Merleinc

Corbond

noahbritton — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:05:30 +0000

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

Family Retreat

noahbritton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:25:15 +0000

Tax Cedit for First Time Buyers

noahbritton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:26:07 +0000

The first time buyer now has the opportunity of taking advantage of a tax credit of as much as $7500.00. This credit applies to owners of land building a home as a primary residence. Please visit the website for for full details.

Water Saving Technology

noahbritton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:25:43 +0000

Water conservation is no longer a thing of the past. Many new and innovative product have been introduced to the market. Merle Inc. is happy to use the AQUS water saving system on our Built Green home in Cle Elum, WA. Please visit www.watersavertech.com to read more about this water saving technology.

Green Dwelling in Cle Elum courtesy of The Daily Record

noahbritton — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:21:52 +0000

For Jeff Schafer it all came down to doing what he believes in. That’s why when Schafer, who owns Merle Inc. Homes, set out to build a home for himself and his family, he decided it would be “built green.”
The designation means it’s eco-friendly and designed to provide energy efficiency and a healthier indoor environment.
“It’s something I’ve been studying and believe in,” said Schafer, standing in the kitchen of the nearly finished home on East Second Street in downtown Cle Elum. “I did a ‘Built Green’ home at Suncadia.” Carly Faul, executive officer for the Central Washington Built Green Association, a nonprofit residential building program that certifies homes built with eco-friendly principles, says studies show 15 to 24 percent of Americans are allergic to their own homes.
That isn’t lost on Schafer.
“Knowing what I know now I’d have a hard time building a standard home,” he said.
Schafer’s 2,400-square-foot home, which is served by natural gas, also has an attached garage with a mother-in-law loft. It’s the first “built green” home in Cle Elum and one of only 10 in Kittitas County. Schafer figures the cost of the home at $125 a square foot. While initial construction costs may be more than standard construction costs, he believes energy savings and other benefits make for a fair trade-off out the other end.
“Say your mortgage (for a traditionally built home) is $1,500 and your heat bill is $300 a month versus maybe a built green home where your mortgage is $1,700 and you pay $200 for heat,” he said. “In the end it’s going to average out.”
Schafer figures he’ll spend about $250 a month on heating costs. The house also should stay cool during warm weather months.
“I should be able to open up an upstairs window and the house should actually cool itself, he said.
Among the “Built Green” features designed to improve energy efficiency: spray-in “closed cell foam” insulation that adheres to the surface it’s sprayed on and provides higher insulation factors than traditional fiberglass insulation.
“The main reason I used it is that it seals the house,” Schafer said. But without ventilation, an airtight house runs the risk of becoming toxic.
That’s where an HRV (heat recovery ventilation) system comes in.
In essence, Schafer said, “it’s the lungs of the home.” There are fresh air ports in the bedrooms and an out-take in the bathroom.
The HRV system brings fresh outside air in, preheating it during the winter months and cooling it during the summer months while providing airflow.
The home also has a hydronic radiant system (essentially an under floor radiator system). Tubes that transport hot water are placed in acid-stained cement floors on the first level and under the wood floors on the second. (Schafer passed on installing carpet which, in some cases, can release formaldehyde fumes into the living area.)
Those wood floors, a striking decorative touch, are another nod to “built green.” They’re recycled wood from an old barn that once stood on the site of what is now Cle Elum’s DeVere Airport.
They were done by Jim Didonato of Wood River Hardwood.
“He buys old barns, then mills the wood and tongue-and-grooves it,” Schafer said. “I can’t say enough about the guy.”
Among other touches: kitchen countertops from Trinity Glass are individually hand-crafted surfaces done in earthy tones and made from recycled glass and low-carbon cement. The cupboards are low formaldehyde. “We used plywood instead of particle board,” he said
Schafer also installed “Energy Star” appliances. The label means they meet energy efficiency standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
A tankless “on-demand” hot water system like those found in many parts of Europe also adds to the home’s energy savings.
To save water, “all of the commodes are dual flush,” Schafer said. That means there’s a “half-flush” for non-solid waste, a “full-flush” for solid waste.
A five-gallon tank placed under the vanity collects “grey water” from the sink that is used to flush the toilet.
But Schafer admits he strayed from pure “built green” philosophy in the master bathroom where a shower area big enough to be a walk-in closet features dual heads with water jets.
“I’ve gotten to build a lot of nice bathrooms,” he said with an apologetic grin. “I just couldn’t help myself.”
Because TVs and other electronics in stand-by or “off” mode still draw electricity, Schafer also installed a GreenSwitch, a device that allows him to switch off power to multiple plugs within the system by using just one switch.
A steel fireplace done in black “powder coat” finish provides a dramatic, but understated, centerpiece to the downstairs living area.
Schafer used steel handrails with the same finish on the stairs leading to the second level.
“One of the things with ‘built green’ is using products you don’t have to replace in seven years,” Built Green’s Faul said.
Outside, Schafer plans to install an “eco lawn,” one with no grass but that will have other vegetation. “All the paths will be a permeable surface so all the water that comes on the site is reclaimed on the site,” he said. “We won’t push anything onto the roads or into the drainage system.”
Besides energy efficiency, lower environmental impact and better indoor air quality, Faul said there are other advantages to “built green” homes.
“A study in Seattle in 2008 found green homes sell faster and for more than comparable homes that aren’t green,” she said. “Environmentally certified homes sold for 4.8 percent more and stayed on the market for 24 percent less time.”
Built Green homes are rated from two to five stars. Faul said Schafer’s home “will probably be a 4.”
Locals are invited to take a look.
An open house is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 30, and May 31, at the home, 312 E. Second St., Cle Elum.