Green Building and Design

GENERAL BUILDING INFORMATION:
Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency - web-site
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Orange County Planning Department - web-site

Department of Energy - web-site

Energy Star homes - web-site

Environmental Protection Agency - web-site

Rocky Mountain Institute - web-site

Green Home Guide - web-site

Benefits of owning a green home - web-site

Housing Ducts - web-site

Housing ventilation systems - web-site



3RD PARTY CERTIFICATIONS:
United States Green Building Council - web-site
Orange County Chapter - web-site
Build Green Schools - web-site

Build it Green - web-site
A non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. We work with mainstream stakeholders in the housing industry to accelerate the adoption of green building practices, and our short-term goal is to facilitate the greening of 10,000 housing units by the end of 2008.

Energy Star homes - web-site



GREEN BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENTS:
The Depot Walk by builder, Olson Homes - web-site
Orange, CA

Better Shelter - web-site
Costa Mesa, CA



MODULAR HOME DEVELOPERS:
LivingHomes - web-site


INTERIOR DESIGN:
Path Design - web-site



ENERGY RATERS AND AUDITORS:
Chuck Visnic
Energy Impacts
Fullerton, CA
714.871.8197

Scott Johnson
Action Now
Santa Ana, CA
949.631.2274

Rick Maurer
Orange, CA
714.771.1507

Chuck S. Mirjahangir
Huntington Beach, CA
714.596.5570

Nancy VanDalsem
Precision Calculations Co.
Newport Beach, CA
949.642.5021

Rudy Sains
Heritage Energy Group
Irvine, CA
949.789.7221

Samuel Maimone
Heritage Energy Group
Irvine, CA
949.789.7221

Donald Harrisberger
KMA Consulting
Costa Mesa, CA
714.662.7355



BUILDING MATERIALS:
Living Glass - web-site

Oceanside Glasstile - web-site
Took shape when three glass artists and a bean counter were united by a singular passion - to interpret art glass in new forms for architecture and interior design. Today, more than fourteen years later, that fire burns even brighter, fueled by the enduring belief in the need for beauty in our everyday lives.

CaesarStone - web-site
The primary distributor for CaesarStone in the United States. CaesarStone — located in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, Israel — manufactures the high-quality, natural quartz surfaces out of two state-of-the art facilities. In fact, CaesarStone's plant was the first ever to use quartz as the main component in the manufacture of slabs for work surfaces.

IceStone - web-site
Durable surface material is made from 100% recycled glass and concrete. It was developed over a five year period and has a patent-pending.
This product is produced by an environmentally friendly manufacturing process in our daylit factory in Brooklyn, New York. Our goal is to be the top choice for green countertops by producing beautiful materials that rival the strength of quarried stone, yet actively reduce the waste stream by redirecting glass from landfills to be used in our product.

DuPont Zodiaq - web-site
93% pure quartz crystal, which gives Zodiaq® a natural depth and radiance without the imperfections common in unimproved stone. And because quartz is one of nature’s strongest materials, Zodiaq® is also incredibly durable and resists both heat and scratches. Custom-fit to your exact specifications and virtually maintenance free—Zodiaq® is perfect for your home, naturally

Bedrock Industries - web-site
Believes in living on earth responsibly and acknowledging that the
planet’s resources are limited. That’s why we make all of our tiles by hand
in our own plant from 100% recycled glass.

Paperstone - web-site
PaperStone-Certified is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or FSC, Smartwood and the Rainforest Alliance. We recommend PaperStone for a wide variety of interior horizontal applications such as counters for kitchens, window sills and door thresholds. We also recommend these products for structural applications, landscape components, furniture, table tops and other manufactured products.

EcoTop Surfaces - web-site
Chic, durable and environmentally friendly, EcoTop is the newest innovation from award-winning green product creator, Joel Klippert. A bio-composite surface material for countertops, tabletops, floors and walls, EcoTop adds practical style in both residential and commercial settings.

Richlite - web-site
A manufacturer of paper-based countertops, offers a collection of warm and natural-feeling surface materials that breathe new life into the kitchen, bath and office. Richlite’s® unique paper surfaces bring a soft and comfortable ambiance to a room that's rarely achieved through cold, hard stone and plastic solid surfaces. It’s made from environmentally sustainable resources and is an attractive, durable, long-lasting material that complements a variety of design tastes.

Kirei Board - web-site

Terramai - web-site

Vetrazzo - web-site

Fossil Faux Studio - web-site

Bamboo Pipeline - web-site

EcoTimber Flooring - web-site
Since 1992, EcoTimber has been the leading supplier of high quality
wood products from environmentally sound sources. We offer a beautiful
selection of hardwood flooring from FSC-certified well-managed
forests, fast-growing Bamboo flooring, and hand-scraped flooring.

Expanko - web-site
Best known for high quality cork flooring, also offers floating floor, recycled rubber and cork/rubber flooring, as well as other types of cork products. At Expanko we are dedicated to offering innovative, environmentally friendly products which are durable, comfortable and easy to maintain.

EcoSteel - web-site
Prefab Green Building Solutions, faster completion time, pre-engineered steel structure, pre-insulated roof and wall panels, superior design flexibility, maximum ratings for USGBC/LEED, termite proof, fire resistant.

Green Fiber - web-site
Manufacturer of natural fiber insulation, fire and sound products.

Bonded Logic - web-site
We manufacture innovative natural fiber insulation products that are safe for you and the environment you live in. Utilizing almost exclusively natural fibers, Bonded Logic combines over 25 years of experience with a patented manufacturing process to create a superior performing insulation.

BioBased Insulation - web-site
Markets building products that allow residential and commercial structures to be more sustainable. BioBased®Insulation seals a structure's thermal envelope, making it is more energy efficient, healthier, more comfortable and durable than traditionally insulated homes. BioBased®Insulation also is water-blown and soy-based, so it is more environmentally responsible.

Radiant Guard - web-site
Our WORLD-WIDE recognized radiant barriers are the highest quality products found on the market with millions of square feet installed across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, and Dubai among many other locations. Our customers consist of builders, contractors, roofers, food distributors, metal building manufacturers, and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) homeowners.

Foil Radiant Barrier at Home Depot - web-site
With the ever-increasing cost of energy, it is important to create the most efficient attic insulating / radiant barrier system possible. This foil Kraft radiant barrier is a key component in achieving just that goal. When installed in an attic system, the foil in this product blocks 97% of the radiant heat that normally would be transferred to your attic floor. By blocking such a significant amount of heat, your attic floor insulation stays cooler and operates more efficiently. This translates to less air conditioning load (up to 12%) which results in lower utility bills. Attic mounted duct systems also benefit dramatically from a foil Kraft radiant barrier. The product is easy to handle (all you need are scissors and a staple gun). Additional applications include cathedral ceilings, walls or as a house wrap (behind brick). The material has a class A / class 1 building material fire rating.

Green Planet Paints - web-site
Revolutionizing paints naturally, one wall at a time. Looking beyond conventional paints means rethinking what matters in paint -- its natural, organic beauty, its imagination, its performance, and its effect on the planet.

American Clay - web-site
The Original Earth Plaster--made in New Mexico! Our products provide a nontoxic, creative solution for beautiful interior finishes for your homes--offices--inns and hotels--spas--almost anywhere beauty and health are important.

Safecoat - web-site
Protecting personal health has always been our first priority. That's why for over 25 years we've been working to develop the safest, highest quality and least toxic paints and building products. Today AFM safecoat is the leading provider of environmentally responsible, sustainable and non-polluting paints, stains, wood finishes, sealers and related green building products.

Milk Paint - web-site
In 1974, after much experimentation, we recreated an old Milk Paint formula to provide an authentic finish for our primary business of building reproduction furniture. Since then we have sold our paint to professionals who are either restoring original Colonial or Shaker furniture, making reproductions, or striving for an interior design look that is both authentic and beautiful. Milk Paint is now gaining an even wider usage because it contains only ingredients that are all-natural and will not harm the environment. Our authentic real milk paint is truly a "green paint" that comes in 20 colors.

Bio-Shield Natural Paints - web-site
Non-toxic paints, wood finishes, flooring, house cleaning.



LIGHTING, WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS:
Solatube - web-site
Truth be told, changing the way people use daylighting has simply been the result of our passion to challenge conventional thinking and find a better way. When we started Solatube International, Inc., we were challenged to find an affordable way to bring natural light into dark spaces where natural light had rarely been an option. Our original designs were revolutionary and earned the praise of the media and the loyalty of product owners all over the world. In a quest to tell others about this fantastic new invention, the market needed a name. Thus, the term “tubular skylight” was born.

Home Depot Vented Skylights - web-site

Velux - web-site
Established in 1975, VELUX America is a branch of the VELUX Group charged with marketing and selling VELUX roof windows and skylights in the US. VELUX has been providing daylight and fresh air to people worldwide for over 60 years.




Written by, Evan T. Little

Realtor®, EcoBroker®
Volkl Investments Inc.
949.939.9687 phone
evan@volklinvestmentsinc.com

My other blogs:
Going "Green" in Orange County
Orange County, CA Community
Real Estate in Orange County, CA