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Step 9Summary of what's green for the benefit of the contest moderator
Since all the little green elements are hidden within the text (or in some cases, not even mentioned because they felt irrelevant), I thought I'd summarize them here, in no particular order:
Lighting: choice of LED. Less energy consumed directly, but also saving on AC use since this does not heat the room like incandescent lights. Also, no mercury.
Floor: use of cork. This decision was both financial and ecological. It's cheaper, AND it's greener than hardwood because it's renewable and does not destroy the tree it comes from.
Insulation: Ultratouch costs more than regular fiberglass insulation, but it's manufacture consumes a lot less energy. It's made of entirely recycled cotton, which is treated with a fire retardant. It is also much healthier, to work with and to live with. The green points make the cost worthwhile.
Second hand materials: the energy cost to produce these (for the second user) is zero, the only energy cost is transportation, and since that was all local and mostly public transportation, these all had a pretty low carbon footprint. Second hand materials I mentioned: sound absorption panels, soundproof doors, wood wall panels, quietrock, isoclips (although the last 2 were left-overs, they weren't really second use). One I neglected to mention: The plywood I used for the floor was left over from a film shoot.
Dumpster diving: all the green benefits of second hand use, plus the joy of using stuff which was clearly destined to be wasted. Free, too. Huge bold of fabric from the church down the street. The absorption foam in the equipment closet was also from that same church's garbage. The bookcase I built came from scaps found in my basement. The Barcelona chair was broken and on its way to the trash when I rescued it from a very un-handy friend.
Using leftovers/no waste: since I didn't need the back on the wood panels, I used them to make the desk.
Now come on, if this isn't a project with a green twist, what is?
Lighting: choice of LED. Less energy consumed directly, but also saving on AC use since this does not heat the room like incandescent lights. Also, no mercury.
Floor: use of cork. This decision was both financial and ecological. It's cheaper, AND it's greener than hardwood because it's renewable and does not destroy the tree it comes from.
Insulation: Ultratouch costs more than regular fiberglass insulation, but it's manufacture consumes a lot less energy. It's made of entirely recycled cotton, which is treated with a fire retardant. It is also much healthier, to work with and to live with. The green points make the cost worthwhile.
Second hand materials: the energy cost to produce these (for the second user) is zero, the only energy cost is transportation, and since that was all local and mostly public transportation, these all had a pretty low carbon footprint. Second hand materials I mentioned: sound absorption panels, soundproof doors, wood wall panels, quietrock, isoclips (although the last 2 were left-overs, they weren't really second use). One I neglected to mention: The plywood I used for the floor was left over from a film shoot.
Dumpster diving: all the green benefits of second hand use, plus the joy of using stuff which was clearly destined to be wasted. Free, too. Huge bold of fabric from the church down the street. The absorption foam in the equipment closet was also from that same church's garbage. The bookcase I built came from scaps found in my basement. The Barcelona chair was broken and on its way to the trash when I rescued it from a very un-handy friend.
Using leftovers/no waste: since I didn't need the back on the wood panels, I used them to make the desk.
Now come on, if this isn't a project with a green twist, what is?
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