The Art of Compromise in Green Building

View of driveway on northeast side of house, from behind kitchen nook.

"The perfect is the enemy of the good." - Voltaire

That quote kept running through my head as I approved an asphalt driveway. Ugh. Not green. Not permeable. NOT what I had planned.

I had long read and heard that green building is a lofty and challenging goal, and that it may require compromises along the way. This week, forces beyond my control led me to compromise away a green driveway. We had planned on gravel...

Gravel driveway with cobble insets - Revo Landscapes

or other permeable surfaces, such as porous asphalt...

Looks like traditional asphalt, but allows water to penetrate down to the ground below

GravelPave2...

Recycled plastic frames hold gravel in place, providing a much sturdier driving surface

or permeable pavers...

Aqua Bric porous pavers

... any of which would prevent storm water run-off. Traditional asphalt prevents water from naturally seeping into and filtering through the ground, which taxes the municipal water treatment system. Porous surfaces are always a better option.

The driveway, in all its blacktop glory.

Unfortunately, cold weather prevented us from laying a porous asphalt driveway, permeable pavers would have busted the budget, and gravel was not feasible, given the significant amount of unstable "unsuitable material" immediately beneath grade. Turns out our lot was the neighborhood dumping ground at least 50 years ago. Excavation turned up all sorts of household items and discarded building materials. Aedi Construction's experts and subs conferred, and explained that good old asphalt would actually help stabilize the ground.

Example of cobblestone driveway accent in the neighborhood.

I have consoled myself with plans for porous driveway accents, hardscaping of the patio and xeriscaping with native, hardy plants... and a reminder from Voltaire.

An Entire Color Palette in a (nut) Shell!

I like to use an inspiration piece, usually from nature, around which an entire color palette can be created. For THE CONCORD GREEN HOME, it was this unassuming seashell, discovered on the North Shore of Massachusetts last summer.

Who would think that this little shell...

with its perfect mix of warm and cool tones, would inspire creamy white walls and cabinetry, orange-tinged antique pine hardwood, tumbled stone flooring, taupe concrete countertops, flax and white linens, and more.

When we take our cues from nature, it's hard to make a mistake. What's your inspiration?

Let the Passive Solar Heating begin...

Along with the in-town park location, this sunny southern exposure is why we bought this lot.

The leaves on the large maple trees out back are long gone, revealing why we purchased this particular lot. The rear interior corner of the house faces directly south, so even though the park view is to the front, most of the windows run all along this interior corner. Since the winter sun is lower in the sky, warmth will penetrate deep into the home for most of the day, providing passive solar heating -- and keeping energy bills to a minimum in this super insulated house. When you work closely with nature, your house can heat itself.

From front entry to rear french doors, a wide swath of stone flooring will provide thermal mass, which absorbs and stores warmth from the day's rays and then slowly releases it at night as the house cools.

The light-reflecting plaster bounces sunshine off all of the walls, eliminating the need to turn on lights during the day.

What a difference from the light-absorbing blue boarded walls just a week earlier.

The sky-lit gable ceiling over the kitchen, with view to breakfast nook beyond.

The nook will be a cozy, sunny place to relax.

The tall open stairwell is a key component of passive cooling during the summer. The north-facing windows at the stairwell bottom allow cooler air to rush in as rising hot air escapes through higher windows in the attic loft.

The lovely allee of trees in the park across the street after our first December snowfall.

10 Classic Design Strategies for Greener Interiors

Recycled Home by Mark & Sally Bailey.

It's finally time to focus on the interiors of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME, after blogging for the past few weeks about its construction. I look forward to sharing ways we are creating a sustainable and healthy home that still honors its historic setting.

Most of the eco-friendly design pioneers have had a super-modern bent. While I love pouring through their portfolios, my goal is to show that these strategies are just as compatible with classic style.

Here are 10 of my favorite "go-to" green and healthy strategies. What are yours?

TEN CLASSIC DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR GREENER INTERIORS

1. Reclaimed Building Components
Hardwood floors (see my earlier post) are a great way to incorporate the beautiful patina of old growth wood, salvaged from local barns, mills and homes. It doesn't hurt that reclaimed wood fits right in with all the hot design trends, from Belgium, Sweden, France and beyond.

You can even use it on the ceiling. Kay Douglass design, courtesy of House Beautiful.

Or consider antique stone and brick, rescued from narrow old Boston streets or an ancient Tuscan tower (of course, that would only be green if you are lucky enough to live near Tuscany, and don't have to fly it over an ocean).

I snapped this photo of antique stone and concrete copies at the Paris Ceramics showroom. They have a beautiful selection from all over the world.

2. Daylighting
Let the sunshine in! Keep the lights off and save energy. Avoid blocking precious light with heavy, dust-collecting drapery. Use solid shutters, plantation or cottage-style blinds, linen and other natural fibers that filter beautiful sunlight all day long. Some of these selections also provide terrific insulation on colder nights or let you control heat gain in summertime.

To magnify the sun's rays further, use a small dose of reflective surfaces like mirrors and glossy finishes, along with light colored walls and painted floors - design secrets that figure prominently in sun-starved Swedish interiors.

Solid shutters grace the windows of this charming nursery. Design by Shannon Bowers.

3. Antiques
Reuse and recycling are always better than building new. Happily, antiquing happens to be a very green thing to do. You can source online at high end sites, such as 1stdibs.com or Bond & Bowery, or search for bargains on ebay or craigslist. Re-purposing old pieces in new ways can be quite satisfying, whether it be conversion of an old dresser as a new bath vanity (see my earlier post), or metal gym lockers as laundry storage.

Here is the Before and After of an old vanity that I found on Craigs List, refinished as a writing desk for a young girl's bedroom.

BEFORE: Tired old vanity purchased via Craigs List for $100...

AFTER: Reborn as a sweet writing desk with painted and hand-rubbed wax finish, and glass knobs. Available in our "Reuse Recycle ReSale" - see details at bottom of sidebar on right.

4. Non-Toxic Paints and Finishes
The most commonly used paints and finishes, even some eco-friendly varieties, are filled with nasty volatile organic compounds that off-gas harmful fumes in your home, long after that fresh-paint smell disappears. (Of particular concern, the nesting instinct that has expecting parents hurriedly painting the new nursery lands baby in a toxic soup environment.) I specify Mythic Paint (even the primer doesn't smell!) on most of my design projects.

Mythic Paint: Safe for People. Safe for Pets. Safe for the Earth.

I also love Farrow and Ball paints for walls - not only does its historically inspired color palette have incredible depth and richness, its clay-pigment formula is naturally non-toxic.

Farrow and Ball "wrote the book" on Paint and Colour in Decoration.

Lastly, a word on the ubiquitous polyurethane, used to finish floors, furniture and many other surfaces in the home. Avoid! This stuff is extremely toxic!!! Look for natural finishes and other alternatives - depending on the requirements of your project. There are more and more quality alternatives being introduced all the time. Or you can turn back to time-tested methods of our ancestors, like tung oil (be careful if you have tree nut allergies), linseed oil and waxes.

5. Closed Storage
While beautiful, open shelving should be used sparingly, as it collects dust (and grease in the kitchen) - not good for a healthy home. There are so many gorgeous options too, from glass-front cabinets, to fabric lined doors, to antique hutches.

Fashion icon Kate Spade's own kitchen demonstrates that you can still have the look of open storage, without the build up of dust and grease.

Kitchen designer Cyndy Cantley's fabric-lined doors add a soft, fresh touch to this breakfast nook makeover. Southern Living magazine.

Open shelving is stylish and functional - even when you have to stand on a chair :) - but use it sparingly. Katie Lee Joel's dining room featured in Domino magazine, design by Nate Berkus.

6. Ban the Wall-to-Wall
Wall-to-wall carpet should be avoided, especially in sleeping spaces. It collects and holds all sorts of offenders, including dust, pollens and pesticides tracked in on shoe bottoms, pet dander, and plain old dirt. If you need a soft landing, area carpets can be cleaned and even replaced. Check out Flor recycled carpet tiles, which can be washed in the sink, or replaced, one square at a time. They regularly introduce new designs that fit any style home. Even Martha Stewart has a line with them.

Recycled Carpet Tiles give you unlimited design options. Flor Martha Stewart Collection.

7. Renewable Resources
Whenever possible, specify renewable alternatives for interior selections, such as countertops, and flooring. Concrete countertops can range from industrial cool to warm European rustic, depending on the color and type of finish (see my earlier post). Bamboo flooring, made from rapidly renewable grass, has come a long way, now offering different grain selections that are not just for super-modern spaces.

The juxtaposition of rough and smooth - concrete countertops surround a smooth farmhouse sink - a lovely mix. Kitchen design by Shannon Bowers - House Beautiful.

8. Bring the Outdoors In
Incorporating natural elements, and items meant for outdoor use, is a favorite design strategy. Collect dead branches and create a knock out chandelier, or rewire an old post lantern as a kitchen pendant, or clad interior walls with shingles meant for the outside of your house. They all serve to reconnect us, literally or figuratively, to our outside world, and remind us to take care of it.

Huge chandelier-like hanging crafted from tree branches. Point Click Home.

Exterior cedar shingles clad the interior walls of this New England beach home. Source unknown.

9. Eco-friendly Furniture
Thankfully, there are a growing number of manufacturers who specialize in eco-friendly furniture, with FSC-certified wood and non-toxic finishes. A new favorite is Cisco Brothers, a firm that has even helped redevelop their surroundings in South Central LA after the 1992 riots there. Some mainstream retailers, like Crate and Barrel, are also getting into the act.

The Trada Sofa from Cisco Brothers.

10. To Bed... Organic Mattresses
We all spend a third of our lives in bed. And yet, most commercially available mattresses are filled with chemicals, even those that cost several thousand dollars. Shop for the healthiest mattress you can afford. This is one area in which you don't want to skimp. Look for the GreenGuard label.

The Organic Mattress offers a nice selection of mattresses, pillows, linens and accessories like mattress toppers and dust mite covers.

Enjoy!

Concrete Countertops - A Renewable Alternative to Marble

Stunning white marble kitchen - Martha Stewart Living

After pouring through the pages of interior design magazines, it is hard to ignore the beauty of natural stone countertops, (particularly white marble, which is so hot these days), quarried and transported from far away places.

And yet, when making plans for the light and airy 10' kitchen island, along with the bath vanities of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME, the thought of pillaging the earth for non-renewable stone, along with the energy consumed and pollution created to transport it over land and sea, had me thinking twice.

"Stainless Concrete" countertop from J. Aaron.

I decided to go with concrete countertops. They are made from renewable resources, are easily maintained, durable and have a look that is at once industrial and rugged, yet warm and mellow at the same time.

I reached out to several East Coast suppliers. I fell in love with the samples from J. Aaron Cast Stone as soon as they arrived. They can create a countertop with any shape, in any color (light colors seem harder to find in concrete).

The only design limit is your imagination.

Plus, J. Aaron has developed a "stainless concrete" formula that eliminates the biggest disadvantage of concrete, while maintaining its soft patina. As the company's website explains:

For centuries, concrete has offered a beautiful alternative to natural stone for a variety of surfaces. As a counter top it has always been durable and extremely versatile with the one drawback being the tendency to etch when exposed to acids such as wine, citrus, vinegar and coffee. The look that results can be unsightly. Until now, the alternative was to coat the concrete with a topical sealer such as the epoxies many companies use. This does end the etching but... it smothers the original texture while stopping the natural patina process that makes concrete grow more beautiful with age.

Our exclusive stainless concrete solves this problem. It offers the best of both worlds, allowing the lovely texture of the material to remain and take on a slow natural patina though usage while stopping the etching effect of acids.

No wonder the samples are so lovely. I am pleased to welcome J. Aaron, a company whose products fit with THE CONCORD GREEN HOME's mission and aesthetic, as our 8th sponsor.

J. Aaron traditional gray color in any desired thickness.

Anne Balogh, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist, states "In addition to their versatility and distinctive beauty, concrete countertops have another virtue that appeals to many people, especially the ecologically aware: They are more environmentally friendly, or "greener," than most other types of countertops."

"Solid surface materials are made of plastic, engineered quartz materials contain a synthetic resin binder, and granite and marble are nonrenewable mined resources. Concrete contains mostly just good old sand, rock and cement," says Jeff Girard, president of The Concrete Countertop Institute and one of the Concrete Network's technical experts."

Concrete bath vanity top with integral sink.

To ensure that your concrete countertops are as green as possible, be sure to ask for maximum recycled content, and specify non-toxic, non-volatile organic compound (VOC) finishes.

Light and Bright Interiors

As the plastering of the interior walls gets underway, am reviewing inspiration photos for light and airy spaces. Here are some favorites:

Cookbook author Judith Barrett's kitchen, as featured in House Beautiful.

Master Bedroom design by Frank Delle Donne

Seacloth founder, Susan Harris' own home - rustic and refined.

Painted floors bounce light everywhere, making for a cheery and peaceful space. THE CONCORD GREEN HOME will feature painted floors in bedrooms and attic loft.

A favorite blend of primitive and modern, from a favorite designer - Vicente Wolf

Palm Beach home - design by Darryl Carter

Darryl Carter's own farmhouse. Again, painted floors, a signature of his, make the space.


Simply gorgeous. Design by Haynes-Roberts Inc.

So cozy and inviting. (Need to find this source too.)

Blue Board and Skim Coat Plaster Instead of Drywall

Drywall, also known as Sheetrock, is the building standard in U.S. interior wall construction. But there is a better alternative based on traditional methods common before 1940: blue board with skimcoat plaster.

Bright yellow scaffolding stands at the ready in the kitchen, contrasting with the newly applied blue board, awaiting its skimcoat of plaster.

As THE CONCORD GREEN HOME's builder, Matt Ayers of Aedi Construction, explains:

"There are fundamental differences in the application and therefore construction of drywall and blue board. Blue board receives a full skim coat of plaster. Drywall gets a low moisture tape coat of joint compound at the seams only. Because of this, drywall does not need to be a structurally sound or as capable of withstanding contact with moisture. It is less expensive because its composition does not need to be consistent, while blue board is one material (gypsum/plaster) throughout...

Blue board's consistent makeup allows it to breathe and dry. This is another advantage of blue board. If drywall gets wet, it is more prone to mold and mildew issues, whereas blue board will breathe dry over time and is much more resistant.

Lastly, with drywall and joint compound, you need to sand in between coats and that produces massive amounts of dust -- never a good thing in a healthy house."

With its dark cave-like cladding and metallic-taped corners and seams, the loft looks stuck somewhere between King Arthur's medieval court and Star Wars. It will all lighten up immensely once the off-white natural color plaster is applied to the walls.

The beautiful lighting contrasts in the loft space has me wanting to get out my paint brushes and canvas right now.

For more on the benefits of blue board and veneer plaster from Bob Vila, click here.

Click here for a Bob Vila video that shows you how the plaster is applied to the blue board.

A long view from the Office through the Great Room to the Kitchen, with a close up of the corner detail.

LEED, Energy Star and other Green certifications

THE CONCORD GREEN HOME has just received Energy Star certification for meeting strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA.

When building a green and healthy home, there are several certification programs worth considering. Certification boosts resale value by providing third-party verification of the home's efficiency and performance. This benefit comes at a cost, however, in the form of certification fees and the time and money required to deliver all of the appropriate paperwork. Regardless of whether you actually certify your home, using these programs' criteria for guidance will help you create a higher efficiency, eco- and occupant-friendly home.

While THE CONCORD GREEN HOME closely adhered to these guidelines, and, for example, would have easily achieved at least a Silver Level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, we opted instead to spend the $10,000 or so required for that official stamp of approval on adding more green features to the house.

We did pursue the Energy Star certification, because it more than paid for itself in the form of federal tax rebates.

Technician administering blower door test at THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

Most well-known green certification programs:

U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program.

National Association of Home Builders Green Certification

U.S. Department of Energy's Builders Challenge

Energy Star

I am pleased to see growing interest in certification programs specifically aimed at the health of the home's occupants, an area only partially addressed by the green building certifications. They have excellent criteria which provides additional guidance to homeowners and builders aiming to build better. A few sources worth checking out:

Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Plus

"The Healthy Home Standard" from the Institute for Bau-Biologie and Ecology

Green Guard Building Construction

This is from a relatively unknown source, but the recommendations are excellent:

Non-Toxic Home Certification

Repurposed Old Pieces as New Bath Vanities

Primitive zinc-topped console with new vessel sinks. Designed by Ginger Barber. Featured in House Beautiful July 2009.

Even if it wasn't a very green thing to do, I have always loved repurposing old pieces for new uses. A bath vanity is one of those perfect opportunities to turn an old apothecary chest, console, dresser, sideboard or work table into a beautiful new work of art.

Spotted this beautiful old apothecary on 1stdibs.com. Too rich for the budget, but love the painted numbers on the many drawers. A great inspiration piece.

An antique Gustavian cabinet converted into a lovely shallow vanity by Brooke Gianetti.

Rustic wood top conversion of old metal trough-like piece by Carrier and Company.

While I am still busy sourcing the Master Bath vanity, the Hall Bath vanity is already underway for the THE CONCORD GREEN HOME. The back is removed and the prep work begins on converting this old pine chest into an adorable new vanity. It will be repainted in a pale stone color from Farrow and Ball, a naturally non-toxic clay-based paint steeped in historic tradition.


The vanity will have an undermount sink, with this wall mount faucet from Rohl's Country Bath collection, in their particularly gorgeous polished nickel finish, including the lever handles (vs. chrome and crystal as shown).

When reusing old pieces for a Healthy House, be sure that the piece is clean, free of lead paint, mold and any other contaminants that you won't want to bring into your home.

First Indoor Tour: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Roughs are Complete

A lone pipe awaits the future kitchen island.

Another major milestone has been accomplished.

Aedi Construction's Matt Ayers, site supervisor Patrick Hughes and their teams of sub-contractors have worked incredibly hard to coordinate and complete the rough installation of all the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Not only did they complete specified work, they adapted quickly to changes in the plans, such as trading out electric radiant heat for an all-hydronic system (to reduce electromagnetic field loads in this healthy house), upgrading from Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) plastic pipe to cast iron plumbing, and relocation of some electrical and lighting.

Congratulations, and a huge thank you to all, including the Zero Energy Design team for their continued support and counsel on the project.

Let the interior insulating begin!

The kitchen's range, refrigerator/freezers and wall of cabinetry will be on left wall, with cozy seating at the rear windows.

Natural daylighting and passive solar heating from the kitchen's southern exposure skylights will significantly reduce energy loads.


More kitchen light from the south in the hardworking heart of the home.

The Aquasana water filtration system under stairs,
but near access door for easy filter changes.

Wall mount sink, faucets and toilet with open shower make the first floor bath handicap accessible - enabling occupants to age gracefully in place, should the need ever arise.

Black cast iron pipes prevent upstairs water noise from
traveling downstairs to open plan spaces.

A view from the Office/Away Room into the Great Room with its new recessed lighting. Main spaces will also have ceiling fans to supplement the passive cooling features of the house.

Hall Bathroom with shower - three interior windows will borrow daylight from stair well.

Master electrical and plumbing in, with a lovely balcony facing the park.

The attic mechanical room houses the fresh air ventilation system. With its HEPA filtration and high-efficiency Heat Recovery Ventilator...

... it is the only ductwork running through the house (save the exhaust fans). This minimizes potential for dust and condensation to build up in the ducts, which can breed mold and other unhealthy contaminants.


The attic loft space.


Shed dormer windows in the loft.


I leave you with the above quote from John Ruskin that Patrick Hughes, our incredible site supervisor, keeps on his desk in the job trailer. It perfectly sums up the care and commitment with which Patrick manages the construction of this special home.

Historic Windows with Modern Efficiency

The choice of windows for THE CONCORD GREEN HOME was critically important on many levels. First, the windows had to deliver superior insulating value. Second, they had to have a high solar heat gain coefficient, which measures how much passive solar heat can pass through the glazing during the colder months. Lastly, they had to fit with the historic aesthetic of the home.

Photos: Green Mountain Window and Door Co.

The low-e, Krypton-filled Milestone window from Green Mountain Window and Door Co., came out on top on all three counts, even compared to high efficiency windows from major brands favored by environmentally-minded architects and homeowners alike. Perhaps it is because this young firm is located in Vermont, where their windows are "Made in the Northeast for the Northeast".These windows are beautiful. Green Mountain has figured out a way to deliver high thermal performance, all while a) concealing the block-and-tackle balance and tilt-in latch systems and b) including authentic traditional details such as wide rails and narrow muntins. As evidence of the firm's commitment to historic accuracy, they are approved by the Historic Preservation Division of the National Park Service for installations meeting Federal Tax Credit Standards.

Some of my favorite features can be found on their casement and awning windows, which have a charming wood-framed screen that swings in (no fighting with those frustrating screen pins on the exterior of the house) and can be easily taken off its hinges off-season. They've also replaced the unpopular crank mechanism with a historically accurate push-out lever controlled by a friction hinge.

Casement window with interior screen on hinges.

A huge thank you to Green Mountain Window and Door Co. for coming on board as the 7th sponsor of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME. Their generous support will enable the home to have several interior windows as well, which will provide increased ventilation and cooling, and help spread daylight deeper into the home. Of course, both of these benefits will in turn deliver additional energy and cost savings.

A mix of Green Mountain double hung, casement, awning and transom windows
on the rear elevation of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

One awning window installed, while one awaited its turn.

The Exterior Winds Down While the Interior Dries Out

THE CONCORD GREEN HOME is finally fully clad in its white Hardiplank fiber cement clapboard. With the exception of railings, the exterior trim is virtually finished as well. Even the wide, graceful porch stairs (to right of construction stairs) seem to beckon for a friendly visit as you stroll by.

The bright pink rigid insulation that cloaked the house for weeks is now hidden, but already performing well. The house is warm inside, even though the interior insulation has yet to be installed. The radiant heat will fire up this week to dry out any residual moisture from the October rains (and snows!) before interior insulation is applied. This will ensure that there is no potential for mold to develop within the walls.

The new kid on the block is finally starting to fit in.

Historic Lanterns for the Exterior

Selected this gorgeous New England Barn Lantern from Scofield Historic Lighting to grace the front entry of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME. The finish, as shown, will be a leaded copper, to give it that authentic aged look.


Lucky for us, we are the beneficiary of several other smaller lanterns rescued from a garden building nearby that will complement the entry lantern perfectly. Recycling at its best.

Now we just need to source the right energy saving bulbs to light these beauties.

Dreaming of Hydroelectric and Solar Leasing

Just got off the phone with Dale Cronan, Assistant Director of Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP). We discussed the future of renewable energy sources in the Concord community.

Team California's solar-powered house
at this month's inspiring bi-yearly
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
Photo: Stefano Paltera

Dale is committed to greening the electricity in Concord. Currently, he is working on hydro and wind power opportunities, in order to increase the percentage of Concord's electricity that originates from renewable sources. THE CONCORD GREEN HOME was going to participate in a new hydroelectric program that was due to come online at the end of this year, however Dale informed me that CMLP is now simply folding renewable sources into all residential service. So instead of a few houses being really green and paying more for their kilowatts, everyone will be a little greener and share the cost.

How hydroelectric power works.
Courtesy of USGS.gov's Water Science for Schools

Like approximately 40 other towns in the state of Massachusetts, CMLP is an independent provider of electricity. This allows greater local control of power sourcing and distribution. However, it limits residents' access to state-provided financial incentives for purchasing solar photovoltaics for their roof or land.

The good news is that there is a seachange happening in solar, and CMLP is working to figure out a way that Concord residents can participate. Instead of an outlay of tens of thousands of dollars, consumers would have the option of leasing solar equipment, for as low as a one-time $1,000 fee, in exchange for a long-term commitment with the solar provider.

Can't Afford Solar Panels? Lease Them.
Courtesy of CBS Evening News.

Solar leasing is a bit like the business model evolution that transformed the cell phone industry -- from selling $4,000 phones to renting them or even giving them away for free when you signed up for a two-year lease. Hopefully, one day, clean, renewable electricity sources will be just as ubiquitous as the cell phone.

Rudy Krolopp, lead designer of the first cell phone,
with a 2 lb., half-hour talk time DynaTAC8000X, and a more recent model.
Courtesy of MSNBC.com.

Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring - A Green Piece of History

Perhaps no other antique adds the graceful patina of age to a new construction residence more impactfully than reclaimed wood flooring, all while sparing our forests.

All photos courtesy of Longleaf Lumber

Your home can showcase a piece of history, with flooring made of beams, siding and other building materials salvaged from nearby old barns, factories and public buildings. Or you could choose centuries-old birch, recovered from the chilly depths of Maine waterways used to transport logs to the sawmill.

Antique wood was typically harvested after the trees had matured over a span of hundreds of years. Old growth wood is highly desirable due to its strength, and the tightness, density and clarity of its grain.

Antique Pumpkin Pine Flooring runs throughout a private residence.

BENEFITS OF RECLAIMED HARDWOOD

• All the attributes of "old growth" wood without harming the few remaining old growth forests
  
• Recycling salvageable materials prevents them from heading to the landfill
• More dimensionally stable than new growth, which minimizes expansion and contraction as temperatures and humidity levels change... a real plus when installing over radiant heat.
  
• Access to otherwise extinct or exotic species, such as American Chestnut - used commonly up until the population was all but killed off by blight in the first half of the 20th century - or Teak - a species now well protected by environmental stewardship.
  

Antique Heart Pine Floor in a Rustic grade runs

throughout a private residence in Nantucket, MA.

I am pleased to announce the addition of Longleaf Lumber, a local Cambridge company that specializes in antique lumber, to our sponsorship roster for THE CONCORD GREEN HOME. Their beautiful reclaimed flooring will grace the main living spaces of the residence's open space plan.

A BEST OF BOSTON HOME 2009 pick, Longleaf Lumber has a showroom in Cambridge, MA and a mill in Berwick, ME. Their primary business is the milling of antique flooring derived from salvaged Heart Pine beams and decking. They also carry antique Chestnut, Oak, White Pine, Maple, and other woods and products associated with antique buildings.

Reading through their list of antique wood sources is a fascinating walk through local history. Below is just a sampling.

Fore River Bridge


Baker's Chocolate Factory


Tobacco Building, Hatfield MA


Danvers State Hospital

Do you have a reclaimed, recycled or salvage story that you would like to share? We'd love to hear it. Just click on Comments below.

Insulate for Efficiency and for Health

Areas under the roof receive an extra layer of rigid foam insulation prior to drywall

The exterior of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME is almost complete, save the front elevation, which is still sporting its pink rigid foam insulation. As soon as the weather clears, the front facade will finally match the rest of the house.

Meanwhile, once the interior is bone dry (by starting up the new radiant heat and some dehumidifiers), open-cell spray foam will coat the entire assembly. This will be followed by drywall and plaster skimcoat, in order to achieve a well-sealed air & water-tight building envelope.

We had planned on using closed-cell insulation for its somewhat higher R-values, however, open-cell foam, like Icynene, does not require a multi-week curing time as it continues to off-gas chemicals. In this case, indoor air quality trumps slightly better efficiency gains.

The Metal Roof is On and It's a Beauty

They say that true beauty runs more than skin-deep. That certainly can be said of the beautiful new roof on THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

I love a standing seam metal roof. Let me count the ways:

1. Made from recycled materials and is 100% recycleable
2. Significantly more durable, and 2/3rds lighter than asphalt shingles
3. Will never end up in a landfill, and will likely outlast us all
   
4. Sheds snow, which prevents moisture damage from ice dams
   
5. Deflects hot summer sun, which reduces cooling loads
6. Will not burn or support combustion
7. Won't dry out, split, curl or peel, and cannot be penetrated by hail
   
8. Supports rainwater harvesting
9. Low-to-no maintenance
10. And yes, it is good-looking - a classic farmhouse style that I hope will become more common in the area, for all of the reasons above
    

A view of the right elevation

A huge thank you to the professionals at Iron Horse Roofing, for their quality product and installation.

The kitchen wing -
those skylights will save energy by daylighting the most used space in the house

The colder northeast kitchen wall's minimal windows helps preserve heat. Nice "bucket hat" on the range hood vent.

Snow guards, a.k.a. snow angels, are strategically placed on certain parts of the roof, to break up large sheets of shedding snow, so people and objects below stay safe.

Water Quality in a Healthy House

Excellent indoor air quality is not the only aspect of a healthy house. The quality of our drinking water is just as critical. Tap water can be contaminated with toxic chemicals, radioactive hazards and infectious agents, along with medications and other personal care products whose health impacts are only now just being realized.

Water purification is an "extra" in new home construction, and will typically not be included unless you specifically request water testing and purification.

A whole house purification system will remove contaminants at your water source's " point of entry" to the home, which provides the most protection. The same contaminants that you do not want to drink from your kitchen tap are those that you do not want "aerosolized" by your showerhead for easy inhalation, or absorbed into your skin, as you shower or bathe.

Of the three types of whole house filtration methods - reverse osmosis, distillation and filtration - my research tells me that filtration is the most effective and most energy efficient match for municipal water, particularly if it utilizes solid block carbon filters.

Check your local municipal water report to identify which contaminants are most important to filter. Use a search engine to locate the report, or check your town's website under Public Works. Well water users will need their own water analysis, and may require a different approach to meet their specific needs.

Based on my research, and with our plumber's endorsement, we will be installing the Rhino 300 EQ Whole House Water Filter.


For more information on water filtration, check out AllAboutWater.org. I suspect that this site may be sponsored (perhaps by Aquasana), but the information is still useful.

Healthy + Green Features of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME

Healthy + Green

The eco-friendly and healthy features of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME that are highlighted on the project's website, ConcordGreenDesign.com are worth repeating here. Some of these topics have been covered in earlier posts (scroll down the right column under heading "Labels" to find topics of interest). Lots more information to come as we proceed through each phase of construction.

ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES OF
THE CONCORD GREEN HOME

• Super Insulation
  
• Passive Solar Heating and Cooling - site orientation, south-facing glazing, cross-
  ventilation
  
• Renewable Energy Sources - Solar-ready, Hydroelectric
  
• Daylighting
  
• Standing Seam Metal Roof - mimimizes potential for water damage; recyclable
  
• Panelization of exterior building components to protect from weather and cut waste
  
• Salvaged, recycled, reclaimed and natural materials
  
• Energy efficient appliances
  
• Water conserving plumbing
  
• Local and FSC-certified sources
  
• Xeriscaping; protection of trees during construction
  

HEALTHY / INDOOR AIR QUALITY FEATURES OF
THE CONCORD GREEN HOME

• Non-toxic materials
  
• Fresh air ventilation system with energy recovery
  
• Mold prevention, including sealed crawlspace foundation on this high water table lot
  
• Radiant / radiator heating - no forced hot air or AC to circulate allergens
  
• Contamination controls during construction
  

Finding the Right Builder in Sustainable Construction

We've all heard construction horror stories -- builders and subcontractors who didn't show up on time or at all, deadlines missed and budgets seriously overrun, even lawsuits and fraud. So it was with great care that we selected the best match from many quality builders available in the area.

In my experience, there are 4 critical considerations in choosing the firm who will take your plans from paper to reality:

Builder Selection Criteria

• Shared values and goals
• Efficiency in project and budget management
  
• Ability to put together a talented and knowledgeable team
  
• High customer satisfaction among past clients

Fortunately, for THE CONCORD GREEN HOME, Aedi Construction turned out to be the perfect match.

Aedi awarded first LEED-H certification
in the country for multi-unit building

SHARED VALUES - Aedi Construction is a relatively young firm, whose mission is "Building Healthy Environments". Parent Aedi Group's business model is based on a "co-profit" concept, which allows their for-profit divisions to work in tandem with their non-profit venture Village Corps, created to empower the world's poor to generate their own sustainable prosperity.

Aedi's non-profit Village Corps

The co-profit concept was born of the idea that success for non-profits requires strong relationships with revenue-generating enterprises and individuals, and that in order for a for-profit enterprise to thrive in the 21st century; it must understand and address its social context.

EFFICIENCY AND TALENT - Aedi Construction's management team is comprised of Norman and Marc Beaulieu, who hail from the software, technology and entrepreneurship realms, and Matt Ayers, who wraps his construction know-how in a reassuring "no worries, can-do" attitude. The team's collective strengths make them uniquely adept at efficiently managing work flow and finances, while attracting the best, most knowledgeable construction talent. As site supervisor, they brought on Patrick Hughes, who has spent most of his career building large high-end residences and community spaces, but yearned to apply his skills to smaller, sustainable projects. Another perfect match.

REFERENCES - I cannot stress enough the importance of checking builder references. I found that emailing past clients with a specific list of questions returned the most valuable and instructive responses. Here was the gist of my inquiry:

We are considering Aedi for construction of a new healthy/green home. We would very much appreciate a moment of your time in learning about your experience with the firm, specifically:

• The type of project they performed for you (new construction, remodel, addition)
• The team's performance - quality of work, cost and schedule management
• Areas of Strength
• Areas of Improvement or extra attention on part of client required
• Anything additional you would like to add

I hope this information on builder selection has been helpful. Feel free to share your own experiences and suggestions in the Comments section below.

Vacation Interrupted - A Reminder about the Importance of Careful Building Materials Selection

I took a huge gulp of fresh ocean air from the deck of the Outer Banks, NC rental house. I felt great.

Ocean view from the house

I had been thrilled to find a charming oceanfront cottage that met all of our healthy travel checkboxes - no smoking, no pets, no mold, no feather bedding - all for a special September rate. Finally, this would not be the typical family trip, which usually involved a lodging relocation due to some health trigger. We unpacked our bags, anticipating a relaxing week of pure heaven.

Oh, how wrong I was. The next morning, I awoke feeling like I had a pile of bricks sitting on my chest and it hurt to breathe. Was it the carpet in the master? The cleaning chemicals? It didn't matter. We couldn't stay. By the end of the day, we were lugging our bags into a modern beach house just 2 blocks from the water. Sure, it wasn't oceanfront, but the house was nestled in a stand of beautiful trees, had 2-story high ceilings, polished concrete floors, and a very cool decor throughout. Plus, I thought, it would save our vacation.

Wrong again. That fresh clean scent that permeated the house turned out to be cedar... lovely aromatic raw cedar lining all of the ceilings. (I should mention now that severe cedar allergies helped prompt our move back to the East Coast after three rather sickly years in Austin, TX, the "cedar fever" capital of the U.S.) I scrambled to open as many windows as possible, only to find that all of those beautiful trees were, yes, you guessed it, cedar. My asthma was getting worse by the minute, and now I wasn't the only family member complaining of symptoms.

Most of you are probably reading this and thinking "Wow, you are crazy and obsessive!" Count yourself lucky. But for those of you with allergies, asthma and/or chemical sensitivities, you can probably relate to this traveling tale of woe. You also know all too well the importance of ensuring that environmental triggers are not part of your home.

The biggest challenge in building a healthy house like THE CONCORD GREEN HOME is to ensure that every last building material is neither an allergen nor a toxic trigger. It can be done, but it takes diligence every step of the way to ensure that one miss-step does not negate all of your careful materials selections and planning.

Here are a few helpful resources on your way to a healthier home:

• Healthy House Institute
• Indoor Air Quality Association
• Environmental Protection Agency - Indoor Air Quality
  
• Natural Home Magazine
  

Traditional Clapboard with a "Green" Update

The clapboard goes up on the left elevation.
Goodbye, bubble gum pink.

A signature design element of the classic farmhouse is its white clapboard. White was almost universally used by our predecessors, in deference to the Greek Revival roots of the American Farmhouse style.

Love this classic white barn-style garage.

Clapboard is a wholly New England building material, referred to elsewhere in America as siding. According to the book, America In So Many Words: Words That Have Shaped America by Allan Metcalf and David K. Barnhart:

"American ingenuity made something new of clapboard. In England clapboard was used for barrels; the English who became Americans learned to apply it to houses... We have a 1632 report of 'a small house near the wear at Watertown, made all of clapboards.'"

Now, modern ingenuity gives us Hardiplank - fiber cement clapboards that provide historically accurate aesthetics with green, sustainable benefits:

• Durable - Is more resistant to rot, insects, and fire than wood
  
• Made from natural raw materials - wood pulp, cement, sand and water
• Locally produced - 10 regional manufacturing facilities
• Promotes air circulation and drainage behind cladding
• Lower maintenance - holds paint far longer than other cladding options
• Affordable - a far greener alternative than environmentally toxic vinyl siding

Best of all, Hardiplank clapboards arrive factory finished, which saves time and money on exterior painting.

Thank you to our early Sponsors!

Sponsor Sign at the construction site

A huge thank you to the initial sponsors of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

EMERALD SPONSORS

• Aedi Construction - Building Healthy Environments
  
• Connor Homes - The New Old Home
  
• Terrene - Green Building Supply
• ZeroEnergy Design - Responsible Custom Building
  

PLATINUM SPONSOR

• Iron Horse Roofing - Standing Seam Metal Roofing
  

These select firms share our vision for creating homes that are healthy for people and the planet. Their skills and products are directly helping us fulfill our goal of a non-toxic, eco-friendly, historically respectful design.

If your firm would like to be considered as a participating sponsor, please email Lisa@ConcordGreenDesign.com.

Thank you!

Cool tool manages complexities of Design/Build Process

With so many players involved in the design and construction of a home like THE CONCORD GREEN HOME, it helps immensely to utilize a shared work flow management system to keep everyone on track.

Basecamp sample page

I highly recommend Basecamp, an inexpensive "web-based project collaboration tool" that allows you to share files, meet deadlines, assign tasks, centralize feedback and more.

Thank you to Stephanie Horowitz at ZeroEnergy Design for turning me on to Basecamp.

Front Porch - Preserving Community

The front porch is framed.

A front porch provides the perfect transition along the intimacy gradient between a home's public and private spaces. It represents an architectural means of preserving that sense of community which is threatened by the typical automobile-centric designs of our modern towns.

The relationship of a house to a street is often confused: either the house opens entirely to the street and there is no privacy; or the house turns its back on the street, and communion with street life is lost.

We have within our natures tendencies toward both communality and individuality. A good house supports *both* kinds of experience: the intimacy of a private haven *and* our participation with the public world.

But most homes fail to support these complementary needs. Most often they emphasize one, to the exclusion of the other: we have, for instance, the fishbowl scheme, where living areas face the street with picture windows and the "retreat", where living areas turn away from the street into private gardens.

The old front porch, in traditional American society, solved this problem perfectly. Where the street is quiet enough, and the house near enough to the street, we cannot imagine a much better solution.

- excerpt from Christopher Alexander's ground-breaking book, A Pattern Language.

Could not have said it any better.

Fitting into the neighborhood... well, except for the pink.

Flexible Spaces Conserve Resources

As the size of the American home has ballooned, consumption of precious resources has exploded accordingly. A simple alternative that saves money, preserves the environment and adapts to changing family needs over time is to incorporate flexible spaces in the home that perform double or even triple duty, and forgo those spaces that rarely get used.

In this modern Belgian loft, rolling closets enable space to be configured 20 different ways.

Source: Terence Conran's Ultimate House Book: Home Design in the Twenty-First Century

Top: Mobile furniture makes for easy changes.
Second: Laundry cupboard.
Third: A view of one way to compose a living room.
Bottom: Home office disappears when not in use.

Like the apartment above, THE CONCORD GREEN HOME will employ the Flexible Space strategy in many ways. It will not have a formal living room or dining room. Instead, the first floor will have an open floor plan that incorporates a family/TV room, dining area that doubles as library/work space, kitchen, and office - that could be used as a first floor bedroom as occupants age in place. Upstairs, bedrooms will have few walls, and instead be partitioned off with rolling closets (traditional versions inspired by above photos) that allow daytime use as work/play spaces, and private evening use as sleeping spaces and overnight guest accommodations.

I look forward to sharing more details on Flexible Space use with you in coming posts. Stay tuned.

A Best Green House

Photos courtesy of Pill-Maharam Architects

Had to share a favorite house from my green building files... Named a Best Green House by Green Source, this Vermont farmhouse achieved the US Green Building Council's LEED Platinum rating, the highest level. Electricity is 100% wind turbine generated, and passive solar and geothermal radiant heating keeps things toasty. Owner/architect David Pill sums up how well the house works with nature: "It harvests and stores the energy resources on the property—from the sun and wind to heat from the earth.”

slideshow: more photos

Enjoy!

Preppy in Pink - Insulation on the Outside

Passersby may be wondering why THE CONCORD GREEN HOME is sporting pink. Actually, its all part of the strategy to super-insulate this house.

We grew up thinking that the old pink fiberglass insulation goes on the inside of the house. Its a whole new world. No spun glass here. Thick and rigid Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) insulation, installed here over Green Guard's Raindrop house wrap, acts as a great thermal barrier, and is supplemented by additional healthy insulation on the inside. This strategy achieves R-values that are significantly higher than required by code (R-value is the measure of resistance to heat flow). The higher the R-value, the better the insulating properties, and the lower the energy consumed to keep temperatures comfy inside.


Next, strapping (long thin strips of wood) is applied over the rigid insulation, which creates an air space between the insulation and the clapboard, also known as a drain screen. This allows moisture to evaporate instead of building up behind the exterior cladding, which can wreak havoc on the health of the structure.

Design Postcard from Nantucket - House Tour and Favorite Resources

Brant Point Lighthouse

I recently attended the 54th Annual House Tour, hosted by The Nantucket Garden Club. Their tours are always a design-inspiring summer highlight. This season, we were treated to beautiful homes on the beach in the Brant Point area of the island. I would love to share photos, but alas, no picture-taking allowed in these gracious private homes. My favorite space was a sea-glass-color dining room. We soon learned that it had been created by Victoria Hagan, one of my favorite designers.

Undeterred by a drizzly day, we then hit some of my favorite shops in town.

Always my first stop:
COASTAL Vintage Home and Garden.

A perfect blend of organic, sea-inspired pieces
mixed with industrial touches and European flair, Coastal is my kind of place...
and one I plan to visit again when it is time
to furnish and accessorize THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

Coastal's owner, Karen Fisher, sharpened her gorgeous aesthetic vision during years spent
as VP Merchandising at Calvin Klein in New York - the bastion of minimalist, textural design - and it shows, throughout the inviting retail space she has created.

A vintage zinc-topped table and organic linens,
attended by mid-century modern wire chairs that cross somewhere between
the famous Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and the airy Bertoia Diamond Chair.

Nice proportions on this long narrow table in reclaimed wood.

Next stop: Nantucket Looms

This island mainstay epitomizes the classic Nantucket vibe.

With a hand-weaving studio on its second floor, Nantucket Looms offers a wide selection of all-natural textile accents for the home...

... as well as lovely casegoods and upholstered pieces.

On to: Anderson's Fine Gifts, which specializes in beachy accessories...

... like these table top delicacies...


... and framed sea fans + sand dollars.

And if you have the time before the idyllic ferry ride back to reality, grab lunch at The Galley Restaurant, adjacent to the Cliffside Beach Club. In my opinion, its the best spot on the island for dining right on the water. Plus, it offers casually elegant Nantucket design from every vantage point.

Photos via YesterdaysIsland.com


Yum!

A "Must Read" for a Healthy House

I wish I had found this book earlier. Like me, these authors - an architect, a doctor and an environmental health scientist - have all experienced first-hand the difficult long term effects of indoor air pollution, now "one of the top four environmental health risks identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)". Also like me, none of them had intended to focus their life's work on healthy design -- that is, until they personally learned how critically important it is.

Just 35 years ago, things were different. Before the energy crisis of the 70's, buildings were not sealed tightly. They also didn't contain the thousands of synthetic chemicals that are now an every day part of the most commonly used building materials. Most people are simply unaware of the many toxins present in their homes, schools and workplaces, and more importantly, of the ill effects caused by repeat exposures.

Thankfully, these pitfalls are easy to avoid if one is informed. In a step-by-step manner that smartly follows the sequential phases of construction, Prescriptions for a Healthy House shows you how to ensure that your family's indoor environment will be safe... providing the do's and don't of building methods and materials selection in an accessible, easy to follow format. I suggest a little additional research to see if there are even better alternatives introduced into the marketplace since the book's most recent edition was published.

Check it out at your local library, or online at Amazon.

Here's one of my favorite healthy houses featured on
This Old House's website:

The Recycled, Repurposed, Non-Toxic House

Architect: David Webber; Photos: Casey Dunn

more...

Why A Standing Seam Metal Roof is Sustainable

Credit: Iron Horse Standing Seam Roofing Co.

I am pleased to announce that
Iron Horse Standing Seam Roofing Co.
has signed on as a Sponsor of
THE CONCORD GREEN HOME.

WHY IS A METAL ROOF "GREEN"?

• RECYCLABLE - Made from recycled materials that are 100% recyclable
• LIGHTER - 3x lighter than asphalt
• ENERGY EFFICIENT - High solar reflectance bounces sunlight and heat away from home, thereby significantly reducing cooling loads, which account for 1/6th of all electricity generated in the US each year.
  
• MOISTURE PROTECTION - Snow slips right off. Ice dams that cause serious structural damage never have the chance to form, which is why you find so many metal roofs dotting the New England countryside. Plus, the structure stays dry, thereby avoiding unhealthy mold growth.
  
• DURABILITY - Can last a lifetime. This is not the 'ole tin roof on the barn. Far outlasts asphalt, which contributes 13 billion pounds of waste to US landfills annually.
• RAINWATER HARVESTING - A good option if you are considering collecting rainwater for irrigation of your gardens. The smoother, cleaner and more impervious the roof surface, the higher the water quality and volume that can be collected. Be sure to research the best finishes for your intended use.

Iron Horse hails from Vermont (a.k.a. MadCow Roofing in NH), where they know how to shed snow. They exclusively install Englert Metal Roofing.

Credit: Englert Inc.

A pretty modern-day farmhouse
in the Berkshire Mountain region of Western Massachusetts,
sporting it's metal top.

Architect: Andy Burr, FAIA; Photo: Ken Gutmaker, via Residential Architect Online

Wow! You can even use it on the ceiling. That's, uh, "thinking inside the box". :)

Credit: Iron Horse Standing Seam Roofing Co.

Check out Bob Vila's Vermont Farmhouse Standing-Seam Metal Roof Basics
to learn more about how this type of roofing is installed.

One Week Farmhouse: Foundation to Rafters in 7 Days

Amazing to watch a house come together so quickly. Save the roof sheathing and the front porch, the volumes of THE CONCORD GREEN HOME are set.

With its bare wood exposed and the green Raindrop house wrap starting to show, the house is calling quite a bit of visual attention to itself. Once it's clad in simple clapboard, with a farmhouse roof on its head, landscaping at its feet, and the beautiful birch tree is replanted out front, this home will settle humbly back into its lovely surroundings, and hopefully -- if we have done our job well -- look like it has always been there.

Let's review the framing days, just for fun:

Day 1: Subfloor

Day 2: Walls of first floor

Day 3: Second floor walls. Stop and wait for more materials to arrive.

Day 4: Finish second floor walls

Day 5: Attic subfloor

Day 6: Gables going up.

Day 7: Roof rafters (Time to adjust the camera angle.)

The sweet attic dormer that survived several budget cuts. Glad it made it.

There's a new kid on the block... a lesson in Fast Framing.

A view from the park.
THE CONCORD GREEN HOME begins to take shape.

Hello Neighbors. Nice to meet you.

Construction always takes longer than planned, right? This past week, the opposite occurred. The panelized subfloor, first floor and part of the second floor went up so quickly - two days in fact - that the crew had to quit working until today when the next shipment of panels from Connor Homes arrived. Wow. I like panelized construction. A lot.

8:20 Wednesday morning, the walls started to go up.

Just 7 hours later, the first floor walls with all the door and window openings are done.

By 3 o'clock the next day, Aedi's crew was so far ahead of schedule, they had to quit until today.

Even the park views are nicely "framed".
The job site stays incredibly clean.

Patrick, our site supervisor, said that the dumpster is still almost empty. If this job were stick-built, the waste would be piling up, and multiple dumpsters would be trucking out to the landfill.
Yes, panelized construction is a good thing.

Let the Framing begin!

THE CONCORD GREEN HOME's first floor arrives from Vermont today. In anticipation, the youngest member of our family got a head start on the framers, with a scaled model of the foundation and first floor.

Like a giant Lego kit, the framing components are unloaded from the Connor Homes truck.

Whew. This panelized construction can be exhausting.

Not a bad daylighting study. :)

Inspiration Photos for a "New Old" Farmhouse

Here are a few inspirational design photos that illustrate my vision for THE CONCORD GREEN HOME's aesthetic - a comfortable, elegantly simple place.

Love this exterior color palette. White clapboard, light gray standing seam metal roof and natural stone.
Estes Twombly Architects.

Another good example - Sara Taylor House
Connor Homes

Beautiful front entry.

A light and airy living room in Wellesley, MA.
Architect: D. Michael Collins.

A wonderful creamy kitchen. Love the marble countertops, but working on greener options.
Frank Randolph.

Excellent daylighting. This garden kitchen was featured
in Southern Accents Magazine's Top 10 Kitchens.

Lots of great interior elements...horizontal plank on wainscot and ceiling, reclaimed flooring, industrial farm pendant. Perfect.
Carrier and Company

Warm white mix, both from Butik Biskopsgarden
Photo: Mari Eriksson

(Apologies for unknown sources/credits. If you know a source, please note it in Comments and I will happily update. Thank you.)

Time-Lapse Photography Is Capturing the Entire Construction Process

Got the first photos from the time-lapse camera yesterday. Very cool. Can't wait to stitch them all together when the house is complete, and post the "movie" here.

Precision Recycling in Action:
After the interiors were deconstructed and salvaged for reuse, wood and glass were hauled off to the recycling facility. With stone and brick to follow, the chimney was the last one standing.

Poof! Down it goes.


New England Drilling excavated on the late shift. Their work has been stellar.
Nifty infrared night shooting, don't you think?


The foundation forms go up...


The foundation is revealed.

A thing of beauty...
wearing its bottom coat of environmentally-friendly waterproofing,
curing under the setting sun.


Vapor barrier, rigid insulation and slab go in.


Filling back in around the foundation.
All ready for Monday's big delivery of the panelized first floor from Connor Homes in Vermont.

Something Old, Something New - The Unusual Marriage of New Building Science and Historic Reproduction

"Too many cooks spoil the soup". That nagging thought kept haunting me as I placed the first phone calls to ZeroEnergy Design and Connor Homes, to propose having two sets of architects design THE CONCORD GREEN HOME. To my delight, both companies were not only willing to entertain the idea, they enthusiastically embraced it.

THE CONCORD GREEN HOME embodies the talents and skills of the folks who designed this zero-energy-consuming gem...

... and this classic:

Photos: Eric Roth; Connor Homes

First Step in House Design --- The Sun.

It's the center of our solar system. The energy source for life itself. And yes, it should always be the starting point in designing any home.

Credit: Solar Geometry from SolarOregon.org

Orienting your home with respect to the sun's position in the sky throughout the seasons will yield huge benefits... economic, environmental, physical, even emotional. Ignore the sun and you will pay the price -- in the form of higher energy costs and fuel usage for heating, cooling and lighting, cold winter drafts and sauna-like rooms in summer. Some people even suffer from mood disorders when they are deprived of sunlight. I get a little cranky myself wondering why so many New England builders plop the cold, dark garage on the south side of the house!

Two gorgeous designer kitchens.


One filled with sunshine.


Where would you rather cook?

(Credits: Craft-Art, Victoria Hagan)

Homes whose main living spaces and windows face south will be bright without even turning on the lights. They will require far less energy to keep comfortable, and will boost everyone's happiness quotient, if only when opening the utility bill each month.

Solar orientation was a key factor in selecting THE CONCORD GREEN HOME's lot. The inner back corner of the L-shaped footprint faces directly south, enabling the main living spaces to be both private and flooded with sunshine. The tall trees at the rear of the property leaf out just in time to block hot summer rays, and then shed their autumn leaves to let the low winter sun penetrate deep into the house.

Credit: University of Florida IFAS Extension

If you are buying serious acreage in the country, solar access can easily be had on every lot. If, on the other hand, you are also chasing lifestyle goals of "front porch community" and walk to town, small infill lots with good southern exposure are harder to find. Our lot shopping only took a year. :) But it was worth the wait.

What? No Basement?!! - The Sealed Crawl Space Foundation

"You are crazy."
"It's free square footage."
"You'll kill your resale value!"

Yes, the detractors have a point.

I admit that building in New England without a basement is, well, let me just say, unusual. But I was determined to avoid the inevitable problems of mold that accompany virtually every basement eventually. Sure, there are French drains, sump pumps, waterproofing sealers, the list goes on... but we are fighting Nature here, and Nature always wins. Then the mold starts. You may not see it at first. It's lurking behind that nicely painted drywall, or under the laminate flooring. Water always finds a way.

The footings go in.

THE CONCORD GREEN HOME building site has a wonderful in-town location, but it also happens to have a high water table. Advantage: Walk to Walden Pond! Disadvantage: You might wake up one rainy morning to find your nice leather sofa floating around the basement.

So, the decision was easy. Especially when one is trying to build Healthy, which means acknowledging that, unless you completely seal off the interior of your home from its foundation - with smart utilization of insulation and water/vapor barriers - that moldy basement air will mix with your interior air. Not good. Really not good for those with allergies and asthma, or the many more folks who might easily become sensitized from repeated exposures to mold.

The experts at ZeroEnergy Design recommended a sealed crawl space, which is the best building science available for this type of lot. Strong. Sealed. Completely lined with thick insulation. Absolutely no air or vapor connection with the interior of the house. Nice. If you want some bonus space, meet me in the nice dry attic, with its graceful sheltering roof lines and sun-drenched views.

Foundation walls go up.

As Henry David Thoreau, author of On Walden Pond, so eloquently said, ""If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost. That is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." If Henry were still around, he might have added, "... And make sure you seal them up tight!"

Sometimes you have to do things differently.

Panelized Construction - Efficient and Green

Imagine having a beautiful, classic, high quality home like this...

delivered in panels, like these...


... a big jigsaw puzzle just waiting to be put together by your able contractor. That's exactly how THE CONCORD GREEN HOME will be built. You are looking at the Exterior Shell for two stories plus attic in the photo above.

It's called Panelized Construction. The entire house shell is detailed down to the individual piece...


and then cut and pre-assembled in a factory.


The benefits of panelized construction are many:

• Protection from the elements - materials stay dry, preventing hidden rot and mold from ever developing (critically important in a healthy house project like ours), and workers can keep working, no matter what the weather
  
• Minimizes waste - Materials are precision cut, and what little waste is left over is reused or recycled
  
• Faster build saves time and money

Lucky for our project, these panels are created by Connor Homes, a historic reproduction home company out of Middlebury, VT. Experts in classical proportion, and timeless, durable materials, Connor designs "new old homes" - new homes that look like they have been there for years, even centuries. Here's a slightly broader sampling of their homes, which is mouthwatering eye-candy for the traditionalist side of me.

Deconstruction - Construction in Reverse

Fittingly, on the 4th of July, most of the interior building components of the lot's old house were liberated, to be reused and enjoyed again in someone else's new home.


A special thank you to The Candlewick Group, LLC., a firm that specializes in home renovation. Their team executed a perfect salvage operation. Greg and Ron worked all day in the heat to save kitchen cabinets, appliances, granite countertops, fireplace mantle, french and dining hutch doors, bath vanity, wall sconces and glass door knobs. Feels a lot better than smashing lovely 50-year-old craftsmanship to bits with a wrecking ball and sending it to the landfill.

Save the Trees - They're our Air Conditioning. :)

While some advised taking down the majestic sugar maples at the back of the property, we are grateful for all that they provide -- cooling shade in the heat of summer, a colorful show in autumn, and then a kind release of leaves to let in the warming winter sun. It is because of these very trees that a super-insulated house built here will require significantly less energy to heat and cool. Working with Mother Nature is a beautiful thing.

Today the left tree got a haircut.


The guys at Bark Busters of Weston were terrific.

We also mapped out a protection plan for construction to ensure that we don't disturb the shallow roots of these beauties.

Why a Healthy House?

With all the rage about green building, why complicate things by adding the goal of a healthy house too? The answer is clear. Our health, and the health of our children, depends on it. The good news is that a healthy house does not have to be complicated. In fact, it can be quite simple.

Like many people, I have experienced the negative long-term health impacts of “modern” unhealthy construction practices, after spending years in a corporate “sick air building”. Back during the energy crisis of the 1970’s, the building had been sealed tight to preserve heat. Unfortunately, by the time I joined the firm, this “ziplock bag” environment also contained a toxic soup of black mold, cleaning chemicals and fragrances, printing ink particulates, and off-gassing formaldehyde –-- all kept constantly airborne for easy inhalation by the miracle of forced air heating and cooling.

Unfortunately, this dangerous situation repeats itself in our homes, schools and workplaces every day. The EPA tells us that the indoor air of a typical home is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outside air, and much higher after construction and refinishing activities … from toxins lurking in paint, cabinetry glues and adhesives, floor finishes, carpeting, cleaning products, air fresheners… the list goes on. Worse yet, the off-gassing continues for months and even years after that “new paint or carpet” smell disappears. These pollutants can lead to severe health effects, including respiratory distress, headaches, dizziness and even anaphylactic shock. Thankfully, these problems are easy to avoid, if we are just informed.

After losing my youngest sister Jeannie to cancer in 2008, I committed myself to learning all that I could about healthy living environments. My personal mission is to demonstrate that healthy, green buildings are not only possible, but easily achievable if we just follow a few important guidelines. In the coming posts, I will share what I have learned, along with valuable resources, so that you can start living in a healthier home too.