Green Talk: Practically Green Helps Business Increase Sustainability

Previously, I interviewed Susan Hunt Stevens, the CEO of Practically Green, about how her company’s online game could change the world of sustainability.  Hunt compares her online game of earning points similar to the LEED rating system (a green building accreditation system) or weight watchers.  What fascinated me was how PG has successfully licensed the game to businesses to encourage sustainability within their organizations.  Talk about “game on” at the work place especially for those competitive employees or departments.

Listen to Susan in the below video and podcast as she explains the impact she is seeing in businesses that are using her product.  

Be sure to listen to Segment 1 of Susan’s initial interview regarding the goals of Practically Green.  In addition, coming up on Green Talk is the last segment of Susan’s interview in which she provides advice about operating a start-up.

Join the Conversation:

• Thoughts on gaming to create more sustainable work places?
• Would you consider using this online portal to help your company?
• Are you a personal user of Practically Green?
• How do you feel about the bottom up policy of engaging employees?

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• Green Gal Next Door Practically Green’s Founder: Game On for Change
• The Practically Green Solution Quiz. Can You Afford Not to Take it?
• Green Feng Shui: Health and Harmony for Homes and Businesses
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Honest Tea

[Note 5/4/2012:   This article incorrectly stated that Honest Tea was working toward using a PLA (plant-based polylactic acid) alternative for its bottles. It has been updated to reflect that the company is actually pursuing a PET bottle with 30 percent plant-based content.]

Honest Tea, an organic beverage company balances being profitably green without compromising its core ethics.  In my interview with CEO Seth Goldman we explored everything from its origins, to a new recycling program to the problems he has encountered running the company.  As an added bonus, Goldman shares words of wisdom for start-ups.

I highly encourage you to watch the video or listen to the podcast.  Be forewarned, the below Skype video isn’t as clear as I wished it to be; however, Goldman’s engaging conversation overshadows any technical difficulties.

Company’s Ethos

Just to give a little sip of the Company’s ethics, it strives to “create healthy and honest relationships with its customers, suppliers and the environment” as follows:

• Its products are made with organic ingredients and their tea leaves are fair trade certified.
• Products contain less sugar.
• Supports initiatives with its partners
• Goldman founded Green Bethesda, a green incubator to help foster and support sustainable businesses.
• Gave bikes to all employees to encourage health.
• Decreased packing to create lightweight PET bottles
• Bottle and pouches are phthalates and BPA free.
• Corporate headquarters in Bethesda are environmentally friendly and an open design.
• Partners with Terracycle to give 2 cents to schools for each Honest Kids pouch collected.  Other companies who sell pouch juice drinks have followed suit.

Great Recycling Program Initiative

If the above actions aren’t considered enough, on April 30, 2012, the Company roles out its new Great Recycling Program, a call to action  to encourage increased plastic bottle recycling.   Honest Tea generates approximately 20 million glass bottles and 60 million plastic bottles annually.  The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) recently reported  approximately 32% of all PET plastic bottles were actually recycled.

A 30 foot blue recycling bin will be stationed in New York City’s Times Square for one day with a goal of collecting 45,000 bottles.  To encourage recycling, the Company will offer reward incentives.  The Company’s goal by 2020 is to recycle every bottle it produces.

Company Frustration

Despite all the Company’s accolades, Goldman’s biggest frustration is people don’t see the value of organic products.  Goldman explain sthat  studies have shown that people think “natural” ingredients are more meaningful than organic. In order to change consumer perception, Goldman feels that the organic industry needs to better educate people about the value of organics.

Wish List for the Company

If I could change two facets of the Company, it would be to reduce their use of plastic bottles and single serve juice containers. Studies have shown plastic bottles leach.  In addition, plastic products are made of petroleum products, which is not a renewable source.  Worse yet, single use products are a complete waste, literally.   Goldman argues from a packaging standpoint the pouches have less of a footprint than a glass bottle.  Alternatively, parents could buy the Company’s larger bottles and just use a reusable bottle.  Remember, the first rule of  the three “Rs” is reduce not recycle.

As for the arguments against using plastic, Goldman responds that the Company is pursing the use of parent company, Coca Cola’s 30% plant based PET bottle with the goal of using a 100% plant based bottle.

I remain skeptical about the environmental advantages of switching from the original PET bottle to a 30-percent-plant-based bottle until further study.   However, one thing I learned about Goldman, as his company grows, he compromises less.  I believe he will create a viable solution.  If not, rest assured he will be honest.

Join the Conversation:

• If you run a green company, what frustrations have you encountered?
• What have you learned from Honest Tea that you can use in your business?
• Are you more apt to buy Honest Tea products given what you learned here?
• Is my wish list achievable or am I simply being too unrealistic.

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• Shouldn’t America Recycles Day Be Called America Reduce or Reuse Day?
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Eco by Consentino's River Bed Countertop

I am frequently asked for suggestions for environmentally friendly countertops.  One of the countertops that comes to mind is Eco by Cosentino, from the makers of Stilestone.  Why do I love this product?  Hands down anything made of recycled content wins a check plus in my book.  Plus, you don’t have to seal it. Check Plus Plus. Easy Peezy to maintain.

In 2009, I interviewed a representative of the Company right after their launch of the product. (Listen to the podcast here. It is 6 minutes long. Peter gives a nice detailed description of the product.)  However, I just plain forgot to air the podcast.  I still love the concept behind this countertop.  See why.

Recycled Attributes:

Why do I love thee?  The countertop is made of up to 75% recycled post industrial and post consumer products of the following materials:

• mirrors salvaged from houses, building and factories;
• glass from windshields, windows and bottles;
• granulated glass from consumer recycling practices;
• porcelain from china, tiles, sinks, toilets and ECO by Cosentino elements.

Eco by Cosentino 's Crystal Sand Countertop

Other elements worth considering:

• High performance against staining, scratching and scorching.  However, the Company does not suggest you use your countertop like a butcher block.
• Heat resistance.  It can take moderately high temperature for short periods. (Read below.)
• Non-porous, does not require sealers.  (Remember, granite needs to be resealed.)
• 10 designer colors available in polished.
• Available in 63″x 128″ slab and standard size tiles
• Backed by a 10-year limited residential warranty which is nontransferable to your next buyer.  Be sure to read what can void your warranty.
• Can acquire points towards LEED Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
• No microban added (via the podcast.)
• Can be use for both residential or commercial application.
• GreenGuard, NSF and Cradle to Cradle Silver Certification

How Heat Resistant Are These “Tops”

I wondered how heat resistant were these countertops.  In a  2009 New York Times article, Robert  Contreras, the CEO of the Company, stated that if you left a pan coming from a 450 degree oven on the countertops for 15 minutes, the countertop might crack.  In addition, the warranty can be voided if  you put a crock pot, skillet or other hot items directly on your countertop.

So, the countertops are not as heat resistant as granite.  If you are a careless cook or don’t want the hassle of remembering a trivet, this countertop may not be for  you.  However, don’t rule it out for your bathrooms.

Where Can I buy?

The countertops are offered throughout North and South America and Europe.  Within each region, such as the USA, there is a store locator link.  (In the US, see here.)  Although the store locator states both the Home Depot and Lowes carry the product, call before you go.  I did a quick search for my own area and found they didn’t carry it.  However, there were plenty of local kitchen and bath stores that did.

Price?

In 2009, Peter in the podcast said the price to template and install is $65 to 95 per square foot to. I wanted to hear my tri-state reality price from an installer.   Phil of Tri-State Stone stated the price would be approximately $80-130 depending on thickness.  However, Phil noted that Tri-State bases their price on the drawing not necessarily the square foot.  In addition, they also try to minimize seams which might increase the price.  (Kitchen alert!  Ask the question about seams.  Nothing looks worse than a ton of seams.)

In the market for a green countertop, make sure you read some of my other eco-countertop articles:

• Icestone
• Veterro 
• Gleenglass 

Join the Conversation:

• Are you in the market for a new countertop?  If so, would you consider this one?
• Would you rule this countertop out because of the corn oil resin?
• Are you only looking for 100% recycled?
• How do you feel about their heat resistant policy?
• Are you a hazardous cook like me?

Similar Posts:

• A Recycled Content Countertop That Looks like Granite
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• Sierra Pine’s Medite II and Medex, Excellent Eco-Friendly Plywood Alternatives
• Tru-Stile: A Solution for Architectural Green Designed Doors

2013 Ford Fusion

A week ago, I witnessed the unveiling of the newly designed Ford Fusion as a guest of Ford. My highlight of the unveiling was my indepth conversation with  Samantha Hoyt, Fusion Marketing Manager about the newly re-designed Fusion.  Listen to the podcast.

So, you don’t think this is a commercial for the Fusion, I test drove this car last year when my 2005 Sienna lost its transmission and gave it high marks.   (Heck, I drove about 10 cars last summer, but luckily my Sienna was fixed.)

When I previously drove the car,  I remarked that the trunk was in my line of vision.  Although the car has rear sensors, I am an old time driver and like to look over my shoulder.  (Teaching an old dog new trick.  Not going to happen.)  My close friend has an all wheel drive Fusion, and absolutely adores it.  There is also a hybrid model as well.

So Why Do I Love a Fusion?

The 2013 Ford Fusion is a medium size sedan that is fuel efficient, comfortable, and affordable.  Even though the old Fusion was pretty darn good, Ford decided to give it a make-over.  Inside and out according to Hoyt.

In addition, Ford expanded its med-size car platform to include the gas fueled Fusion (1.6 and 2 liter eco boost engines) the Fusion Hybrid, and Fusion Energi, the plug-in electric/hybrid.  In Europe and Asia Pacific, the Company will be introducing the Mondeo.

I urge you to listen to the 10 minute podcast.  Hoyt explains all the great features on the car.  Just in case you want a short synopsis, listed below are some interesting tidbits.

Interest tidbits:

• The hybrid gets 47 mph in the city.  44 mpg on the highway.  (Getting pretty darn close to the Prius.)
• Hybrid seat completely fold down for added trunk space.  The seats do not fold down on the Energi Fusion. Great for us gardening gals to haul big plants.   (Note, both seats don’t ordinarily fold down in other hybrid cars I looked at.)
• The Fusion Energi has a ”500-mile overall driving range.”  It can be plugged into a regular outlet. Hoyt explained the electric portion is 100 miles.
• Available voice-activated SYNC®27.  Hoyt says it is the most widely used car in-connectivity  system in the world.
• Lane Keeping System:  Gently steers you back into your lane if you get a little drowsy.  (Or not pay attention since you are breaking up a fight between the cavemen.)
• Adaptive Cruise Control:  Keeps you a certain distance from the other cars.  Boy, can my teenage cavemen use this.  Wait, so can the heavy footed hubby.
• Blind Spot Information System: helping you back out of tight spots.  (Okay, good for us not the best drivers.  I will admit it.  Driving is not my forte.)

Interior Green Facts:

Some of the green highlights, Hoyt explained:

 What About Range Anxiety?

I learned a  new buzz word at the Auto Show.  ”Range Anxiety.” (This is not to be confused with road rage or hyperventilating.)  It means anxiety of depleting the electrical battery while driving an electric car.   Hoyt explains their Ford Energi has a range of 100 miles on full electric.  Thereafter, the car switches to gas hybrid  with a total range of 500 miles.  Sign me up!

What about the Trunk?

Hoyt explains they did in fact re-looked at the trunk issue and readjusted the seat.  However, despite their efforts, some us might still have a problem.   At least, there is the back-up cameras.

Join the Conversation:

• Would you consider buying a Ford Fusion and if so, which one of the cars?
• Would you consider buying the electric/hybrid?
• Do you already own a Ford Fusion and what are your thoughts about its maintenance or performance?
• What your thoughts about Ford lately?

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• Toyota’s Prius Line Expands. Next, Hydrogen Fuel Cell

One of Double Impact's Challenges

Double Impact furthers social change through its quizes, challenge, and daily do’s, sponsors by companies seeking brand awareness.  The beauty of the program is people earn impact points, which translate into money for certain charities on the website.  Previously, I wrote about how the program works; however, what really intrigued me was Double Impact’s business model.

So, if you are part of corporation (all sizes are welcomed,) you need to read this article.  According to Jessica Alter, founder of the Company, corporation give tremendous amounts of money to charities.  However, they have no way of measuring their return on their charitable donations.

She has created a company that helps everyone.  Business, consumers, charities, and Mother Earth.  So, listen to the below video or podcast as Jessica walks us through the purpose of the Company and how it will impact businesses.  (The video is 30 minutes.)  Believe me, you are going to want to hop on this train.

The Business Aspect:  How to Earn Green

My first thoughts about Double Impact was what a brilliant social change program.  Everyone gets what they want.  But the question that lingered in my mind is how is this Company funding itself?  Call me a little cynical but if you don’t have a good business plan in the green arena, you aren’t going to stay in business.

No one has ever called me introverted so I came right out and asked the founder, Jessica Alter, in the above podcast and video interview.  She answered the question like a champ.  Didn’t bat an eye lash or got flustered.  She is my type of woman.

In a nutshell, the Company partners with corporations who want to do good and get credit for it through brand marketing.  Corporations sponsor quizzes, products, and education.  You see their name and associate them with helping your charities.

In fact, every time I earn an impact point, my efforts show up in my Facebook page with the sponsor who is “paying” for that impact point.  Now all my friends see my do good efforts along with the brand name of the company making it possible.

To give you an example, Happy Family is one of their sponsors. (They make premium organic food.) Their name is in my dashboard as being responsible for helping Healthy Child, one of the charities, meet their goal.    Weird thing is, I didn’t know who Happy Family was  until I signed up on Double Impact.  Now, I do.  Each time I take a challenge or do a “daily do,” all my friends will see the name, Happy Family Brands, via Facebook.    See how this works?

Corporate Sponsorship:  Green With Benefits

Being a corporate sponsors has its benefits at Double Impact.  Brand awareness to a targeted audience who gets your company at hello.  Green with benefits.  Just think, next time a Double Impact subscriber is at  a the grocery store, they will remember your company from your sponsored quizzes and challenges.    Marketing 101, people but with a twist.

Cause Marketing has been very successful.  American Express used cause marketing in the early eighties when it partnered with a not for profit who raised funds to renovate the Statue of Liberty.  Recently, it has become a vehicle to express corporate social responsibility.    Joanne Fritz states in her article,”Cause-Related Marketing: What You Need to Know,”

“[o]ne industry group estimates that in 2005 cause-related marketing spending was $1.08 billion. Back in 1990, when the group started keeping figures, that spending was only $125 million.”

Can Only the Big Boys Play?

Double Impact offers different tiers of involvement so as not to preclude small companies from participating. Jessica explains the tiers towards the end of the interview.

What are you waiting for Ms. or Mr. Corporation?  Don’t stop at go and collect your $200, contact the folks at Double Impact and help out Healthy Child, Healthy World and its fellow Double Impact charities.  No better PR, don’t you think?

Join the Conversation

• How do you feel about Double Impact’s business model?
• Do you think they will be able to sustain themselves with enough companies willing to get involved?
• Will consumers jump aboard?
• Any feedback about the site?

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Double Impact. Small Changes to Earn $ for Charities

What happens if I told you that your favorite charities could receive donations simply by you changing your habits to help the Earth.  Not one dime out of your pocket.

Anna, what do I have to do?  Just log onto Double Impact.  Choice one of the charities, and start taking their simple challenges to reduce your impact on the Earth.  Yep, that simple.

Really, Anna?  So simply turning off my lights?  Checking into a farmer’s market?  Lowering the thermostat?  That’s it?

In a nutshell.    In fact, you can even follow what your friends are doing.  And for those of you Green Earth Lovin’ Ninjas out there, make it a contest.  All in the name of Mother Earth and your fav charity.  Think as of it as a fun game. To learn more, watch my video below.

Wow, Anna.  That’s it?

Yep.  Easy, peezy.  Just sign up via Facebook.

Anna, what’s the catch?  Who’s paying for this change?  Another government handout?

Corporations.  According to the Double Impact team, corporations give money every year to charities but no one knows about it.  Jessica Alter, founder of the Company explained in 2010 brands, donated in the United States $15 billion dollars to charities.  However, at of the day, business aren’t able to show results from their donations.

So, the team created a healthy marriage between brands, consumers, and charities.  Everyone gets their needs met.  Dr. Phil would be proud.

Here is a chance for the corporations to don their super hero costumes and dole out the moolah.   Brand visibility.  You change, charities get the money, and Mother Earth gets to smile.  Sounds like a win win to me.

My Double Impact Page

Anna, what do I have to do?

Well, you can earn impact points by

• connecting your electric bill to your utility to help curb your electrical appetite,
•  taking quizzes and watching short fun videos,
• buying certain products (such as sustainable bottle through Amazon,)
•  checking in (such as a farmer’s market,)
•  or daily dos (like a aromatic dinner for two with candles.)

That’s it.  Watch my short video  as I walk you around the site and how my personal Double Impact page looks like.  I will have to warn you.  I have been kind of a slacker.

So you know, you will also get these cute reminders if you fall off the green wagon urging to come back and do some more.  Plus, the folks at Double Impact already know my friends and asks me to invite them to play along.  (Do they know someone important at Big Brother Google?)

Anna, are all the charties green? 

Good question.  The charities listed right now are Healthy Child, Healthy World (love this charity,) Breast Cancer Awareness, and Pesticide Action Network.  In fact, you can nominate your favorite charity.

Just to give you an example, over 500 people have signed up to support Healthy Child, Healthy World.  Collectively, they have earned over 100,000 impact points in just a few months.  (Note, Double Impact is a very young company.)

But what about the business aspect of Double Impact, Anna? 

So there lies the second half of the equation.  The business aspect.  Ah, a very interesting article into itself.  Hate to cut you short, but you have to read part 2 of my dissection of Double Impact.

Be sure to watch  the podcast and video interview of Jessica Alter, the founder, of Double Impact explains the Double Impact concept as well as the benefits to businesses.

Until then, go ahead and fund your charities by changing your footprint.  It’s as easy as turning off the lights.

Join the Conversation:

• Have you joined Double Impact?  If so, what are your thoughts?
• Would you join Double Impact?  If not, how come?
• How do you feel about taking simple challenge to help out your favorite charity?
• What kind of feedback can you give Double Impact?
• Don’t you just love Healthy Child, Healthy World?

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• Double Impact: The Business of Creating Social Change
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Rocket Stoves from the Paradigm Project. Helping Indigent Women and the Enviroment

With all of our creature comforts, it is hard to imagine that somewhere in the world woman are carrying wood on their back for miles so that they can cook meals.  Worse yet, their health is deteriorating  from smoke inhalation from their cooking fires.  The Paradigm Project  was started to change these women’s lives by supplying them with a cleaner burning alternative in the form of a portable, efficient burning stove.   What I found so unique is the Company’s self-sustainable business model.  Donors are appreciated but not required.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Greg Spencer, Jr., co-founder of The Paradigm Project.   Greg explains during his video and podcast interview the Company’s business model and the impact they are having on the lives of third world country women.  I highly recommend you listen.  Greg is a very engaging speaker.

Why Stoves?

My first thought when I interviewed Greg was why stoves?  The Company could pick from a multitude of projects to help third world countries.  However, as Greg states in the interview over 3 billion people cook on an open fires.  For women cooking in their huts, it is equivalent to smoking 40 cigarettes a day as they inhale the open fire’s smoke.  The smoke is full of soot.

In addition, young children are at risk as well.  Pneumonia is the number one killer of children under the age of 5.  The risk of contracting pneumonia is  increased due to poor indoor air pollution such as cooking and heating with biomass fuels (such as wood or dung.)

The Company’s founders came up with a solution  to bring cleaner burning technology to these women and reduce their need for wood through the use of portable Rocket stove technology.  The stove needs less wood to burn efficiently.

They brought together investors and donors to fund the first project in Kenya.  However, on an ongoing basis, the Company taps into the carbon market to fund their projects.  Their goal was not to keep tapping donors but be self-sustainable.

A self-sustaining non-profit concept without tapping donors.  Now, he had me intrigued.

The Business Model

Greg explains the Company is not a pure profit or non-profit company.  He calls the company a sustainable social enterprise since they are advancing a social good.  The sustainable part of the equation is the Company makes enough money to further their work.  In doing so, they have devised a business which can tap in the carbon offset market for funding.

In a nutshell, Greg explains open fires cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.  Another company like Google might want to reduce their own carbon footprint and want to buy carbon offset credits.  This project qualifies as a way for a company to offset their carbon footprint.

The Income Impact

What Greg is hoping is that investors see the human aspect of what the Company is doing.  The Women in Kenya are spending 30 hours a week sourcing wood.  The time gained from sourcing less wood could mean a better family life and time to create another business to help alleviate their poverty.

The Company states that $280 a year is saved by these families using the Rocket Stoves.  That sum may not mean much money in terms of our lives, but the Company provides the following perspective:

“Most of us in this world are living on less than $2 USD a day(1). Up to 35% of that income can be spent on fuel for cooking over open fires, which is incredibly taxing on a family’s ability to pay school fees, purchase food or seeds for planting crops or even just every day necessities. The “income saved” refers to the money that the family will save from purchasing 40%-60% less cooking fuel through the use of our Rocket Stoves.

WHAT ONE STOVE CAN DO: $ 0.31: typical amount spent on daily fuel wood for those who purchase it | .31 * 365 = $113.15 in annual fuel costs | 50%: typical fuel savings of fuel efficient cook-stove | $113.15 * 50% = $56.58 in annual fuel cost savings or $282.90 in income saved per stove over 5 years.”

The Environmental Impact

In addition to the affects on the income of the families, sourcing wood for fuel has a great impact on the environment.  The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that yearly global forest loss in the 1990s was 16.1 million hectares in which the highest loss of forests were attributed to Africa and South America.  Forest destruction was mainly due to agricultural expansion, fuel wood, and logging. Deforestation causes loss of biodiversity, soil depletion, erosion, and climate change

The Company further states

“[i]t is estimated that 25% of all global CO2 emissions are generated from the rural poor. That’s more than all global transportation emissions combined(2)! This is largely because the rural poor have no access to better, more efficient technologies. But with our Rocket Stoves that are 40%-60% more efficient than an open fire, “emissions” are reduced by 1 to 2 metric tons per Rocket Stove each year. That’s a hard quantity to grasp, but 1 metric ton equals 2,200 pounds. “Emissions” or greenhouse gases are byproducts that are released from a certain activity. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and an activity that creates it could be driving a car, firing and running a coal plant or, in this case, burning wood to cook.”

 Their Progress

At the time of the interview, the Company has provided over 30,000s stoves since November of 2010. The Company projects that they will provide over 60,000 stoves by the end of this year.  For more information about their progress, see here.  On this page, you can see the amount of stove provided as well as their total financial and environmental impact.   The Paradigm Project plans to expand their program into Guatemala this year.  Their goal by 2020 is to provide 5 million stove to third world countries.

How Can You Be Part of the Program?

• You can donate $40 or more to help one of their campaigns.  The donation is through the Paradigm Foundation, a not for profit organization.
• Use Social Media to help tell their story.  The Company has provided easy sharing tools on this page of their website.
• Watch and share their Stove Man video.  It is a wonderful trailer showing the work that the Company is doing and the impact of their work.  Bring a tissue or handkerchief.
• Start a Club at school to help raise funds.
• Contact the Paradigm Project  if your company would like to offset its carbon footprint by purchasing carbon credits or is seeking a social enterprise in which to donate.

Join the Conversation:

• How do you feel about this project?
• Where you aware of indigent women’s cooking plight?
• How do you feel about their business model?
• Would you donate to a program like this?

As always, please share and like this article on Facebook, twitter and your other social media outlets. The buttons are right there to the left of the article.  Yes, those annoying hovering buttons.   Let the world know about the Paradigm Project and the wonderful work they are doing.

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Re_Home, University of Illinois' solar decathlon home

The University of Illinois designed The Re_Home  for the 2011 Solar Decathlon with disaster response in mind. It is a very adaptable, flexible space to accommodate different family situations.

Why a disaster response house?  The state is prone to destructive tornadoes.

The beauty of the house is that two modular components of the Re_Home can be transported on one trailer.   In addition, the solar panels were design to lay flat on the roof for transportation.  Once the house reaches its destination, the panels can be raised to the optimal angle for solar collection.  See the short Re_Home video below:

I had the pleasure of receiving a tour of the home by Professor Mark Taylor from the School of Architecture.  Listen to the below podcast as he walks me through the home.  He really proves wonderful detail to the products they used in the house.

Components of the House

Living room ares of the Re_Home.

The Re_Home has the following components:

•  The insulation was three inches spray foam in the 2 by 4 studs with a 4 inch spray foam on the outside of the house. The exterior walls achieved a R45 value.  (They chose to use 2 by 4 framing since it was a student run program.  Professor Taylor felt that SIPs was a good system but given the project was student run, they wanted flexibility that they would not have with SIPs.)
•  Solar panels were designed to act as a canopy for the southern and western side of the house to keep it cool during the summer.
• There were 2 covered porches which added living space to the home.
• The house is heated with an air to air heat pump and ventilated with a Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV) by Newell Instruments.  This unit detects when outside air is “nice,” and then maximizes air flow throughout the house.  When the air outside isn’t nice, it continues to supply fresh air in accordance with ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation residential standards.
• The outside paneling was made of Resysta, which is comprised of  60% rice husks, approximately 22% common salt and approximately 18% mineral oil,  (It cuts just like wood according to Taylor.)
• Windows were made by Kolbe and Kolbe.  Professor Taylor said it is a very affordable window.  Many of the windows at the competition were not made in the US.
• The house contained a LG condensing washing and dryer combination.
• The reclaimed decking came  from a grain silo via Wisconsin Woodchuck.
• The roof was covered with an EPDM, a cool roof material.
• Affordability was key.  All furniture was from Ikea.
• They used Lamboo instead of OSB sheathing.
• 3/4 of the house is an open layout.
• The house collects  rainwater and greywater to re-use for the water for the toilets.
• The  cost of the 970 square foot home is $250,000-275.000.
• The house is intended to be net zero and contains a 7.5 KW system.

Why Did I love this House?

Why did I loved this house?  It was so practical and could fit in any suburban landscape.  The house had regular siding, normal roof and windows and interior probably no different than what you are used to.  Everyone would want this house and the fact that it was energy efficient was icing on the cake.  It was built as either a two bedroom or one bedroom/office combination.  It’s contained a large living space with an open floor plan.

How Did the Re-Home in the Competition?

The house placed seventh in the competition.  They placed first in maintaining their appliances.

Join the Conversation:

• Any advice for the students?
• What concept would you incorporate in your house if you could?
• What design feature did you like in the house?

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