“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….”
I can’t get this famous opening line from Charles Dickens’, “A Tale of Two Cities” out of my head. Odd, considering I never actually read this particular Dickens work. Still, they describe what this experience has been like. I am at any given moment completely enthralled by the experience of this project; I am also at any given moment overwhelmed with the tasks at hand. While I’ve enjoyed this experience enormously, part of me envies those who just decide to build their green home quietly and peacefully.
Greenspiration, however, is more than just a home my family will live in. It is a learning tool for all those involved. Before we close the doors of our new home and resume a “normal” life, we will have hosted numerous events, including product demonstrations and a series of Nature Nurture DayTM open houses, the proceeds of which will go to benefit local charities including The United Way, Red Cross, Leukemia Society and Autism Society.
Assuming we stay on schedule, the first of these open houses will take place as early as November. Several other Nature Nurture Days will take place in the springtime and will focus more on the interior aspects of the home as well as landscaping. Needless to say, it’s a race to the finish line to get the home in tip top showcase shape. But wall to wall, there will be so much to see and learn.
Keeping it Local!
I am particularly excited about using the Nature Nurture Days to showcase all of the locally sourced materials for the Greenspiration Home. There are several reasons we decided to put forth the effort to source local or domestic products:
- It takes a lot less fuel to get local materials to the jobsite. (You may have noticed--gas is expensive lately….)
- Less fuel used in transporting goods means fewer emissions released into the atmosphere to get materials to the jobsite. FYI, one gallon of fuel gets the largest container ship all of 37 feet! As one scientist from Oceana was quoted in Newsweek, “If the shipping industry were a country, it would be No.7 in carbon emissions.” That alone was reason enough for me to rule out imported granite for my countertops. (Besides, I’m so done with granite!)
- If we buy materials made here, the money stays here. In a time when nearly everyone knows someone who has lost a job due to cheap, overseas labor, I’m proud of the fact that we are supporting important North Carolina industries, particularly those that have suffered over the past decades like lumber, textiles, and furniture.
I am thrilled that this house will be showcasing Sunbrella® fabrics made in South Carolina, custom kitchen cabinetry made with North Carolina grown trees by Blackstone Cabinetry in Burlington NC, North Carolina grown wormy maple hardwood floors made by Burchette & Burchette of Elkin, NC, and furniture from Stanley Furniture, a company that has managed (against all odds) to still manufacture most of its furniture in NC and Virginia. There are many others.
Sourcing these materials has taken some effort. I’ve stunned more than a few suppliers by asking them questions like where they get their wood. (“Yes, I want to know where those trees were grown.”) Clearly, they don’t get that question often. But once they understand the goals of the home, it is surprisingly meaningful to them.
At the Jobsite
We’re making lots of progress. The exterior is pretty much complete. (Love the Pine Hall bricks made in Madison, NC and the NC mined stone from Marshall Stone in Kernersville, NC!!)
As I write this, workers should be finishing up sheetrock installations. Last week Insulation Solutions sprayed closed-cell polyurethane foam insulation into the exterior wall cavities, following up with a layer of cellulous insulation. This “hybrid” approach cost a bit less than going with all foam but still gives me a significantly higher R-value than fiberglass batts. If I lived in Minnesota, I might have invested in 100% foam.
During the foam installation, we hosted an onsite demonstration so builders and other interested parties could experience the process. Like most construction projects, the prep time takes the longest. I was impressed with how fastidious Insulation Solutions was about filling in all the cracks and holes with caulk before spraying so that the overall envelope is all but airtight. They call it “micro-insulating.” Once all that is done, it is amazing how quickly the foam insulation is actually applied. It sprays on in the consistency of thick cake batter. It then expands rapidly which is pretty cool to watch.
One of the attendees to the demonstration, a gentleman who works in engineering at A&T University, asked why I didn’t use 2x6 wall studs. The 2x6 studs would have allowed more space for insulation which is the major rationale. This construction practice also uses less wood and obviously makes for a slightly stronger structure.
I had certainly thought about it, just as I had using insulated concrete forms (ICFs) for framing, and a host of other green options. My honest response was, “I can’t do everything. I can’t AFFORD to do everything.” While 2x6 studs would not have added much cost to the structure of the home, that extra 2 inches of insulation – particularly had I chosen foam or even cellulous--would have. I’d also have lost a few extra inches of space in the exterior rooms which I preferred not to do. Plus, my builder was simply more familiar with standard 2x4 construction.
I’ve wrestled with dozens of decisions just like this throughout this process. I’ve researched data (often confusing since you can always find MORE data to refute your last conclusion!) I’ve consulted with suppliers, contractors, engineers, architects, etc. and I’ve done the best I could with every decision --which is all any homeowner can do. I don’t say this to defend any of my decisions; I have and will make mistakes. Rather, I offer it as a word of advice to anyone who endeavors to build green. Eventually you have to lay your first brick. In other words, don’t wag the dog.
“WHAT is a Newel?!!!”
Now that all the really big decisions have been made (I promise you will get to read about these in greater detail as we complete the “Green Strategies” section of this website) there are a hundred other decisions to be made. What exterior trim color do I want? Are the porch columns to be fiberglass, aluminum, or cedar? Do I want wood or iron newels? (I have just recently learned that balusters are the fatter posts on a staircase and newels are the skinnier ones in between.) Frankly, it was more fun picking out insulation. But that’s just me.
I am also procrastinating. I need to register for LEED for Homes. I have not yet completed the paperwork or paid my registration fee to the USGBC. (Have I mentioned how much I HATE paperwork?) But I will, and I really can’t afford to wait any longer. LEED is a long process that requires a tremendous amount of documentation. Wait too late and you may lose the opportunity for points. I did, however, have a long conversation last week with my green rater, Michael Guy of Adonai Building Science Service, about the LEED procedures. In a very nice way, he told me to hurry up.
Ode to the Great Seamstresses of World - Journal Entry - 02/28/09
Sleuthing the Noise in Our Ventilation - Journal Entry - 02/27/09
My Greenspiration Valentine - Journal Entry - 02/19/09
"SEAMED" Like a Good Idea at the Time: - Journal Entry - 01/20/09
Floors to "DYE" For. - Journal Entry - 01/15/09
A Funny Story about Our Kitchen Lighting…. - Journal Entry - 01/05/09
Happy New Year Greenspiration Voyeurs! - Journal Entry - 01/01/09
I.O.U. Journal Entries! - Journal Entry - 12/18/08
If Walls Could Talk, These Would Say, “I look MAVALOUS!”- Journal Entry - 11/27/08
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda- Journal Entry - 11/22/08
Name that Geothermal Unit!- Journal Entry - 10/24/08
This part of the construction process goes fast. - Journal Entry - 10/19/08
Okay, so we’re finally registered for LEED-H - Journal Entry - 10/08/08
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." - Jounal Entry - 09/16/08
It’s been a tense couple of weeks for Greenspiration. - Journal Entry - 08/11/08
A lot can happen in a couple of weeks. - Journal Entry - 07/04/08
Groundbreaking: A Tree Leans On Greenspiration - Journal Entry - 05/31/08
"How's the house coming, Trish?" - Journal Entry - 03/31/08
