Green Ranting and Safety Note
Okay, lets take care of the safety note first… Almost 7 years ago I had several windows on the west side of my house replaced with glass blocks. The windows are in the master bath and a walk in closet and provide plenty of daylight for these rooms. In the closet I had set a small clock on the window ledge so I could keep track of time while getting dress for work or whatever. I grab the clock to move it and found the back of the clock had melted! When I investigated what had happen I noticed that the glass blocks in the window were focusing the suns rays just like a magnifying glass. The heat had caused the plastic on the clock to melt. I made sure there was noting else in the focal range of the suns rays. So, if you have glass block windows in your home and the sunshines in them look them over carefully and make sure there are no potential fire hazards. I will be adding some film on the windows to block some of the suns rays.
On with the rant! Not really a rant more of an observation! I was visiting a friend who I have help get into a new home earlier in the year. Yes, I said friend and not client or customer, as we are truly friends. As I was driving into his subdivision I noticed they were still building new homes. This in itself was no big deal, as they seem to be selling, but what struck me was the way they are being built. The builder is still trucking in supplies to the site and building the homes. I know we all have been told this is the best method to build a home. Good ole craftsmanship in everyone. I beg to differ, just look at the waste that is generated and the energy used to build homes in this method. Yes, large strides have been made in recycling waste on site, but would it not be better to reduce waste at the outset?
Look at some of the green prefab offerings today and you cannot tell them from a conventional site built home. One of the big differences is that there is very little waste as the panels for the home are built in a factory and trucked to the site where they are assembled. Most of the waste generated at the factory is recycled into more panels. These homes are often structurally sounder then site built homes. The “DomeSpace” http://www.jamessmith-realtor.com/Green_Building/page_1863087.html homes I Market can easily withstand hurricane force winds and can be built on a pedestal to get it above a flood plain.
But, in my friends new subdivision there are some 300 or more home sites just waiting to have homes built on them. Supplies trucked in and waste hauled off. Oh, least I forgot they got three trees, one front and two in back!!!