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Lead-based Paint Dangerous for Children

Young children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning since they are more likely to ingest lead paint chips, flakes, or dust and are more sensitive to the adverse health effects of lead. Elevated lead levels in young children can trigger

• learning disabilities
• decreased growth
• hyperactivity
• impaired hearing
• brain damage

Lead can be found in a number of places inside and outside the home. For example, lead can be found in household dust from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into the house. It can also be found in drinking water coming from old lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

"Childhood lead poisoning is easily preventable with the right information and awareness. This grant will help Arizona tribal communities raise awareness about preventing lead's adverse health effects," said Administrator Jackson. "This project is an important example of the efforts happening across the country to protect our children from a major health threat."

Lead-based Paint Outreach to Native American Tribes

The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona is developing culturally specific outreach materials to educate tribal families, especially parents of young children, and tribal staff on the health risks to children from exposure to lead-based paint.

Lead Awareness for Facility Maintenance Personnel

The program specifically reaches out to facility maintenance personnel to stress the importance of using lead-safe work practices when renovating buildings.

The use of lead-based paint in U.S. residential housing was banned in 1978.

Approximately 75% of the U.S. housing stock built before 1978, or 64 million homes, contain some lead-based paint.

For information on EPA's lead paint program, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead

For information on lead in paint, dust and soil, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead

For information on protecting your family from lead hazards, visit: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadinfo.htm#where

Savings ALWAYS start with a plan.  Remember the A-Team slogan "I love it when a plan comes together!" ?  You can make that your mantra when you decide to work with used building materials...and you'll come out the winner.

Step ONE
Develop a practical plan for your remodeling project.  If you don't have experience, get help from an experienced friend or professional -- learn from them.  You'll save money and time on this project...and all your projects to come.  Humility is a great investment opportunity! :-)

Step TWO
Make a detailed list of all the tools and buiilding supplies you will need to complete the project.  All the way from the number of nails to the roofing replacements down to the sealant in the basement!  This list will be "practical" if you make distinction between NEEDS and WANTS.   And if you're looking for salvaged materials -- note some options that will work, with attributes that are absolutely necessary -- like size, quality factors. 

Step THREE
Develop  a real world budget. Compare "New Material" costs to "Used" and be sure to fudge Upward on used materials for mistakes and waste that is inevitable. Never use sale prices when budgeting -- you can't count on that windfall.  Sale savings can help offset the deficit that is sure to be part of your budgeting process if you are new at the game!

Step FOUR
Research, research, research. Finding and buying used building materials, recycled materials, architectural salvage or old stuff is an artform.  Learn the terms to use in your search engine searches:  recycled materials, building salvage, restoration, reuse, architectural salvage etc.  And also add your location (city, county, state) to the search to find items close to you.  And don't forget to search for the nationally known resources for used building materials:  Habitat for Humanity, Re-Store, Salvation Army, Re-use stores, CraigsList, Goodwill and local construction companies.

Step FIVE
Don't forget the added costs for used materials -- you might have to drive farther and more often to find the materials -- factor in your gas and your time.  And the time of any assistants you hire.

Step SIX
Do the analysis in the harsh light of economic daylight!  Ask tough questions like...
How much actual savings can you identify between new and used materials?
Is there a local source that's convenient and low cost?
Is it important to you to reduce waste going to your local landfill?
How creative are you with mixing and matching small supplies of any given material?
Which items have a "do not budge" criteria that will be hard to meet with recycled finds?
Do you have extra time to invest in the added creativity and craft required to use recycled materials?
Do you want some great stories to tell?  How much are you willing to invest in the fun side of the equation? 

Used building materials are a time honored conservation strategy.  My father was an old world carpenter who maintained a shop that was half workspace and half storage of used building materials from previous jobs that could be used in future jobs.  It was part of his work habits to conserve good used materials.  Maybe that was because we didn't have curbside pickup of trash -- we lived in the country and had to haul our own trash to the city dump and pay to dump it.  So the trash was minimized ... and the annual trip was seen as a necessary evil, not a solution.  That meant we learned every trick to use old building materials like wood and brick and even old nuts and bolts.

The solution to conserving materials was to carefully use every bit of material bought for a job, and to save anything left over -- both new materials and used materials.  Recycling used materials is smart. Using "used" saves money.  AND it saves our increasingly precious natural resources.

But what are the tricks to maximizing the value of used building materials?

Pre-planning the job.

During the design phase of your job, when you're sketching possible solutions...revisit your stash of used building materials.  Sort through your used hardware.  And used plywood,.  And used boards.  And used or remnant laminate.  Let your imagination roam among your current resources -- your treasure chest of used building materials and make them an integral part of your design.

Designing with used building materials

Used materials have not only pragmatic value...but aesthetic value.  The patina of old wood is rich and textured with use.  Old paint can be decorative and unique.  Used hardware has character.

Sourcing used building materials

Architectural supply houses deconstruct old buildings and make these used, aesthetic and practical materials available for new projects.  Habitat for Humanity also has a growing chain of reuse materials that are salvaged materials from remodeling jobs and old buildings.  These used and remnant materials are sorted and stored to protect their value and integrity.  And the discounts are amazingly affordable.

The Habitat ReStores of used building materials are found on the Internet by searching for your local region (city, county, or state) and "Habitat Restore". 

Local building tear downs

Many people have old buildings on their property that they want torn down (with a treasure trove of used building matrials!).  Reasons vary.  Often they don't have the tools or the truck available to handle the job of reclaiming or storing the used materials themselves, but would welcome your help in tearing down the building and hauling away the valuable used building material salvage...in exchange for your proud acquisition of the used building materials.  

Sometimes people advertise that they are looking for a deal to exchange labor for the used building materials and salvage.  Sometimes it the "friendship network" that connects you can connect you with used materials.  Sometimes you can find reclamation opportunities at a local resource center such as the local hardware store, lumber yard or restaurant bulletin board.

Salvaging new construction materials

When you see a construction site -- whether it is a new home or a remodeling job, you can stop and ask the owner and construction supervisor if you could have their left over and salvaged, used building materials.  You could work out a deal for a good price...and save them tipping fees at the landfill.  You can also purchase excess materials they purchased because they need a safety factor on large scale jobs -- this excess inventory can often be bought at a savings.

Consider all your costs

Before you scavenge for new or used building materials a long way from home, consider your own costs:  the fuel, the wear and tear on your vehicle and the storage costs.   It pays to save...but it pays more to carefully time your used material purchases to meet your needs. Most people don't have a working shop in which they can store used and salvaged materials for some future possibility.  Storage takes money to heat and cool, to pay taxes on...and to clean. 

But reclaiming used building materials has many benefits ... for you, for your community and for our natural resources.

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. 

An important tool in the effort to build greener buildings and live greener lives is the selection of products that were made using environmentally friendly processes and are used in environmentally friendly ways.

They are energy or water efficient; they use healthy, non-toxic materials; they are made from recycled or renewable sources; they make current products you use more efficient or more durable; and they are recyclable or biodegradable, among many other things.

The directories below will help you sort through the claims and find the products that best meet your needs.

• ENERGY STAR: Products in more than 50 categories are eligible for the ENERGY STAR. They use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. ENERGY STAR is a program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Good To Be Green: Good To Be Green is a directory of green building products, sustainable building materials and green building service providers. Products must: be made out of recycled materials; ensure a low environmental impact during the construction, operation and/or demolition of the building; conserve natural resources like energy, wood and water; and improve air quality.
• Green2Green: Green2Green.org features comprehensive information regarding green building products, materials and practices. The site offers side-by-side comparisons of products using a variety of environmental, technical and economic criteria.
• Green Building Pages: Green Building Pages is an online sustainable design and decision-making tool for building industry professionals and environmentally and socially responsible consumers.
• The Green Guide: National Geographic's Green Guide offers staff-written reviews of a host of products, ranging from appliances, home furnishings and home improvement products to personal care and pet supplies.
• GreenSpec Directory: The online GreenSpec® Directory lists product descriptions for over 2,100 environmentally preferable products. Products are chosen to be listed by BuildingGreen editors. They do not charge for listings or sell ads.
• Low Impact Living: Find environmentally friendly products and services in dozens of categories.
• Oikos: Oikos is a World Wide Web site devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction.
• PlugGREEN: PlugGREEN.com allows green businesses to create their own business profile, allowing them to network directly with other green businesses and green-minded consumers. In addition, PlugGREEN.com provides an organized and efficient way for consumers to find local green businesses and products in their area.

SOURCE: USGBC

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!

A story in the Los Angeles Times (April 8, 2008)  made the case that Las Vegas houses are very dated if they are just 4 to 8 years old.  Plastic chandeliers, granite tile vs. granite slab in the bath, 12 inch travertine tiles vs. 20 x 20" tiles... the list of outdated styles is really mind boggling.

Can we afford this kind of fashionista thinking in today's world that is facing landfill gluts, shortage of natural materials, greenhouse warming and a recession?

About 1,000 houses are listed for sale in Las Vegas for $1 million or higher, more than 600 of them built since 2004. But unless they've been constructed in the last year or two, the properties are considered out-of-date, making them all that more difficult to sell, real estate agents say.

In other parts of the country, age is prized.  think Beverly Hills or Greenwich, Connecticut.  But Las Vegas is about NEW.

And Las Vegas is surrounded by desert land that has been seen as wide open for development -- without much thought given to the natural systems in place.  Systems such as an underground aquafer that is being drained.  Or migrating pollinators that travel from Mexico and South America to the US breadbasket. 

The question is, how do we help people with more money than sense  understand their role in the world's climate change crisis?  It's time to grow up and face the responsibilities that come with abundance.

Responsible building can be just as rewarding as plunder -- and maybe more so when you consider the genuine respect and community being part of the solution brings with it.  And it saves money -- which can be spent in more visionary ways that can leave a legacy, a truly enduring legacy that benefits the family's children and grandchildren and their community.

Waste is so....dated!

SOURCE:  LATimes.com

    

"Recycled water is a new energy source," said Grant Davis, assistant general manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency. "Water and wastewater that you'd normally have to treat and dispose of will become the source for heating and cooling."

The project has gained steam in the past few months as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and some of the biggest names in the wine business have signed on; in March, county supervisors approved $1 million for a feasibility study. The flurry of interest comes as more cities and businesses take a hard look at their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and national labs expand their research to include not just military security, but water, energy and economic security.

Sonoma officials will meet with lawmakers in Washington about allocating money for this project and establishing a fund, similar to the Community Development Block Grant Program, to pay for similar projects all over the United States. In addition to federal money, Sonoma is considering revenue bonds and creating a special assessment district.

They estimate savings of 90 percent on natural gas and about 50 percent on electricity for heating and cooling. The environmental benefits are hard to quantify - but the county is working on it. Under the wastewater recycling plan, 55- to 60-degree water would be pumped from the treatment plant to the business park through underground pipes into a pump inside each building. Once in the pump, a refrigeration device transfers heat to or from the wastewater. A compressor converts that heat energy into warm or cold air that can be pushed through about 3 million square feet of office space at the business park, replacing the traditional heating and air conditioning systems.

In this "open" system, the water could also be used to irrigate landscaping, or, with a secondary set of pipes, flush toilets. Otherwise, the chilly or hot water - between about 40 degrees and 150 degrees - would pass through underground pipes to two adjacent reservoirs.

The wastewater recovery system could work particularly well for small or midsize cities or suburbs where the energy needed to pump water to low-slung buildings is much less than for skyscrapers.

Why?

"We all know California will have severe droughts in the next 20 to 40 years and that will affect water supply," said Gary Geernaert, director of the Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at Los Alamos National Lab. "This will help us make educated guesses about what the pressures will be on the public and private infrastructure and help build that into the design."

SOURCE: April 2008  SFGATE.com

Design and Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility

Purchasing Programs

Corporate responsibility programs are spreading across public and private companies as investors, regulators and customers are requesting more transparency and accountability for responsible business practices that reduce climate change risks and health concerns.  Saving electricity is part of that picture -- but only a small part.  Green building is part of the strategy.  Recycling and reclamation of waste are additional functions that preserve natural resources.  And the purchase of products with recycled content, high performance and  low toxicity contributions are a big part of the  corporate  responsibility  potential.

Purchasing Programs

To complement its full suite of third-party certification programs, SCS assists corporate clients in the design and implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) purchasing programs.

Corporations increasingly understand that their purchasing decisions can either enhance or detract from their socio-environmental responsibility profile. For such clients, "off the shelf" certification programs may not be the best fit, due to product availability, supplier compliance, or program complexity. In such circumstances, the most effective corporate strategy may well be to custom-design a responsible procurement program (often known as a "preferred supplier program") that expressly incorporates the corporation's own definition of social and environmental responsibility.

As a leading designer and practitioner of independent, third-party certification programs in the food, natural resource, and manufacturing sectors, SCS has both the technical skill sets and real-world practical experience to design and implement responsible procurement programs.

Depending upon the client's tactical needs, SCS can design "turn-key" responsible procurement programs implemented by the company itself, or can design programs with third-party implementation components. To date, SCS has experience designing green coffee and cut flower purchasing programs. Regardless of the business sector, SCS is the clear choice for providing the technical support necessary to design an effective, credible and responsible procurement program.

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