Green Building

[JWFITZ]

I've been involved in the Green Building living movement for a while--I thought I'd post this to provoke a little bit of thought.

Here's a few pictures of my place. I'll post a few more when I get current ones. The pictures are at the 100 day mark of my fulltime stay in Hawaii, so a little dated. I started with a completely undeveloped lot Nov 5.

Cost wise, all landscaping, structure, plumbing, catchment(note the slate deck, that's the tank in ferrocement and is part of the house), generator power and the works under 20,000 invested.

Carbon footprint with plantings, as near as I can fairly determine, zero. Clearing? Zero.

This is no crappy little shack. Koi pond, nice gates, shake siding, granite countertops, jotul woodstove, raised panel ohia work inside in process of off lumber milled on site.

I hope this serves to inspire. I'll try to post a few more current photos.

http://www.myspace.com/sailingonmacha

Jay

[Kapohocat]

Do you have the photos anywhere that you don't have to sign in to see them?

Otherwise I will break down and get a myspace.....

[JWFITZ]

Sorry! I didn't know you had to do that. I'll see if I can correct that. As well, I'll try to post some more recent material this evening, as I'm approaching the 6 months mark. Been pretty lazy around here for the last couple of months, lots of visitors and hiking at the volcano, but it's coming along.

[Guest]

I don't think people can view others photos on Myspace w/out actually being a member.

I saw the pictures. Cute little shindig you got going... but I still have my doubts on that Holtzman thing.

So I was reading your profile... what has lead you away from shipbuilding for the time being?

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Damons Digest

Acceptance will take you further in life then Denial ever will

[JWFITZ]

I got sick of sailing! and needed a break. It's as simple as that.

I plan start building a 40 foot or so catamaran on traditional lines sometime in the fall, hopefully!

[Kapohocat]

Okay guys put your thinking caps on!

We have plenty of sun (most times of the year) down here in Kapoho. I want to do some sort of rustic hot water for our beach shower. We already have live hot water from the water heater which my goal is to eliminate (or just as a standby). SB says just go to gas but you still have to purchase gas. It still runs through all the refinement, etc etc....

I do not want to do the mega solar hot water panels etc. I was thinking a barrel that had water heated by the sun that could run in as a third line. Any ideas? It was suggested to get black propoline (SP?) line and put it on the roof (same idea as warm water in the hose laying across the yard when no one coils it up). You know SB is shaking his head at the ideas I am concocting so any thoughts on a simple effective system?

My thoughts were that in purchasing the tank, the panels, etc,and using gas I have just enlarged our carbon footprint instead of reducing it.

Catherine Dumond
Blue Water Project Management
808 965-9261
"We help make building your dream home a reality"

[JWFITZ]

An interesting hot water panel can be built out of expanded lexan. Expanded lexan is used in a number of thingss, but it has channels in it much like corrugated cardboard. I've not built one of these, but I've seen them and expect that they're pretty effective.

I use an electric hot water heater, of all things, mostly because I use generator power. I can generate the electricity on site cheaper than buy it from the grid, and as well I have use the waste exhaust heat for a number of things. The small electric heater runs mostly as a convinience, between times when the tablesaw is running. It's more effective than one thinks, and once I put the exhaust heat exchanger in I'm sure it will be much more so.

If you want to go green, you must go small.

[Guest]

quote:

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Originally posted by Kapohocat

Okay guys put your thinking caps on!

We have plenty of sun (most times of the year) down here in Kapoho. I want to do some sort of rustic hot water for our beach shower.

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I've actually used these camping:

Solar Showers

Water heats in 3 hours gives you about a 10-20 minute hot shower depending on your nozzle settings.

-------
Damons Digest

Acceptance will take you further in life then Denial ever will

[Michael E]

Hey Jay, I just looked at your new place there. It looks great! My wife and I are moving to the Puna area in September, from the mainland. We have found a small place, that I will have to build around a 500 sq. ft. addition too, so it will meet the neighborhood code and all. I love the way you used the windows and how you put the catchment system under the Lanai.

I would like to do the same thing, but the lanai is aready there. Maybe, I could slide the catchment tank under it somehow. I would like to get the same window look as you have at the top of your building.

As a matter of fact I would like to use that look on the bedroom and kitchen, both. The way I am going to build the addition that would look and work great. Could you tell me where you got the windows or who your carpenter was. I will be needing someone to help me build the addition and I would like to use your carpender, if he would like to help me. Will you let me know something?

Hey, I would like to come and see your home place there if you wouldn't mine. My wife and I would like to have you help us with a pond like you built too. Man, I hope I'm not asking to much here! But at the price you have built your place I might like to hire you as my sub- contractor.

Thanks, Michael

My email address is mwhitt1955@aol.com

[gtill]

One of the original Solar HW units was a Solarhart. Simply put a 40 gal tank mounted horizontally above the collector plates ( just about any collection of black painted pipes directly below the horizontal tank, and plummed into it to allow natural heat circulation without pumps ieassive solar). Push your cold pressure inlet into the tank bottom, and outlet at the highest point of the tank!