Save Money By Heating Your Home With A Wood Fired Gasification Boiler

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin

 

Guest Post: Elaine M. Wolf

Who knew two years ago, when we made the decision to purchase and install a free standing wood fired gasification boiler, that we would be operating virtually oil free this Winter season? It has given us energy independence because we control the fuel source – wood. It not only provides heat for our home, but as a bonus feature, heats our hot water!

A wood gasification boiler works on the principle of taking wood and baking it in the upper chamber of the boiler so that it creates wood gas (smoke). This wood gas contains volatile organic compounds that contain a tremendous amount of energy. The wood gas is then redirected by a fan through a slit in the ceramic floor that separates the upper chamber from the lower chamber and contains hot coal beds. In the lower chamber the wood gas mixes with secondary air and explodes into a flame of approximately 2000 degrees F. These superheated gases are then circulated through heat exchangers where the hot gases heat up a surrounding water jacket. These gases then exit the gasification boiler at about 400 degrees F. The hot water is then pumped through a series of pipes that connect with the baseboard heaters in the home as well as the domestic water supply.

Gasification boilers are prevalent in Europe where heating oil is very expensive. One cord of hard wood, which measures 4’ x 4’ x 8’ contains the energy equivalent of 197 gallons of home heating oil. At $4.00/gallon that is $788.00. We can purchase a cord of wood for $210.00. You can see where the cost savings become attractive. With an initial investment of $6,500.00 for a ‘Tarm’, Scandtec, Solo Plus gasification boiler and a federal tax credit of $1,500.00, our investment will pay for itself after two years.

 

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

8 Free Tips for Renovating Your Bathroom

Posted on February 17, 2012 by admin

  1. Make a Budget. Bathrooms are the most expensive rooms to remodel. A typical 5’ X 7’ upgrade within an existing home dimension, including low-flow toilets, new fixtures, mirrored walls with new lighting fixtures could cost around $16,000.
  2. Storage. Do you have enough storage for towels, linens and things?
  3. Water Efficiency. Use only water efficient sink/bath faucets, shower heads and toilets. Is your hot water system energy efficient? If you are replacing or changing plumbing make sure every valve needed is specified.
  4. Energy Efficiency. Lighting is critical part of a bathroom. Do you have any natural light? You should have good lighting for putting on make-up and shaving, plus for using the bathroom at night. Use LED or fluorescent lighting.
  5. Bathroom Fan. Get one with a timer. A fan should run for about ten minutes after each shower to exhaust water vapor from the space
  6. Use Healthy And Sustainable Materials. Otherwise your investment in this bathroom will be out dated before it’s even completed.
  7. Maintenance. Consider maintenance in your selection of materials, such as light-colored grouts rather than white and choose tile that can be set close (1/4” or less). This means less grout to clean. A denser grout mix makes it harder for mold to take hold.
  8. The Ambiance Of The Space Is Very Important. You want your bathroom to feel like a relaxing retreat. Mirrors and better lighting will increase the feeling of the space; low-flow toilets save money on water bills; bath fixtures including body sprays will give a “spa” feel to the room.                
Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Green Interior Design and Residential Hard Surface Flooring

Posted on February 6, 2012 by admin

 Concrete, ceramic tile, and natural stone are known as some of the most durable residential flooring materials. They have favorable health properties because they don’t emit gases, harmful by-products or fibers.  They don’t absorb contaminants, fumes or  smoke.

Concrete floors are a smart green choice because they don’t require a subfloor; they involve the least amount of materials and energy to be installed. Existing concrete flooring can be given a new life because of  improved grinding, coloring, hardening, and polishing technologies now available.

Ceramic tile floors are easy to maintain and can be made from pre and post-consumer recycled content. The larger the tiles, the less grouts, glues, and sealers are required. Use only eco-friendly sealers, glue, and grout. Tile flooring can also have the look of stone or hardwood flooring without requiring refinishing or sealing. In addition, ceramic tiles can be easily replaced if damage occurs.

Natural stone floors last forever, but may often require a routine sealing application. Use only eco-friendly sealers, glue, and grout.

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Green Interior Design and Existing Wood Flooring

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Are you thinking about removing your home’s wall-to-wall carpets and possibly refinishing the wood flooring that has been hidden away for years? Consider refinishing the existing wood flooring first before rushing out to buy something new or reclaimed. Your home’s existing flooring when refinished maybe more beautiful and durable than anything you can purchase.

Wood flooring has gained a wonderful rebirth in popularity in the last two decades. It has had a new appeal because of the warmth it brings to a space, its durability and improvement to indoor air quality.

When having your existing wood floors refinished it is important to seal the rest of the house off from the area of work so wood dust particles, possible lead paint and other toxic substances don’t get into the air and spread throughout your home. If you are refinishing many rooms at one time,  you will need to live somewhere else until the floors are completed and totally dry.

Use low-VOC, water-based products for refinishing your floors. Lately there has been a trend towards more natural and non-toxic finishes such as oils and waxes.

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Beautiful Sustainable Surface Materials

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

Today beautiful sustainable surface materials can be easily found and are available in a wide variety of attractive colors and styles. The prices are now more in line with traditional materials, they look fresher and are so much more exciting.

Purchasing sustainable products helps make an enormous improvement in the effects these products have on our environment and our health. Just the reduction in pollutants significantly improves the air quality for both indoor and outdoor environments. Using green materials helps in water conservation and waste reduction, and the reuse and recycling of materials helps to preserve natural resources.

For recycling to make an economic significance we need to purchase more materials made with recycled content in order to create demand. Purchasing green materials guarantees that labors are not exposed to toxic chemicals and exploitation.

Keeping maintenance in mind, smooth surface materials are easier to care for than textured ones. This is particularly useful to remember when selecting wall and floor materials for the home. Investing in washable surfaces such as tile or semi-gloss paint will help prevent stains and will extend the life of these areas.

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Indoor Air Quality – Carpet

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

Try to stay away from using carpet whenever possible particularly wall-to-wall carpet. Carpet traps unhealthy particles, such as chemicals, dust mites, pet dander, dirt and fungi plus vacuuming can make them airborne.

The majority of inexpensive carpets are made from nylon olefin which are toxic petrochemicals derived from petroleum. These carpets contain formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene, which are toxic to the nervous system. They offgas fumes for many years. When they are disposed of they usually end up in the landfills along with the padding and leach chemicals into the earth. If you must use wall-to-wall carpet make sure the company has a recycling program.

Wool does not offgas toxins and is better for the environment but can be expensive for many budgets. The backing of wool carpets is loaded with highly reactive compounds and noxious glues and the padding is usually made from urethane and foamed with hydrocarbons such as methyl or bonded urethanes. Steer clear of carpets with stain protector and other finishes. Check for Green Guard and Green Label certifications before purchasing new carpet and rugs.

If you have carpets, use a HEPA (high efficiency particle air) vacuum cleaner to ensure better air quality. Hard surface flooring, like cork, tile or wood can be readily cleaned by damp mopping.

Posted in Commercial Spaces, Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with Plants

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

Besides plants improving the look your home they can also improve the indoor air quality and your health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) we spend 90% of our lives indoors and interior environments are five to ten times more polluted than the exterior. Off-gassing from paints, adhesives, furnishings and other unsuspected items permeate the air we breathe with a multitude of chemicals, many of which are proven carcinogens.

How do plants improve indoor air quality? Rooms with plants have been measured as showing up to 60 percent less airborne molds and bacteria than rooms without plants. They remove environmental airborne toxins and act as purifiers by absorbing toxins through tiny openings in their leaves and transferring them to their roots where they are used as food.

Plants also release moisture in the air and absorb humidity which helps in regulating a comfortable indoor climate. Even though the EPA says that it would take hundreds of plants to duplicate the toxin removing effects produced in the NASA studies, it’s a fact that plants add oxygen and humidity to the air, which has been proven to be beneficial to your health.

Plants are known to reduce stress, increase work performance, and reduce symptoms of poor health. From an interior design point of view, plants can improve the appearance of a room and can help it be perceived as more expensive than those without.

The following are a few of the best plants for indoor air quality, human health and well being: Gerbera Daisies, Dracaena, Spider Plants and Philodendron.

Posted in Commercial Spaces, Residential Spaces | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Get a Leap on 2012 – Start Greening Your Home by Decluttering

Posted on January 5, 2012 by admin

Clearing the clutter from your home will make it a healthier environment in which to live and will definitely improve the aesthetic appeal. Clutter is not only hazardous to your health it can affect your physical well-being, make you feel more stressed, and even moody at times.

Winter is a great time to declutter since we are indoors a lot more. Start today by using the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle process.

To get started, take inventory of what you have in each room of your home and decide whether you keep it, sell it, give it away or throw it away. Anything that hasn’t been worn or used in the last two years should be either sold in a garage sale, passed along to local charities or given to a family in need. Anything that is no longer functional should then be thrown away.

Remember that “throw away” means taking items to local recycling places that will dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way.

The same goes for cans of paint or construction materials which can be used in renovating a room in your home or a community space where there isn’t a budget for new materials.

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Green Interior Design – New Year Resolutions for 2012

Posted on December 27, 2011 by admin

Have you been thinking about your resolutions for 2012? Over the last couple weeks I’ve been and reducing green house gas emissions and saving on energy costs whenever and wherever possible are on the top of my resolutions list. One of the easiest ways to reduce emissions and energy consumption at home and at work is by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances, building products, computers & electronics, heating & cooling and plumbing products that meet well established industry guidelines for energy efficiency.

Posted in Commercial Spaces, Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Create A Home That Reflects and Inspires You

Posted on December 21, 2011 by admin

The street, neighborhood, town/city, and country you live are really important because they reflect what’s important to you.

Is your home just a place where you leave your personal belongings during the day or is it a beautiful space that makes you feel safe and peaceful every time you walk through the door? A home should be a space where you can recharge, rest and get inspired. It’s a place that fulfills the basic human needs: eating, sleeping and shelter.

A home is a space that can be created to help us flourish, not just exist. When it feels peaceful, healthy, rejuvenating, and inspiring you can live a more soulful, compassionate and productive life. A home can be totally changed by the lives and spirits of the people who live there. The colors, smells sounds, and entire energy of each space is transformed by its inhabitants. What message is your home sending to the world? Is this who you want to be or is it time for change and to become who you really are?

Posted in Residential Spaces | Tagged , , | Leave a comment