Bay Area Green Building Blog

Water makes the headlines

Today's headlines warn us that California's "drought" is not over.  Can a few  days of  rain really give that impression? Boy. talk about running a deficit... our use is increasing and our supply is not. And we have an aging infrastructure facilitating our water's distribution; a system that was designed when California had about a third of the population it has today. The Sierra snow pack we historically rely on as a water source is being compromised by climate changes. (Though some lawmakers question that). Then consider the delicate issues involving our state's ecosystem. Issues that are at the center of possible supply solutions, like desalination of ocean waters. It's enough to make your head spin.

But it reinforces the urgency of doing all we can as individuals, groups, households, and businesses, to master the art of water conservation and recycling/reuse. Not only is it common sense, it's easy and cost-effective.

And consider this: there are several  consumer credits available in California counties that will reward you for conserving. For example, A qualifying  high efficiency clothes washer can put $400 in your pocket. More efficient toilets can garner $200. Never has it made more sense to incorporate water conservation into your daily routine. Collectively, it can make a big difference.

The California Urban Water Conservation Council is a great resource for water conservation ideas, statistics, legislation news, and consumer credit information:

http://www.cuwcc.com/

Small steps to green your home

 

Going green around the home can mean many things, from simple fixes to bigger, costlier items. But there are green solutions for every budget. Remember, the goal is to conserve resources, thereby saving you money.

Small steps can include things like:

• Caulking your windows & doors
• Adding or "tuning up" your weather stripping
• Wrapping your water heater with a blanket
• Insulate accessible plumbing pipes around your house
• Use curtains during the day to eliminate solar heat gain
• Replace shower heads with lower flow fixtures
• Choose low-VOC paint (Kelly-Moore is a local company and they make a great line of "green" products)
• clean or replace air filters
• Replace light bulbs with lower wattage compact-fluorescent bulbs

All of these little things can add up to real savings; both in energy and money. Have questions? Feel free to give us a call: (415) 285-6930. We've been green for a long time and love to guide folks toward their own green solutions.  

CA adopts the country's "greenest" building codes

On January 12th, 2010, a state commission in Sacramento voted unanimously to approve the most environmentally-friendly building codes in the Country. While some may think this will have an impact on building costs and red tape, in our mind, the opposite is true. Instead, it sets a precedent for employing standardized, common-sense practices that can save property owners money and add value long term. In fact, the code was supported by a range of building and real estate associations, as well as the California State Chamber of Commerce.

The new code has been dubbed "Calgreen, slated to take effect in January, 2011. Under the code, builders will be  required to:

install more efficient plumbing that cuts indoor water usage

recycle a minimum 50% of construction waste

Use low-pollutant paints and floor coverings to improve indoor air quality

separate water meters in commercial buildings for specific uses

perform efficiency inspections on residential & commercial energy systems

uphold green codes instituted by local cities

This  comes after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar code legislation in 2007, not because he opposed the idea, but because he felt the commission, not lawmakers, should draft the legislation.

Remodeling: Hard & Soft Costs

 
For any homeowner thinking about a remodel, it's essential to prepare a preliminary budget. But that isn't the end of the story. Of course, the purpose of creating a budget is to both understand and control costs. But,it's even more important to understand the nature of the beast. In any remodel or building project there are 2 general categories of costs to consider;  the hard and soft costs associated with your project. Understanding the difference is key:

 Hard costs include the fundamental materials and labor involved in building. The  nuts and bolts structural work as well as work needed to improve the site per City or County codes. We'll given you some examples of  hard costs here:

1) Building costs: Cost of construction as it relates to the structure

2) Site improvements: on- site work such as grading, sidewalks, drainage, etc.

3) Landscaping: most cities require a landscape plan

4) Contingencies: This is an amount budgeted in a construction loan to pay unanticipated costs incurred during construction. Think of it as a project "slush fund" that allows you some wiggle room. The amount typically ranges from 5-10% of total cost for new construction and 10-20% for remodel work.

5) Change Orders: When changes to the scope of work are implemented upon agreement by the architect, homeowner and contractor or subcontractors. A Change Order is work that is added to or deleted from the original scope of work of a contract, which can alter the original contract amount or completion date. They are the #1 reason for taking a project off budget and avoiding them is important. How? The best way is to work with an experienced architect and general contractor with a team in place  to manage the project.

 Other common causes for change orders are:

- The project's work was incorrectly  or "vaguely" estimated
- The customer or project team discovers obstacles or possible efficiencies that require them to deviate from the original plan.
- The  project team is inefficient or incapable of completing required deliverables within budget, and additional money, time, or resources must be added to the project. This is common when hiring one-man contractors. They just don't have the bandwidth to manage all the details of a project. This ends up costing money.

Soft Costs are slightly more flexible items including the costs associated with your design work, the finishes chosen, appliances,  and the like. These costs also include permits and fees, which can change, off-site improvements like sidewalks & traffic lights, and equipment such as security systems, sound systems, etc.

There is always a cost range which correlates with the  products and materials you choose. Knowing the hard costs and then budgeting for soft costs will help you understand the feasibility of your ideas and allow you to identify your project's priorities, recognize trade-offs, and revise your estimates.

Green design defined

Lots of folks have questions about the concept of "Green", especially as it relates to their homes.  Here's a quick overview. It's really a simple concept. The U.S. Green Building Council defines Green Building Design as:

Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:

1) Sustainable (enduring) building site planning

2) Safeguarding water and water efficiency

3) Energy efficiency & renewable energy

4) Conservation of materials & resources

5) Indoor environmental/air quality

Designing & building Green simply involves utilizing systems, products, and practices to accommodate the 5 areas above. Low flow toilets, drought resistant landscaping, use of recycled wood, steel, concrete, and other materials, dual pane windows; these are just a few examples. There's a common perception that using Green materials or purchasing Greener appliances is always more expensive. This is not necessarily so. Many products can be less expensive, or cost more at the outset but pay for themselves quickly over time based on the efficiencies they create. And of course, every home and home owner is different. There are many options in the marketplace these days, and more innovation happening all the time. Many that can save you lots of money and resources. So if you're considering any type of home improvements, it's important to work with a designer, architect, and contractor that can  answer your questions about Green options.

S.F. Mayor Newsom signs green building legislation - San Francisco Business Times:

S.F. Mayor Newsom signs green building legislation - San Francisco Business Times:.

The Bay Area Green Building Blog!

Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders in San Francisco, CA has been practicing sustainable and environmentally ethical building since its inception in 1986; long before the term "Green Building" was widely used. We've always been a leader in the local Green Building movement and we are actively committed to increasing public awareness about sustainable and environmentally conscious building practices. Our offices at 355 11th Street in the SOMA district of San Francisco has a  LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Included in our standard practices are:

• hire demolition companies that provide recycling and salvaging receipts for at least 75% of waste
• recycling job site construction materials and waste
• promote Green product options in all our projects
• use engineered lumber where possible
• source as much FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) lumber as possible
• work to influence local lumber suppliers to carry more FSC material in their warehouses
• support Green education initiatives for our employees
• educate our project teams about sustainable technologies and products and techniques
• educate our clients and potential clients about appropriate Green options in the marketplace 
• ask all project managers to use our company Natural Gas Vehicles for jobsite visits

We believe that sustainable building technologies and materials allow us to deliver greater value for our clients without compromising quality. The purpose of this blog is to share our knowledge with you. We hope you'll join us in our commitment to living and building Green.

To learn more about Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders visit: www.matpelbuilders.com

 Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders Offices, LEED Gold