For Dummies: Bestselling Book Series For Beginners

175590 cs.qxp10/10/071:05 PMPage 1Green Building & RemodelingFor Dummies Solar Panel CalculatorAlthough your exact solar needs will vary depending on where you live, this handy calculator will helpyou figure out an idea of the size and cost of adding solar electricity to your home.1. Locate the total kilowatt hours (kWh) from the “Usage” portion of your monthly electricity bill,under “Electric Charges.” Enter the number below.kWh per month2. Multiply the number in Step 1 by 12 to roughly calculate your electricity use in a year. Enter thenumber below.kWh per yearNote: If you have your electricity bills for a year, skip Step 1, add up all the kWh from each of the12 bills, and enter the number above. (You use more electricity in the summer than the winter, sousing a year’s worth of bills gives you a more accurate picture.)3. In the following blank, enter 5,000 if you live in the Southwest; enter 4,000 if you live in California,Florida, or the Midwest; and enter 2,500 if you live anywhere else in the United States or Canada.solar irradiance4. Divide the number in Step 2 by the number in Step 3 and enter the number below.kW system5. Multiply the number in Step 4 by 150.square feet of panels needed on your roof6. Multiply the number from Step 4 by 5,000 (for the low end) or 7,500 (for the high end), and enterthe number below. This is what each kW will cost you (after rebates). installed cost for your system7. To figure your monthly payment (assuming 6.5 percent APR for 30 years), divide the number inStep 6 by 150. Enter the number below. per month8. To figure the increase in property value (depending on the state in which you live, this could beexempt from property taxes), multiply the number in Step 6 by 0.50. 9. To figure the payback time, divide the number in Step 6 by the number from Step 1. Enter thenumber below.number of months it will take for your paybackNote: These numbers are approximate and generalized to work around the United States. Visitwww.findsolar.com for more accurate pricing information.For Dummies: Bestselling Book Series for BeginnersFront

175590 cs.qxp10/10/071:05 PMPage 2Green Building & RemodelingFor DummiesGreen Cleaners CookbookYour kitchen offers a wide array of ingredients for naturally cleaning your home and office.Save some money and make batches of your own healthy household cleaners.All-Purpose Household CleanerMirror and Window Cleaner1 quart warm water1 teaspoon liquid hand soap1 squeeze of a lemon1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol1 2 cup white vinegar1 quart waterNewspaperThis household cleaner is good for countertops, floors, walls, rugs, upholstery, and more.Furniture PolishCombine the liquid ingredients, put them into aspray bottle, and spray the solution onto yourwindows. Dry the windows with newspaper.1 pint mineral oil1 squeeze of a lemonSilverware CleanerDrain CleanerToothpasteToothbrush1 cup baking soda1 cup salt1 4 cup cream of tartarScrub silverware with toothpaste. Rinse withwarm water.Pour 1 4 cup of this drain cleaner down yourdrain once a week to keep it clean.Clothing Stain Remover 2 teaspoon lemon juice1 4 teaspoon cream of tartar1Mix these ingredients to create paste, spreadit over the stain, and allow it to dry beforewashing your clothes.Carpet Stain RemoverBaking soda or club sodaRub baking soda or club soda into carpet andvacuum until stain is removed.Oven Cleaning1. After dinner, cover the bottom of a cooledoven with baking soda.2. Spray with water until very damp, andkeep moist by spraying every few hoursuntil bedtime.3. Let set overnight.4. In the morning, scoop out the bakingsoda and grime and wipe well.Paint Remover for Your HandsUse vegetable oil instead of paint thinner toremove paint from hands and skin.Copyright 2008 Wiley Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Item 7559-0. For more information about Wiley Publishing, call 1-800-762-2974.For Dummies: Bestselling Book Series for BeginnersBackWiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, the For Dummies Bestselling Book Series logo and all related trade dress aretrademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

02 175590 ftoc.qxp10/30/079:25 AMPage ixContents at a GlanceIntroduction .1Part I: The Need for Green.7Chapter 1: Going Green.9Chapter 2: Green Building in an Organically Grown Nutshell.27Chapter 3: Remodeling with a Green Eye .41Chapter 4: Working with Building Professionals .57Part II: Paying Attention to Material Matters .73Chapter 5: Looking at a Material’s Life Cycle: From Cradle to Grave .75Chapter 6: Material Opportunities: From Cradle to Cradle .97Chapter 7: Green Finish and Construction Materials .109Part III: Green Building Methods .139Chapter 8: Framing Things Up .141Chapter 9: Natural Building Methods .167Chapter 10: Manufactured Building Methods.199Part IV: Green Building Systems and Site Planning .213Chapter 11: Energy Systems.215Chapter 12: Heating and Cooling Systems .239Chapter 13: Water and Waste Systems .261Chapter 14: Landscaping and Site Planning: Going Green in the Great Outdoors.281Part V: The Part of Tens .305Chapter 15: Ten Common Myths about Green Building and Remodeling.307Chapter 16: Ten Green Things to Do on Every New-Home Project.313Chapter 17: Ten Green Materials You Can’t Live Without .321Chapter 18: Ten Green Things You Can Do in Your Home Right Now .327Appendix: Resources .335Index .343

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02 175590 ftoc.qxp10/30/079:25 AMPage xiTable of ContentsIntroduction .1About This Book.1Conventions Used in This Book .2What You’re Not to Read.2Foolish Assumptions .3How This Book Is Organized.3Part I: The Need for Green.4Part II: Paying Attention to Material Matters.4Part III: Green Building Methods .4Part IV: Green Building Systems and Site Planning.4Part V: The Part of Tens.5Appendix .5Icons Used in This Book.5Where to Go from Here.6Part I: The Need for Green .7Chapter 1: Going Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Understanding Why Green Matters .10Looking at Cost in a New Way .11Initial costs .11Lifecycle costs .12Maintenance costs .13It Is Easy Being Green: Steps to a Green Building .13Location, Location, Location: Choosing a Site for YourNew Green Home .14Designing Your Way to a Better Green Home .15Following the Rules.17Picturing the Perfect Green Room .18The perfect green kitchen .18The perfect green bathroom .20The perfect green bedroom .21The perfect green nursery .22Chapter 2: Green Building in an Organically Grown Nutshell . . . . . .27Playing the Name Game.27Uncovering the meaning of sustainability.28Getting back to your roots .29Green Building: An Idea Whose Time Has Come.29Envisioning the Total Green Building .33

02 175590 ftoc.qxpxii10/30/079:25 AMPage xiiGreen Building & Remodeling For DummiesLooking at the Pros and Cons of Green Building .34The pros.35The cons .38Chapter 3: Remodeling with a Green Eye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Deciding Whether to Remodel .42Recognizing the benefits of remodeling .42Asking yourself some questions.43Planning Your Remodel .44Considering all things financial .44Eyeing green remodeling projects.46The top two: Kitchens and bathrooms.49Surviving Your Remodel.53Living in the house during construction .53Health risks: Handling surprises as they come .54Chapter 4: Working with Building Professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Identifying the People You Needon Your Team .57Real estate agents.58Mortgage brokers .58Architects .59Contractors .62Interior designers .65Landscape architects.66Mechanical engineers .66Green building consultants .66Finding Green Professionals .67Getting Certified: Looking at Leadership in Energyand EnvironmentalDesign (LEED) .68Part II: Paying Attention to Material Matters .73Chapter 5: Looking at a Material’s Life Cycle:From Cradle to Grave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Looking at Life Cycle.75Phase 1: Production .76Phase 2: Usage .78Phase 3: Return.78Understanding the Effort That Goes into Materials .78Being Clear about By-Products .80Recognizing That There Is No Such Thing as Waste.81Talking to Manufacturers about Any Material.83Where did this material come from?.84What are the by-products of its manufacturing process? .84How is the material delivered and installed?.85How is the material maintained and operated?.85

02 175590 ftoc.qxp10/30/079:25 AMPage xiiiTable of ContentsHow healthy are the materials? .85What do you do with the materials whenyou’re done with them? .85Putting Standard Materials to the Life Cycle Test .86Concrete .86Wood .87Glass.88Steel.89Brick .90Drywall.91Vinyl .91Looking to Trusted Green Certification ProgramsWhen Shopping for Materials .92The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label and Green Label Plus .93Forest Stewardship Council .93GREENGUARD .94Green Seal.95Scientific Certification Systems .95Cradle to Cradle certification .96Chapter 6: Material Opportunities: From Cradle to Cradle . . . . . . . . .97Cradle to Cradle: Designing Like Nature .97Setting Priorities and Goals for Your Home.101Remodeling an Old Home with Green Materials .104Salvaging the wood .104Being aware of asbestos .105Looking out for lead paint .105Finding Green Materials .106Knowing Whether Manufacturers Are Telling the Truth.107Chapter 7: Green Finish and Construction Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . .109Identifying the Dangers in Traditional Finishes .110Volatile organic compounds .111Formaldehyde .113Hidden Materials: What’s Behind the Walls.113Insulation.113Sheathing .114Caulks and adhesives.114Stains and sealers.115Walls.115Paints and coatings .115Earthen plaster .116Wall coverings.116Drywall.117Wood paneling and cabinetry.118Wall base and trim.118Floor Finishes .119Wood flooring.119Carpeting .121xiii

02 175590 ftoc.qxpxiv10/30/079:25 AMPage xivGreen Building & Remodeling For DummiesCork .122Vinyl tile.123Linoleum.123Concrete .124Earthen floors .124Countertops .126Granite and stone .126Terrazzo.127Paper resin .127Concrete .128Solid surfacing .128Plastic laminate .129Other Finishes .129Ceramic tile .129Glass.130Metal .130Resins and plastics.131Furnishings .131Furniture .132Draperies and fabrics.132Exterior Finishes and Trim .133Siding.133Decking .134Roofing.135Remodeling: Bringing Old Materials to Life .137Part III: Green Building Methods .139Chapter 8: Framing Things Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141Traditional Wood Framing .141Looking at how much wood is used.142Recognizing the problems with wood framing .143Taking advantage of wood framing .146Engineered Lumber.149What engineered lumber is .149Taking advantage of engineered lumber .151Advanced Framing Techniques .152What advanced framing is.152Taking advantage of advanced framing .159Heavy Timber .160What heavy timber framing is .160Taking advantage of heavy timber .162Steel Framing .163What steel framing is .163Taking advantage of steel .164