Congressman Hodes NH Clean Economy Expo

Bonin Architects & Associates is proud to be participating in the Clean Economy Expo to be held Monday, August 24th in Concord, NH. Clean energy businesses from all over the state will be on hand to demonstrate how they are creating New Hampshire jobs and helping produce clean, local energy.

The Clean Economy Expo is sponsored by Congressman Paul Hodes, and cosponsored by the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and Repower America.

Federal, State, and Regional leaders will be available to discuss current initiatives and opportunities.

NH Clean Economy Expo
Monday, August 24, 2009
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
IBEW Hall,
48 Airport Road,
Concord, NH 03301

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Structural Insulated Panels in a Green Home

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are helping homeowners cut their heating bills in half.

SIP panels, sometimes known as stress skin panels, are made of an insulating foam core with OSB (oriented strand board) bonded to either side. There are three types of foam cores – EPS (expanded polystyrene), XPS (extruded polystyrene), and urethane (either polyisocyanurate or polyurethane), ranging in R-Values from 13 to 40 (R-value refers to a materials ability to resist transferring heat), far above conventional wall construction with fiberglass or cellulose insulation.

Panels are typically installed vertically on the home walls. Panel connections are fastened with splines or cams and then expanding foam insulation is sprayed directly into the remaining space, sealing the connection and creating a continuous thermal insulating wall for the home. (In a timber frame or post and beam home, the panels are wrapped around the exterior of the timber frame.)

Panel wall R-Values differ according to insulation type and thickness, but all are superior when compared to conventional construction. Walls made of 2x material with fiberglass or cellulose insulation have a reduction in R-Value at every stud, but panel walls form a continuous thermal envelope with no reduction in R-Values. This means increased energy efficiency, lower heating and cooling costs and a drastic reduction in drafts in the home.

If reducing your energy costs by close to 50% isn’t enough, SIPs provide other benefits; a healthy living environment, reduced construction site waste, design flexibility, fast installation and reduced labor costs, a finish-ready exterior and superior strength to meet wind and snow loads.

For an estimate on building a green home with structural insulated panels, give us a call or send an email describing your project.

Source: http://timberframeblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/structural-insulated-panels-in-green.html

Green Floor Finishes

Because of the harmful side effects of solvent-based interior stains and finishes, manufacturers have dramatically reduced the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) their products offgas over the past several years. As a result, there are now quite a few water-based solvents available, qualifying for LEED points in the EQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings category.

If you are building a new home and are looking for a green interior floor finish, here are a couple of products available. These have low VOC levels, are made from natural materials, are biodegradable, and are exceptionally durable.

BioShield Paint has floor oils and sealants that are solvent-free and low-VOC, low odor.

High Solid Floor Oil: solvent-free finish

• Protective wood-enhancing finish, dries to a satin-matte sheen
• Resists staining from water, milk, juice, beer, and wine within a certain time frame
• Made with linseed oil, tung oil, linseed stand oil, silicic acid, beeswax, candelilla wax, lead-free dryer
  

Hard Oil #9: low-VOC, low-odor hard oil

• Breathable and elastic coating with superior water-resistant characteristics
• Deeply penetrating finish for high-moisture and high-traffic areas
• Suitable for hardwood and softwood floors
• Made with linseed oil, tung oil, colophonium resin, castor stand oil, isoaliphatics, lead-free dryers, and oximes

Source: http://timberframeblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/green-floor-finishes.html