Green Forum -- June 20

FOR FRIENDS OF SUSTAINABLE NOVATO

Novatans will be interested in this large residential builder-to-builder green building forum June 20 in San Francisco as well as West Coast Green coming September 28-30.
That residential green building is now legitimized as mainstream and accepted by growing segments of the design and construction community underscores the wisdom of Novato's city government in getting there first last September with our mandatory "green points" system that ratifies the growing homebuilders' consensus.
Sustainable Novato hopes that this consensus will spur Novato's city staff and planning commission to set up an effective process to draft a commercial and municipal (government) section for the Novato ordinance, an effort that, we understand, has already begun.
We hope also that Novato city officials will be the first to raise green building possibilities with the designers and constructors of the new Safeway mega-store in Ignacio as well as continuing to press Whole Foods and Lalanne developers for all possible green building elements in its downtown mixed-used project.
As previously recommended, Incorporation of green building energy, design, materials and lighting standards in the city's voluntary guidelines for downtown Novato would also be appropriate.
-- Ed Mainland, Secretary, Sustainable Novato, 415-902-6365.

Barry Buckley

I was walking across the intersection of Bel Marin Keys Boulevard and Nave Drive, when the driver in a blue Karmann-Ghia convertible asked me if I would like a ride. Since it was quite a walk to my destination, I agreed and got in. It turned out that I knew the driver. He introduced himself as Barry Buckley, and I replied that I had spoken with him over the phone after reading about his race for the Board of Supervisor position in the Novato Advance over a month ago.

Barry told me of his SMART plank in his "platform"--he is a builder, after all, and we discussed how the trains would help telecommuting, as well as green building and the toxic sites still on Hamilton and conservation. Buckley said he was particularly interested in my advocacy of a Wi-Fi network for Novato; and how the trains could help implement that, if by nothing else, having the trains "hot zones."
Before he dropped me off, he met my mate, and invited us to watch or attend his debate that night at the School District Offices on Seventh Street. Sandy told him that he should visit New Beginnings Center, and that she would talk to the Director for him. I noted how there are many potential voters in the Hamilton area, who have not registered, and that it was possible for him to win the election, despite the long odds. I brought up the case of an college instructor of mine who became a United States Senator.

His Statement of Candidacy
"A resident of Marin County for over fifty
years, I hope to follow the public service example
of my great-greatgrandfather, Patrick Dundon,
who served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
I obtained a degree in Political Economy of Industrial
Societies from U.C. Berkeley and have been
in the construction business for twenty -five years.
"My long tenure as a resident of this county, as well
as my educational background and business experience, have given me
a broad perspective of the critical issues, both political and economic,
facing us.
"My campaign will be a "Clean Money" campaign, and my
intent is to solicit only after-tax money donations from individuals.
"As your Supervisor, I will lend my unequivocal support to "smart" growth,
in which the quality of life in this county is not only maintained, but also
improved, for ourselves and for posterity.
"I will support the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Project, with its integration of a new regional bike path, commuter train, and ferry link to relieve traffic congestion.
"We must provide affordable housing, especially for safety and health care
workers.
"Please visit my website, VoteForBuckley.com for a more comprehensive overview of these issues."
See Marin IJ article

New transit Plan

MARIN CO. TRANSIT DISTRICT
WANTS YOUR COMMENTS
ON BUS PLAN


Changes are coming to local bus routes this summer.
Marin County Transit District (MCTD) has released the
draft of its
Service Plan. It is available at the
MCTD
website -- http://www.marintransit.org.

You may request a hard copy
or electronic copy at info@marintransit.org, or call 415-499-5069.


A Meeting in Novato
on the Plan
is scheduled for
April 26, at 7 PM, in the
Novato Police Station
Training Room
909 Machin Avenue.

Green Fusion Design Center, San Anselmo

From: Kathleen Lanphier-- kathleen@greenfusiondesigncenter.com
Dear Friends of Green Fusion,

FYE (For Your Environment) Workshops: Ongoing workshops for American Clay, French Lime and Venetian Plaster Application will be scheduled depending on interest. If you would like to participate in any of our hands-on plaster workshops please call and let us know which plaster your interested in. (415)454-0174.
Events: Green Fusion is sponsoring the Healthy Home Event #7: Designing Women. Three women designers will discuss how to create beautiful green designs for any type of project. To register please call: (415) 454-0174. http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/events.htm.


More Media: Check out the Marin IJ lifestyle section on Sat. 4/1 for a story on our Designing Women Healthy Home Event: http://www.marinij.com/fastsearchresults/ci_3663101

More: For those of you needing assistance in green design Green Fusion offers in-house professional designers to support your efforts.
Carmen Mateo is our in house kitchen and bath designer.
Her portfolio can be viewed online. For more information please visit: http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/Team/team-carmen.htm
Thanks to everyone for your support
14 Greenfield Ave.
San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-454-0174 (t)
415-454-0173 (f)
http://www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com/

Green Building Barrels Into the Mainstream Market

received from Ed Mainland-- emainland@comcast.net
http://www.nbnnews.com/NBN/issues/2006-03-20/Front+Page/index.html
(Clipped from Flex Your Power newsletter <eNewswire@fypower.org>
http://www.fypower.org/
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
note the resources (websites) at bottom of article.
SNIP:
"According to the survey results, the leading reason that builders
are considering green is that “It’s the right thing to do,”
Bernstein said, an indication of the industry’s strong links to the community.
Of those polled, 92% identified this factor as a very or somewhat
important influence behind the decision to go green.
Other prominent influences include: lowering lifecycle costs, such as energy
efficiencies and productivity increases, 87%; staying ahead of the
competition, 82%; expanding business with customers who are
interested in green building, 82%; and limiting exposure to liability
on such issues as water leaks and mold, 78%."
(end SNIP)
Start article:
"After several years of slow but steady growth across the country, the
green home building movement — which applies innovative and
environmentally sensitive construction techniques and products to
reduce energy and water consumption and improve residential comfort
and safety — is barreling into the mainstream, according to a survey
of NAHB members in late January and early February by the association
and McGraw Hill Construction.
"Preliminary results released during NAHB’s Green Building Conference
in Albuquerque, N.M. on March 12-14 showed that there was a 20%
increase in 2005 among those in the home building community who are
focusing their attention on green building issues and that their
ranks are expected to increase by another 30% this year.
“'Green home building is at a tipping point among the builder
population,' said Harvey Bernstein, vice president of Industry
Analytics and Alliances for McGraw-Hill Construction. 'The data
indicates 2006 to 2007 is the time frame from which the builder
population moves from a majority less involved to more involved with
green building.'
"Ray Tonjes, chairman of the NAHB Green Building Subcommittee, noted
that the study opens new ground and new business opportunities for
NAHB members. 'NAHB has been in the vanguard of the voluntary
movement to increase the efficiency and quality of the American
home,' he said. 'This study suggests a viable path for the home
building community to educate the public about green building and
deliver a product that responds to the needs of the buyer as never
before.'
"Bernstein predicted that green building will boost its market share
from $7.4 billion and 2% of housing starts last year to $19-$38
billion and 5%-10% of residential construction activity in 2010.
'Within 10 years, everybody’s going to be building green,' he said.
'According to the survey results, the leading reason that builders are
considering green is that “It’s the right thing to do,” ' Bernstein
said, an indication of the industry’s strong links to the community.
Of those polled, 92% identified this factor as a very or somewhat
important influence behind the decision to go green.
"Other prominent influences include: lowering lifecycle costs, such as energy
efficiencies and productivity increases, 87%; staying ahead of the
competition, 82%; expanding business with customers who are
interested in green building, 82%; and limiting exposure to liability
on such issues as water leaks and mold, 78%.
"The leading factors triggering building firms to expand their green
home building activities were identified in the survey as: increases
in energy costs and utility rebates, 88%; consumer demand, 88%;
superior performance, 87%; codes, ordinances and regulations, 86%;
and competitive advantage, 83%.
"Starting costs and the unwillingness of consumers to pay additional
costs for a green home were identified as the leading obstacles to
firms becoming involved in green home building, rated as important by
82% and 79% of those surveyed, respectively.
"Also important were: uneducated consumers, 79%; codes, ordinances
and regulations, 72%; and a lack of awareness among consumers of
green products, 70%. Only 39% said that the perception of green building
as a fad and not something here to stay was a significant obstacle.
"Asked to indicate the importance of specific green home building
options, NAHB members participating in the survey identified
high-efficiency HVAC equipment as the top item, with 92% responding
that it was important.
"That was followed by low E-glass windows, 89%; HVAC for indoor air quality, 90%;
more energy-efficient appliances, 88%; reduced air infiltration, 86%;
hi-performance engineered wood products, 84%; above-code energy programs, 82%;
the minimization of site disruption, 82%; water-saving utilities such as dish and clothes
washers, 75%; storm water mitigation, 74%; formaldehyde-free finishes, 73%;
and water-conserving fixtures and faucets, 73%.
"Other highlights from the survey findings:
* Upgrading to green building increased the total cost of a
project by an average 10.6%. However, for builders active in green
building, the perceived cost increase was an average 8.7%, compared
to an average of 11.1% for those not involved.
* Green building certification programs have yet to take hold
in the residential market; only 3% of respondents said they were
certified and 80% said they were not. Nevertheless, 80% of builders
starting 10 homes a year or less and 71% of those starting more said
they would be interested in participating in voluntary green home
building certification.
* Ninety-five percent said they were using green friendly
building materials; 80% reported using OSB rather than plywood; 79%
said they were using engineered wood such as Tgi and glulam as an
alternative to dimensional lumber; and 54% said they were reducing
their construction waste.
* Eighty-nine percent responded that they were doing
something to preserve natural open space; 67% said they were
minimizing disruption to existing vegetation; and 64% said they were
preserving natural water drainage ways.
* Eighty-eight percent said they were taking steps to reduce
air filtration in their homes; 77% were using high-efficiency HVAC
equipment to achieve this; and 58% said they were using overhangs.
* Unlike commercial builders, home builders were able to
readily name leading brands of green products in various categories:
80% were able to name a brand in the house wrap category, where Tyvek
was most frequently named (66%); 76% knew an insulation brand, 29%
naming Owens-Corning; 75% were able to name a door and window brand,
15% citing Andersen and 11% Pella; 70% named an HVAC brand, 17% Trane
and 12% Carrier; and 67% knew a wood framing brand, 13% Trus joist,
9% TJI and 8% Boise Cascade.
"Bernstein said that his staff was busy compiling the survey data
right up to the Green Building Conference, and a final report should
be available in roughly the next couple of months."
"The following are green building resources from McGraw Hill:
* www.GreenSmartMarket.construction.com
* www.GreenSource.construction.com
* www.Products.construction.com
"For information about the "NAHB Model Green Home Building
Guidelines," click here.
"For more information about other NAHB resouces on green building,
call Calli Schmidt--call her at 800-368-5242 x8132."

'Green' Counter Tops

Article on Choosing 'Green' Countertops -- from Green Home Guide:
http://www.greenhomeguide.com/index.php/knowhow/topic/C219.