Green Eco Services » Building

How Lumber Is ReBorn

Cathy — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:00:02 +0000

Interesting video on the Architectural Salvaged Directory on the Story of Reclaimed Lumber. ‘All true greenophiles know, everything old is new again! This can apply to fashion, but for now we’re talking about wood. Reclaiming, refinishing, and reusing discarded wood for new buildings, interiors, and commodities is a great way to save materials and take the strain off overloaded landfills. This Pulse video travels to North Carolina to visit the Whole Log Lumber mill, which purchases wood from demolition sites, fires, and trash heaps in order to revive and resell it. This place is the fountain of youth for worn out lumber, and the high quality of the semiprecious hardwoods that are routinely uncovered takes business away from rainforest-clearing loggers. It’s enough to have sticklers for fine and rare wood muttering about the ‘good old days.’ But when we follow the wood back to Brooklyn, we find a restaurant under construction, using reclaimed wood from the Whole Log mill to finish a beautiful dining room. Easy, old timer. They’re still making ‘em like they used to.’

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New vs. Reclaimed Wood Cost Comparison

Cathy — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:56:42 +0000

Many people are put off by the price of reclaimed wood, thinking hey, it’s used, it should be cheaper, it should be free. While many people want to get rid of that wood sitting around the house or office, there is a lot of reasons besides not killing trees as to why reclaimed wood is more expensive and why using reclaimed wood is good.

This video from Resource Conservation Group explains the features and benefits of using reclaimed wood.Similar Posts:

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Living Sustainability In Treetops of Costa Rica

Cathy — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:10:50 +0000

One of my fantasies has been to have a Swiss Family Robinson type of treehouse. If that is one of your fantasies as well, you can now have it in Costa Rica, with a new community of Finca Bellavista, a sustainable Treehouse community.

Located on the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, it was founded to for folks, who want to preserve rainforests, live off the grid in a sustainable way.

While still in it’s infancy, Finca Bellavista aim is to use hydroelectric and solar power, operates a full recycling centers, a common garden, a waste management systems using biodigestors and go completely off the grid.

No sidewalks of course- just zip lines ala canopy tours and of course ground trails. Parking for cars and WiFi are available at a base area.

Costs are very reasonable- 2 acres can run $50,000 USD and up.

Sources:

Inhabitat

Eco HomeSimilar Posts:

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House Made From Tires- Long Way Home

Cathy — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:25:21 +0000

Long Way Home is a small grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit organization working in a rural Guatemalan community named San Juan Comalapa. LWH has been working in Comalapa since 2005 doing development projects with partner organizations such as Engineers Without Borders, Chuwi Tinamit, and AIRES. LWH offers a safe place for interns and volunteers to come experiences Guatemala’s rich Mayan culture, learn and develop methods of earthship building, and get involved in a variety of local community projects. Current project is the Tecnico Maya Vocational School witch is being constructed using recycled and discarded materials such as tires and bottles. For more information visit us @ longwayhomeinc.org.

They are looking for volunteers as well.

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ecoHow: Buy-Sell-Get Rid Of Reclaimed And Salvage Wood

Cathy — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:32:19 +0000

Photo:Flickr- Robnits Photostream

Unfortunately I do not buy or sell any building materials. I only write and update where to get reclaimed wood and salvaged materials. I am writing this post as a referral to all those who email me and ask for:

Quotes on Reclaimed Wood from their houses, barns, fencing and other used building materials.
Want to know where to find reclaimed wood.
Want to know about finding places to get other salvaged materials.
Want deconstruction services.
Want to get rid of a bunch of building materials sitting around their house/ storage area.
Will give away the wood from old barns and buildings in return for deconstruction.

This goes for bowling alleys, barns, sheds, silos, old houses, stairways, radiators, fireplaces, schools and more.

Where To Find Reclaimed Wood -Salvage- Used Building Materials:

Check Out post on National Sites Used Building Materials - listed of giving away and listing sites for building materials.
On left sidebar of Green Eco Services are categories per state. Each state has a salvage and reclaimed wood listing- click on your state and check the resources.

Deconstruction and ReUse Network
Reuse Development Organization loadingdock.org/redo
Building Materials Reuse Association www.bmra.org
Green Eco Services- 40 Sites For Reuse of Materials
Salvage Old Barns

If looking for deconstruction resources:

Some are listed in the Salvage Reclaim listing- Click local state on sidebar
Google deconstruction services plus your city/state and see what comes up.
Call local ReStore or Habitat For Humanity and see what they offer.
Put a listing on Craigslist or other sites to see if someone will deconstruction and take away for free (big trend)

Listing For Buying, Selling or For Free On Green Eco Services

Make a comment in your State (left sidebar), products that you want to give away or try to sell, will need all info, and contact number.

Looking For FREE reclaimed Wood or Building Materials

Judging by the amount of emails I get from people looking for free reclaimed wood and from people who will give away the wood for deconstruction, this is what I would do:

List on Craigslist or other give away sites, that you will deconstruct for building materials
Local milling companies, furniture and cabinetmakers might have discards. Check out flooring companies.
Lumber Mills and Lumber Yards
Local Industry that uses wood for their products.
Garage Sales and Junk Yards,
Any construction or demolition site, it costs them money to go to landfills, if they can get rid of construction debris, all the better. Contact local contractor and ask them
Wood Pallets are free and easy to find, in fact all you have to do is cruise any strip mall and they are available.
Curb Alerts- Often have free wood and furniture.
Tree Surgeons, Tree Cutters, Landscapers and Gardeners- We have all seen them, they too have to pay to dispose of waste, contact them to get free wood.
Local Governments- All have tree cutting crews
Pool Companies- many times they have to take out trees in order to build pools.
After storms- take a cruise around the neighborhood and pick up fallen trees and limbs
Contact Local Artists and see if they work with wood and have any cast-offs

Give Away Or Sell Salvage And Reclaimed Wood And Used Building Materials

Craigslist.com- advertise wood, also firewood
Yingyango- Free giving away site
Eco Freek- Global site that searches through other sites for free stuff
Giving Away- Free site to post things to giveaway
Freecycle Free to join, ask or give away anything, but mainly household goods.
Free Sharing-Groups that free recycle objects they don’t want
Habitat For Humanity or ReStores- Some of them will pick up for you, call your local to confirm. Double check for tax- write offs.
Regives - State listing connecting People in local communities
Contact Local Artists
Contact Local woodworkers, cabinet makers, crafters: they love working with reclaimed wood and it’s expensive.

Buying, Selling, Giving Away Cardboard I do not buy or sell cardboard but because I have alot of people ask about it here is what to do:

What To Do:

Many people do collect cardboard and take to local scrap dealers and make money. You can do the same thing.

Give Away

Craigslist.com- advertise wood, also firewood
Yingyango- Free giving away site
Giving Away- Free site to post things to giveaway
Freecycle Free to join, ask or give away anything, but mainly household goods.
Free Sharing-Groups that free recycle objects they don’t want
Habitat For Humanity or ReStores- Some of them will pick up for you, call your local to confirm. Double check for tax- write offs.

Contact Moving Companies

Boxcycle-Used Cardboard Exchange CA
Used Cardboard Boxes (CA)
DJ Boxes- D.J. Transport (Canada) we carry a large inventory of new and used boxes as well as packaging supplies. Our company buys and sells used boxes and contributes ecologically by recycling corrugated boxes, pallets and more. Boxes that have been misprinted or overrun can be re-used for packaging.

Selling

Selling: Reuse Cardboard- Make Money- How much money you can make is dependent on scrap dealer, cost of paper.

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Building Supplies Made From Recycled Plastics

Cathy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:39:23 +0000

Asoka House

For more information on the House go to Squidoo

The following manufacturers make building supplies fro HDPE plastics (High Density PolyEthylene). These plastics come from milk jugs, detergent containers, juice and soda bottles that do not biodegrade.

Common uses of RPL (Recycled Plastic Lumber)

Advantages:

Available in many colors
Moisture and chemical resistant
Graffiti resistant
Splinter Free- does not crack
No need for sealants or preservatives
Insect resistants
Maintence free
Bacteria Free.

Green Factor

Saves money by lowering long term maintenance costs.
Diverts plastic waste from landfills- potential is to save 25-50% of landfill space.
Reduces wood waste
Eliminates need for potentially harmful sealants and sprays.
Potential is huge for job opportunities.

Building Supplies- Plastic Lumber from recycled HDPE

Plastic Lumber Co (800) 886-8990 www.plasticlumber.com
Plastic Lumberyard (Norristown, PA )
Trex Lumber (800) 289-8739 www.trex.com
Fibrex Group (800) 346-4458 www.fibrexgroup.com
Renew Plastics (800) 666-5207 www.renewplastics.com
Engineered Plastic Systems- lumber made with Recycled Plastics
Recycled Plastics Industries (920) 330-9050 www.rpi2.com- lumber from milk cartons
American Recycled Plastic, Inc. (866) 674-1525 www.itsrecycled.com
Everlast Plastic Lumber Inc. www.everlastlumber.com
EverGrain Composite Decking (800) 253-1401 www.evergrain.com
EPIC Plastic (209) 333-6161www.epicplastics.com 100% recycled Bend a board edging, mow strips, boardwalks
Santana Plastics (800) 368-5002 www.santanaproducts.com- toilet partitions, shower and dressing stalls, lockers, benches, vanities.
Master Mark Plastics-Landscaping products

For more information

EPA

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Recycling Plastic Bottles And Trash Into Roofs

Cathy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:37:20 +0000

Bottles were flattened to make shingles

This is very cool and just goes to show you that recycling or in this case picking up plastic bottles and re-using them can save both money and the environment. The Fizzy Bottle Roof Project collected:

60 old for sale sign post
350 metres of plastic water piping
5 sheets of old building site hoarding
3 old scaffold planks
7000 plastic bottles

Making into a roof. This was part of a project by The Growing Gardens a community garden by Louisa Loakes and volunteers.

As a budget conscious person I firmly believe in their concept- ‘It’s about making do with what you have’, such a true statement and one I am adhering to as much as possible.

If you think about it, everything for this garden or multi-purpose shed was recycled and re-purposed with a contingent of volunteers and a strong commitment to recycling and re-purposing materials that most people throw away.

For more information visit Inhabitat Similar Posts:

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Reclaimed Wood Beach Bench Is The Longest Bench In The World

Cathy — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:40:11 +0000

I have posted other articles on reclaimed wood for gardens, but this reclaimed wood ever- ending beach bench is spectacular.

Found in Littlehampton, West Sussex, they are claiming this is the longest bench in the world being 324 meters and seating up to 300 people. It colorful and fun to look at as well. Made with recycled steel and reclaimed hardwoods rescued from landfills (Yeah!) Designed by Studio Weave

Dips and Swirls

Landfill Reclaimed Wood Rescued

This would be a fun idea for anyones back yard or front yard as well. It’s fun, it’s colorful, it’s useful and best yet saves the environment and keeps unnecessary items out of our landfills.

For more information on Garden Benches or teak garden furniture visit Hayes Garden World.Similar Posts:

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5 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Appliances

Cathy — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:04:49 +0000

EnergyStar Saves Money and Environment

You’ve probably heard of energy-star appliances for your kitchen. They are government rated and approved electronics that use energy efficiently in order to reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants that are released into the atmosphere. And while the EPA has mandated that in order for products to earn this label they must meet certain standards (such as delivering the performance and features that consumers demand while still contributing significantly to energy savings in a measurable fashion), it should come as no surprise that there a quite a few eco-friendly appliances that carry the coveted label. However, the lack of an energy-star sticker should not stop you from purchasing appliances that are better for the environment (since they may simply not have undergone testing yet). In any case, here are a few items that you may want to consider for your kitchen, especially if you can find a version available from energy-star.

1. Thrifty oven. If you didn’t know this oven was eco-friendly, you wouldn’t guess by looking at it. The sleek exterior could belong to any similar appliance in a department store, especially with handy features like electronic displays and controls, a child lock, and telescopic shelves. But when you discover that low-energy halogen lights brightly illuminate the cavity (so you never have to open the door to see inside), heat is circulated quickly and efficiently with Circotherm technology, and the door is triple glazed to keep heat inside, you’ll feel even better about installing it in your green and modern kitchen.

2. Induction stove. The idea behind this cook top is simple science that will nonetheless blow your mind. The reason less energy is used is because no heat is created by the elements on this stove. In fact, an electromagnet under the surface is fed small amounts of electricity, which it then induced into the metal of the pot or pan resting on the element, causing it to heat up. So the only heat generated for cooking comes from the pan itself. The best part is, very little heat escapes so less energy is required and the risk of burns from touching a hot stovetop is greatly reduced (as the heat from the pan dissipates quickly once it is removed).

3. Low-flow dishwasher. This appliance can not only save gallons on every load of dishes washed, if you opt for one with the energy-star rating, it will also cut down on electrical use, providing a savings on not one, but two utility bills. That’s one double-duty dishwasher.

4. Tankless water heater. This appliance is one that can benefit your entire home, including your kitchen. It functions differently than a regular water heater in that it does not keep a tank full of heated water on hand (needlessly wasting electricity). Instead, its elements heat water super fast and on demand so that you never heat more water than you need.

5. Aerated faucet. This isn’t exactly an appliance, but it can definitely help you cut down on your water consumption in the kitchen, especially if you rinse a lot of produce. It is a handy addition to your regular faucet that allows you to get the same pressure as taps of old while using only a fraction of the water, which is accomplished by adding air to the mixture.

Kyle Simpson is a writer for Nursing Scholarships where you can find jobs, scholarships, and nursing career descriptions.Similar Posts:

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Reuse Wood Pallets- Make A Wood Pallet House

Cathy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 01:53:32 +0000

Having done posts on reusing wood pallets and making money- since I cannot believe how many wood pallets are listed on craigslist and thrown in dumpsters!

Here is a new one- A Wood Pallet House made of course from wood pallets that are otherwise thrown away. This modular house is already being done in Europe as a solution to low income housing, because the cost runs about $11 USD a square foot. More info available at Homedecoorg.

Eco Friendly Pallet House Made With Recycled Wood Pallets

Schnetzer Andreas Claus and Pils Gregor designed this modular home

Other Ways To Reuse Wood Pallets

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