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10 Tips For Buying Savaged Building Materials

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Photo-ApartmentTherapy.com

Thinking about building or remodeling with less money and reused building materials- maybe salvaging and even dumpster diving? I can attest you can save a lot of money by using reclaimed building materials. The best part about reusing is not only are you saving the environment-landfills – you can also create a unique eco-friendly home!

Where to Find:

1. For a list of your local reclaimed building materials outlets you can click on any state on my sidebar, which will give you local listings. (Salvage or Reclaimed Resources)
2. Google alert yourself with key words. (i.e. reclaimed pine wood floor in Tucson, AZ- salvage wood floors in Tucson, AZ)
3. Keep checking Craigslist (www.craigslist.com) and Giving Away (www.givingaway.com) for building materials and Planet Reuse-(www.planetreuse.com) as well as Salvo Web (www.salvoweb.com)

10 Tips To ReUsed Building Materials

1. Make sure you have room to store
2. Make a list of things you want-wish-need to buy for the house. Keep measurements of house space and space of wanted salvaged items.
3. Make a list of types of materials you do not want- it will weed out what not to buy.
4. Keep a list in car and by the computer (for online searching)
5. Inspect- Inspect and Inspect again
6. Inspect every aspect of the material- make sure if damaged if you can repair,
7. If you are using a builder or a handyman- make sure they understand what you are trying to achieve. They might have to be re-sizing to make fit- Some may not have the skill set to do that or may not want to.
8. When buying reclaimed wood for floors, walls or to make cabinets, make sure they have been dry stored. Leave in the home a few days before usage (floors)
9. When buying used tiles and bricks- double check the bases (may have concrete attached) and the depth. Mixing and matching sizes and depths can lead to uneven surfaces.
10. When buying reclaimed sinks, iron radiators- make sure there are no cracks!

Reducing Carbon Footprints-Solar-Powered Airplanes

Photo-Solar Impulse

The Solar Impulse Airplane was six years in the making by pilots and promoters, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg. More than 12,000 solar cells are mounted on the wing to supply renewable solar energy to the 10 horsepower electric motors.

“If an aircraft is able to fly day and night without fuel, propelled solely by solar energy, let no one come and claim that is impossible to do the same thing for motor vehicles, heating and air conditioning systems ,and computers,” Piccard said.

Test flights will begin this year.

The Solar Impulse is not the first Solar Airplane- Qinetiq has the Zephyr and NASA has the Helios

NASA- Helios over Hawaii

I just Gotta Tell Ya

• Airplanes burn over $100 Billion each year in oil base fuels
• It is estimated that the world’s 16,000 commercial air jet aircraft produce 600 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, nearly equal to the amount produced per year by all human activities in Africa
• Experts predict that by 2050, aircraft emissions will account for over 5% of total warming.
• There was a marked decrease in CO₂ concentrations in the days succeeding 9/11, when airplanes were grounded.
• If you live within a 6-mile radius to an airport, you are at a higher risk for dying of cancer, according to Ruth Skolvick in her article, Exposing Airports’ Poison Circles, Earth Island Journal, winter 2000-2001.

Tags: Transportation
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Recycling-Top 8 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

I love this! Very easy ways to Recycle Soda Bottles by Make Magazine

Optical WebBlog and Business

ReJuvenating Plastic- Reuse Plastic to Make Boats

Photo-Plastiki

Plastiki - a new ocean adventure being launched by David de Rothschild, plans to sail across the Pacific Ocean to document huge Pacific Garbage Dump in a 60 foot catamaran made almost entirely from recycled plastic.

Watch their adventure when they launch- the map is available on the site.

Recycled Shoes by Timberland

Stratham, NH (CNS) – Timberland is adding another shoe to their green collection of footwear. The Earthkeepers 2.0 boot will be unveiled for viewing to the general public next week.

Instead of just throwing the boot out after it has been worn out, the boot is designed to be disassembled and recycled. Pieces of the boot, such as removable hardware, can be taken apart and reused. If consumers return the boot to the company, they will reuse the shoes to make new products.

The boot also features patented Green Rubber outsoles, which is composed of 42 percent recycled rubber tires. After the life of the boot, the outsoles will be sent to a factory in Georgia that will recycle the Green Rubber, while the polyester lining can be taken apart to use in other new polyester products.

Timberland introduced the Earthkeepers line in 2007. The new Earthkeepers 2.0 will be available in stores for purchase later this year.

ReClaimed Home- An Insider ReView

We don’t have many reclaimed homes in San Diego. In fact, I want to sell my condo full of reclaimed and ‘green’ building materials. Every realtor I have spoken to- just doesn’t get the eco friendly- green home thing!  When I see a great post from All Things G&D: Parade of Homes–Reclaimed Materials with interesting pictures of reused building materials, just have to pass it on. For more pictures- please click the link above- great ideas and pics.

From the Eberle website “All of the re-milled Douglas fir wood timbers throughout the home are reclaimed from the Naval Air Station and the Ford Assembly Plant in Chicago. These timbers are more than 100 years old, which proves to everyone that many items we take for granted can be restored to yet another use. Also, the exterior stone has a history as well. The stone came from Maxwell Street in Chicago. Many of the items in the home are 80 percent and above recycled materials. This home proves that even reclaimed items (wood, stone, etc.) can be a thing of beauty the second time around.

I love this fireplace-reclaiming stones is very easy-think demolished buildings-think craigslist! I love the home- the idea of creative reuse!

Re-Crafting- Handmade Show in San Francisco

Save the Date-  New artists, alternative work, and a Green Craft component will be on display at The American Craft Council Show in San Francisco at Fort Mason Center, August 14-16, 2009. Celebrating its 34th year in the Bay Area, this much-anticipated event delivers the nation’s leading 250 artists and their latest designer jewelry, furniture, clothing, home decor and more to the public. Guests can indulge in wine tastings from top vineyards and be part of entertaining and informative demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Special Friday Night Event: Join the American Craft Council and director/author Faythe Levine for a special screening of her film “Handmade Nation,” documenting the rise of the handmade craft movement throughout the U.S. 8:30pm in The Golden Gate Room at Fort Mason. Faythe will be on hand for an introduction and post-film Q & A session. Admission: $12, OR $5 with proof of show admission (hand stamp). Doors open at 8:00pm; space is limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. www.handmadenationmovie.com

Green Craft - Artists using found, recycled, eco-friendly materials and techniques will be highlighted. Shop for style and the environment!

AltCraft – This section features rising indie craft artists whose work illustrates the innovative techniques and materials of the burgeoning new handmade movement. The work of 16 artists, selected through a special jury process, will be presented in a unique loft space in the Fort Mason pier.

SAVE by purchasing tickets in advance: $2 off advance ticket purchase online. Click here to save!

LOCATION
Fort Mason Center
Herbst and Festival Pavilions

DATES AND SHOW HOURS
Friday, August 14 (10am – 8pm) ** New, extended hours!**
Saturday, August 15 (10am – 6 pm)
Sunday, August 16 (10 am – 5 pm)

ADMISSION
$12 per person
$18 two-day pass
SPECIAL FRIDAY EVENING ADMISSION: $5 after 5pm (not to be combined with other offers)
Children 12 and under free
American Craft Council members FREE.
Introductory membership $25 at the show. JOIN NOW.
Buy Tickets Online and save! $10 per person; $16 two-day pass
Information:
Call: 800-836-3470

Recycled Burlap Bags for Upholstery

This is creative way to reuse burlap and feedbags! The chair is available for sale at Colcha in Venice for $1600. The recycled burlap cushions is $42.00. Made with reclaimed wood legs and upholstered in European feed-sack fabrics. Cushions are recycled burlap.

Reclaimed Wood Pallet Furniture

I had done a post on Reuse Make Money- Pallet Wood- now Good Earth Furniture (goodearthfurniture.com) has opened up Portland, ME, with a variety of furniture made from Reclaimed wood- with one of my favorite topics- reclaimed wood pallets.

They are located at 576 A Congress St, Portland ME

Recycling Cartridges and Bottles to Make Benches

Ricoh Malaysia is paying a $1 per cartridge (to their technical team) to collect used cartridges from customers in order to recycle them into benches. It costs about $300 USD to produce one bench.

These benches are made entirely from recycled toner cartridges and bottles. Even though they are only using about 60%- they feel it is money well ‘reused’.

Richol sells over 1000 copiers per year in Malaysia and and average of 3,000 toner cartridges are thrown away, with a recycle rate of about 50%. Their goal is to get to an 85% recycle rate.

We applaud their efforts and keep up the good work!