Green products grow in home construction

“I had done some research, and by happenstance there was an active program with Ozark Electric Cooperative to install more efficient heating and cooling systems. They were offering a $1,500 rebate to install geothermal systems,” he said. “That’s what caught my eye.”

It turns out that Hall may have been ahead of the curve in environmentally friendly home construction.

With increasing costs and decreasing supplies of oil, and concerns of global warming and environmental damage from the overuse of fossil fuels, green building continues to grow in popularity, and it’s gaining a foothold in the residential sector.

Digging in

Geothermal systems involve tapping into the earth’s constant temperature to both heat and cool a home. Circulating fluid underground allows geothermal systems to take advantage of a nearly constant temperature of 58 F.

In the summer, that means cooler temperatures without the need for a separate cooling system. And in the winter, rooms only need to be heated by about 10 F to reach comfortable room temperature.

While systems such as Hall’s have been around for decades, Sunbelt Environmental Systems President Leroy Schaefer said he knows they’re growing in popularity; his company, which began geothermal drilling in 2006, drilled holes for about 20 residential systems in 2007.

Eventually, Schaefer plans to install geothermal systems through Sunbelt. The systems typically cost between $12,000 and $15,000, he said.

Schaefer installed a system in his home before his company began offering the drilling service, and he calls it “the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Schaefer said his home heating and cooling bill averages $23 a month – or $276 a year – compared to $2,000 in annual propane costs.

“In the summer, you have all of this extra heat that you’re removing from the house that’s going back to the condenser, and the condenser acts as a hot-water heater, so hot water is free,” he said, noting that even in winter, water-heating costs are reduced.

Paper countertops?

Justin Hough, owner of environmentally friendly building materials store Innoviro, has seen many green products entering the market for homes.

“It can go from the grand scale – the structural components – down to the finishing touches, anything from fabric choices to paint, stains and sealers,” Hough said.

On the finish side, Hough said the most prevalent green product is flooring – and the choices are nearly unlimited. Bamboo flooring is one of the most popular, he said.

“We have a lot of options for wood, but we also do Expanko, which is a recycled rubber floor,” Hough said, adding that options also are available for cork floors and cork blended with rubber.

The options continue into countertops and surfaces, where the latest innovation is solid surfaces made from paper. One countertop product is PaperStone, made from compressed paper. While compressed paper countertops are not a new idea – various products have been available since the 1960s – Hough said PaperStone uses at least 50 percent recycled paper in its product.

Green strides also have been made in insulation.

“There’s the very basic, no-formaldehyde type of insulation,” Hough said. “Another we’ve talked about is the recycled blue jean insulation from Bonded Logic.”

He added that soy-based insulations also are available from various manufacturers. Finding those products readily available in Springfield, however, can be difficult because of the lack of demand.

“It’s the commitment issue for us to have to bring on such a huge quantity of the material without promise of a payout,” Hough said. “We’re waiting on some of those (products) to see where the market goes in Springfield. There’s a lot of meeting and talk about people going green, but there’s really only a handful of people pulling the trigger on green construction, and that’s mostly commercial.”

Structural strides

Sam Bradley of Sam Bradley Homes said lumber has come a long way. Engineered lumber, made from what would have otherwise been construction waste, is not only replacing some structural lumber in new construction, but it’s also stronger than dimensional lumber.

“Engineered lumber can be used in places where standard dimensional lumber can’t be used, so it’s hard to compare,” Bradley said.

In December, Springfield Business Journal reported that Springfield-based Meek’s Building Centers earned certification from Germany-based Forest Stewardship Council as a “chain-of-custody broker,” which means that the company can order FSC-certified lumber. FSC’s mission is promoting environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Innoviro’s Hough added that his company is negotiating to begin carrying structural insulated panels, which are pre-fabricated wall panels that already contain insulation. Those panels, according to the Structural Insulated Panel Association, outperform traditional stud and batting construction by more than 40 percent.

Home builder Bradley added there are numerous other ways to incorporate environmentally friendly design into new homes, and many require no additional cost or special materials.

“A good design and layout is the most important part of the whole scenario,” he said. “A house with 20-foot ceilings is not nearly as efficient as one with 8- or 9-foot ceilings.”

In the end, Bradley said homeowners determine just how green their homes will be.

“It all goes back to the mindset,” he said. “It all goes back to ‘What’s your basic goal to begin with?’”

Upcoming conference looks at new energy sources

The city of Springfield is partnering with several organizations and companies to examine alternative fuel sources, in an effort to secure energy independence.

The Ozarks New Energy Conference, scheduled for Feb. 22–23 at the Gillioz Theatre and other downtown venues, will feature speakers from across the country covering energy sources from wind to algae to hydrogen to cellulose.

Other planned topics include federal and state energy policies, tax credits and other investment incentives and the costs of applying new fuels and efficiency approaches.

For more information on the event, contact Conference Coordinator Jennifer Ailor at (417) 581-0745 or by e-mail at info@ozarksnewenergy.org.[[In-content Ad]]