Title: ECO. Festival 2010 Tampa
Location: Downtown Tampa
Link out: Click here
Description: Live music. Local food. Street festival. Urban bike race.

ECO.festival 2010 is an afternoon full of fun, enlightenment and entertainment. The outdoor festival is highlighted by live music, food, wine tastings, green products, educational seminars and children’s activities.

The Urban Charrette and Mise en Place are proud to announce their partnership with 2nd Annual Tampa Twilight Criterium at this year’s Eco.lution festival. The Criterium or “Crit” is a fast paced, urban bike race through the streets of Downtown Tampa. Participants and spectators attending the Crit will have the opportunity to join Eco.lution and sample local food and drinks, listen to live music and learn about how to make Tampa a more sustainable city. For more information on Tampa’s Twilight Criterium visit the event website at www.tampacrit.com
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2010-03-27
End Time: 21:00

Title: ECO.expo
Location: Ritz Ybor, Tampa, FL
Link out: Click here
Description: ECO.expo includes displays from green product manufacturers,locally owned businesses, prominent design firms, local schools and government organizations all with the goal of sharing information about products and programs to help the general public and design professionals be more sustainable.

The event is open to the public and trade and will offer complimentary food, beer, wine and live music!

Live music by Kevin Mongelli • CEU Sponsored by Haworth

Please RSVP for the C.E.U. and free admission ($5 donation the day of the event) before March 19, 2010.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-03-25
End Time: 21:00

Okay, I couldn’t resist the making the connection of the bathroom and smells.  There’s a lot of odiferous stimulation going that goes on in the “loo”.  Besides the obvious there are also sprays, perfumes, cleaners, mold, dirty clothes, etc, etc.  One of the smells that used to bother me quite a bit, until we quit using them, is those plastic shower curtains.  Think about that strong, acrid smell when you first open up most of those plastic shower curtains.  There is some serious off-gassing of VOC’s going on there and it’s never good for your health.  I’ve written about VOC’s in other articles so I won’t repeat myself.  Not only are these items generally made of PVC, but they are often treated with a number of chemicals to reduce mold and bacterial buildup.  A June 2008 report by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, (a non-profit environmental organization) noted a study that found that over seven days, one new PVC shower curtain will release VOC’s that exceed the guidelines for indoor air quality established by the U.S. Green Building Council.  

This is an easy one to take care of…  Just don’t buy the shower curtains and liners made with PVC’s.  There is a more information about volatile vinyl as well as a link to a list of PVC and PVC-free shower curtains at major retailers at this site:  Center for Health, Environment & Justice

Unfortunately, prices for alternative products can still be a bit high.  They are sure to come down with more and more acceptance, but in the meantime, it’s easy to pick the cheap and nasty one over the unreasonable one.  Most people would just say open the window!  We just have to think about the long term effects on our health and not the short term effect on the pocketbook.  

There is a wealth of information available on the net. An article on “thedailygreen” blog is a good place to start.  thedailygreen

What are you using as an alternative?  Please post a comment!

Although I often encounter things that I’ve never seen before when inspecting houses, it’s rare that I’m just blown away by what an owner has done.  Reuse of building materials may be more common in some areas of the country, but it’s still a relatively scarce practice here in Central Florida.  The house in the photo started life in 1930 as a simple rural farm house. In 2007, it was moved to it’s current location on 10 acres and is still a work in progress.  The walls were stripped down to the studs inside and out and it was completely modernized in the rebuilding process.  All new electrical, heating and air conditioning, and plumbing was installed as is common and necessary in this type of job.  Not only were properly constructed pier’s added for a foundation with tie downs to meet current wind standards, the roof was also braced and strapped in accordance with today’s standards.

What sets this home apart is that the owner has been collecting salvaged pine boards from barns, homes and commercial buildings for several years.  This salvaged lumber which is pretty much unavailable these days was all milled and cut to order and the entire interior of the home including ceilings is solid heart pine.  No drywall was used, no new lumber, just salvaged material.  The impact was further enhance by the fact that there was no finish on the wood, just the natural color and that faint pine scent.  All materials were obtained locally and all work was done at local mills and shops.

This is a case where the owners did not set out to “do something green” but just to do the right thing!  They didn’t read a book, or hunt online for inspiration, it was all just common sense to them.  Granted, it does take some special conditions and resources to pull something like this off, but by looking for the opportunities, you may be surprised by what presents itself.

I’d be interested in hearing any stories that you have about the reuse of existing materials.  Please leave a comment!

New Year’s resolutions…I have to admit that I’ve never really been much for them.  The tendency is to set unrealistic goals, then feel bad because you didn’t achieve them.  In a year where uncertainty and disappointments seem to be lurking behind every corner, why beat yourself up?  The key is to set some realistic goals that only require small steps.  This past year, I began working towards a “greener” lifestyle and trying to help pass on information about improving your home and lifestyle.  For 2009, I’ll continue to take my “one small step at a time” approach.  Here is a partial list of 2009 Resolutions:

• I’ll spend less time and energy on the negatives such as whether global warming exists or whether everything I do helps protect some microbe I’ve never heard of. Instead, I’ll concentrate on the positives that people are doing every day to improve quality of life.
• I’ll carry a reusable bag to the shops and reduce the use of plastic bags.  If I can remember the words to ABBA songs without ever having owned one, I should be able to remember something important!
• I’ll cut down on driving…by combining short trips, and enjoying spending time around the house.  Less gas to buy, more projects done at home.
• If I have to replace an appliance, I’ll make sure that its energy star rated.  Not only will it save energy, but that saved energy is saved money!
• I’m going to think twice about adding more of the latest gadgets to my seemingly endless collection.  Having a closet full of E-waste, or all those other trendy items does not in the long run really improve my quality of life!

In order to make any substantial long term changes, what is really needed is a change of thinking about all our actions and purchase decisions.  What small steps are you planning to do this year?  Please leave a comment and add to the list!

Not too long ago, I did a post about not using Cypress mulch in your yard. Now it’s time to talk a bit about what you can use.  Simply put, mulching is providing a layer of material such as bark, gravel, pine needles etc, around landscape plants. Some of the reasons to mulch include:

• Retaining soil moisture
• Reducing heat at the soil surface
• Prevention of weed growth
• In some areas, to reduce heaving of roots as a result of freezing and thawing of the soil
• Add organic material to the soil if organic material is used
• Reduce soil erosion on slopes
• Improve appearance and add to property value

The depth of the mulch is very important and the generally accepted rule is around 2.5 to 3 inches. Too shallow and it just doesn’t work..you might as well not use any. If the mulch is too deep there are many potential problems as this leads to:

• Water logged soil and rot of roots and plants
• Conditions favorable to disease development
• A haven for rodents

• Animal manures
• Composts
• Composted municipal sludge.  Trade names such as Earthlife™, Comtil™, TechnaGro™ among others
• Hulls, cobs and shells
• Sphagnum peat moss/muck peat
• Pine needles
• Straw
• Wood products
• Shredded, chip or chunk bark
• Wood Chips or shavings
• Waste wood

Rubber Mulch – much hyped as not only a way to get rid of the millions of discarded tires around the world, but completely harmless long-lasting mulch. There is however a considerable amount of controversy that surrounds the issue. Some studies show that it leaches zinc into the soil killing plants; that it can be a fire hazard dangerous to place near buildings; and that it can smell very bad. There may not be a good answer right now, so make sure to do your homework. One thing that bothers me a bit is the word “permanent”. Is something “permanent” in your yard really a good thing?

Remember that there are always unintended consequences of all actions. By over mulching areas or using plastic ground covers you affect other habitats such as ground nesting bees.

This is not “News”, but I still think that it’s such a great and easy idea that I just wanted to cover it again.  NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America conducted a 2-year study that suggests that a sophisticated pollution-absorbing device is as simple as the common indoor houseplant.  As homes have become more energy efficient and tighter, indoor air quality has suffered resulting in what’s often known as “sick house syndrome”.  When the houses were leaky and drafty it wasn’t a problem. 

The studies recommend that you use 15-18 good-sized houseplants in 6 to 8 inch diameter containers to improve air quality in an average 1800 square foot house.  These houseplants help to reduce common indoor air pollutants and VOC’s.  The study also showed that within 24 hours, some plants can remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air.

Top Ten plants most effective in removing formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, and carbon monoxide:

• Bamboo palm
• Chinese evergreen
• English ivy
• Gerbera Daisy
• Janet Craig
• Marginata
• Mass Cane/Corn Plant
• Mother-in-law’s Tongue
• Pot Mum
• Peace Lily
• Warneckii

Stained Concrete Floors

One of the more common upgrades to a home, whether you’ve just bought one, trying to sell one, or just living with what you have is the flooring.  Flooring is a wearable item which not only significantly enhances your home, but in some cases it can make it unhealthy. Certain types of carpet, carpet pad, tack strips and carpet glues emit VOC’s that contribute to poor air quality Laminate and engineered flooring can release the same compounds into the air.

To ensure that the flooring doesn’t contribute to poor air quality look for the following:

• Carpet with Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) green seal of approval (www.carpet-rug.com) that also uses a synthetic fiber or virgin urethane pad and no glues used for installation.
• Linoleum or cork tile/sheet with water based adhesive.
• Ceramic tile
• Hard surface flooring ( wood, bamboo, etc) that is mechanically fastened or attached with a water based adhesive.
• Laminate flooring (wood, cork, etc.) with no urea-formaldehyde and glueless or water based glue installation.
• Concrete (stamped, stained, etc.)
• Flooring listed under the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) floor score program.  www.rfci.com

Bamboo Flooring

There are many more options today for flooring that is environmentally friendly, sustainable and will not contribute to poor indoor air quality.

• Wood 
• Bamboo
• Concrete
• Recycled materials

Salvaged wood floors

When choosing flooring, it’s important to also consider the eco-friendly features such as:

• Domestically produced hardwood materials from sustainably managed forests
• Bamboo flooring
• Reuse of salvaged wood
• Floor tiles made from recycled glass or other 100% recycled material
• Cork flooring
• Natural linoleum
• Concrete (stamped, stained, etc.)
• Recycled content carpet/carpet pad and rugs: Carpet/rugs should have a minimum recycled content of 80% with 60% post consumer recycled content or be 100% PET plastic. Carpet pads should have 80% recycled content. Examples include 80% post consumer tires, 80% nylon, 100% recycled newsprint and 80% textile waste
• Natural content carpet/carpet pad and rugs: Carpets/rugs should be composed of 100% natural materials such as wool, sisal, jute, and hemp. Carpet pads should also be of a natural material such as 85% recycled burlap bags made from fibrous jute plants.  

While finding these alternative products is easier than it once was, it can be a bit more challenging, and you have to work a bit harder to find the bargains.  In the long run however, it will pay off with improved indoor air quality and potentially higher resale values of the home.

It’s that time of year again…you know, the time when we drag out all the boxes of holiday decorations and lights and go about that annual process of filling our homes and yards with an abundance (sometimes overabundance) of holiday cheer.  Invariably as you pull out the strings of lights and plug them in, you find that there are always quite a few not working.  I’ll be honest, I’ve tried locating which ones were out so that I can salvage the string, but the string always wins that battle.  Each year, it’s a trip down to whatever is the closest store to pick up another string or two.  Now however, I’ve finally come to the realization that perhaps there is a better way.   Read More