My Toilet Isn't Green Enough

As a member of the Berkeley Association's Green Council, I am starting to lose sleep over my eco-inadequacies. I love the original tile in my kid's bathroom, but the pottie is not so hottie. Wasting over 3.5 gallons per flush is not just an embarrassment, it's going to start costing me money.

Two dry winters have resulted in the biggest water supply threat in nearly 20 years (according to EBMUD). To safeguard its shrinking supply EBMUD has declared a severe water shortage emergency. Mandatory water rationing is now in effect. Single family residences are expected to reduce water use by 19%, or face possible fines, water flow restrictions, or loss of water service.

To get me to give up my throne of green for a greener throne, EBMUD offers this pot of gold: EBMUD will rebate $150 or up to the toilet cost, whichever is less, for the purchase of qualifying high-efficiency toilets. They offer this rebate for up to three toilets per household.

EBMUD and PG&E also offer rebates for clothes washers. EBMUD will also come conduct a free on-site survey of indoor and outdoor water use. Residential customers who use at least 500 gallons of water per day during the summer can also receive a rebate of up to $1,000 for a portion of the cost of irrigation system parts and landscape materials, including permeable hardscape. The also offer some instant freebies such as water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators.

Call EBMUD 1-866-403-2683 or click here: (more...)

Wisteria Hysteria

by Arlene Baxter

I am only partly kidding when I attribute pockets of tremendous strength in our area to the wisteria being in bloom. There is something about wisteria adorning the side of a classic Berkeley brownshingle that simply cannot be improved upon. This week we can find wisteria on wood trellises and arbors, wisteria draping elegantly in front of a window. Three different types of it drape Maybeck’s First Church*, softening the concrete pillars with its amazing contrast of color, shape and fragrance. Another Maybeck landmark, the Kennedy music studio, is wearing a wrap of white wisteria along a balcony.
This has been a remarkably beautiful spring. It starts with the narcissus and expands to other bulbs: crocus, freesia, bluebells, tulips. The flowering trees this year provided a breathtaking display from white, to pale pink to deepest, richest magenta. But it’s the wisteria that many of us wait for.

When the new Haas School of Business was built a number of years ago now they built two trellises in front, facing Gayley road. Landscapers theoretically could have planted any climbing vine. But the choice was obvious, or one could say, essential. This is Berkeley after all; it needed to be wisteria.

The different varieties and hybrids allow us to be overpowered by its beauty over the course of several weeks. My neighbor has the densely packed form that was mostly bloomed out by last week. For the wisteria in my yard, draping gracefully over a small trellis, this is THE week. I stand under it, inhale deeply, and the perfume provides a mini-vacation for my senses.
I gave a tour of local homes to visitors from Indiana last week, and it was the wisteria that wowed them. We were supposed to be focused on houses, but we kept sharing announcements of the latest “wisteria alert.” They very much enjoyed the cherry trees. The echium was just starting to cover its spikes with intense shades of blue. I was able to drive them by a lovely display of tulips. Camellias were blooming in profusion. But it is the wisteria they will remember.

* The First Church of Christ, Scientist, considered by many to be Bernard Maybeck’s greatest masterpiece, is at the corner of Dwight Way and Bowditch in Berkeley. It is the only building in Berkeley that has been designated a National Landmark.

If you're a fellow wisteria enthusiast, you may enjoy my album of East Bay wisteria views from the past week.

All photos copyright © Arlene Baxter 2008.

This Old "Green" House - An Environmentally Conscience, Period Sensitive Kitchen Remodel

Modern sensibilities are easily honored and reinterpreted with today's "green building" materials and techniques. Eco-friendly materials such as recycled glass, cork and bamboo look great in a mid century or contemporary homes. But, is it possible to do a sensitive restoration on a historic home and still inject green practices? Although there is always more that could have been done, here is how we met the challenge during a recent kitchen remodel:

1. We installed low formaldehyde insulation while the walls were open to increase the rooms energy efficiency and minimize off-gassing. We also opened up the floor plan through the mud room; with a screen door on the far end, a casement window (which cranks out to capture bay breezes) in the middle, and large opposing crank windows ( equipped with simple shades rated to block heat and UV rays) at the table end. This increases cross ventilation through the kitchen which is sufficient to cool the room sans air conditioning in the Summer.
2. We purchased formaldehyde free solid wood cabinetry: No off-gassing and durability for a longer useful life.
   
3. We Installed recycled oak floors (purchased from a demolished barn) and used low VOC water-based stains.
   
4. We strove for a "forever" kitchen by choosing finishes with longevity in mind and honoring the original architecture over current trends. Appliances were the exception because they tend to have a serviceable life that is relatively short, and we expect they will need to be swapped out at some point. Modern appliances also help a historic kitchen appeal to a wider audience.
   
5. We looked for energy star ratings on all appliances. Ranges do not appear on the www.energystar.gov list because there is no agreement on what to test. We bought a high-end range top, because its longevity will likely out serve all the other appliances in the kitchen. Also consider whether a new appliance will make you a better cook, or if the manufacturer of the appliance is just selling you the idea that it will make you a better cook. We opted not to have any fancy warming drawers or wine refrigerators that use extra energy.
   
6. For the most part, we used florescent lighting for all task and overhead illumination. We cheated a bit, and used two incandescent fixtures as accents over the sink and table (but they get the least amount of use.)
   
7. Our counter tops are marble with a low-VOC sealant done by Green Envirotek. This isn't a super green surface, but we hope they will go the distance in our "forever kitchen." The new earth friendly sealants take away most of the maintenance issues and the marble can be re-polished down the road to bring back its original luster. Marble also gets extra points for its timeless beauty.
8. At the prep sink, we opted for a roll-out composting bin instead of a garbage disposal. The main sink accommodates both trash and recycling bins.
9. Every project has its concessions: I started a search for recycled glass for the back splash along the range wall. I fell in love with an Ann Sacks, Glace tile, which is not made of recycled glass instead. I like how the hand made quality of the tile speaks to a home with history, and the shape feels reminiscent of old subway tiles. Later, I found a 100% recycled alternative at Bedrock Industries, BlazeStone Tile. Too late for me to mend my ways, but maybe this can benefit someone else.
   
10. Recycling gave history to some of the room's accessories. The artwork is old crate labels that we found at an antique shop and the kitchen chairs were re-purposed from an old dining room set.

Useful Resource:
2007 Home Remodeling
Green Building Guidelines