GreenHomeNYC: Ask an Expert Archives

Past questions and answers from our network of green building experts--with help from our friends at Building Green and Greenhomeguide. Please browse these archives before submitting a question -- your query might already have been addressed below!

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NYC contacts and resources: contractors, architects, sources, etc.
NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part I
NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part II
NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part III
Eco-friendly furniture cleaning in NYC
Green general contractors in NYC?
Getting started with a green renovation
Seeking reclaimed lumber in NYC

Building materials and products
NYC Green Products Database
Re-using kitchen cabinetry
Polyurethane vs. polystyrene core doors
Alternatives to plywood subflooring
Pre-finished green flooring, doors and molding
Sourcing recycled, PVC-free tile
Eco-friendly polyurethane alternatives
Replacement for vinyl upholstery
Eco-friendly casegoods
Custom patio door
Is my sink eco-friendly?
Seeking reclaimed lumber in NYC

Energy sources and efficiency
Why green power?
Thoughts on green power
Energy-efficient vacuum cleaners
Geothermal technology, and mold prevention
Improving fan coil efficiency
Insulation enhancement
Insulating steam pipes?
Solar power usage in NYC
Installing solar power in a brownstone
Energy efficiency in larger buildings

Policy, government, finances
LEED points for trees?
Feasibility study project
Incentives for green renovation
Incentives for building green
Why green power?
Funding a green roof

Other
Eco-friendly upholstered furniture
Number of green buildings in the US today
Apartment building tenants want to build a green roof
Seeking green interior designers
Overall sustainability of NYC
Health benefits of green building

Energy efficiency in larger buildings

Hi,

I am the editor of a newsletter for a Mitchell Lama Coop in the East Village. Since our energy costs skyrocketed last year, we are all interested in exploring what the complex can do to go green and maybe save some money. I will be writing an article and would like to give an example of a building that successfully made some changes towards going green. Could you suggest a building or architect I could contact?

Thanx so much,

Jill Cotter

Village East Towers

NYC

Jill,

There are a number of organizations who specialize in helping large buildings improve their energy efficiency. The Association for Energy Affordablity, Steven Winter Associates, and the Community Environmental Center are among them. GreenHome people work for the first two so I can recommend them with confidence. These organizations will help you through an energy audit, which can identify cost-effective options for cutting energy consumption, sometimes while improving indoor comfort. These organizations will also probably be able to speak with you for a minute about some of the other buildings they have worked on. Hope this helps and good luck with any work your building decides to take on.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Seeking reclaimed lumber

Greetings,

I'm seeking a small quantity of reclaimed lumber for a project. Anyone in the NYC metro area who supplies reclaimed wood?

Thanks for your thoughts. Bob

Bob,

Build-it-Green in Queens has an exchange network for salvaged and reclaimed building materials and they also stock some reclaimed materials. That's the best source I know of and they should be able to help you, though they probably will know of others if they can't.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Installing solar power in a brownstone

Hello,

We own a brownstone in Clinton Hill and are interested in installing solar panels but have no idea how to go about it or choose a product or contractor to do this. Do you have any good resources or organizations?

Thanks

Lai-Wan Wong

It's great that you are looking into this. I recently went to a lecture by Jeff Perlman of Bright Power Inc. so credit goes to him for much of this response.

First you're going to want to look at what type of solar system you want. The two main types are solar heating and Photovoltaic (PV, or the kind that makes electricity). Solar heating panels run a pipe through the panel and run water through the pipe. The water is heated by the sun as it passes through the panel and can be used to heat a building or provide hot water. You probably already have heating and hot water systems in your house and inthis climate, solar really works best for generating electricity. While PV panels are much more expensive, there are more government incentives for them. So you will probably want to go with PV.

Next step will be to hire a contractor to assess the potential for solar on your property. It's not worth the effort and expense if your panels won't get very much sun. You will most likely put the panels on your roof. Solar's potential is mostly dependent on shading and it varies over the year as the sun's angle and the amount of leaf cover changes. Most of the light you'll be getting will be coming from southerly directions. The shading analysis should give you an efficiency rating describing how much of the available sunlight is actually hitting the spot you want to put your panels. NY State incentives are only available for systems with 80% efficiency or more, so that's a good cutoff.

One side-note on shading is to be aware of what shade might be present in the future. Assuming you'll want to keep these panels for 25 years or so, look around at what might be growing or is being constructed nearby. Big bummer if someone builds a 12-story apartment tower just south of your brand new solar panels. Look for stuff currently under construction, or prime development lots (large vacant or underbuilt lots). You shouldn't have to worry about people building on developed properties like brownstones. You can also check with the Dept. of City Planning about whether the area around your house is zoned to allow taller buildings or not.

If you do get enough sun, you'll want to look into incentives. These include State and Federal tax credits, and direct NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) grants. A great resource for state incentives is the Database for State Renewable Energy Incentives. You can also visit www.nyserda.org or the USEPA and DOE websites. Your contractor will likely be familiar with these as well. Get to know these programs well so that you apply for them correctly and maximize their benefits.

Once you've got your panels, you'll be able to save on electricity bills. New York allows net metering on residential properties, so if you are so lucky as to generate more than you use, you can get credit on your bill for the energy you pump back in.

General tips are to get a good contractor, understand the financial aspects of the projects, plan the rebate applications well to ensure you make deadlines and have the necessary information, and apply for building permits early. Because these are still relatively uncommon projects, it may take longer than usual to get building permits.

Also, it may be a good idea to redo your roof if it's not in really good shape. The expected life-span of a PV system is at least 25 years and if you will require major roof work during that time, you'll have to dismantle the system. Combining roof work and PV installation also allows the PV installer access to structures within the roof that can be useful for anchoring the PV system.

As for specific contractors or systems, I don't know too much about it, but one person is Jeff Perlman of Bright Power, Inc. Another resource is Solar One, which is an organization that focuses on solar power and it's environmental benefits. They should be able to recommend specific contractors and vendors.

Hope this proves helpful (and not too daunting).

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Solar power usage in NYC

Can you direct me to any information on how individual buildings/co-ops/condos in NYC are using solar power? Does anyone have cells on their rooftops, etc? What is the feasibility of such an endeavor?

Please let me know ASAP...

Thanks

Chris Natale

Chris,

I don't have recent numbers but as of November 2005, there were 45 photovoltaic (PV) projects in the city generating 1.1 megawatts of power. The feasibility depends on many things, but the biggest one is area and shading. If you've got a decent amount of area to put the panels and that area receives a lot of direct sunlight, then solar will probably work pretty well.

Definitely have a professional solar installer do a proper shading analysis to determine how much sun you actually get and beware of possible new shade (e.g. growing trees or new buildings). Solar One is a good resource for more information on solar power in New York.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Health benefits of green building

Hello, I was wondering what some of the specific health concerns there are for buildings that are not created in the "green construction" fashion. What are some health benefits of green constructed buildings. Thanks, Liz

Liz,

This is a pretty basic question, but it's one that is often overlooked by advocates, who simply assume that green buildings must be better, so it's good that you ask.

Benefits to the actual inhabitants of green buildings generally come from improved indoor air quality, and enhanced lighting. Many buildings use materials with toxic components that slowly evaporate into rooms and interior spaces. Lead paint and asbestos are old-fashioned examples that are not used today, but are still present in many homes and businesses. Vinyl composite tile (VCT) flooring, or paints with volatile organic compounds are more contemporary examples. In poorly ventilated buildings, these substances can accumulate to concentrations that cause health problems over time such as asthma or cancer (a building won't give you cancer right away, or perhaps even by itself, but many of the substances used in building materials are carcinogenic - i.e. cancer-causing). This also applies to cleaning products with toxic chemicals used inside living spaces. Poorly ventilated spaces can also cause the accumulation of moisture and the growth of mold, which contributes to asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Good ventilation and climate control can also help reduce illness by eliminating drafts and areas within the home with drastic temperature changes. Good indoor air quality, combined with better lighting involving more natural sunlight, has been attributed to increased productivity and fewer sick days in office and industrial buildings.

Those are some benefits. The opposite, or "health concerns" as you referred to them are not always present in buildings that have not been intentionally built green. However, because much of green building is also about building well (e.g. properly designed and installed ventilation, good envelope sealing, etc), they will be concerns in poorly built structures. Additionally, in cities like New York there is a very strong link between energy consumption and health b/c of the concentration of people around energy production facilities and the presence of older coal-fired plants. The more energy we use, the more pollution is emitted, the more "bad-air" days we have where people need to go inside, etc. So the more energy efficient our buildings are, less energy is used, and the less pollution is emitted, the less bad-air days we have, which reduces health problems such as asthma. Buildings built on brownfield sites also help improve the health of communities by cleaning up a source of toxic substances in the neighborhood.

Hope you found this useful.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Funding a green roof

Hi,

I am a New York City public high school teacher. We are investigating installing a green roof system on our school roof with the help of graduate students at CUNY. Do you know if any of the state or local utilities might help fund this effort? We are having some trouble raising the money for the project.

Thank you!

Jessie Jenkins

Jessie,

That sounds like a great idea. I hope you are still pursuing it.

Unfortunately, utilities are not offering as many incentives for green roofs as for other things because they are not the most cost-effective way to achieve energy savings. However, the Bronx Borough President has a $2M revolving loan fund energy projects including green-roof projects in the Bronx. And of course I would check with Earthpledge’s GreenRoof Initiative or www.greeninggotham.org for more information on incentives or assistance. Earthpledge also offers grants for some green roof projects.

You may be able to find some funding programs through NYSERDA but I don’t believe they have any.

Some of the more pronounced benefits of green roofs come from stormwater management, because they help retain water during rain events and prevent it from entering the sewers all at once. So agencies or groups focused on wastewater treatment or watershed protection like NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection or NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water may also offer incentives.

Best of Luck,

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Is my sink eco-friendly?

Dear Green Expert,

I am rehabbing a kitchen and found a sink I really like that is made of 80 percent granite and 20 percent acrylic and resin. The material is called Silgranit and manufactued by Blanco. Are these eco-friendly materials? The manufacturer's website says very little on this issue so I'm dubious.

Thank you!

Brenda Fowler

Brenda,

Hello. I have not seen this product mentioned as a particularly "green" product, but at the same time I cannot find much that is objectionable about it. I couldn't find any info on their manufacturing processes, but here are the factors that one should consider and/or find out more about.

What goes into the product? It appears to be made of an acrylic binder and granite aggregate (i.e. small pieces or dust of granite held together with acrylic). Acrylic is not particularly toxic so I don't believe that should be a worry. They can probably use granite that is unsuitable for use in other applications b/c it's too small, is flawed, or is already pulverized so they may get their granite as a post-industrial waste product, which would be good. Don't be shy in asking a sales rep about where they get their materials. If they don't have an answer for you, that's their problem, but maybe they will, or would be willing to find out for you. The high degree of heat resistance indicates that the material may be heat treated, which would use a lot of energy, but probably not as much as a stainless steel sink. One thing I would make sure of is that you get a sink manufactured in their New Jersey facility (rather than Canada or Germany factories). This will help reduce the amount of energy used and pollution produced in getting it to your home.

How long will it last? This product sounds pretty durable but I've never used one (that I know of). Ask them how long the warranty is and when it might need to be replaced. Better to get something that uses slightly more resources, but lasts twice as long.

What will become of it when it's disposed of? Their website's claim about recyclable materials is not particularly convincing b/c while acrylic and granite may be recyclable, once you mix them together like that, they're hard to reuse again without a specialized recycling process. So unless they are taking the sinks back (which would be great if they are) the sink will either be reused or thrown away. How easy would it be to take out of the counter and salvage/reuse? If thrown away, it won't be toxic, but it will fill up a landfill, whereas a stainless steel sink will likely be recycled.

Hope this helps you choose a sink, or know more about your sink if you already chose it.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Overall sustainability of NYC

I apologize for the broadness of this question, but I was wondering about the overall sustainability of New York City. Does its population density comensate for the concentrated pollution? How does it compare in terms of energy consumption per capita to other cities? Rural areas?

Thank you.

Janelle

Janelle,

The short answer is a resounding YES! Most of the factors that contribute to environmental impact are lower in New York per capita than in less dense areas. New Yorkers drive less, and so use less energy and emit less pollution for transportation. NYC's transit usage is much higher (50%) than any other American City (25-31% for San Fran, Chicago, and Philly and 15% or less for others). Additionally, the share of commuters using automobiles is much lower, meaning more walkers and bikers. Jonathan Rose, a local green developer says that in some areas of the country, more energy is consumed traveling to and from a building than within the building. While I can't vouch for that in every circumstance, it's definitely important.

New Yorkers also live in smaller spaces, so they use less energy to heat, cool, and light them and less material to build and maintain them. The average home size in 2004 nation-wide was 2,300 square feet, while New York City's is likely close to half that (NYC Dept. of City Planning uses 1,000 square feet as a standard home size in multi-unit buildings). New Yorker's use an average of about 4,700 kWh/year of electricity in their homes, beating San Francisco (6,750), Chicago, (8,150), and other cities (over 10,000).

New Yorkers also live in less land area per capita, allowing for more land to remain unsettled. New York has 305 square miles not covered by water. If everyone in New York lived at the density of the State of New Jersey (not exactly apples-to-apples but it is the densest state) we'd cover 6,700 square miles (about 90% of NJ). Under more consistent suburban conditions we'd probably cover about 2,000 sqare miles, so we're living very efficiently. (To be fair, LA is actually denser than NYC, but we're up there. We'd probably win if you exclude Staten Island - which we would never do).

So per capita, we're definitely consuming less, and polluting less. However, we are concentrating our pollution so that the effects may be worse in specific areas within the city. While each of us causes fewer truck miles to be driven, they are mostly driven in a tight space in high proximity to people, leading to smog and illness. We have high rates of certain health problems like asthma b/c we are exposed to a higher amount of the pollution we do cause. Urban soil is generally more contaminated b/c there is and has been much more going on there. In fact some states have different standards for cleanliness of urban soils b/c background concentrations (i.e. the level you'd find almost anywhere) are higher for most contaminants.

So while we are living more sustainably and have a lower per-capita impact on many measures, we are directly exposed to more of the impact we do produce. It is one major reason cities have forged ahead where states (and certainly the Federal government) have stalled on sustainability planning and legislation. In NYC and other cities, sustainability issues have become community planning issues, and are being solved in novel and effective ways. In a way, we are taking responsibility for more of the negative impacts of modern life than other communities, and we can be proud of that.

Hope this answers your question.

Steven Lenard

GreenHomeNYC

Custom green patio door

Hi, This is a good resource! Where in the NYC region can we buy an FSC-certified, custom wood entryway? We love wood and want something dramatic and functional, but *green*. In priority order: Certified reclaimed lumber, Certified newly cut lumber. Recycled glass would be nice.

We'd like a BIG patio door too - same stipulations and decent R-value (U factor) too.

Thanks in advance. Mitch & Jan

Mitch+Jan,

I would say that the greenest wood products are recycled or salvaged and you can find some products like that at Build It Green in Queens.

If you want something new though, you can find local vendors of FSC certified wood from a guide the Rainforest Alliance put together.

Hope this helps, and good luck on your project.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Insulated steam pipes?

Hi -

I have been trying to get an answer to this for a while but to no avail.

In NYC many brownstones are heated with single-pipe steam heating. Often the apts are too hot and people open windows to cool them down. If, instead of opening the window, I put insulation on the heating pipes, does the steam heater output less heat and consequently use less oil?

David

David,

This is a great question.

The answer is, ‘Yes, but not much.’ You are right to think that insulating those pipes will make the system more efficient, leading to lower fuel consumption, and it will cool down your apartment. However, the amount of energy saved will depend on the amount of heat lost from the pipes you are insulating and therefore how much heat you are saving by insulating them. The amount of heat saved depends on the amount of surface area insulated. Radiators are designed to lose a lot of heat; that’s how they heat up rooms. So they give off a lot more heat than the pipe you’d be insulating and the total effect of insulating the pipe will be small compared to the amount of energy used by the whole system. So if it’s not a great effort, definitely go ahead and insulate those pipes. They will save you energy and cool your apartment down a little, but it’s not necessarily worth a whole lot of effort or expense.

A better idea is to turn off some (or maybe even all) of your radiators. There should be a valve on the pipe leading into the radiator and if you close that valve, steam will stop flowing to the radiator and will instead flow past to other radiators in the building. In this way, you will keep all the heat the radiator would have given off (and the radiator is much better at giving off heat than the pipes) in the system. I have three radiators in my 1BR apt and three hot water pipes that pass through to other apts. Up until this cold snap, I had only one radiator on and relied on the hot water pipes to heat up certain spaces in the apartment. The apartment was still nice and warm, but not so warm I couldn’t sleep at night. Even after it got cold I’ve only turned on one other radiator, and it was more for my cat than myself as I was still fairly comfortable. One note about this though, is to make sure you turn the valve all the way off, or all the way on again if necessary. A half closed valve may cause a bottleneck above which water returning from the radiator can collect. This can trap steam in the radiator. The steam will build up pressure until it pushes through the water, causing the clanging sound you hear in older steam heat systems. Hope this is useful. Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Eco-friendly casegoods

Hello,

I am currently selecting furniture for a non-profit organization (I am with an Allsteel dealership) and was wondering if you might assist me in finding environmentally friendly casegoods and seating? Thank you in advance! Elisa Borgatti

Elisa,

A good place to start are product databases including the following:

BuildItGreen NYC which is a C+D waste exchange. Included in C+D waste is furniture. You may be able to find perfectly good office furniture that is being thrown out with a change in tenants.

GreenHomeGuide. This is a directory of green products that includes many furniture makers.

There is also MadeinNYC.com which is a directory of local manufacturers including some furniture makers. It's not focused on environmental aspects per se though they will all be locally produced.

Good luck!

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Why green power?

Hello, have been considering switching to a green supplier of electricity for about a year or so, however the fact that it is slightly higher than what I'm paying for traditional electricity, is a major deterrent.

It was with great interest that I read Anne-Lise Breuning's testimonial regarding her experience with switching, and wondered how satisfied she was with the switch some 2 years later. I would be interested to read an update or to be able to hear from other consumers who have made such a switch, before taking the plunge.

Although, I have to agree with her father who responded "Those bastards! Charging you more for green power, just goes straight in their pockets. They should be charging more for traditional power," when she advised that she had made this switch. Why would anyone rationally switch given these circumstances? While altruistic motives might suffice for some, it certainly won't encourage the masses to do so, which is what is required to really make a difference in the adverse effects of traditional energy consumption.

I therefore have to conclude that the utilities are less interested in improving the environment than they are in maintaining their exclusive ability to profit from whatever choices consumers ultimately make.

Jill Lanier
Chris

Jill,

You have asked about a really great topic that I'm glad we now get to talk about. Green power is a way for anyone who pays an electric bill to directly impact future energy development and help phase out more harmful energy production technologies.

As it is currently set up in New York, most residents can buy green power from 4-6 different providers (Energy Service Companies - ESCOs) with different packages that provide power from different sources, such as wind or hydropower. The ESCOs supply whatever green power you buy from them to the electricity grid. ConEd delivers power from that grid to your house or building, handles your account, and provides customer service. If you buy green power from an ESCO, the transaction is handled through ConEd and shows up on your ConEd bill. There is absolutely no effort required on your part after the initial sign up and you will still be a ConEd Customer, but you can be assured that the green power you buy is actually being produced and is displacing dirtier power that has made up the majority of supply so far.

According to another person who recently signed up with ConEd Solutions, signing up only takes a few minutes by phone. I just did it a few minutes ago over the web and it took about 5 minutes (yes I should have done it a long time ago, but at least I'm on board now). A quick tip here is that prices are a bit cheaper on the web than over the phone. For a 3 bedroom apartment, it should range from just a few pennies more per month, to about $5-10 per month more depending on the package. Some of this cost is defrayed right now by a New York State rebate of $25 sent out after three months in the program.

You can think of the extra money as paying for the green attributes of energy rather than just paying more for the same energy. Just as you might pay more for an ultraquiet air conditioner because the negative impact of a noisier model is absent, at this stage of our energy infrastructure development, we're paying more for energy that lacks the negative impact of belching smokestacks, acid rain, and asthma.

You can find out more at 1-800-GRN-POWR or at http://www.poweryourway.com/pages/green.html#suppliers.

As to your conclusion that utilities care more about profit than the environment, you may be right but I think it's sort of beside the point. I think the profit motive of businesses is more a fact of life that we should learn live with rather than a sore point we should begrudge. Putting money where our mouths are to support green power leverages that profit motive for environmental interests. While I would like to think it would be a better world if everyone had the utmost respect for the natural environment, I think that is either an unrealistic, or a very long term goal. But we can, in the short term, work toward real environmental change with people who have disparate interests by aligning their various incentives toward common goals.

I hope you find this useful.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Getting started with a green renovation

Hello, I want to take my residential home green. I need info on local suppliers or contractors that can help me do that. I live on Staten Island, 10310. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Chris

Chris,

It's great that you're taking this step. I don't know where you're starting from, but you can visit our website for suggestions of simple changes to help green your home . I also don't know if you have any ideas on what types of green projects you'd like to accomplish. This would depend on your preferences and on how much you care about different environmental issues.

For more involved projects, here are a few places to get you started.

CONTRACTORS
Giancola Contracting - builds Energy star homes. I don't know if they do renovations, but it's worth giving them a call.
Threadcollective They do environmentally friendly design work, but aren't the people to call if you just want to install new equipment or windows or such.
NYSERDA - you should definitely visit their website to see about financial incentives for the kind of work it sounds like you want to do. (Residential incentives are here.
NESEA Sustainable Yellow pages - The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association has a directory of environmentally friendly suppliers and contractors.
GreenHomeGuide directory - Also has a searchable directory of green architects, contractors, and designers.

SUPPLIERS
Build-it-green - 3-17 26th Ave. at the corner of 4th St., Astoria, Queens
Serves as an exchange for reused construction materials. Also has green construction materials.
Eco Depot - 901 E 134th St. Bronx, NY 10454
Has all manner of green construction materials
3R Living - 276L Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn
Has all manner of green cleaning products and household items.
Go Green, Inc. - 485 Atlantic Ave, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
Has green cleaning products and some interior finish materials.

Hope this helps,

Steven

Eco-friendly furniture cleaning

Hello, Do you know of any places that do organic/eco-friendly upholstery furniture cleaning in New York city?
Thanks,
Elaine

Elaine,

I personally have hardwood floors and garage-sale furniture so I haven't really been in the market for furniture cleaners (though I'm looking forward to a point where I am). However, here are some places that advertise as using environmentally friendly non-toxic products.

Servicecenter of New York: 888-742-5784
Master Carpet Cleaner: 800-887-3177
York Carpet: 800-310-4640

Since the term environmentally friendly is bandied about a lot, you can ask them about what types of products they use. Key points (from the Big Green Apple Guide) are

- Non-toxic: By federal law, products cannot be marketed as non-toxic unless they meet certain standards.

- Plant-based: Choose companies that use plant-based products over petroleum-based detergents.

- Avoid VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds are often found in cleaning products as solvents or scents. These will evaporate (hence the term "volatile") in your home and remain in the air you breathe. Most are not very harmful, but some are and it's best to avoid them.

- Biodegradable: Biodegradable products will break down into naturally occuring compounds when rinsed down the drain and sent into the nearest waterbody.

- Avoid Phosphates: These compounds are natural fertilizers and when added to wastewater, cause algea to grow, which decreases oxygen levels and kills fish (eutrophication).

So call them up and ask them what types of detergents and cleaners they use. You may not be able to find one that meets all these criteria, but the more the better. I actually called a few of these places myself. It being Saturday, I was not able to get an answer, but they were very willing to discuss it. They advertise as being environmentally friendly so they should be able to back up this claim. They are also going to be using these products in your home so you have a right to know what's in them and where they came from.

Good luck.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Eco-friendly upholstered furniture

I am looking for upholstered furniture vendors that make eco-friendly products.
Thanks,
Charles Moran

Charles,

For this answer I went to the GreenHomeGuide, which has a great directory of furniture vendors that all comply to some standard to sustainable production. Below is a link to a quick one-page article with information on what eco-friendly means in relation to furniture. Then two vendors in the northeast that had carry upholstered lines. GreenHomeGuide has a product directory and these two were a small sample of the furniture companies on the site so I encourage you to log on and check out the rest of them. It's at.

http://www.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/entry/638/C221

Q Collection
915 Broadway
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-529-1400
Fax: 212-529-1499

Furnature
86 Coolidge Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Toll-free: 800-326-4895

NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part I

I'd like to learn more about how to convert my Cape Cod into a green house. Please recommend resources and contacts in NYC.

Celeste Beatty

Celeste,

Good for you! It's great to see you putting effort into greening your home. I'm going to give you a bunch of resources and links and a little bit of basic strategy. Feel free to write back and let us know how the project goes.

In terms of strategy and I think you should concentrate on the parts of your house that consume things and try to reduce that consumption. You shouldn't spend time and money replacing components with green materials if they are just sitting there being useful. If they have already been manufactured, transported and installed, whatever damage is involved has already been done and the best thing to do is let them live out their useful life. If you are thinking about remodelling anyway, or things need to be replaced anyway, then think about replacing them with green materials. Otherwise, leave things alone till they break.

The exception to this is indoor air quality. You may wish to replace indoor finishes that are off-gassing VOCs or contain lead paint or other hazardous materials as a way to improve your indoor air quality. While this will involve an environmental cost in production and installation of the new finishes, it will be worth it if you can significantly improve the more local environment in which you live.

In terms of consumables, there are lots of parts of your home that are consuming energy and/or water and replacing those with more efficient models can have significant environmental benefits. Start with the small stuff like replacing incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent ones (and if I may suggest not to scrimp on these. The cheap no-name brands can produce absolutely ghastly light, but the full-price models are lighting my way though this letter and look great.) Then move on to appliances, replacing especially old models with newer, more energy efficient models. Generally look for the Energy Star label (certified energy efficient) for these, or compare energy use directly. Most appliances have labels with energy consumption figures. When replacing working appliances, think about the energy gains through increased efficiency that are accrued throughout the life of the unit balanced against the costs of producing the unit. Small gains in efficiency from replacing a 2000 model may not be worth it, though my mom should definitely replace the rounded-door 1960-vintage fridge in the garage (but never will).

Next you can go for more significant improvements in larger systems such as your heating, hot water, or AC systems. By systems I mean also the plumbing, venting, and insulation of your house, improvements to which may have a greater effect than replacing a heater or boiler. I don't know enough to say any more except to get a good contractor. Check out the Greenhomeguide, which lists area contractors, architects, and products. You can also find more information at the below links.
Department of Energy Sustainable Communities Network: General principles
Rocky Mountain Institute Home Resource Efficiency Info: General Principles
Energy Star Program Website: Energy Star Program information
New York State Energy Reserch and Development Authority: Incentive Grant and Rebate information

DOE Federal Taxbreaks information

NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part II

I am looking for a list of contractors and architects who specialize in sustainable building/renovation/demolition in Manhattan or NYC generally. Do you all maintain such a list or know somebody who does?
Thanks for the great work,
Shannon

Shannon,

We do actually know who maintains a list like this. Greenhomeguide maintains a directory of GCs, designers, and architects who specialize in green design in New York. There aren't too many in NYC listed there, but it will give you a start. You can also go to the US Green Building Council's New York Chapter website (off of www.usgbc.org) and cross-check the membership against professionals you may know. Chances are they at least care about green design and will be willing to work with you if they aren't especially knowledgeable.

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Sustainable Yellow pages is also a place to find New York Area sustaianble architects and design professionals.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

NYC metro area resources and contacts, Part III

Hello,
My husband and I want to buy and renovate a home in NJ and we want to incorporate as many green/sustainable elements as possible. Are there any architects that you can recommend in the New York/New Jersey area that specialize in green building?
Thanks for your advice,
Amy

Amy,

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association maintains a Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's Sustainable Yellow pages, which has a number of architects and building professionals with green experience in New Jersey. There is Greenhomeguide, which maintains a directory of GCs, designers, and architects who specialize in green design, mostly in New York and California. You can also go to the US Green Building Council's New York and New Jersey Chapters websites (off of www.usgbc.org) and cross-check the membership against professionals you may know or give them a call and ask them for references. Chances are they at least care about green design and will be willing to work with you if they aren't especially knowledgeable.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

LEED points for trees?

Does LEED give points for planting or preserving trees?
Julie Lubin

Julie,

LEED NC does not give a credit for planting or preserving trees per se, but Sustainable Site Credit 5.1 gives a credit for preserving or replanting native vegetation, which in many places includes trees. There are also several other Sustainable Sites credits that require planting of vegetation for open space or stormwater control. LEED is also developing a LEED - Neighborhood Development standard for community planning which may include something about trees, but that's just pure conjecture. Hope this helps.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Thoughts on green power

I have been considering switching to a green supplier of electricity for about a year or so, however the fact that it is slightly higher than what I'm paying for traditional electricity, is a major deterrent.

It was with great interest that I read Anne-Lise Breuning's testimonial regarding her experience with switching, and wondered how satisfied she was with the switch some 2 years later. I would be interested to read an update or to be able to hear from other consumers who have made such a switch, before taking the plunge.

Although, I have to agree with her father who responded "Those bastards! Charging you more for green power, just goes straight in their pockets. They should be charging more for traditional power," when she advised that she had made this switch. Why would anyone rationally switch given these circumstances? While altruistic motives might suffice for some, it certainly won't encourage the masses to do so, which is what is required to really make a difference in the adverse effects of traditional energy consumption.

I therefore have to conclude that the utilities are less interested in improving the environment than they are in maintaining their exclusive ability to profit from whatever choices consumers ultimately make.

Jill Lanier

NYC residents can purchase green power through 4-6 different green energy providers, therefore, you can choose the green package you like. In other words, different companies provide green energy from different sources and charge different prices. Con Edison, the utility, is not a provider of green energy, however, if you choose to buy green energy from an Energy Service Company (ESCO) that provides green power (i.e. Con Edison Solutions), the charge of the green power will appear on your electricity bill from Con Edison.

It is important to note that when you buy green power, you are not actually buying the power--you can't control where the electrons powering your apartment come from. You are buying the green attributes, the green benefits. Therefore, you are paying for electricity plus the green attributes. To many, those attributes (offsetting dirtier power plant emissions and promoting the alternative energy industries) is worth the extra cost.

Hope this helps. For more information go to the Con Edison website. There was also an insert in your last Con Edison bill.

Ariella Rosenberg

Green general contractors in NYC

Is there a listing of New York City contractors that specialize in using green materials and methods in kitchen and bath renovations?

Hello,

To answer your question, I don't know of any listing of green contractors. However one thing you may want to do is check prospective contractors against membership lists on the websites of local green organizations. The names you find there will be of people who at least care about green materials and methods and likely are well versed in them. For starters, try our website and the US Green Building Council's New York Chapter. Their membership list is at http://www.usgbc.org/chapters/newyork/members.asp

Good luck!

Alternatives to plywood subflooring

Hello:
I am looking for an alternative to plywood as a subflooring material since plywood contains formaldyhyde.
Could you please give me suggestions?
Thank you!
Brenda Iijima

Brenda,

That’s a great question. The easiest way to reduce formaldehyde emissions from subflooring is to use exterior-grade plywood instead of interior-grade. The waterproof glues used in exterior materials contain phenol-formaldehyde rather than urea-formaldehyde. While this is still formaldehyde, these products emit (according to one source) 10-20 times less formaldehyde than those used in interior grade plywood or particleboard. This may cost a bit more, however.

There are several other options as well including:

Cork made with polyurethane-based or non-phenolic binder
Strawboard (made from pressed straw) using non-formaldehyde resins
Cementboard (concrete core with fiberglass facing). This is more expensive than other options and is used primarily when floor height or moisture are concerns.

Re-using kitchen cabinetry

Hello,
I am a kitchen and bath designer primarily focused on renovations.
Often, the kitchen cabinetry being replaced are in decent condition but just not the owner's taste -- this cabinetry is just thrown in the dump. Is there an organization who may be able to re-use or re-sell kitchen cabinetry?
Thanks for your help.
G. Watanabe

This is another great question. Thanks for asking! There are a number of organizations in New York that facilitate reuse of construction materials. Wastematch is a website that includes listings of available materials and people who want different materials. You can post that cabinetry will be available at a certain time in a certain neighborhood for free or for a price. People can also post that they need kitchen cabinetry and you could contact them and set up an exchange. I just checked and there is a listing for “1950s metal kitchen cabinets” on there right now.

There is also an organization called the Green Worker’s Collaborative based in the south Bronx, which is advocating for the creation of a recycling industrial park in Hunt’s Point. The idea would be to create a central location for a materials exchange so that people could drop materials off and not have to coordinate with people who want their stuff.

I might personally suggest that you try to form relationships with some of the used furniture stores in areas you work. I see lots of places that sell used furniture, and while cabinetry is a bit more complicated a sale for them, if the material is in good shape, you may find a seller who is willing to stock some of the choicer pieces.

If you find anything else in your travels, please let us know about it so we can spread the word! These types of architectural materials exchanges are popping up all over the country (especially in places that require sorting and recycling of C+D waste) and the main ingredient they need for success if volume. Thanks again for the great question and good luck.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Polyurethane vs. polystyrene core doors

What's the difference between a polyurethane core door and a polystyrene core door? Fire rating? Insulation?
Ann Somerville

Ann,

Polyurethane is generally a better insulator (higher R-value with less material). I don't think there is much difference in the fire resistance of the two materials and the construction of the door itself would likely have more impact on fire rating that which insulation you chose. However, polyurethane manufacture produces HCFCs which harm the ozone layer while polystyrene manufacture does not. Those are the main differences that I am aware of. Hope this helps.

Steven Lenard GreenHomeNYC

Incentives for green renovation

I am on the verge of buying a multi-use building in Brooklyn that has a storefront on ground floor and 2 apts. above that needs a total gut renovation. I’d like to do the renovation using green design principles, materials etc. and am looking for both guidance as well as information re: whether the city offers any low-interest loans, grants, or tax rebates for me to do this work. I think I have an architect but may also need contractors as well as a good building inspector. Any referrals you can provide for people familiar with such projects using a LOW budget (ideally under $50,000) are much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Wylie Goodman

Wylie,

Thanks for contacting us and apologies for the delay in responding to your inquiry. This sounds like a great project and there are definately a lot of green options in terms of materials and appliances. In general, you can minimize the environmental impact of the project by minimizing the production of waste material and the acquisition of new materials for the project. This can be done by trying to do the following:

1. Reusing as much of the existing structure as possible. This may involve restoring interior finishes instead of replacing them, or removing them carefully so they can be used in other places within the project.

2. Recycle as much of the waste as possible and use as much recycled material as possible. It is not possible to do this without producing some waste and consuming some new materials. Look for ways to make the waste material avaiable for reuse on other projects and for ways to acquire materials that came from other projects in the City. There are many organizations that help people find previously used materials for use in projects such as Wastematch and the Green Worker's Cooperative in the Bronx. Pre-used materials such as pre-war doors, details, and fixturescan have a unique charm that may bring value and style to the project in addition to being environmentally beneficial. Appliances are probably the only thing that might be better to use new because today's generation of appliances and mechanical systems are generally more energy efficient and will save more energy over their lifetime than their manufacture uses.

3. If you must use newly manufactured materials (and for some things you certainly will), look for materials that are made with an eye toward the environmental impact of their manufacture and use. Use materials that minimize use of toxic materials, that are built to last so that they will not have to be replaced soon, that are made from renewable resources such as fast-growing trees or recycled materials. Use materials and ap