RE Stores are growing organically.  Reused building materials are available as used building materials, salvage, architectural salvage and fill a need in between garage sale stores, Lowes, antique store and definitely eclectic salvaged treasures!

RE Store is an outlet REsources  in Bellingham, WA that pulls reusable materials out of projects and they then set up a store to handle all the materials.  They are now the largest retail store in downtown Bellingham.  The store staff are paid employees, and they use volunteers from community service programs, and interested volunteers as well. 

These people are like minded and concerned about their communities.   Newish items run about half of new prices.  Other items are based on gut feel.  Donations are accepted and sometimes are bought at about 25% of their value. 

Goals for used building materials are to keep things out of the landfill, help low income families, and assist artists.  Lots of used building material treasure hunting goes on here!

Kinds of used materials vary from:  doors, dimensional lumber, cabnitry, hardware, windows, flashing, plumbing, hardware, toilets and sinks, lighting fixtures, and even science room cabinets.  Salvaged materials look for cool and valuable.  Appliances are sometimes usable such as refrigerator and ovens.  

Public donations. Deconstruction crews take houses apart by hand.  Salvage crews reclaim used remodeling parts.  Pickup crews pick up used building materials and appliances from homeowners.   These salvage operations are all safer and more time efficient than mining the landfill.

Employees at Re Store are over educated, environmentally minded and have a very positive energy!  Their dedication shows in the service and sorting skills applied to the used and salvaged materials.

They can presort, restore and make it recyclable.  And can recycle other materials such as asphalt roofing materials to recycle 60-80% of a building. It can take 3 weeks (300-400 hours) vs. 2 days to deconstruct a house...save the homeowner landfill costs and give the homeowner a tax deduction.  Reuse of the materials can help cover costs.  Breakeven is the mission, the goal.  Mission driven vs. profit driven.  But they are sucess driven for the community!

A deconstruction industry is forming, and new tools are being designed for effective work productivity.  Deconstruction provides a lot of jobs, and teams typcally work with crews of 6 people on their deconstruction and recycling projects.

One new tool is a pneumatic nail remover  -- and is seen as the most exciting new tool because it saves time, and can save additional amounts and kinds of wood.

Reality inspires community!  People support and gather around solutions to real needs -- the Re Store is about connections!   

Building deconstruction and demolition can be profitable...and definitely a greener use of natural resources...even if they are used!  (Especially when those materials are used!)

There are some pathways to explore if you want to deconstruct buildings...or use the materials.  Here are some tips:

Prices for deconstruction vary from $3 to $14/sq ft. depending on location and market timing.  Labor is usually priced per square foot.  The value of materials vary. 

• Mundane materials can run $2-4 per sq ft of materials. 
• Other valuable materials vary greatly -- the sky's the limit.

There are other reasons beyond value of materials to consider responsible deconstruction of old buildings.

• Cost avoidance -- avoid disposal costs, 
• Avoid taxes -- tax benefits to property owners,
• Value of antique and reusable materials
• Babysitting disposed materials. 
• Saved labor rates. 
• Saved landfill tipping fees/disposal 
• Donation of materials for tax deductions
  

Clever contractors can deconstruct and salvage a building in smart ways that saves costs.  Experience, creativity and efficiency make a difference. 

Owners benefit financially because they get tax deductions for the value of materials they donate to nonprofit organzations vs. landfilling.  Habitat for Humanity ReStores is an example.  Local historical societies sometimes have antique parts shops to help restore old properties.

A general list of materials that can be salvaged from deconstructed buildings include:

• Antiques, artifacts, ornaments, mundane building materials.
• Fixtures (the older the better for high end design -- antique salvage is a strong market) 
• Appliances: antique water heaters, stoves, etc. can be sold for @$20.
• Fixtures: toilets and sinks can be valued in restoring old buildings
• Doors and windows -- There are a thousand and one uses for doors
• Flooring is easy to extract and marketable.  Very valuable.   Oak or fir go for $14 sq ft. 
• Roofing - slate and tile are popular and valuable
• Siding - common used building materials include aluminum.  Wood siding can also be used for millwork.
• Heavy timbers - very active.
• Dimensional timbers have less market, but old growth, heart pine, Douglas fir, etc. can be milled and converted to other products.

Reuse isn't the only market for salvaged materials.  They also have "recycled content"  potential:  lumber can be ground into use for fuels, mulches, etc. Gypsum drywall can be used as soil amendment or returned to factory, or used for other agricultural purposes.

New construction can also use recycled materials and reuse materials:  High end use of these salvaged materials can create a distinct green statement and brand a design or construction firm as a "green building" company when they excel at the practical and aesthetic use of recycled content.

For more resources about green building and salvaging, check out  GreenBuildingTalk.com

Find more details about these retrofit suggestions at USGBC Checklist for Green Retrofits:

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs

Program your thermostat

Plug air leaks

Tune up your heating and cooling (HVAC) system

Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances

Reduce water use

Switch to green power

Explore solar

Use low-VOC products

Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your house

Use native plantings

Not all solar installations have to be on the rooftop...or even permanent in one place.  Take this new desk design:

The SOLo Lounge Table might change the working habits of teckies. Built into the surface of this roll-around table are solar panels that charge up its internal battery and power your devices. It can connect to a variety of devices and there’s a drawer for storing and charging your gadgets. The SOLo alse features Bluetooth connectivity for system monitoring in addition to the included System Monitor display/device. More info here.

The old fashioned bathroom stool can use up to 3 gallons of water per flush. New toilets use considerably less and the new "dual flush toilet" lets you save the most. The flush button for "light flush" uses lss than a gallon of water, and the heavier flush (for solids) uses about 1.5 gallons. These amounts vary by product and by certification by trusted programs such as EPA's Watersense standard.

Designed in Australia, where water conservation is extremely important, the HET dual flush water-saving toilet uses, at most, 1.6 gallons per flush. “Dual flush” means that this toilet has two different types of flushing. One for liquids (or #1), which is only .8 gallon of water, and one for solids ( like #2, c’mon let’s be grownups about this!), which is only 1.6 gallons of water. At its biggest flush, this water still uses less than the standard new toilets, which use 1.8 gallons of water per flush. That’s up to 50-75% savings!

Remodeling doesn't always mean ripping out walls -- if you think green, you can rip out utility costs!

Green Building and Green Products

The American Institute of Architects
Establishes business standards for and represents professional interests of licensed American architects and allied partners.

ASTM International
Develops technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services used around the world.

Build It Green
Fosters stakeholder collaboration to accelerate adoption of green building practices, policies, and programs throughout California.

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
Provides sustainability criteria and design resources for schools in support of a national green-building rating program for K-12 schools.

Design for the Environment (DfE)

Supports “green chemistry” in the design and manufacture of alternative products and promotes scientifically sound and cost-effective pollution reduction projects.

EPA Product Stewardship Program

Aims to reduce environmental impacts, calling for a shared responsibility among manufacturers, retailers, users and disposers of products.

Ecological Design Institute

Fosters research and education in environmental design that integrates architecture, human and natural ecology in a whole-systems approach.

GreenSpec® Database

Presents green design and construction news with GreenSpec® database of environmentally preferable products selected by BuildingGreen editors.

The Home Depot

Promotes Eco Options labeling to identify products offering a range of certified sustainability benefits to consumers.

The American Indoor Air Quality Council

Educates the public and develops certification programs for the management of indoor air quality.

NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) Research Center

Pushes new building technologies into the residential market by providing industry information to clients.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

Presents LEEDS system and promotes sustainable construction of healthy, cost-effective buildings.

UNEP / SETAC Life Cycle Initiative

Develops product life-cycle management framework and tools, including activities and databases of best available methods and information.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC, LEED)
Consensus-based group managing LEED building criteria.

Green Healthcare Standards and Compliance

Health Care Without Harm
Outlines sustainability goals developed by an international coalition to transform the health care sector and prevent harm to public health and the environment.

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center
Offers pollution prevention resources and compliance assistance information related to federal and state regulations of hospital wastes.

News and Research on Environmental Quality

California Green Solutions
Broad overview of business to business solutions from companies and organizations providing workplace and community sustainability

Environmental News Network

Selects environmental news reflecting current issues of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

Environmental Protection Agency Website

Posts information issued by the EPA, the governmental agency charged with protecting U.S. environmental resources.

Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Pursues analysis and solution of environmental problems and promotes sustainable environmental quality and ecosystem integrity.

Recycling and Reuse of Building Materials

Building Materials Reuse Association

Provides information to facilitate the strategic deconstruction of buildings and the reuse or recycling of recovered building materials.

Construction Materials Trade Association (CMRA)

Promotes safe and economically feasible means of recycling construction and demolition materials used in U.S. buildings.

 

Forest Conservation Program

SCS developed its Forest Conservation Program in 1991 and has since emerged as a leading certifier of forest management operations and wood product manufacturers. In 1996, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited SCS as a certification body, enabling it to evaluate forests according to the FSC Principles and Criteria for Forest Stewardship. Through a well-developed network of regional representatives and contractors, SCS offers timely and cost-effective certification services around the world.

Over the past 12 years, SCS has certified more than 23.8 million acres of natural forests and plantations in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand through its Forest Management Certification division. Certified operations have ranged from small 100-hectare parcels to 2.5-million hectare forests. SCS also offers a group certification format, such as certified resource managers, to lower certification costs for small landowners. For each certification audit, an interdisciplinary evaluation team of experts in forest science and management is assembled.

Since the mid-1990s, SCS has also offered FSC certification to wood product manufacturers. Our Chain-of-Custody Certification division has audited and certified over 500 manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who make or carry certified wood products. SCS has issued chain-of-custody certificates in over 29 countries spanning 5 continents.

In addition to FSC certification, SCS offers an independent, non-aligned certification program for clients seeking an alternative to existing, potentially polarizing certification schemes. SCS also offers wood product manufacturers the option of pursuing single attribute claims (e.g., recycled, recovered, salvaged wood, etc.) certification.

As of February 4, 2008, SCS is a CCX-approved verifier for >forestry offset projects.

Chain-of-Custody Certification

Before a product may carry an FSC or SCS label, all stages of the production, distribution, and sale of the product must be independently evaluated. Wood must be tracked from the certified forest to the finished product.

Through our Chain-of-Custody Certification Division, SCS certifies wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, who handle wood coming from forests certified according to FSC standards. For FSC Chain-of-Custody certification SCS also provides group and multi-site certification. To become certified, these entities must meet six principles of chain-of-custody, such as maintaining adequate inventory control systems that allow for separation and identification of certified product.

SCS requires the tracking of certified products throughout the production process to ensure the validity of the certified claim. If a wood product carries the FSC or SCS logo, a customer can have confidence that it was made from wood harvested from an FSC-certified forest.

LINK to Forest Conservation Program CERTIFIED CLIENTS

For a searchable database of all forests and products certified according to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council, visit the Forest Certification Resource Center.


CONTACT:
Scientific Certification Systems
2200 Powell Street, Suite 725
Emeryville, California 94608
Phone: 510-452-8000
http://www.scscertified.com/forestry/index.html

Green building and green workspace strategies include conscious design principles that reduce the load on the environment -- and people's health.  The use of non-polluting materials and manufacturing processes of basic building and manufacturing processes is the foundation of a green building.  How the building itself is constructed is the second step toward lowered lifetime impact through lower energy costs, better ventilation, lower offgassing, etc.  And the furnishings that make the building functional add the final step in the green building process by selecting furnishings that reduce virgin materials use, are high performance and long lasting, and provide ergonomic service to the people using them.

Whether you are building a new facility or retrofitting a building, finding good quality, green building materials is part of the upgrading process...and part of certification programs such as Energy Star, California standards, Federal Environmentally Preferable Purchasing or USGBC's LEED program.

Measuring Environmental Claims with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is one of the leading product and process certification audit providers.  They monitor, measure and certify a wide range of environmental products for industries including

• Food & Agriculture
• Eco Products (Building)
• Forestry
• Fisheries
• Floral

Online SCS Certified Products Database of Eco Building Products

The online product directory of green building products includes  broad categories, sub-categories and product types from more than  one hundred manufacturers  and classified by certification programs and conformance to the  leading  regulatory and  measurement programs. Currently certified products include office furniture systems, components, and seating, building materials, carpet and rug, hard surface flooring, paints, finishes, wood products, and cleaning products, among others.

Categories of eco products include:

• Adhesives/Sealants
• Building and Construction Products
• Flooring
• Furniture
• Home and Garden
• Paint Products
• Paints and Coatings
• Plastics
• Processes
• Reclamation Program
• Rock
• Textiles and Fiber
• Treatment

Certification Programs covered include:

• Biodegradable
• Environmentally Preferable Product
• FloorScore
• Indoor avantage
• indoor Advantage Gold
• No Added Formaldehyde
• No Added Urea Formaldehyde
• Pollution Prevention
• Reclamation Program
• Recycled or Reclaimed Content
• Salvaged Wood
• SCS Sustainable Choice

Conformance list includes:

• CA Section 01350
• CHPS EQ 2.2 (CA Section 01350)
• LEED EQ 4.2 + CHPS EQ 2.2
• LEED EQ 4.3 + CHPS EQ 2.2
• LEED EQ 4.5 (ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Emissions Standards)
• LEED EQ 4.5 +CHPS EQ 2.2 (ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Emissions Standards
• LEED MR 4.1 or 4.2

 

Remodeling Ideas and Solutions for Homes

The housing boom has made it difficult to move, so remodeling is the solution for changing family needs. Remodeling rooms for energy efficiency, better light, better ventilation or a more spacious view adds to your quality of life as well as your home's curb appeal.

Green building techniques and materials can add extra value to your residence by providing energy savings, more natural lighting, better air quality, less toxic materials, and reassurance that you are helping clean the environment.

Our solutions for remodeling will point you to green and sustainable materials, high performance design, affordable ideas and quality suppliers of green and energy efficient equipment and appliances.

Remodeling Ideas and Solutions for Offices

Whether you are remodeling your home office, or a whole office building, our ideas for energy efficiency, renewable energy solutions such as solar, wind and geothermal, will come with ideas for rebates and incentives from your state and federal energy departments.

Moving walls is a major upfitting cost for businesses, and sustainable solutions such as modular walls and furnishings, carpet tiles and cutting edge lighting and energy management systems can reduce costs and climate change impact.

Remodeling Ideas and Solutions Product Categories

• Home Upfits of Lighting for Energy Savings
• Office Lighting Systems for Savings
• HVAC Energy Savings
• Outdoor Lighting for Safety and Savings
• Natural Light to Stretch Remodeling Budgets
• Materials to Green Your Living Spaces