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The Role of a Design/Build Expert in Eco-Friendly Building In recent years, the construction industry has embraced more sustainable practices as people recognize the environmental impact of traditional building methods. This shift has put design/build experts at the forefront of eco-friendly construction. These professionals manage the entire process from design to execution, making sure sustainable practices are followed every step of the way. Here, we look at the role of a design/build expert in eco-friendly building and how their work leads to better, more sustainable outcomes. What is a Design/Build Expert? A design/build expert is a professional or firm that handles both the design and construction phases of a project. Unlike the traditional model, where these phases are managed by separate teams, the design/build approach combines them, making planning and execution more cohesive. This streamlined approach helps keep projects on schedule and promotes collaboration, which is key for eco-friendly building. Why Integrating Design and Build Matters Eco-friendly building needs a level of coordination that the traditional design-bid-build model often struggles to achieve. In the typical process, the design team creates plans that are then passed to the construction team, which can lead to misunderstandings, changes, and compromises that hurt sustainability goals. The design/build model fixes these issues by promoting teamwork from the start. A design/build expert ensures that sustainability is included in the project’s blueprint from the beginning. This means that decisions about materials, energy use, and more are considered in both the design and construction stages. With a unified vision guiding the project, the final outcome is more likely to meet green building standards like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). How Design/Build Experts Contribute to Eco-Friendly Construction Choosing Sustainable Materials One of the first steps in eco-friendly building is selecting sustainable materials. A design/build expert helps source and recommend materials that have a lower environmental impact. This might include recycled steel, reclaimed wood, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, or acoustic wall panels made from eco-friendly materials that help control sound while contributing to a healthier indoor environment. Their expertise ensures that materials used support a healthier environment. Design/build experts often have strong supplier relationships, giving them access to eco-friendly materials at better prices. Because they’re involved from the start, they can make material choices that fit the project’s design and sustainability goals. Energy-Efficient Design Energy efficiency is a key part of eco-friendly construction. Design/build experts include features like good insulation, natural lighting, and ventilation systems that help reduce energy use, contributing to the development of energy efficient buildings. By combining the design and construction phases, they can make sure energy-saving ideas are put into practice during the build. For example, a design/build expert might position windows to maximize natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting. They may also suggest energy-efficient HVAC systems that use less power while still keeping the building comfortable. These energy strategies become an integral part of the project instead of an afterthought. Reducing Waste Construction waste is a big problem, filling up landfills and contributing to pollution. Design/build experts can plan ahead to reduce waste, using precise building techniques, prefabricated parts, and considering appropriate roll off dumpster sizes for efficient waste management. Better communication between the design and construction teams means fewer errors and less rework, which leads to less waste. They also often create waste management plans to recycle or repurpose materials during construction. By thinking about waste from the start, design/build experts help ensure projects follow sustainable waste practices. Saving Water Water conservation is another important part of eco-friendly building. Design/build experts can add water-saving features like rainwater collection systems, low-flow fixtures, and landscaping that needs little irrigation. By including these features early on, they ensure water conservation is part of the building’s design. Since design/build teams manage the entire process, they’re committed to making sure water-saving features are included without being overlooked. Meeting Green Certification Standards Getting certifications like LEED requires careful planning and execution. Design/build experts know these requirements and can guide projects to meet them. By overseeing the project from start to finish, they make sure every part meets the criteria for certification. Whether it’s energy modeling or choosing eco-friendly materials, the oversight from a design/build expert is essential. Their guidance helps projects get certified and save on long-term energy and maintenance costs, making sustainable building more practical and affordable. Challenges and Solutions While the design/build model has many benefits, it’s not without challenges. Managing both design and construction can be complex, especially with sustainable practices. However, experienced design/build experts keep things running smoothly with clear communication and detailed planning. Their ability to adapt and think creatively helps ensure sustainability goals are met. Read Also: What is Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Designs(AAC)? The Future of Eco-Friendly Construction The role of design/build experts will continue to grow as the demand for sustainable construction rises. New green technologies, changing building codes, and more options for eco-friendly materials will need professionals who can bring these elements together. Discover how design/build experts can help you create a greener, more energy-efficient home. Visit Eco Sustainable Home Designs to start your journey toward sustainable living today. Author Bio: Natalie Akins is a freelance writer that loves sharing her knowledge and expertise in interior design and remodeling. She also has a background in the Hospitality and Real Estate Industry. She lives in her hometown of Austin, Texas where she enjoys spending time with her husband and decorating with her children. Natalie’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a new construction industry resource site.

Concrete is one of the most common building materials, and it has a huge planetary cost. But what if you could construct with concrete more in an eco-friendly manner? Yes – with insulated concrete forms! In our blog today, we will discuss about Concrete environmental impact and how ICF is able to reduce carbon foot print of Concrete up to 80%. Let’s get started! Concrete’s Environmental Impact You encounter concrete every day without really thinking about it. It’s in the buildings where you work and live. The streets and sidewalks you drive and walk on. Concrete is everywhere! But here’s the troubling truth: concrete is devastating to the environment. Concrete production produces: In fact, concrete is the second most used substance on Earth after water! And, with demand still increasing, the damaging environmental impacts of concrete only continue to worsen. As you can see, we need more sustainable ways to build with concrete. What Are Insulated Concrete Forms? Unlike traditional concrete construction, a green building method is with insulated concrete forms (ICFs). ICFs are foam insulation forms that hold concrete. The forms are hollow and remain fixed after the concrete sets. Foam insulation typically is polystyrene or polyurethane based. ICF systems are blocks or panels that interlock like Lego bricks. ICF construction may sound futuristic, but it is an oddly simple process. The basic steps are: The forms are made of foam. They create an insulating concrete sandwich – rigid polystyrene foam on each side of the concrete core. Superiority of ICF Construction A little-known fact that the general public probably does not know about concrete is that for concrete to reach its full engineered compression strength is for the concrete to cure as slowly as possible and this takes time and the thicker the concrete the more time it takes.  A typical 4” thick monolithic slab takes at least 28 days to cure to attain the common engineering requirements of 3500 pounds per square inch.  The surface may seem very strong a day after the pour, but that does not mean it is ready to be built upon.  Many appliers will order the concrete supplier to add certain chemicals to the mix usually during the pouring process to make the surface to harden quickly so they can finish the concrete faster and even remove the forms the same day as the pour.  This may seem benign, but it is not because these chemicals are caustic and corrode the steel reinforcement unseen.  Another factor is the same process can cause unseen contraction fractures inside the concrete that may not show up on the surface as much as a year later and obviously this is too late because a weight bearing structure is already built upon it.  More conscientious builders will restrain from this common practice and may employ several practices such as keeping the concrete surface wet and covering the concrete with plastic sheeting to allow the natural chemical heating inside the concrete to continue and for it to reach its full potential strength and not begin construction on the slab or concrete walls for 14-28 days. This is a way that ICF forms are superior to typical cast in place concrete walls using metal or wood forms because the insulated forms hold the heat generated by the chemical reaction in the slurry to take place as well as retaining the moisture needed to reach its full compression strength.  When all these factors are taking place in an ICF formed concrete wall when completely cured it will be nearly twice as strong as a common cast in place wall of the same thickness.  Furthermore, an ICF wall has nearly twice as much strategically placed reinforcement steel as part of the engineered form as regular cast in place walls.  This is why they perform superiorly against floods and seismic events than regularly poured concrete walls which will crumble and collapse in on one another especially in an earthquake.  This I witnessed firsthand when I went to Haiti as a consultant immediately after their major earthquake in 2010. Lastly ICF walls require 1/3 to ½ as much concrete as a conventional poured wall of the same specified engineering requirements. Advantages of Insulated Concrete Form Construction There are a lot of advantages with ICFs compared to traditional pouring into plywood or metal forms: Energy Efficiency Bonded to the concrete, the foam insulation increases energy efficiency considerably over ordinary concrete walls. ICF walls provide: All these point to decreased heating and cooling costs – up to 50% lower! Material Efficiency Thinner concrete walls are possible since ICF walls are heavily insulated. Regular concrete walls have to be thick to have insulation in them – usually 8″ thick or more. In fact, ICF concrete walls measure only 4-6” thick. This cuts down significantly on concrete, and thus carbon footprint. Strength and Durability Foam and concrete bonded together with rebar create walls with stunning strength. ICF walls can withstand: Indeed, ICF construction is the only building system to meet the highest performing building codes throughout North America. Even better, the water-resistant foam also protects the concrete from moisture damage. This results in extremely durable, hard-wearing buildings. Healthier Indoor Environment ICF walls are so much less leaky than regular wall systems. This means: ICFs are one of the best ways to create a healthy, comfortable home. Faster Construction ICF walls go up very fast as they arrive as pre-made interlocking blocks – no framing is necessary! They’re also conspicuously lightweight, and the foam forms remain perfectly in place post-pour, eliminating the need to remove a form. That means we can finish roofing, utilities, drywall, etc., much faster. Design Flexibility These modular ICF blocks can be formed into any number of configurations. Floor plans can be: ICFs give you full control to build exactly the home you want. Peace of Mind The use of ICF walls makes your home superior to fire and noise. Its fire- and noise-stopping, reinforced concrete core. Homeowners have the peace of mind

Are you the kind of person that wants to create a home of your dreams? Perhaps a cozy cottage in the woods or an ultra-modern masterpiece with floor-to-ceiling windows? We all yearn for a place of our own that we make our unique home.  Not only that, but a habitat that is eco-friendly and will be low costs to keep in maintenance and in energy bills. Green house designs let you construct the house of your desires, but at the same time protect the planet. You can view our list of sustainable house plans and give us a call today to get started with designing your green home. Keep reading! Why Choose Sustainable House Plans? Sustainable house plans use less energy and resources than a regular house. That reduces their carbon footprint, and saves you money on energy. Here are some benefits of eco-friendly house plans: Your home is the best you can do for Earth. It minimizes emissions, protects the environment and sets an example to others. What To Expect on Eco-Friendly House Plans? So, where to go for the right sustainable house plan?  Global warming is an existential issue to all us that live upon this precious earth, so it is natural that every architectural firm and building material manufacturer to taut that their designs and materials are “green”, but are they really? Here’s how to choose the right green home design that’s right for you: Learn your sustainability goals and then seek plans based on your green home idea. The perfect ecologically sound design is out there! Sustainability Features You Would Need Maybe you’ve found a traditional house plan that you love, but wish it included more green elements. It’s possible too! However, be careful about asking a professional designer to modify copyrighted plans which is illegal.  Most the time the designer will have stock plans for you to review and of which he/she can rightfully modify.  This can for many, be the cost effective route to your own custom home. It is easy to retrofit many sustainability options to existing house plans. Discuss options with your architect or builder. Some easy “green” house plan suggestions: You can take an ordinary house design and make it sustainable with a few tweeks. An eco-friendly builder will advise you on additions that suit your style, budget and ambitions. Green building doesn’t have to mean rebuilding from the ground up. Financing Your Energy Efficient Dream Home You might think that green building elements will keep your dream home out of reach financially. Luckily, green homes pay for themselves in the long run with savings on electricity. You also get fantastic financing that will really make them very affordable upfront. Sustainable house plans increase construction costs by about 4% on average. But that’s okay! The energy and water savings from the long run more than cover the upfront costs. Avail yourself of these programs, and build the green home of your dreams with the right price. Take Action! Ready to start building your green home? For dozens of great sustainable house designs, go to Ecosustainablehomedesigns.com. If you’re in the market for a modern solar home or a cozy cottage using passive solar, we have the right design for you. We have architects and green builders that will also customize any plan to fit your vision, lifestyle and needs with sustainable inclusions. Constructing a green home has never been simpler.

Have you lived in several homes in your lifetime, either renting or paying a mortgage? Have any of these dwellings been what you consider your dream home? Have you been driven to remodel or move every 7-10 years to keep up with having the latest trend or fad? Can you drive through neighborhoods and tell when those houses were built based on former trends in design. Have you felt like you should be a better steward of the earth, our fragile island home? Are you ready to build using sustainable/renewable materials and integrating renewable energy systems to reduce your carbon footprint, by honestly reducing your impact on the environment? Have you had the misfortune of owning a house that seems like a money pit with replacing elements like windows, doors, siding and roofing which has robbed you of the expected equity you thought you would earn in being a homeowner? Perhaps you feel you are ready to design and build your last house or the last house for a long time. Maybe you are looking to design and build the house that meets the best requirements to raise a family. Maybe you have raised your children and now you are ready to design and build the house that will best serve you in your golden years. If you answered yes to any of these questions, perhaps you know what you want and need by now and are ready to build your dream home, but you are asking yourself where do I start and how daunting is this path? I am guessing you have looked at 100’s of stock floor plans and have a sense by now of the spaces you want, but nothing is quite right to meet your taste and specific needs or wants. What I would propose is you need a well-seasoned designer to work alongside you to navigate this exciting journey from design, construction and completion. When setting out to design your custom home you should have a seasoned designer who has seen what has come and gone in fashion and can guide you to make your own hallmarks in design with both interior and exterior features that prove to be timeless and can appeal to future generations. If you think you are ready to design and build your own custom home, then you need to work with a professional that not only helps you stay in budget, but more importantly understands lifetime cost in repairs and energy costs. Eco-Sustainable Home Designs has a rare combination of skills and experience to help guide you in designing your own custom home. We have more than 30 years’ experience in a diverse background of a hands-on approach to designing and resolving problems in old and new construction. Our master designer and master builder has worked at the drawing board and in the field implementing his construction. He has a background in historical restoration bringing grand old houses back to their original glory while yet suiting them with modern features and amenities to serve the needs of many generations to come. He also has a background in repairing and remodeling modern houses that have failed due to poor design and workmanship. His role in remedial construction has been to find permanent solutions for his clients’ homes whether it be fundamental issues like faulty foundations or roofs that fail and cause very costly repairs to the structure of the house or replacing rotten windowsills using advanced non deteriorating materials. At heart he is a problem solver and has used his experience and skills to design and build custom homes that overcome the typical issues he has addressed in old to modern structures. From his experience he has seen what does and does not work and designs houses to be low cost to maintain, highly energy efficient and to withstand natural disasters that can be expected in various regions and to design and build houses that can reliably serve the needs of many generations. Unlike most architectural design firms he has more than 3 decades experience in the field, training crews and working alongside them to make sure his creations are put together the way he has intended. He is also a master craftsman in carpentry, cabinet and furniture making, tile and stone design and stucco as well as all masonry construction. He has worked in all the crafts related to constructing a structure from plumbing, electrical and heating and air. He is a design/build expert in the following forms of construction: 1. Framed construction both in wood and light gauge steel and favors light gauge steel over wood, because of the environmental impact of stripping our forests for wood framing demand and because steel framing provides the opportunity for an optimal thermal mass structure by integrating solid insulation which makes for a healthier home and reduces your energy costs. 2. Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction which is super strong and has a high thermal mass. It can withstand high winds, floods and even earthquakes while saving you a bundle in energy costs especially as compared to stick frame construction. 3. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) which has the highest thermal efficiency being at least 2-3 times that of conventional framed construction. It is super strong, fireproof, insect proof and can withstand high winds, wildfires, earthquakes and floods while saving you over 60-75% in energy costs over conventional construction. It has proven itself to be durable, reliable and completely renewable and sustainable material over a 100 years in use. 4. Earth bermed construction which utilizes the thermal properties of the earth to significantly reduce energy costs while also being super strong and can withstand the worse conditions when properly designed and built and utilizes the heating qualities of the sun through passive solar gain. 5. Rammed Earth construction, which is suitable for some regions. It is a modernized approach to an ancient form of construction which is seen in adobe block construction. This approach to construction is a house built with the

Want to construct or remodel your new house? The house architecture design company you choose for a realistic plan is everything. Architectural design for a house can change everything, from its arrangement and practicality, to its style and feeling. The list below is made up of 10 of the world’s house architecture design companies for creating your home. Green Sustainable House Designs Since climate change and environmental sustainability have been at the forefront of public consciousness, most homeowners want to construct eco-friendly dream homes. Eco Sustainable Home Designs is dedicated to designing green sustainable residential buildings. Their plans focus on using alternative renewable sustainable materials and conditioned using alternative totally renewable energy systems.  They recognize their plans should be designed to be suitable to the region where they are to be built.  Global climate changes with extreme natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires, sustainable designs demand planning and specifying construction plans to be able to resist and survive such disasters. This imperative calls for primary focus on durability, reliability and low maintenance over fads in designs.  Such houses for sustainability should aim for thoughtful features that should be able to serve the shelter needs for many generations. These are just a few of the considerations this company focuses upon in their comprehensive construction plans. While they have a portfolio of stock plans to choose from, they encourage and aim to customizing their plans to best work upon your lot.  They also provide custom designs for their clients from selecting a lot to orienting the plan to the lot and integrating the natural resources towards a synergistic relationship to the environmental setting. These eco-friendly features they usually include: Solar thermal and photovoltaic collectors’ systems Water recycling systems Energy efficient HVAC -Always. Triple glazed windows Structural insulated panels (SIPs) FSC certified and reclaimed forests Proper light and airflow. Earth bermed houses Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Plans Insulated Concrete Forms Plans Steel Framed Construction Plans for prefabricated steel structures for barndomeniums Water source heating and cooling systems Convection air flow earth tubes for heating and cooling systems Passive and active solar energy systems Geothermal HVAC Covered porches for outdoor living space   Thanks to using such technologies, their homes score highly and exceed on sustainability standards such as LEED and EnergyStar. The result is a homeowner with less carbon footprint and lower utility bills and long-term low maintenance costs; while also living in a unique and beautiful and well laid out home. Apart from the sustainability aspects, Eco Sustainable Home Designs builds homes according to local climate and placed to optimize natural light and airflow. They want to design housing that is synergistic to the places they are set. To learn more about them and their collection of beautiful sustainable houses, head over to their website. Gensler Gensler is a good choice if you want to do something bold with your house. It uses shapes, angles, materials, lighting, etc. to create unusual and beautiful dwellings. They make the most of the current technology and add functional amenities such as automated shading and temperature control. Their houses, in turn, are sustainable via energy and water-saving features. So, homeowners have the aesthetic appeal and functionality of a home without damaging the environment. You can see some of their most innovative residential work here at Gensler.com. HDR HDR provides a full architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services for housing projects. They aren’t purely residential, but they draw on their many different strengths for sustainable home construction. These residential services they offer, for example: Architectural design Structural engineering Mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers. Sustainability consulting Construction management Interior design Landscape architecture This convergent approach allows them to offer thoughtfully engineered residences designed for ease, ease of use, and cost savings. They are also technically proficient in engineering to handle intricate residential construction projects on hillsides, coastlines, or other special terrains. The complete name of this house architecture design company is for “high-performance delivered.” They are clear on performance, sustainability, and design throughout their residential offerings. To learn more about their residential design, visit HDRinc.com. Nikken Sekkei This Japanese house architecture design company has a pretty good record of residential designs in Asia. They embody a highly Japanese design style in their house design, emphasizing minimalism, natural materials and indoor-outdoor harmony. Nikken Sekkei, established in 1900, offers a blend of avant-garde design and decades of expertise. They are current with fashion and technology, while inspired by traditional Japanese architecture. They have minimalist forms, abundant sunlight, and entanglement with the outdoors via garden courtyards and covered terraces. Materials such as wood and stone appear a prominent. Nikken Sekkei participated in numerous architectural design competitions and received many awards for the creative residential buildings. See their collection of stylish Japanese residential design on Nikken Sekkei’s website. Sweco Sweco, is an engineering and house architecture design company in Europe providing innovative and ecological homes. Located all over Northern Europe, they tailor their designs to each climate, geography and culture. Sweco’s headquarters are in Sweden but it employs more than 16,000 architects, engineers and other experts across Europe. This breadth of skill has allowed them to come up with house designs that fit different environments and places in various countries. For Sweco, sustainability is our main consideration. They use energy modelling, life cycle analyses, and the latest building technologies to make homes that are beautiful, functional and environmentally responsible. For a glimpse of their locally relevant sustainable housing designs, visit Sweco’s portfolio website. HKS HKS Architecture Dallas is an international house architecture design company with a strong experience in residential design. They have private clients including single families, condominium developers, and multifamily operators. Among their most recent notable residential builds are: HKS is renowned for their material creativity and craftsmanship. Their dwellings are brought to life by elements such as brickwork that creates unusual shadows, special perforated metal screens and innovative lighting installations. It prioritizes sustainability via passive solar design, climate-sensitive landscaping and community infrastructure. Automation of the home,

For the past 30 years I have concentrated on developing home energy systems that complement our highly energy efficient houses through building high thermal mass structures that reduce the energy consumption to heat and cool the home.  My aim has always been to install energy systems that are powered with energy sources that are as renewable and sustainable as possible for the latest generation of technology.  I have worked with many mechanical engineers over the years developing appropriate concept designs for the site our houses are built on and sized to our high thermal mass structures to minimize energy consumption. I have found myself often exasperated with mechanical engineers for their resistance to plan and work outside the box by implementing systems that are not like all the other systems they do every day for standard wood stick framing houses.  They often calculate heating and cooling loads for R-13 walls and R-19 roofs when our homes were R-32 walls and roofs. I have never understood why highly educated people who after getting their certification, fall into doing the same thing over and over throughout their career and show little interest in keeping up with the latest technology or even analyzing whether such technologies are of significant enough substance to merit changing from what they know. Having been in both remedial and new construction for over 35 years and I have seen enough of building material products fail to live up to the manufacturer’s hype and promises, so I lean into being suspicious and skeptical of new products with high promises.  For me they must hold up to my assiduous scrutiny before I stake my reputation upon using them. So, I understand the reluctance of other professionals to use new products, but I am less empathic with those who refuse to utilize systems that are rooted in well-tried science such as natural convection air flow, solar thermal collectors for water source heating and for desiccant cooling or even to utilize high energy efficient heat pump water heaters. When Jimmy Carter was president of the United States, we became aware of our energy crisis that was a threat to national security, due to our high dependence on foreign oil to supply our high consumption of energy highly dependent upon fossil fuels.  The worse part of this equation was our dependence upon oil from oil producing nations of the Middle East, most of which we had less than a stellar relationship. As far as anyone can remember there has been conflict in the region.  Our western ways and lifestyle have been a source of resentment.  The formation of OPEC in 1960 became a way that the largest oil producing nations could leverage the control of this commodity in price and supply to nations addicted to this source of energy. President Carter launched initiatives to research and develop new forms of renewable and sustainable energy with a twofold objective of reaching energy independence and reducing our deadly impact upon our environment by reducing emissions that destroy our ozone layer and other airborne pollution that increases greenhouse gas emissions. There were at least three main initiatives that President Carter wanted to promote: Major development of biofuel using our enormous surplus of grains that go to waste every year, to the point that we subsidize farmers not to grow crops or to grow other alternatives. Out of this research and development arose two major products: Ethanol and bio diesel fuel.  Under the Carter administration there was a move to incentivize auto manufacturers to switch over to production of diesel-powered engines for automobiles.  Diesel cars put out much less caustic emissions than gasoline engines. Diesel emissions are mostly carbon which falls quickly to the ground whereas gasoline engines put out carbon monoxide which is a clear gas that destroys the earth’s outside layer of ozone and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which we now know have contributed to global warming.  It was believed that diesel powered cars through advancing technology could become zero emission vehicles. Regular diesel fuel is much easier to produce than gasoline and requires less energy to produce.  Transition over to diesel powered cars did not go so well in the United States, in a large part because of a flaw in judgment made by General Motors Corporation who tried to convert regular gasoline internal combustion engines into diesel engines. Diesel works much differently than gas engines.  Diesel engine combustion is produced by high pressure to combust the fuel so therefore a diesel engine must have a block that can hold up to this pressure, which generally means the block and cylinders must have much heavier iron to hold up to this demand than gas powered cars. There were even attempts to use aluminum blocks and cylinders. This attempt to convert gas engines to diesel proved to be a disastrous choice since these engines failed.   This experience tainted Americans from switching over to diesel cars.  The Europeans successfully did switch over to diesel and now have achieved nearly zero emissions. Another initiative was to convert internal combustion engines over to alternative fuels. The one route that took root and has continued is ethanol from our surplus grain.  It was first called Gasohol, and which contained a larger percentage of ethanol to gas than now. The goal of this research was to transition from gasoline to alternative renewable sustainable fuels to be used in internal combustion engines.  The intent was to transition by measure in order that auto manufacturers and energy companies could gradually adjust in tooling and growing technology.  That transition was to move from gasoline to ethanol and from ethanol to liquid petroleum (propane) and finally over to being powered by natural gas, which we have in abundance.  All of these measures towards energy independence are great, but they still would not fuel cars and trucks with zero environmental impact or total zero emissions.  Each of these measures still requires a great deal of energy to produce and to transport. I must

So, what are the rare earth metals that are used in Lithium- Ion batteries and where can they be found. Lithium is mainly found and extracted from mainly salt flats and underground brine reservoirs. Extracting lithium from salt flats and brine reservoirs is through evaporation and then by using large amounts of precious ground water to process it. These areas where it is being mined are arid regions where water is already rare and in the process of extracting lithium a great deal of this ground water for drinking and farming is lost. On top of this issue is that the remaining liquid left over from extraction of this metal is highly toxic including radioactive elements, which make these once salt flats a permanent waste area for centuries. The largest producer of Lithium as well as the largest manufacturer of Lithium-Ion batteries is China. The other major producers of lithium are Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Cobalt is another major rare earth metal for EV and PV batteries as well as all our favorite electronics like computers and cell phones. Cobalt is extracted as a byproduct of copper and nickel mining but can be mined directly from deposits close to copper and nickel.  Cobalt is probably the metal most used in batteries that has the highest environmental and social threat. These mines produce toxic residues that leach into the ground water making it toxic and having a serious health impact to surrounding communities. Smelting cobalt ore produces caustic fumes of high concentrations of sulfur oxide and other air pollutants. Besides the environmental impact of mining cobalt, is the human working environment factor. This mining is mostly done in poor communities and little thought is given to safety, or training and equipment to mitigate the conditions that are hazardous for these underpaid miners who often suffer injury or death. The enormous environmental impact from mining and processing this metal, highly effects surrounding communities with health issues that causes the residents to suffer chronic disease and early death This mining and processing of cobalt is mostly in The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Australia. Another metal used in Lithium-Ion batteries is Manganese. Manganese is the fifth most abundant metal on earth and often found alongside iron ore. This metal is mostly mined in open pits and use and affect large tracts of land having a large impact on the environment. These pit mines are mainly in dry arid regions and consequently in the process of mining they produce lots of toxic dust that spreads into the local towns nearby. Besides the toxic air pollution, it affects surface and grown water. The biggest producers are: South Africa, Australia, China, India, Ukraine and Brazil. These metals are mostly mined in impoverished regions with workers who receive low wages and lack the training and safety equipment they need leading to injury and death. The pollutants have a big impact on the villages they live in which results in chronic illnesses and early death. Besides our growing dependance on foreign sources for these rare earth metals for our EV, and PV batteries and all our other electronic devices we are complicit in social and environmental inequity. The single largest producers of Lithium-Ion batteries is China in which our trade and political relationship is tenuous at best. Furthermore, the mining and production of these batteries uses an enormous amount of energy that derives from fossil fuels. I ask you is this really the way we want to go toward energy independence, and lowering our environmental impact? I propose that our research and development and implementation of green, renewable and sustainable energy be the development and production of hydrogen fuel cells. As I have mentioned above this technology is not new and we already lag behind in its production and use to countries like Germany, Japan and China who already have hydrogen systems that supply power to towns and manufacturing facilities and probably in automobiles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.  The United States has clearly had 50 years to develop alternative, renewable and sustainable energy systems with an emphasis on clean renewable energy in hydrogen technology and lead the world in green energy production. Instead, we have been content to rely upon our energy being sourced by fossil fuels and we have lost our opportunity to lead the world in green energy production as well as developing and training workers for new jobs in green energy technology. I would like to point out some companies I have learned about that are involved in hydrogen fuel cell science and development. Ballard Power Systems has been working in this technology since 1979 when geophysicist Geoffrey Ballard, Keith Prater and Paul Howard established Ballard Research Inc. Their first initiative was research and development on high energy lithium batteries. In 1989 they switched over to renewable hydrogen fuel cell energy systems with a focus on providing such knowledge to auto, truck, bus and train manufacturers. The first auto manufacturer to buy this technology is Daimler/Chrysler. Kohler and Toyota of North America are collaborating in developing hydrogen fuel cells to power large scale electric generators. They are presently working on hydrogen powered generators for Klickitat Valley Hospital in Goldendale, Washington, USA.  This project is projected to be complete by the end of 2024. Caterpillar is working on hydrogen generation using chemical catalysis to produce hydrogen for fuel cells for large scale generators and fuel cells for heavy equipment. Panasonic, Oska, Japan is also working on large scale generators for commercial and industrial application using hydrogen produced from chemical catalysis reaction. General Motors Corporation is working on large mobile electric generators fueled by hydrogen fuel cells for commercial application. I just recently learned of a new start up company whose interest align with my specific interest in designing and building with alternative building materials and construction technics that are genuinely renewable and sustainable and powered by alternative renewable sustainable and clean energy. This company is Blue Water Resolute (BWR) and Oncore Energy. Their

For the past 30 years I have concentrated on developing home energy systems that complement our highly energy efficient houses through building high thermal mass structures that reduce the energy consumption to heat and cool the home. My aim has always been to install energy systems that are powered with energy sources that are as renewable and sustainable as possible for the latest generation of technology. I have worked with many mechanical engineers over the years developing appropriate concept designs for the site our houses are built on and sized to our high thermal mass structures to minimize energy consumption. I have found myself often exasperated with mechanical engineers for their resistance to plan and work outside the box by implementing systems that are not like all the other systems they do every day for standard wood stick framing houses. They often calculate heating and cooling loads for R-13 walls and R-19 roofs when our homes were R-32 walls and roofs. I have never understood why highly educated people who after getting their certification, fall into doing the same thing over and over throughout their career and show little interest in keeping up with the latest technology or even analyzing whether such technologies are of significant enough substance to merit changing from what they know. Having been in both remedial and new construction for over 35 years and I have seen enough of building material products fail to live up to the manufacturer’s hype and promises, so I lean into being suspicious and skeptical of new products with high promises.  For me they must hold up to my assiduous scrutiny before I stake my reputation upon using them. So, I understand the reluctance of other professionals to use new products, but I am less empathic with those who refuse to utilize systems that are rooted in well-tried science such as natural convection air flow, solar thermal collectors for water source heating and for desiccant cooling or even to utilize high energy efficient heat pump water heaters. When Jimmy Carter was president of the United States, we became aware of our energy crisis that was a threat to national security, due to our high dependence on foreign oil to supply our high consumption of energy highly dependent upon fossil fuels. The worse part of this equation was our dependence upon oil from oil producing nations of the Middle East, most of which we had less than a stellar relationship. As far as anyone can remember there has been conflict in the region. Our western ways and lifestyle have been a source of resentment. The formation of OPEC in 1960 became a way that the largest oil producing nations could leverage the control of this commodity in price and supply to nations addicted to this source of energy. President Carter launched initiatives to research and develop new forms of renewable and sustainable energy with a twofold objective of reaching energy independence and reducing our deadly impact upon our environment by reducing emissions that destroy our ozone layer and other airborne pollution that increases greenhouse gas emissions. There were at least three main initiatives that President Carter wanted to promote: Major development of biofuel using our enormous surplus of grains that go to waste every year, to the point that we subsidize farmers not to grow crops or to grow other alternatives. Out of this research and development arose two major products: Ethanol and bio diesel fuel.  Under the Carter administration there was a move to incentivize auto manufacturers to switch over to production of diesel-powered engines for automobiles.  Diesel cars put out much less caustic emissions than gasoline engines. Diesel emissions are mostly carbon which falls quickly to the ground whereas gasoline engines put out carbon monoxide which is a clear gas that destroys the earth’s outside layer of ozone and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which we now know have contributed to global warming.  It was believed that diesel powered cars through advancing technology could become zero emission vehicles. Regular diesel fuel is much easier to produce than gasoline and requires less energy to produce. Transition over to diesel powered cars did not go so well in the United States, in a large part because of a flaw in judgment made by General Motors Corporation who tried to convert regular gasoline internal combustion engines into diesel engines. Diesel works much differently than gas engines. Diesel engine combustion is produced by high pressure to combust the fuel so therefore a diesel engine must have a block that can hold up to this pressure, which generally means the block and cylinders must have much heavier iron to hold up to this demand than gas powered cars. There were even attempts to use aluminum blocks and cylinders. This attempt to convert gas engines to diesel proved to be a disastrous choice since these engines failed.  This experience tainted Americans from switching over to diesel cars.  The Europeans successfully did switch over to diesel and now have achieved nearly zero emissions. Another initiative was to convert internal combustion engines over to alternative fuels. The one route that took root and has continued is ethanol from our surplus grain. It was first called Gasohol, and which contained a larger percentage of ethanol to gas than now. The goal of this research was to transition from gasoline to alternative renewable sustainable fuels to be used in internal combustion engines. The intent was to transition by measure in order that auto manufacturers and energy companies could gradually adjust in tooling and growing technology. That transition was to move from gasoline to ethanol and from ethanol to liquid petroleum (propane) and finally over to being powered by natural gas, which we have in abundance.  All of these measures towards energy independence are great, but they still would not fuel cars and trucks with zero environmental impact or total zero emissions.  Each of these measures still requires a great deal of energy to produce and to transport. 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This pressurized hydrogen is used to run a internal combustion engine which turns an electric generator.  This hydrogen powered generator is very quiet and puts off zero emissions. More importantly this system provides electric energy 24 hours a day all year long without the need for batteries to store energy. In moderate climates the most efficient use of this thermal heat is in direct heating water as the vaporized liquid. This provides direct heat for domestic hot water and for water source heating for the home either through radiators or in radiant coils inside the air handler. In climates especially that have a high gradient temperature between day and night or climes which have many days without sun or temperatures below freezing, then a liquid like glycol is the absorbent liquid. The vaporized liquid rises to the condenser and the heat manifold and turns back to liquid and falls back to the solar exposed space. In such a system there is a built-in storage tank that maintains this cycle with natural thermal convection. In most closed loop systems, the heated fluid circulates through a water heater and through a system of radiant tubes either in direct radiant heat or through coils in the air handler and returns to the ETSC using a circulating pump to supply domestic hot water and for water source heating for the home. We recommend a dedicated low wattage circulating pump supplied by a photo-voltaic generator. Since the heat absorption tubes are protected within the evacuated tubes that prevent the loss of thermal energy and maintain the maximum heat absorption and because the evacuated clear tubes are cylindrical this system works effectively from sunrise to sunset and even on overcast days. Furthermore, the vacuum seal makes the system impervious to energy loss on cold days or the flow of air around the tubes. This system using cylindrical tubes optimizes the total thermal surface area for collecting thermal energy. The vacuum seal also prevents corrosion from the effects of the environment or from collection of condensation. This translates into continuous production of thermal energy every day, every season for a lifetime. This means this system saves you in energy costs consistently for many years directly using the free thermal energy of the sun. Now with solar thermal collectors surrounded by a clear cylindrical vacuum tube consistently provides heat for heating water for domestic hot water and for heating the home is a no brainer for this purpose, but it can also be utilized for a cooling system through desiccant cooling as well. A desiccant cooling system uses a material that removes moisture from the air with resulting cooling of the space where the relative humidity is extracted. A common readily accessible and inexpensive desiccant could be silica gel. Here is how a desiccant cooling system would work in conjunction with Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors. The ETSC provides consistent heat through the heated liquid medium which is produced by direct thermal energy of the sun. This heat is transferred to a desiccant wheel or rotor. The desiccant wheel rotates between the air flow and the heated fluid, which allows the desiccant material to absorb the moisture from the air. As the desiccant absorbs the moisture from the air it releases latent heat, which cools the air passing over it. The cooled dehumidified air provides effective cooling for your living space. In all our eco-sustainable plans we integrate the use of Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors as an integrated part of our heating and cooling system because it captures the direct thermal energy of the sun as a highly consistent, energy efficient and inexpensive heating and cooling systems for a lifetime. Furthermore, Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal Collectors are designed to last a lifetime because of their low maintenance.  If a tube gets broken or the thermal seal breaks it is just a matter of unscrewing the affected tube and screwing in a new one and you are back in business. Even though this system has not gained much public attention or been used as frequently as Solar Photovoltaic systems it requires less surface area than PV” s for the equivalent output and the cost of panels and installation are still less than half that of Solar Photovoltaic systems. It has now been nearly 50 years since President Jimmy Carter was president of the United States and whose administration shown a light upon our looming energy crisis.  He pointed out that our demand for fossil fuels exceeds what we could produce in this country, and this created a crisis of dependency.  His administration mandated an initiative to produce clean, sustainable and renewable forms of energy to rid us of dependence on other nations to supply our energy and to lead the way away from energy produced by fossil fuels to alternatives clean energy which would reduce air pollution and to lead the world in green energy technology. I ask you what grade would you give us on our progress toward energy independence and leading the world in green energy technology? It is my humble opinion that we surely should have been shed of Fossil Fuel by now to meet our energy demands long before now. We can point fingers and cast blame as much as we want, but it comes down to you and me shedding our ignorance about what fuel sources we should promote and applying public pressure upon our legislators to pass bills concerning green renewable energy technology. In 2009 I was contacted through my company website by Dr. Andrew Searcy.  Dr. Searcy had a PhD in hydrogen science.  He worked for Conoco Philips for nearly 30 years.  He told me that he had developed a protype automobile powered by hydrogen in 1984 and that Conoco Philips had secured the patent for this automobile, and they sold the patent to General Motors Corporation. So, I ask why have we not seen this automobile when we so much need zero emissions, totally renewable, sustainable and energy independent

Nobody wants spiders scurrying in corners; ants climbing in millimeter sized columns across your bench tops. Not exactly ideal houseguests. But the good news is that you don’t have to be the best, most neat, and well-organized person in the world. There are so many simple, practical ways to make your space insect-unfriendly. Here’s how to make a start on your new insect-free life. Seal Up Any Sneaky Bug Entry Points Bugs are world-class at hiding, often finding their way into the smallest crevices of your home. Take a look around inside and outside for any entry points they might use to get in. These are the places to focus on: Windows Doors Utility pipes Vents Places where walls meet ceilings or floors Any cracks or gaps in your home’s outer walls Seal up any sneaky bug access routes with caulk, weather-stripping or expanding foam. Feel for drafts? Air can get in – insects can get in, too! If you can slide a piece of paper into a jam or a crack, expect bugs to be able to slide their bodies in there, too. So check thoroughly now, and then keep looking and sealing up anything you find. The tighter your home, the less bugs actually get in! Install Tight Fitting Screens Screens open up a room to fresh air while keeping bugs out. See that yours are in good repair and fit well into the jambs and heads of your windows and doors. Use fiberglass, metal or vinyl screen material Opt for a tight mesh count of 18×16 or smaller For super tiny insects, go for stainless steel mesh around 18×20 count Repair any rips, holes or gaps immediately Well-fitted screens are an excellent line of defense against bug invaders! Weatherstrip Some More! With screens, though, some can slip in through the cracks if you leave the doors and windows open. Use vinyl, rubber, felt or a combined material Apply weather-stripping around the entire perimeter of doors and windows Choose styles that compress and seal tightly when closed Check for gaps and reapply weather-stripping as needed Take the time to do this right – and check weather-stripping regularly for open gaps and bad seals. Cutting off any perimeter cracks keeps bugs outside! Install Door Sweeps Have you ever watched a bug with a flattened body bend itself to get into the tiniest of areas, perhaps an opening of no more than ⅛ of an inch? This is how insects get inside. A door sweep is used to block the crack at the base of a door in which insects can make their way indoors. Choose sweeps with bristles, vinyl fins or dense sealing fabric Make sure they fit snugly from door edge to floor Check garage doors carefully – the sweep needs to accommodate uneven concrete A good sweep embraces frames a door like a door hugger; his bottom edge is pressed against (set tight) the threshold so you can give the door a good shake and the sweep doesn’t budge an inch. Bugs beware: no more Pad Dinhi, no more fleas, no more mosquitoes. Light Up Your Yard Only Where Needed Leaving lights on all night will attract clouds of insects. Switch off outdoor lights except those needed for navigation and safety. Use downward facing or directional bulbs Focus lights only on frequented spaces like entries, decks and patios Try amber or yellow bulbs that draw fewer insects Install motion activated lighting that only turns on when it senses movement Shine light exactly where you need it, and keep the rest of your yard dark. It’s a matter of mathematical proportionality: fewer lights means fewer bugs attracted, by a greater margin, to the door! Make Your Yard Less Bug-Friendly Some plants or lawn areas buzz with insects like an outdoor bug barbecue Don’t become part of the meal by: Keeping flowering plants away from your home’s exterior Trimming back vegetation touching the house Eliminating any standing water – empty birdbaths, fix leaky hoses, etc. Maintaining the lawn – mow, rake leaves, remove debris piles Removing wood stacks, compost bins and any rotting vegetation far from your home A dry, clean place is far less attractive to hungry and sheltered bugs. Store Food in Sealed Containers Like Winnie the Pooh following his nose to sweet honey, bugs go directly to whatever source of food they sniff out. Outsmart them by: Store all flours, cereals, rice, etc in your pantry in plastic or glass – no bags or cardboard! Using airtight lids on all people food, pet food, garbage cans and recycling bins Emptying trash, recyclables, and compost frequently Rinsing food debris from dishes, counters and recycling immediately after use Never leaving out uncovered human or pet foods Prevent bug appetites from pilfering your goodies by storing them in odor-blocking containers. No insect can smell your food. Caulk and Seal Exterior Cracks Inspect where walls meet foundations, fixtures and vents for potential entry gaps Check spaces between siding boards, bricks or construction materials Use caulk or spray foam to completely seal all cracks and crevices you find Inspect sealed areas after freezing weather which can re-open gaps Hunt for those access cracks on the outside edge. Try closing them up completely and the bugs can’t wiggle in. Deploy Smelly Insect Repellent Plants Plants help us protect our gardens with unpleasant smells, oils and textures – so why not create an outdoor stink barrier? Some excellent choices: Lavender Mint Marigolds Basil Chrysanthemums Garlic Catnip Set them about entryways, patios, planting beds and perimeters of your yard. Smelly plants at work! Call In the Pros When Needed Sometimes insect problems just become an issue. Maybe you’ve seen one or two, maybe it’s an allergy issue or there’s been an absolute infestation. No shame in having pest control people coming with the heavy artillery! Some instances when pros are worthwhile: Severe allergies to chemicals or stings Dangerous pests like nests of wasps DIY approaches failed and problem got worse Unsure of infestation