Benefits in Green Building

Guest post by Krista Peterson

Sure, everyone seems to be getting out and going “green” these days. From driving hybrid cars to living vegan lifestyles, many people are taking different steps towards better living throughout the world recently. In the area of green building, using these types of building materials can be not only beneficial in cost effectiveness and sustainability, but also in some more important areas. Minor substitutions and green materials used in the building process can be particularly beneficial in improving overall health and cutting down on the risk of disease for the future.

Paint is often one of the primary materials throughout a building or remodeling process. What many people are unaware of is that most common paints are high in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) which present health risks and threats to air quality when constantly inhaled. Given the repeated exposure that would be likely during a remodeling or building process, the associated health risks with VOC’s are a possibility for builders and remodelers. The range of health problems can span from extremely minor to some more permanent and long term issues. Repeated exposure to VOC’s have been shown to sometimes lead to health risks such as fatigue, headaches and dizziness, as well as more dangerous risks like kidney or liver damage.

Alternatives for paint products are relatively easy to come by. Most common hardware stores carry great options for normal paint products that are usually high in volatile organic compounds. The best alternative is to look for organic and low-VOC paints. This will certainly reduce risk of exposure and health risk.

Insulation can also be a great way to replace potentially toxic products with green building materials, while reducing health risks in the process. Many older homes, up until the 1970’s and 1980’s were built using asbestos as a common material in insulation purposes for houses and buildings. Unfortunately, although being extremely versatile and trustworthy as a building material. Asbestos began to be known as one of the primary developers in health problems such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, respiratory problems and other minor issues such as fatigue and dizziness. While both of these may seem inconsequential as far as health problems, the other risks are not to be taken lightly. For example, mesothelioma life expectancy is usually only between eight and 14 months after diagnosis. Having older homes checked for asbestos in the insulation and looking for new alternatives can be a major step towards better overall health. Even in the case that asbestos may not be a problem for your individual house, insulation is a great option for green building because of its ability to increase a home’s sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint, while still being cost effective.

Green options in insulation present some of the best forms of sustainability in houses today. As previously mentioned, making the switch to these green options can certainly decrease possible health risks, but they can also be high in sustainability and extremely cost effective at the same time. Some of the options in green insulation include the use of cellulose and lycnene. Cellulose is usually the most popular form of green insulation. It’s made from 80 percent of recycled paper and parts of newspaper, and comes complete without the dangers of formaldehyde. It’s also one of the cheapest options of green insulation as well. Lycnene is a form of spray foam insulation that is often the most sustainable form. Because it’s sprayed into seeps and cracks, its ability to keep air trapped in the house is excellent.

Certainly there are other easy steps that can be taken to help out in green insulation, but these two are some great ones to look at, primarily because of their ability to replace products that may have health risks, while still adding to the overall sustainability of the home.

A Full Day

Yesterday was on the high end of typical around here. Aaron and Jori tended bees, Karl smashed and organized, Liz cooked and played, the little ones played and fought, Nini and I shopped and got blessed by the Serendipity Fairy.

Karl went over to the beehives to peek in on Aaron and Jori's success. "We've emptied the observation hive completely, cleaned out the dead bees and drilled some more access holes. Now we're working on harvesting the first hive; we've got 5 gallons of honey so far." A guard bee zeroed in on Karl.

"Augh! It's in my hair!" He ran off a bit, swatting at his head.

"Huh, that's funny," said Jori. "We haven't got a single sting yet."

"It must be my bear-like nature," said Karl.

Karl pounded through a section of the concrete path, opening up the dam. Our backyard floods in the rains. The previous homeowner poured a path that ended up acting as a dam, creating a nice four-inch-deep pond. Now the water should drain away. We'll be digging some infiltration fields in non-travelled parts of the yard to let water recharge the soil.

Liz made an amazing amount of breakfast. Three fragrant herbal teas complemented the meal. I let the vapors waft over my face and the red clover and mate' blend spoke to me. I took a sip and burst out in goosebumps. "See? You're on the right path!" Liz said. "You took the one you should have."

We loaded up the van with stuff we'd used up and made a dump run. It's hard to throw away things that if they were made differently could be disassembled and used for raw materials, such as car seats for children. We did have a fair amount (30 pounds or so) of large recycle-ables. I tried to throw out a mildew-stained hammock. "Oo! That material is so nice looking!" Nini said. "Do you need to throw it out? May I have it? I'll make something with it!" Later, back home, Karl smiled knowingly and shook his head at me.

"If you'd cut it up like I told you to, you could have left it at the dump."

Nini and I detoured past the Wooden Duck furniture factory and scored two trash bags of small wood shavings, perfect for bedding for the chickens. And another 100 yards down the road we found a pile of tree trunk cuts. They were heavy and too green to burn this year, but I'll be getting a splitting wedge and breaking them up for burning next summer.

Next we went to Urban Ore and found a cabinet that looked to be a perfect fit for the new sink/countertop we're installing in Karl and Nini's space. I grabbed the loudest transport dolly. Banging down the aisles at at he decibel level of a jet engine, I stopped conversations cold.

Back home, Karl and I test-fit the cabinet. I got to work trimming it to fit around the foundation. Nini got to work cooking. Friends (Anders and Robin) showed up, and I continued to stop conversations by running the circle saw through the cabinet. At one point there was pizza coming out of the oven, people going upstairs/downstairs carrying water, phones ringing, girls eating, and sawdust flying. It was far too much activity for one kitchen, but about the right amount for the seven people who were in it. Anders slumped in his chair, smiled at no one in particular, and mused, "I wonder if this could become more chaotic?" Ten minutes later he was asleep in the spare room, utterly worn out.

Aaron asked if we wanted a nice sink. "I have a sink already," I told him. So he went to Karl and asked.

"Bob," said Karl. "This other sink is really nice."

Nini had a look at it. "I really like it." So I called the owner of the sink, who moved out over a year ago and left it behind, to ask if I could use it. No answer, and I decided that we could store it "in use" as easily as we could store it behind the house, so I dropped it into the cabinet.

Xena called from the grocery store. "What kind of beer do you want?" She and Betsy started to cook upstairs. I got a big bowl of coconut curry later.

Betsy and Jori invited friends over and started a bonfire. Liz and Joseph returned from the Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. I hooked up the drain and tested it (no leaks!!) and Karl cleaned up. He'd already mostly finished re-organizing the storage shed: "Bob, it is clear to me this was an artist's storage space. Now, however, it's organized." I didn't feel judged.

Finally, day winding down, I sat around the campfire. Nicholas come out and played his guitar for a bit. When he went inside, I tapped the strings until I drove Marc crazy. "Give me that. I don't play much, but I know a couple of songs." I still didn't feel judged.

Much later, after typical bonfire conversation (sex, drugs, rock and roll, politics, belief systems) my bed was already filled with Xena, Nicholas and the cat. Snuggling in, I felt very content with the tapestry of the day.

Willow House Solstice Party

How do we party at Willow House? Very, very well.

We mix rhythms, ritual, action, activity, friends, neighbors, paint, feathers, twigs, paper, music, plants, food, drink and dirt, to create a truly special experience.

Even in the hot humid day, the space under the willow was cool and refreshing. Our smallest guests played dress-up, and made magic wands and willow and flower circlets. My wife and I took advantage of everyone's attention being elsewhere to run errands, buying some hot-weather starts such as tomatoes and peppers, and replanting one raised bed. She also seeded a new bed, with our next crop of salad.

When I went to get the keg, the man helping me was in the worst mood. My good mood seemed to threaten him, but rather than drop into his expectation, I stood my ground. In fact, I even elevated it. I allowed beams of solstice goodness to flow, and by the end of our transaction 10 long minutes later he seemed to be in a much better state. And I was high enough that I didn't remember to buy ice until after I'd loaded the keg into the car.

Solstice goodness? What's that? One thing to celebrate is the completion of a work. One might also choose to acknowledge release from something: a negative habit, a limiting belief, or an expectation. We made firestarters with herbs, twigs, scrolls we'd written our intention upon, all dipped in wax melted in the solar oven.

Nick played for us on the new stage. Karl, Betsy, Jori, Nini and a few others worked hard to get it ready for the party. It looks great, and works great. This is what people did before television stole our souls: we entertained each other, we clapped for each other, we connected with each other.

Even when I had a full time job, even when paying the bills was easier, my life was impoverished. I've never really fit into the world of suburbia. I am so thankful to have become a part of this re-villaging we are undertaking. Am I ghetto? I'm helping to draw the best parts of several worlds together. It's like... like building and living in the Shire. Except without hobbits.

Even the view from the nosebleed section is wonderful. Christine sings French opera accompanied by Jen on the accordion.

Later, much later, after the sun finally set on the longest day of the year, the grown-ups busted out their dance moves. I got to initiate the catwalk as a dance platform. I danced out all my negative energy, pouring myself into movement. I thought I must be horrifying people because (I am unselfconscious or a huge, big goof) they all stopped dancing. They got off the stage. They stared up at me. I thought maybe I'd killed the party. But as the song ended, they all burst into applause. I guess I'd only commandeered the party briefly for my own catharsis.

"That willow tree will never be the same, after the way you just danced with it," said one woman.

"Yeah, I get that response from my dance partners a lot," I told her.

Liz, on the other hand, got everybody dancing and kept them going. She did such a good job that I completely forgive her for her repeated acts of musicus interruptus.

"Liz won the party," said Karl.

House meeting agenda item

"What's this agenda item about some bike-packers coming to visit?"

"Well, only if we want them to. I met them at Make Faire. They're a cute couple, Ryan and Mandy, who are traveling about, making a documentary about sustainability, community living, simpler choices, that sort of thing. I promised I'd ask all of you if they could come visit."

"Is there some issue?"

"I certainly don't think so. I love getting filmed and interviewed-"

"Me too!" "So do I!"

"-but since they'll be sharing the shower, at the very least, and probably the kitchen too, I felt like I better get all of our input."

"Do we have room for them? Our veggie-oil bus fills quite a bit of driveway."

"Oh, they're on bicycles-"

"Ha! HA! Let's keep inviting more and more people, as long as their transportation fits in the remaining space on the driveway!"

"If I don't feel like being filmed, I'll just hide in my room."

"I'm sure we can work out the shower arrangement."

"How long will they be here for?"

"Overnight? A day or two?"

"Oh, well, then of course they can come over!"