Bay Area Green Building Blog

Restaurant project progressing in our building

Bar Agricole under construction.

Lots of noise downstairs these days at the Matarozzi/Pelsinger Building! Thad Volger  http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-02-22/food/17190099_1_hotel-bars-bar-manager-drink will be debuting his latest concept, Bar Agricole, right in our building. Designed by Aidlin-Darling Architects, construction is slated to be completed in late spring. The space is vying for LEED Platinum certification. The building itslef at 355 11th Street, which we completely renovated, earned LEED Gold certification and was the site in which Mayor Newsom signed the San Francisco Green Building ordinance into law in August, 2008. http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/09/17/matarozzi-pelsinger-office-by-aidlin-darling-design/

The outdoor courtyard will add to the projects appeal, breathing even more life into the block known for its music & club-goers (Slim's, DNA Lounge, and the Paradise Lounge are all neighbors). We're looking forward to the finished product!

Read the latest on this project here: http://www.tablehopper.com/hardhat/bar-agricole/

going green in the kitchen: countertops

Considering a kitchen remodel?  Perhaps you should also be thinking about eco-friendly materials Since your kitchen can make a big impression, design and asthetic means a lot. And longevity of materials is a huge plus in a room that gets so much use. So let's talk counters.

One of the most popular green building materials for kitchen counters is recycled glass. It's a fantastic look. Ice Stone countertops are made from recycled glass and concrete. Ice Stone surfaces have similar durability to quarried stone, while reducing waste and CO2 emissions. Have a look at www.icestone.biz.



ice stone

 
Bamboo can provide an excellent alternative to hardwood countertops. This  beautiful, all-purpose material can be half the cost of many other countertops, too. It's durable and and completely renewable. A good resource for bamboo countertops is: www.teragren.com.

Bamboo counters 

Another material to consider is reclaimed wood. This is great for the environment. Recycled paper compressed into a solid block then covered in a natural resin is another green strategy for counters. It incorporates paper and reclaimed wood.

Check it out at: www.paperstoneproducts.com.

Reclaimed Wood
  

Recycled aluminum is another great option. Companies that produce these countertops use 90% recycled aluminum. Some companies even use recycled abrasives and recirculated water to finish the production of their countertops. The best thing is, these materials can be recycled should you ever want to remove or replace them.  How green can you get?!

Recycled Aluminum  

Painting "green"

Conventional paint contains many harmful chemicals that emit gases into the air, which can have health consequences for people as well as the planet! The gases emitted are called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOC's, which are a class of carbon-based chemicals that have the capacity to evaporate at room temperature. VOC's are responsible for the smells associated with new paint and can cause headaches and other symptoms in many people.

"Green" paints are those that contain less of these chemicals and heavy metals (petrochemicals, solvents, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, biocides, and cadmium), while still providing high performance. You can choose paints that are low-VOC, zero-VOC, recycled, or natural, which can be made of plant-based materials. 

"Green" paints are comparable in cost to conventional mid-to-high quality paint. Recycled paint can be less expensive, costing about $10 or less per gallon. It's durability, however, can be a little lacking. With paint, as with many things, you get what you pay for. Look for formulas with a high solids content, and remember that a more durable paint can cost a bit more at first, but the longer wear will save you maintenance costs in the long run.

There are several manufacturers of "Green" paints, including some of the traditional, national brands like Benjamin Moore's Natura line, www.benjaminmoore.com, and Kelly Moore's Enviro-Coat, Green Coat, and eCoat lines, www.kellymoore.com.

Here are some additional paint product lines you may be interested in:

http://www.greenplanetpaints.com

http://yolocolorhouse.com

http://www.mythicpaint.com 

http://www.ecospaints.com

http://www.earthpaint.net