HARDIE Fiber Cement Siding James Hardie fiber cement siding is designed to last a lifetime, resisting cracking, rotting, hail damage, termites and many other possible problems. HardieShingle siding has the same authentic look of cedar siding. It is designed to perform for a lifetime. Hardie is a green certified product and has a 50 year transferable warranty. http://jameshardie.com/ What is Corbond? CORBOND® is an insulating spray-in-place polyurethane foam with the highest performance R-Factor achievable for an insulation product on today's market. CORBOND isolates the indoor and outdoor climates, stopping air movement and controlling moisture condensation and movement within walls and roof cavities helping to eliminate mold growth. http://www.corbond.com CORBOND® provides the ultimate in insulation performance: 1) Extremely high R-value 2) Air infiltration and intrusion control. 3) Moisture control in building cavities 4) Air convection control What is HRV technology? HRV stands for Heat Recovery Ventilator. It is a technology that has been in use for the last forty years worldwide to provide high quality indoor air into buildings for the benefits of the occupants. HRV technology is used for commercial and industrial buildings as well as residential buildings. All HRV systems generally provide the following: fresh air into a building, extract stale air from the building, filter the fresh air entering the building to remove pollutants, recover heat from the stale air using a heat exchange core, and transfer the recovered heat to the incoming fresh air. HRV systems are fully ducted systems delivering fresh filtered air to living and bedrooms and extracting stale air from high moisture areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. Typically, an HRV is able to recover 70 to 80 percent of the heat from the exhaust air and transfer it to the incoming air. What are VOCs Not so long ago, it was common for fumes to drive people from their homes during repainting. Most conventional paints contained high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that produced a breathable gas when applied. The VOCs diminish air quality, and may be detrimental to your health. Today, alternative manufacturing techniques have allowed the development of low- and no-VOC paints that release no, or minimal VOC pollutants, and are virtually odor free. Paints, adhesives, and other protective finishes are often formulated with solvents (or VOCs) to improve performance and durability. Additionally, paint cleanup often requires toxic solvents that release additional VOC pollutants. However, increased awareness of possible health risks and overall air quality concerns has led to a demand for products lower in VOCs. Manufacturers have therefore risen to the challenge, mainly by developing high-quality, latex-based coatings and adhesives for a wide variety of uses. Latex paints use water as their solvent and carrier, allowing both easier cleanup and generally lower toxicity than oil-based paints. Today, latex paints are equal or better in quality and durability than conventional oil-based formulas. Many stains and clear finishes for floors and cabinets are also commonly available. It should be noted that not every latex-based coating is low in VOCs. Products may be described as low-VOC when they off-gas significantly less than other products. Some oil-based paints qualify as low-VOC because their formulas have been modified. VOC levels are expressed in pounds per gallon (lbs/gal) or grams per liter (g/l). Interior paint is given a Green Seal if it has a VOC content less than 50 g/l (for flat sheen) or 150 g/l (non-flat sheen). Why Should You Use Low VOC Paints? Benefits of using LOW VOC Paints Lower levels of ozone pollution Fewer emissions of smog-forming chemicals Proven performance equal to that of conventional paints Low VOC paints are cost competitive No special equipment needed Reduced incidents of eye and respiratory irritation from fewer fumes Better indoor and outdoor air quality Being a good citizen Recognition Radiant Floor Heat Hydronic radiant floor systems pump heated water from a boiler through tubing laid in a pattern underneath the floor. In some systems, the temperature in each room is controlled by regulating the flow of hot water through each tubing loop. This is done by a system of zoning valves or pumps and thermostats.Air-infiltration heat loss is reduced significantly compared to forced-air systems in which imbalance due to duct leakage can drive infiltration of outside air into the building. Heating cold air from the outside requires extra energy and decreases humidity Radiant heating has a number of advantages: it is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because no energy is lost through ducts. The lack of moving air can also be advantageous to people with severe allergies. Hydronic (liquid-based) systems use little electricity, a benefit for homes off the power grid or in areas with high electricity prices. The hydronic systems can also be heated with a wide variety of energy sources, including standard gas- or oil-fired boilers, wood-fired boilers, solar water heaters, or some combination of these heat sources

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