Have you heard the news? Mark down this event on your calendar… The Virginia Sustainability Network is putting on an amazing conservation and energy conference in January! This two day conference that has been organized by one of the original co-founders of EarthCraft House Virginia, Annette Osso, will be the ultimate place to discuss what is going on in the realm of sustainability in our region.

The Virginia Sustainability Network has just sent out all of the details and have early registration going on. Find out what is happening in all facets of conservation and our industry, whether you are in building, management, operations or just want to find out what is going on in Virginia and beyond.

They have some pretty amazing speakers lined up from the Vice President of Technology at DuPont to the Secretary of Education for the State of Virginia! This conference will even count towards continuing education credits; now, we call that a bonus! REGISTER TODAY- EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS DECEMBER 7

Get the scoop about the conference

“Engage with your colleagues from corporate and institutional management, operations, environmental and sustainability offices, and transportation to hear about national and global trends that increase productivity, improve process and reduce costs, attract customers, and increase return on investment.
New Conference Features Now Confirmed!
January 30: Lunch Plenary
Sustainability from the Corporate Executive Viewpoint
Confirmed Speakers include:

Kevin Corby, Vice President of Technology, DuPont
Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board
Laura Fornash, Virginia Secretary of Education
David Hanson, Chief Financial Officer, Virginia Commonwealth University
Brad Molotsky, Vice President and General Counsel, Brandywine

January 31: Morning Plenary
Virginia’s Biomass Infrastructure: A Panel Discussion
Confirmed Speakers include:

Cassandra Stish, Buckingham County Supervisor, 5th District
John Ignosh, CEM, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Cooperative Extension, VA Tech
Allan Brockenbrough, P.E., Office of Water Permit Programs, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Tony Banks, Commodity Marketing Specialist, Virginia Farm Bureau
David W. Richert, CF, CA, Resource Conservation and Development Forester, Virginia Department of Forestry
Susan Gaston, Principal, Gaston Consulting Group

January 31: Lunch Plenary
Sustainability and Economic Opportunity in the Commonwealth:
The 2015 World Road Cycling Championships Choose Richmond
Join Mayor of Richmond and the Championships’ organizers to find out how they plan to make the event a sustainability showcase that highlights the city and the region. The Championships is cycling’s pinnacle event, held annually in an international city as chosen by the Union Cycliste Internationale through a competitive bidding process. This nine-day event, to be held September 19–27, 2015, will bring 1,500 athletes, almost half a million spectators, and millions more via electronic media to Richmond.
January 31: University Student Sessions

“Examples of Student Engagement on College Campuses”
“Leading Edge Sustainable Research & Development Projects”

Track Sessions
Visit the conference website for updates on track sessions focused on the State and Local Government, Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare, Higher Education, K–12 Schools, and Manufacturing sectors. Speakers will present on business and sustainability from the management viewpoint, the economic development and job creation perspective, and the building and operations viewpoint.
Awards Banquet
Deadline for submission of award nominations is December 20, 2012.
Don’t miss the January 30 Awards Banquet to recognize Virginia companies and the public sector for their successes in energy and sustainability. The leaders of the conference’s Participating Organizations will help us choose award recipients in each of the vertical market tracks. Don’t miss this chance to be recognized for your sustainability achievements —send in your nomination today!
Just Added! GBCI Continuing Education Credits will be available.

Find out about sponsoring and exhibiting at Virginia’s first business and sustainability conference at www.vsbn.org/vcu-esc2013/.

VCU STEERING COMMITTEE

Van Wood, Ph.D., VCU School of Business
Mike Eisenman, VCU School of Business
Scott Rash, VCU School of Engineering
Cliff Fox, Ph.D., J.D., VCU Life Sciences
Robert Taylor, VCU School of Business
Ed Bennett, P.E., LEED AP, VCU Facilities
Jacek Ghosh, LEED AP, VCU Sustainability”

Some architects, such as Sean Griffiths, say things  I think living walls have become a substitute for having any ideas when they are talking about the recent widespread use of plants in architecture. Not landscape architecture, mind you, but full –tilt I’m gonna build me a house- architecture.  This could have to do with his very obvious and well thought out reasoning such as a lack of consideration for how the plants will get their light, the weight on walls, to even how they will re-seed themselves! Mr. Griffiths makes a good point, but there is a flip-side to this amazing use of nature in architecture.

On the other side of the spectrum reigns architects from the extreme school of thought such as Vo Trong Nghia based out of Ho Chi Mign City, Vietnam who happened to win the 2012 House Category at the World Architecture Festival for this concept of natural ventilation, air purification and heat reduction based on the use of vertical walls of plants. These walls were not only beautiful and elegant, but introduced an element of purification and a reduced reliance on power and resources in a city known for its frequent power outages and shortage of energy.  Vo Trong Nghnia’s plan was simple. He would put walls of plants on shelving like planters across the north and south facing walls at varying levels depending on the growth structure of the specific plants with a thin amount of window glazing (sort of acting as a terrarium) and a well that drafts and pulls the naturally purified air through the core of this home, which is capped off with a green, or living roof. The living roof also acts as a natural sound insulator and protector for the elements as well.  This home is a perfect example of a extreme architecture that takes sustainability to a new level perfect for a humid, tropical climate! Photos of this project are via Dezeen.

In Toronto, a meadow home takes living in a living home into another direction entirely. This home doesn’t have the living walls, but an entire living roof that insulates and protects the home almost as if the home was built like a 1930’s central-plains dug-out. The design is like atomic-ranch met the Jetson’s and had a party with the Brady Bunch, but then some hipsters came along and chilled everything out. The home not only has been built into a hill and sort of melds into the landscape, but also has ground-sourced, or geo-thermal heating and cooling, which make this home even more efficient. Architect, Ian MacDonald set up the periscope windows with the perfect concept of cross-ventilation in mind.  This home in Canada is thousands of miles and climate zones away from Ho Chi Minh city, but the idea is still the same, utilize the plants to make a home more insulated from the elements. Photos of this home are via architecture-view.

Next time, we’ll talk about what we can do in our area to utilize plants in our homes, since Vo Trong Nghnia’s concept is a bit too humid-climate zone for us, and Ian MacDonald’s design plan is pushing for a meadowland. What kind of extreme green homes can be built in a mixed humid climate?

In the Spring, it is so easy to just slap on your light jacket and decide that you’re going to take a leisurely stroll to your favorite Farmer’s Market. What about now? Whether it is the hustle and bustle of the community center and gathering that brings you there, or if it is indeed the produce and idea that local farmers have worked hard to bring you organic, free-range this that or the other thing, buying locally produced foods that are organic just feels good.

And the Season comes to an end

The thing about it is, Farmer’s markets are typically seasonal. In Northern Virginia, most of the Farmer’s Markets run from May or June until the last weekend in October, so if you crave that lovely fresh baked bread from your favorite local artisan baker, you best learn how to do it yourself, my friend, because over the late Fall and Winter, you’ll be out of luck with a Farmer’s Market purchase.

The Farmer’s Market game changer

So, what do you do for getting the same Farmer’s Market foods and items like honey and what-have-you? Recently, I met a cat named Brent Ling with Relay Foods, and guess what? His company freakin’ delivers Farmer’s Market quality foods to your house! It is kind of awesome. If you were the person who loved the communal gathering nature of the Farmer’s Market center, you may miss out on that aspect of the experience; however, the amazing thing is that you can pick what community sponsored agriculture or CSA style foods you would like delivered straight to your home on a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly basis for a membership. The program is quite simple, for a nominal membership fee, you sign up and on a specified day, a delivery will be dropped on your doorstep of the foods you choose!

How to make this happen

You can go onto their totally user-friendly website and shop and then just wait for them to bring you farm-fresh, locally produced foods. The concept is simple, honest and it so sustainable is just makes sense. So, your leisurely stroll may not be through a bustling Farmer’s Market scene, but you can take it elsewhere, and maybe with a parka and mittens because it is getting cold outside and you have better things to do now that it is getting cold outside, like collecting fire-wood and making cocoa. So, check out Relay Foods and their concept on how to get Farmer’s Market quality locally produced foods in the off season, and beyond.

Our Facebook friend, Dee Dee  asked us if we have a favorite product that reduces Electro-Magnetic Fields, EMFs,  in the Home. Some people may not even know what the heck EMFs really are, and maybe think that these are just things that some people wear tin-foil hats for, bur really, some professionals say that EMFs can be very interrupting to our bodies. This isn’t necessarily “my favorite product” so to speak, but one of my very good friend’s favorite products.

The EPA doesn’t show the proof of this through studies;however, there are doctors and researchers who devote much time and their own energies to figuring out what EMFs are truly doing. There are numerous sites such as EarthCalm.CA  (who happen to sell a “grounding product for reducing EMFs affects on the body) so, of course, they dedicate a huge section to discussion on EMFs affects on the body and here is a bit from their site about what they claim can occur:

“Recently, there have been numerous studies to suggest a direct relationship between brain cancer and cell phone use. Brain cancer tumor risk has been steadily increasing over the last 10 years- particularly among the 20 -29 year olds. This begs the question, why then, are educated researchers claiming EMFs are harmless? The reason is simple. These researchers are looking for a direct cause and effect relationship when none exists. Studies have shown that there appears to be no rhyme or reason to the symptoms. Researchers can take a group of people claiming to be electrically sensitive, expose them to identical frequencies and have reports of many different kinds of symptoms. One person who claims to be sensitive to EMFS will have an adverse reaction to one type of EMF but not to anther, while a 2^nd electrically sensitive person will express no reactions at all So, the researchers who are looking for direct cause and effect relationships conclude that symptoms in response to EMF exposure are psychosomatic-an artefact created by the power of suggestion.

A large body of research comes from Sweden where they have officially recognized electromagnetic hypersensitivity or electro sensitivity as a medical condition. This is a condition where someone experiences physical or psychological symptoms that are aggravated by EMFs  at levels that most people can tolerate. Most common symptoms include: headaches; tinnitus; fatigue; nausea; stress; poor concentration; sleep disorder; pain; burning sensation; skin conditions; and rashes.”

The site goes on, which is pretty interesting, but the thing most people may also be interested in, is how to stop things like this from happening, if this is truly occuring- since we are surrounded by Electro-magnetic fields. Pretty much always.

One believer just so happens to be our dear buddy the Energy Efficiency Nerd, who  has had amazing experiences with blocking EMFs in her home. She has even told us that after she has a great source for a plug-in EMF shield and  for some that you can wear in your body to protect yourself from the interrupting qualities of EMFs! She noted that the one that she has in particular was plugged into an outlet in their family kitchen and her husband’s cousin is actually making her a pendant to wear around her neck to reduce exposure to EMFs.

As many people state, it is difficult to really know how effective these products are, but  the Energy Efficiency Nerd did notice that her kids were more calm after installing the plug in. We even are aware of a case through a green consulting firm colleague of ours, where a child was having trouble sleeping and studying- and it ended up that the headboard of his bed was oriented toward the electrical panel of the house. When the bedroom was re-oriented and an EMF reduction agent was installed, the child became less hyperactive, was able to concentrate and the parents completely believed that this had to do with the EMF activity that their son was being exposed to.

Like that EarthCalm product, it says that you are supposed to be “grounded” to the Earth to reduce your EMF exposure.

There are some electrical panels that are supposed to reduce EMF exposure and the Gauss meters will have a much lower reading after installing these sorts of panels. If you believe that EMFs are a problem and you want to ground yourself from them, maybe take a look at multiple products and judge for yourself as to which one is the best one for your individual needs.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around these parts. It actually has been looking that way since the day after Halloween! Seriously, bats and skeletons hadn”t quite been put away yet, and the tinsel and tree toppers have already hopped out and were ready to be on display. It seems to happen earlier and earlier every year, and this “magical time of year” when the spirit of giving over takes us starts to sort of run rampant. It sneaks up on you, really.

All of this “stuff” that people seem to think that they need to be prepared for the holidays. I can only imagine that some people’s attic and basement crawl spaces look like an armory dedicated to the battle of the Seasons. Plastic this, PVC that and who-knows what the other thing is! Well, I don’t have to imagine, because I have to crawl around in them on a regular basis to check out houses. I know your holiday “dirty little secrets!” Don’t worry though… I won’t tell anyone.

So, how is it that we have come to acquire all of these things, and how can we have a little bit more of a sustainable holiday Season? Maybe we could start by planting a tree instead of harvesting one or having that off-gassing thing that is supposed to look -uhm- real? EarthEasy.com mentioned that “although plastic Christmas trees are reusable from year to year, real trees are the more sustainable choice. Plastic trees are made of petroleum products (PVC), and use up resources in both the manufacture and shipping. While artificial trees theoretically last forever, research shows that they are typically discarded when repeated use makes them less attractive. Discarded artificial trees are then sent to landfills, where their plastic content makes them last forever.” This may seem obvious, but there are now so many choices for the fake trees that look real that people flock to them in droves!

You do have options for a more sustainable Christmas tree:

• Go with a live tree. Yes, they are more expensive, but you can have memories and a “green screen” for years to come.
• Plant and re-pot a tree that represents a ole tenenbaum. You can get a rosemary plant that is in the shape of a Christmas tree and use it as your ornamental tree. Then you can have fresh herbs all year, too!
• If you end up getting a live-cut tree, try getting one that has been sustainably grown, and locally! In Northern Virginia, you can mulch your tree at the end of the year if it has not been flocked, so you can still do your part.
• Find an awesome fallen branch and make it your “rustic tree” with only your favorite ornaments. This is a cool way to have a pinterest inspired Christmas that is sustainable, beautiful and just a little bit different!

EarthEasy.com had some great points about Christmas trees and the accoutrements for a more sustainable holiday season. What do you do for a more sustainable holiday? Share with us!

We asked our Facebook Fans what they wanted to know about and this was a great question that came in about window insulation.

Is there any value-added to insulating around double-paned windows? If so, is there any way to do it without rendering the window “closed” for the winter?

Well, I think she may be talking about existing windows, when our awesome fan asked that question, not about new windows being installed, but I will try to answer from both directions to cover the bases! For existing windows, the  best option for insulation during the winter time – is not necessarily that foil that you might think…. Cost effective solution: You can actually go out and get some thermal window panels from your decor store, such as a JC Penny or even a Target will have them these days. Layering over your windows is just like what your mama used to tell you when she didn’t want to turn up the heat in the house! Throw on that scarf and put on your hoody. Your windows can stand a layer, too. Putting the “saran wrap like cling, can seal out cracks, but can sometimes cause condensation to occur and moisture damage. If you do add the wrap to your windows, be sure to monitor your windows for moisture so you don’t cause a larger problem.

• You should seal around all the perimeter trim to the drywall so that all the air from the non air sealed gap between the window framing and the house framing is not allowed to enter the home.  It stays in your walls.
• You could remove the existing trim and seal those gaps
• Note that ‘that plastic stuff’ that is sort of like cling wrap works but, it is just a minor fix…usually people put that because the sashes are separating and there is a visible crack/separation or they just think the air comes from where the sashes meet.  Putting the plastic stuff doesn’t stop any air leakage it just traps it in between the window and the plastic.  This is better in that you decrease leakage but you still can feel the cold that radiates (actually it’s the heat being sucked to the window…) from the window area.  You’d be better off trying to seal that crack with a very thin weatherstripping application.

If you can, replace your windows and have them flashed properly with a vapor barrier and then sealed with a spray foam, which is like an expanding caulk. You will want to avoid having the windows what is called “chinked” where they stuff batt insulation into the cracks, because this is just smashed insulation that is not providing any air sealing or insulation levels to your home, thus, no insulation value to the window you just spent good money to install. After the window has been properly flashed, set, sealed and ready to rock and roll, do you “layering” of your thermal window coverings and you should have a fantastic window situation.

Thanks so much for inquiring! Keep the questions coming! Have any other energy efficiency questions? Hit us up on our facebook page!

After seeing a very strong need for a dedicated green building program for the East Coast’s mixed humid climate zone, back  in 2004, Annette Osso, Karl Brenn, and Chuk Bowles put their heads together to create and implement a plan for what would become the fastest growing green building program for the entire mid-Atlantic. Utilizing their strong construction science backgrounds and resources from the Southface Institute, the team was able to manifest EarthCraft House Virginia into multiple divisions over the years and has grown into the regional green building program that it is today.

5 reasons you should know and use EarthCraft House Virginia

Award Winning Program

Nationally award winning program has been recognized for excellence in offering homebuyers with energy efficient options as well as successful implementation of energy efficiency for low income housing developments. The list of awards is pretty impressive.

Knowledge is Power

The staff not only helps you achieve your green building standards by having a strong knowledge base, but they will also train you as they go through the process. Look into getting trained by the EarthCraft staff. The Advisers train on site while walking you through the project from start to finish, but the Richmond staff also conduct training seminars to get you ready to jump headlong into your project!

Multi-family

The technical advisers are able to work in the multi-family developments to help build a more sustainable product that will bring our communities a brighter tomorrow.

Single Family homes

Not only are a low-income family needs met, but custom and semi-custom family homes are also built to a green standard through the EarthCraft House Virginia program.

The Environment

By working towards an EarthCraft House Virginia standard for your project, you are acting as a steward for the community, environment and ultimately the future. That is pretty powerful. Homes that are built sustainably are reducing their impact on the environment and can even bring more jobs to the local community. Think about that!

Obviously this is just a list of five reasons why to take a look at EarthCraft House Virginia as a program for your next project, but the list goes on and on. Check them out and see what this non-profit has done in the region and why it makes sense to work with a program that is focused on the specific climate that we live in, here in the mid-Atlantic.

We have all seen Nosferatu, right? A super-creepy,  bulbous vampire-dude, pale as all get-out who sort of slithers from here to there. You know the one.. he is surrounded by flitting winged mammals??? Bats.  Bats are gross, blood sucking creatures who shift in the night to haunt our every move and steal our women. Yeah? Did I nail it?

Kill over 1000 biting insects an hour

No. Bats are not entirely creepy. Yes, the are winged mammals, but did you know that these little creatures are part of our incredibly diverse ecosystem that help sustain life and do plentiful good things? These beneficial animals actually can eat up to 1000 mosquitoes in an hour; darting here and there and everywhere in the twilight sky, bats use their sonar to bounce off of bugs and consume mass quantities! Thanks little guys. Wouldn’t you rather have something else eat bugs than spray loads of chemical pesticides into the atmosphere?

The colony approach to living

In Northern Virginia alone, there are seventeen species of bats, two of which have only been documented one time a piece, but still, seventeen species of “little brown bats” or “big brown bats” or even “big eared bats” sounds pretty interesting to me! Another interesting thing about bats is that they are colony animals. They live together, sort of like a “den” or “pack” animal like a wolf. They don’t like to live alone- all upside down…

The bat problem

The gross part about the colony aspect of bat life, if you happen to get a colony of bats in your attic or barn, they can cause quite a problem- because their urine and feces can contain some properties that can be quite caustic and damaging to property. Did you know that bat guano used to be a major component of gun powder? On the more awesome and sustainable side of things, the nitrates in bat guano are awesome in the garden. Some of the better garden soils have high bat guano percentages. Speaking of the bat guano- never, ever touch it with your bare hands. Bats and their feces have been known to carry the fungus histoplasmosis which can cause health problems such as lung infections and more. On that note from histoplasmosis, please understand that this fungus grows where it is humid and warm on bird droppings, too- so by that rationale, bird droppings cause just as much damage. The thing to learn here- don’t huff on random animal feces dust. Got it? Bats have also been known vectors of rabies- just as gophers, squirrels or even the occasional angry river beaver; so, remember to never, ever touch a fallen bat or engage an injured animal- no matter how helpless it looks or even if it is dead, and if you are ever bitten, immediately seek medical treatment.

If you keep your safe distance from bats, you can have your very own natural pest control system. You can even build a little bat house, to keep them at that safe distance from you. Here is a link on how to build your very own bat house.  Just be keenly aware that bats are natures little bug-zappers that aren’t really supposed to tangle with humans. Nosferatu would probably agree.

When you are going through the last five emails of the day at the office, what are you thinking about really? Driving home, pulling into the driveway, shutting the door behind you, kicking off your shoes and snuggling up to a clean, comfortable sofa? Are you like Goldilocks? You’re not too warm, not too cool, your juuuuust-right in the house, all safe and sound and ready to let the day that you had pass behind you?

Being comfortable in your home is a luxury that is seemingly such an intangible thing, because it is different to everyone. What makes you comfortable in your own home might be entirely different than the next person when it comes to the variances of fixtures and finishes, but when it comes to energy, and heating and cooling of a home, it is so “tweakable” that it becomes attainable.

In the home energy audit side of things, most of our clients tell us that the thing that the most want, aside from the cost savings of having a home that is energy efficient, is comfort. They typically say this, because there is a space in their home that is something Goldilocks would flip out in: the hot attic, the cold, damp basement. We want it to be juuuuust-right on the climate side of things, so with certain techniques, comfort can ultimately be achieved.

On your next drive home from work, after that long day of tediousness, remember that you, too can have your exact idea of comfort. When you get an audit, you can specify which rooms “treat you wrong” and then you can work from there to achieve the ultimate home of comfort- your perfect oasis.