural cork stoppers accounted for 55% of total cork product exports. At 44,614,694,000 escudos, this trade is worth more than the export of Port Wine.

This only further clarifies that the commercial leaders in cork production are in Europe and Africa with Portugal producing 50% of the world’s supply. Don’t let the scarcity of the harvest locations fool you, however. Cork has a plethora of qualities that make it very desirable. It’s elastic in nature and near-water impermeable. It has low thermal conductivity, low density, fire resistance, and good energy absorption, antimicrobial, and resistant to insects, mold and mildew. (remember how it protected the tree as part of the bark?) All these factors make cork an excellent product for wine stoppers, sports equipment, sound management in musical instruments, and more. However, these qualities sound amazingly grand for use in construction.

Cork cells are comprised mostly of air. This trait makes each cork cell act as a balloon or a gasket. Additionally, the cell walls contain a waxy substance called “suberin” which enhances the impermeable wall to liquids and air. The product qualities that are found from the features of cork are: reduced sound from dropped items or walking, cork has a natural feel, it insulates against temperature changes (It has an “R-factor” of 2.6), it is low maintenance, extremely durable, and above all, it looks great. I found during my research for this article that there are cork floor installs that are still in use today over one hundred years old! One is a church in Chicago that had cork flooring in 1890 and is still in use today! And I just learned that The Library of Congress has cork flooring installed. Did I mention the sound absorption! Libraries and museums love cork. So do child care facilities. Not that I quote “Bob Vila” much, but his website had this to say about cork: “Finished cork flooring can have the look of textured hardwood… the soft give of carpet, and the easy maintenance of vinyl….cork feels softer than hardwood and warm underfoot, making it an obvious alternative to carpet.

Because of its cellular composition, it is extremely durable and resilient. This makes it much less affected by impact or friction than hard surface floors such as wood, laminate or tile. One feature that I always get questioned on is its resilience. I too worried that such a “soft” product would fall victim to high heeled shoes and the like. Apparently that “elasticity” that I mentioned has a “bounce back” factor of 40%! So, no worries about your high heeled shoes! Once the pressure is off, the cellular structure returns to shape very quickly.

Ok, so now we know it’s water resistant, insect and bacteria resistant, resilient, durable, quiet, and insulating, what do you have to do to get some? First, there are suppliers all over including Green Builders Source. Check all your options, inquiring about thickness, colors, patterns, pre-sealed, and quality. Second, there are two options for installation. Your cork floor can be installed as glue down tiles or as a floating floor. The glue down tiles uses fewer materials, but requires a near perfect floor for installation. The floating floor with interlocking tongue-and-groove edges is easier to install, and repair, and ready to walk on, thus making it a popular flooring choice.

For the floating floor planks and tiles, the cork floor looks like any engineered hardwood. There is a wear surface made of a factory applied, UV rated varnish or sealer, a veneer of cork oak bark, a cork core, a moisture resistant hard rigid core, and a cork underlayment. This layered solution provides the best of both worlds. The price is on par with other engineered woods or ceramic tile, so any alternative should put cork within the same budget range.

Once you have decided on cork, and you think you have a source, before you install it, you better have a maintenance plan. Every floor requires maintenance right? Well, yes, that is true, but cork is a low maintenance floor. The good news just keeps getting better with this flooring, doesn’t it? The catch? There isn’t any. Pick up loose dirt with vacuum, broom or “swiffer®”. The most important step is to Damp mop. Do NOT Wet mop! Do NOT let water stand on the floor. Then spot treat any tough to clean areas. Water is cleaning solvent enough. If you have to add something, nothing more abrasive then a drop or two of dish soap. Given all the water-resistance of cork, the seams of the flooring would swell under standing water.

Pretty amazing, hun? I know that in the time it’s taken me to finish this article, I’ve walked the house twice to see which room would look best in that new Green Builders Source Cork Floor! It’s a toss-up between the children’s play room or the kitchen. I’ll keep you posted.

To see samples for your own home or business, stop by the store!  Give a call and we can sit down together and go thru all the different and beautiful options you have with Cork! 

Angelique Grado
Green Builders Source
25700 I-45 North, Suite 101, Spring TX 77382
www.GreenBuildersSource.com
281-298-0400
angelique@greenbuilderssource.com

References for this page came from: Wikipedia, Nova Cork, Natural Cork, Bob Vila, Canada/Portugal Chamber, TexasParks.org, and several .edu sites.

First I want to say that I am thrilled to have been invited to participate on TurningHoustonGreen.com. I only hope that I can live up to the expectation that all of the readers expect out of the site as created by Stephanie. She has done a great job, thank you for providing this forum for us all!

My topic of choice is American Clay Earth Plasters. I was introduced to this plaster over a year ago by a builder who thought it had some great potential. At the time, I was not convinced as it seemed just a little too “easy”. Now, a year later, I am a convert.

Now, you may be asking; “What is American Clay”? Is it Native American Indian clay pottery? Is it a new product line launched by American Idol and Clay Aiken? No, and most assuredly, NO!

American Clay Earth Plaster is a fairly new product to the Houston market, and while it is fairly new, it is wholly Green! It is one of a few products that almost totally addresses not just one, not two, but possibly three or more tenants of Green Building. (Depending on whose tenants you are considering).

American Clay Earth Plaster is a wall plaster that combines the great qualities of natural earth materials, near limitless color variations of natural pigments, and depth and individuality of texture while having some pretty amazing qualities. American Clay marketing materials list that the product is Fire-resistant, non-toxic (no VOCs), fade resistant, mold resistant, dust resistant, non-dusting, temperature and humidity controlling, and more. The clay plaster is a finish coat to many possible substrates, commonly, new drywall, concrete walls, brick, and others. It is both a new construction product as well as a great remodeling product.

The clay plaster is the finish coat, the texture and the color all in one. It has qualities that paint does not have; clay plaster “breathes” – it takes in and gives off moisture, so walls in a steamy bathroom do not sweat and the room de-humidifies faster; clay plaster has a negative ionic charge, which reportedly makes people feel better, and it also repels dust and fingerprints/oils; the mass of the plaster and the moisture absorption qualities have a moderating effect on temperature in the room, called “latent heat flux”.

Now, the “latent heat flux” can be a little complicated, and a flash back to high school science, but the thing to remember, is that the plaster “breathes” moisture in humidity control, and that “breathing”, or evaporation, along with the qualities of stone/sand to moderate temperature changes makes for an extremely comfortable living environment. These “breathing” qualities also absorbs odors from the living space. Many a decorator familiar with American Clay will specify its use in a home with pets or previously occupied by smokers! Phew, now a solution for “fluffy” and “puffy”!

Now, a quality above, not as easy to explain is the “negative ionic charge”. Here is what the manufacture publishes on their website. “Natural clay maintains an incredibly dense molecular structure and shape, giving it the capacity to produce a self-generated negative charge upon hydration. Even the simple evaporation of water from clay has the capacity to produce negatively charged particles in the air. This means that when your walls breathe, or hydrate slightly with changes in humidity and slowly dry out, your interior space is being steeped in negative ions. The capacity of clay plaster to “breathe” and release negative ions is unique and not found in any other wall covering on the market today. Concrete, Gypsum, Marble, Lime, and decorative acrylic plasters do not release negative ions, breathe with changes in humidity, or resist dust. American Clay is unique in its ability to literally alter a space for the benefit of those inhabiting it!”

So, given all these great qualities, of no steamy bathrooms, no grungy fingerprints around light switches, absorbed pet odors, and absolutely beautiful walls, what is the next step? Figuring out how to get that stuff on our walls! The clay plaster is, well, a plaster. Most applicators trowel it on using a bucket and a plastic or steel trowel. It’s applied in two coats and then finished with a final compression step. The applicator, or do-it-yourselfer, can select a texture, a color, and an application technique that will offer limitless options. The clay plaster can also be applied using a spray technique, but this requires a thinner, pourable consistency, and then will be a smoother, less textured surface. If a commercial level of durability and speed in application is desired, a sister product to American Clay, called Enjarre is available. This too is sprayed on and back-troweled for texture. Many large commercial applications are using a combination of Enjarre for larger surfaces, with an American Clay color pallet selection for an accent wall.

The clay comes in three textures, a glassy smooth Porcelina, a molted crushed-sea shell Marittimo, and a very popular Loma. The applicator selects one of the 40 colors for the clay plaster, or two or more colors, depending on the look desired. The applicator then can apply the plaster with a super smooth finish, with a rough textured finish, or even add additional texture with additives like straw or more.

The colors range in depth from warm taupe, tans, golds and red, through cool greens and blues. Like many paint companies, American Clay too has fun with their color names like Tucson Gold, Austin Blush, Chocolatta, Painted Desert and Napa Olive. Just reading the color chart is like the blend of a map and a visit to the spa. Striking rich colors are available in the Natural Depths series. And, surprisingly, the clay plaster itself is a great fresh white color without any added pigment, great for contemporary looks or traditional white ceilings. Of course, one can pick from the 40 colors available. If a custom color is desired, the company has a color creation service for matching unique and custom colors for clients. They have already reported matching several Sherwin Williams paint colors for clients who want to maintain a specific pallet but want the qualities of the clay.

One question that I frequently get is: “Where should I start? The bathroom? Dining? Which room should I do first?”. This question is easy, it depends on YOU! The bedroom is great as it helps with temperature, dust and those awesome negative ions at work during the whole time you are asleep. The bath is great too! No foggy mirrors, no steamy clingy clothes! And the dining room? What better way to show off your great taste in food and décor! The reality is, many people start as do-it-yourselfers in powder baths, and quickly graduate to “whole house” American Clay converts

So, I think that pretty much “covers it” (opps, sorry another pun) We’ve covered the properties, the colors, the application, and the commercial Enjarre. Additionally, for those needing to know, American Clay qualifies for up to 5 LEED points for recycled content, construction waste, and low emitting content. Price points depend on color selection, application technique, and qualifications of applicator. American Clay publishes an “average application cost nationally of “$3 – $7 a square foot for American Clay and $2 a Square Foot for Enjarre”

I hope you’ve enjoyed this product post and I look forward to sharing some information that I’ve learned on the next product… hmmm… should it be paint, insulation, house wrap, or something really off-the-wall.

Angelique Grado
Green Builders Source
www.GreenBuildersSource.com

References for above article and more photos: www.americanclay.com

I decided to go over to the site.  You know how it is.  You have to become a member to the site, so I do so.  Cruise around for a minute checking out what the company is all about…It’s rather impressive.  Their plan is to try and make Green Home Design Free for everyone. How?  I didn’t get that far.

I then hopped over to sign up to try and Win a Custom Green Home Design. Wow!  These guys are serious.  Now THAT is impressive.

They want to know details on your lifestyle, which we all happen to know is important in green homes.  They want to know a little about your Medical Background, Pets, Kids, Lot Size, Location, Topography, Budget, Oh my goodness!

I’ll have to think about this and get back to it.  I stopped when I read the section, what would make your home so special?  And then a really big box to write in.  If you are wanting to Custom Design a Green Home but don’t have the budget for the Design part of it?  You may want to join this group and try to win.  There are some restrictions such as land, time frame to build, etc.

Just thought I would share this with all of my readers.  If any of you sign up, let me know how it goes! I’d love to stay posted.