Recently in Weatherization Category

I mentioned that even though I've been researching and writing about windows and doors, I still wasn't sure whre "fenestration" came from.  I mused in front of the wrong person!!!

Fenestration

Here's my version:  The term is derived from an 18th century contractor who wasn't very good at his job, but who livened up the workplace as  the butt of all jokes... George Fenester, the window guy, could not install a window without breaking at least one pane of glass.   On a particularly troubling day, he fell backwards and shattered an entire stack of glass panes.  His buddies kidded him by asking, "Hey George, feeling a little Fenestration today?"  It was followed by howls of laughter...they found it humorous, most likely because they were uneducated laborers who did not have access to fine comedic programming...or even to TV for that matter.


By David Hylton

I mentioned that even though I've been researching and writing about windows and doors, I still wasn't sure where "fenestration" came from.  I mused in front of the wrong person!!!

Fenestration

Here's my version:  The term is derived from an 18th century contractor who wasn't very good at his job, but who livened up the workplace as  the butt of all jokes... George Fenester, the window guy, could not install a window without breaking at least one pane of glass.   On a particularly troubling day, he fell backwards and shattered an entire stack of glass panes.  His buddies kidded him by asking, "Hey George, feeling a little Fenestration today?"  It was followed by howls of laughter...they found it humorous, most likely because they were uneducated laborers who did not have access to fine comedic programming...or even to TV for that matter.


By David Hylton

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), HUD was granted authority to provide $250 million in grants and loans and other assistance to increase energy efficiency in the HUD-assisted, project-based, multifamily stock.

HUD will begin accepting application for the Green Retrofit Program (GRP) beginning June 15, 2009. The amount of a green retrofit grant or loan can be up to $15,000 a unit and is expected to average less than $10,000 a unit across all funded projects. Though the requirements and details differ by eligible housing program, in general, the funds are to be used to reduce ongoing utility consumption, benefit resident health, or to benefit the wider environment. The projects are expected to be completed within 12 months and in no event should work extend more than 24 months. 

The program is being administered by HUD's Office of Affordable Housing Preservation (OAHP), which also operates the Mark-to-Market Green Initiative.  Though the GRP is a distinct program, it shares some elements of the existing program, including some of the Mark-to-Market terminology. In some instances, OAHP may make Green Retrofit funds contingent on the owner's agreement to a Mark-to-Market debt restructuring.

Full details, including a list of eligible programs and activities, can be found in Housing Notice 09-02, released May 13, 2009, and is available at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page?_pageid=153,7940934&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

On May 6, the secretaries of HUD and the Department of Energy (DOE) signed an MOU  to facilitate use of DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funding in public housing and privately owned, federally assisted housing properties.

HUD-Qualified Housing
Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)

these properties, which are designated as "HUD-Qualified Housing," as well as those funded with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) have sufficient income verification and rent controls to essentially prequalify them for the income and rent restrictions of the DOE's WAP program.

The WAP program requires that the households assisted have incomes no greater than two times the federal poverty level. In addition, when the funds are used in multifamily buildings, there must be sufficient controls to assure that WAP funded improvements are not used by owners to unduly raise rents and burden the low income people the program is intended to benefit.

Specifically, the MOU states that DOE will accept HUD's and the LIHTC program's beneficiary income eligibility determination and ongoing verification for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

To facilitate this, HUD will give DOE a list of "HUD-Qualified Housing" and LIHTC projects, and within 60 days HUD and DOE will provide joint guidance to states for evaluating income eligibility in order to implement the MOU. The agencies will also organize joint forums to educate stakeholders.

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) provided $16 billion to DOE and HUD to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. The Weatherization Assistance Program, which has been funded in recent years at roughly $250 million, received an additional $5 billion in ARRA. Similarly, HUD received $4.5 billion in new funding to renovate and upgrade public housing and $250 million to retrofit the privately owned, federally assisted housing.

The MOU is at www.hud.gov/recovery/doemoucombined.pdf

Natural building materials already surround us! Think wood, living platns, metal, bricks...

What's a home without plants?  It's just a short hop to understand how remodeling and plants are intertwined for energy efficiency and beauty.  What's a home without trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, even moss and weeds!  They all can be designed "greener" to produce natural texture, cooling shade and a fresh supply of oxygen!

But there are other natural building materials that can be part of your efficiency remodeling projects to make your home or building energy efficient and environmentally sound.

ROCKS

Local, natural rocks can be used -- and have been used for eons -- as a natural building material.  They can be walls, fences, stepping stones, patios, even furniture.  When you use local rocks, you maintain your local charm and flavor.,..and you reduce the high cost of transporting these heavy materials. 

Rocks used as a natural building material choice for indoor sun porch floor that can double as a heat reservoir in winter. Place these heat retaining natural building materials so they absorb sunshine that hits them during the heat of the day.  Heavy curtains can seal in the warmth and release the heat into your living rooms at night.

Small rocks can also be used as gravel on a pathway or laid carefully into concrete for a textured surface.  Really tiny rocks...called sand ... have many natural building material uses as filler, cover, and utilitarian uses. 

The humble rock...so very important in our living infrastructure and such a great value as a natural building material! 

DIRT

Don't forget the building properties of dirt!  In early building techniques, dirt was made into adobe and cob and even mortar between stones.   Then people learned that earthern berms against a wall can insulate the home from cold winter precipitation -- rain, snow, sleet and moist winds.

Today's concrete foundations can benefit from an earthern berm to reduce the infiltration of cold air into the crawl space. 

LIVING PLANTS

Living roofs are an ancient technique that is being revived on commercial buildings, in particular.  By growing a thin layer of plants on a well structured roof, low-water use plants can actually absorb rain and prevent it from turning into urban runoff that carries hardscape pollutants into our ground water. 

WOOD

Not all wood has to be imported from exotic locations.  Local wood can be used as both a natural building material...and a local material to weave into charming garden fences or used to construct grape arbors or display posts for cascading vines.  Fence posts are a very common use of local limbs.  

Cross cut rounds can be used as stepping stones and edgings and even rustic furniture.

Local sawmills also cut siding that provides local charm and lower transportation impact to our environment.  It pays to get to know your local timber management resources such as local lumberyard owners, utility companies that have to trim trees regularly, and even tree farmers.

Wood is a renewable resource...you can even plant your own trees to harvest in  the years to come!  

Watch for more emphasis on energy efficiency, retrofits and weatherization under the Obama administration.  Obama's weatherization plan is part of a comprehensive energy plan that will create green jobs and rebuild the US infrastructure of roads and bridges, schools, and housing for energy efficiency. Weatherization of schools, homes and offices will reduce oil usage for heating and cooling.  Obama's emphasis on youth jobs and green jobs will contribute to economic recovery.  The Obama weatherization plan will not only reduce energy use, but improve the health and productivity of children and workers who benefit from better indoor air quality, natural light and less toxic emissions from petrochemical energy sources.