Green Building Community

Popular green building discussions

Show discussions with: More replies | More views

Start a Discussion

I need a fabulous water-based poly or other eco floor coating

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

I need a recommendation for a water-based poly. When I mentioned using a more environmentally friendly floor coating, I got a shrug and a maybe. Please let me know if there's a product out there you…

Filed under: Flooring

Keywords: Flooring,Low VOC

15 replies | 6766 views | Posted on: 05/13/2015 | Last updated: 07/25/2019

The Green Brick Wall

by StyroHome // Super Insulated, Passive House, Net Zero

If you attempt to build a "GREEN" home almost anywhere in America fo probably will run head-on to the Invisible Green Wall. This means that nobody knows hoe to handle project. This is because of the l…

Filed under: Government Policies

7 replies | 2996 views | Posted on: 10/08/2015 | Last updated: 07/25/2019

use of linoleum flooring in bathrooms

by Christine O. // green consumer

Does anyone have any practical experience with linoleum, such as Marmoleum, in a bathroom? The general contractor with whom I spoke advised against it since it is water resistant rather than waterproo

Filed under: Flooring

Keywords: Flooring

6 replies | 6383 views | Posted on: 08/21/2017 | Last updated: 07/25/2019

Clean Power

by Steven Fitzgerald // Student/Consultant

The EPA Clean Power Plan is the nation’s first comprehensive effort to reduce carbon pollution from electric power plants—the single largest source of global warming pollution in the U.S. It’s a…

Filed under: Government Policies

5 replies | 3107 views | Posted on: 05/01/2015 | Last updated: 07/25/2019

Details / Specifications

by Louwrens van der Walt // South African Architect

Is there a company that supplies detailed drawings / specifications for the various green construction methods such as straw bale walls, recycled bottle walls etc

Filed under: Other Green Building - Other

5 replies | 1789 views | Posted on: 03/14/2019 | Last updated: 02/11/2023

Green Building Myth Busting: Nope, You're Not Allergic to Wool (Video)

by Rate It Green Team


Matt Hoots is always ready to bust a myth.  Recently, he was talking with Daman Dillon and Kristine Hart of Caragreen Healthy Building Materials about Havelock loose fill wool insulation (1

Filed under: Insulation

Keywords: Green Building,Sustainability,Insulation,Green Myth Busting,Green Building Myth Busting,Wool,Wool Insulation,Allergies,Caragreen,Myth Busting

4 replies | 7106 views | Posted on: 12/24/2020 | Last updated: 01/13/2023

Mini Split Compressor Placement in Cold Climates (Think about Snow and Other Conditions)

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

It’s important to think about mini split condenser location in cold climates where it’s likely to snow, or really where anything will affect the proper functioning and longevity/durability

Filed under: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Keywords: HVAC,Extreme Weather,Heating,Mini Splits,Snow,Compressors,Weather

4 replies | 6330 views | Posted on: 02/03/2022 | Last updated: 04/03/2023

How do you determine how "green" a cabinet is?

by Jonathan Cabinet Representative // Sustainable American manufacturing proponent

When looking at purchasing cabinetry for you home or business, what do you look for? I look for domestically manufactured cabinets where the materials are also domestically sourced. No added formald…

Filed under: Cabinetry

Related to: Cabinetry, Wood Cabinets,Cabinetry - Other

Keywords: madeinamerica,greenguard,nauf,domestic manufacturing,cabinet,cabinetry

4 replies | 3088 views | Posted on: 06/04/2015 | Last updated: 06/17/2020

Please help my Mother-In-Law with a simple Intro to MDF products :)

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

My mother-in-law is building a new home, and she wants an introduction to the difference between MDF and "real wood." I'd like to get her information from someone who is an expert in this area. Can …

Filed under: Engineered Lumber Products

Keywords: MDF,Wood

4 replies | 3611 views | Posted on: 05/06/2015 | Last updated: 05/13/2015

Mass Save Residential High Performance and Net Zero Construction Workshop - October 6 - Boston (This event has been postponed)

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

High Performance and Net Zero Construction Workshop Are you interested in learning about high performance and “Net Zero” new construction from local industry experts? Do you want to learn about…

Massachusetts Green Builders

Keywords: Green Building,Netzero,High Performance Building,Net zero

3 replies | 1332 views | Posted on: 09/26/2016 | Last updated: 09/30/2016

"Drive Green" Rebate Programs in MA and RI: Buy Electric Vehicles at Lower Rates- This Program has been Extended!!

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

Mass Energy and People's Power & Light are offering a discount and rebate program that allows people to buy an electric vehicle from a standard dealer at a lower, pre-negotiated rate. Deadline ale…

Filed under: Electric Vehicles

Massachusetts Green Builders

Keywords: EV - Electric Vehicles

3 replies | 2173 views | Posted on: 12/07/2016 | Last updated: 07/18/2017

NESEA's BuildingEnergy Boston Conference & Expo - March 7-9, Boston

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

New England Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) BuildingEnergy Boston Conference & Expo March 7-9, Boston Seaport World Trade Center One Seaport Lane Boston, Massachusetts 02210 BuildingE…

Filed under: Massachusetts

Massachusetts Green Builders

Keywords: Green Building,Sustainable Energy,New England Sustainable Energy Association - NESEA,Building Energy 17

3 replies | 1905 views | Posted on: 01/06/2017 | Last updated: 02/28/2017

Material and Resource Summit

by Steven Fitzgerald // Student/Consultant

Yesterday I had the Opportunity to attend the Materials Summit that was sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the USGBC and Google at the Google Headquarters. Allison Friedman to no surprise was i…

Emerging Green Professionals

3 replies | 2386 views | Posted on: 11/15/2014 | Last updated: 11/18/2014

What you count counts

by StacySinclair // Technical writer

I hope you will check out my latest blog for USGBC-LA: http://usgbc-la.org/blog/spotlight-on-sustainability-what-we-count-counts/

Filed under: Environment

California Green Building

3 replies | 1700 views | Posted on: 04/26/2017 | Last updated: 05/03/2017

France Declares All New Rooftops Must Be Topped With Plants Or Solar Panels

by Chelsea W. // Student

French environmentalists cheered as France passed a law mandating all new buildings being built in commercial zones must be partially covered in either plants or solar panels. This law will stimulate …

Filed under: Green Building News

Keywords: Government,Policy,France

3 replies | 2455 views | Posted on: 05/27/2015 | Last updated: 06/01/2015

Webinar: Doubling the Deeds Excise Tax for Affordable Housing & Climate Solutions, March 4, 8pm

by Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

Join a Webinar, March 4 on Doubling the Deeds Excise Tax for Affordable Housing & Climate Solutions

Learn how one policy helps address both the climate and housing crises.

On Wednesday, Marc

Equity and Green Building

3 replies | 1031 views | Posted on: 02/25/2020 | Last updated: 12/24/2020

Can heat pump water heaters extend the life of your EV?

by Christopher Matos-Rogers // Sustainability you can Live with

In a recent weekly room on Clubhouse, we were busting performance myths about all-electric homes.  Naturally, heat pump water heaters came up, and one of my green realtor colleagues in Phoen

Filed under: Electric Vehicles

Green Influencer ATL

Keywords: Electric Vehicles,EV - Electric Vehicles,Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters,heat pump water heater

3 replies | 11854 views | Posted on: 10/09/2021 | Last updated: 12/22/2022

#GreenInfluncerATL group members connect at #IBS2022 in Orlando

by Matt Hoots // SawHorse Design + Build

I was chatting with the Mitsubishi Electric team at the Internation Builders Show when I ran into Corbett Lunsford.  He was about to give a presentation at the Aprilaire booth, which was

Green Influencer ATL

2 replies | 733 views | Posted on: 05/23/2022 | Last updated: 06/30/2022

NOT COMPLICATED - JUST GREEN, podcast of common sense for better construction

by James Pirch, AIA, LEED GA // Architect, LEED GA, host of podcast NOT COMPLICATED - JUST GREEN

This episode features an interview with Matt Hoots, the president of Sawhorse construction,  one of Atlanta’s premier residential remodeling firms, known for their innovation, professionali

Free Virtual Workshop Series: Building Retrofit, 4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11

by samanthaklein // Intern

The energy performance of the existing UK housing stock is generally very poor and an extensive retrofit programme that utilises the most energy efficient technologies and practices is the only forese

Filed under: Builders/Contractors

UK Green Building

Keywords: clean energy,Deep Energy Retrofits,green retrofit

2 replies | 539 views | Posted on: 03/21/2021 | Last updated: 04/02/2021

Green Countertops: Cambria USA - Sustainable Quartz Composite Pushes Boundaries with New Products and Technologies (Video)

by Rate It Green Team

 

In this video, Matt Hoots talks with Jennifer Prins of Cambria at the International Builders Show/Kitchen & Bathroom Show.

Cambria is introducing 20 new celebratory designs a

Filed under: Quartz Countertops

2 replies | 5737 views | Posted on: 08/04/2020 | Last updated: 01/30/2023

Passive House for Affordable Housing Forum January 29, 1-3 pm, Boston (Note: Venue Change!)

by Amy

Passive House design is smart, durable, and can cost-effectively realize substantial long-term savings for the multifamily affordable housing sector. PHMA is co-sponsoring this event with LISC B…

Filed under: Events

Massachusetts Green Builders

Keywords: Affordable Housing

2 replies | 2307 views | Posted on: 01/05/2018 | Last updated: 02/02/2018

Green Cleaning Products: Some Alternatives to Conventional Chemicals

by Matt Z. // Student

Today’s household cleaners contain many known harmful chemicals. Low exposure to these chemicals in properly ventilated spaces should be relatively safe; however, most people use more than just

Filed under: Green Living

2 replies | 11054 views | Posted on: 07/09/2017 | Last updated: 05/13/2021

New blog post - language is more than a tool

by StacySinclair // Technical writer

USGBC-LA's blog series entitled "Snapshot on Sustainability", continues this week with a new post entitled, "Language is more than a Tool". usgbc-la.org/blog. I hope you will enjoy, leave a commen…

Filed under: Environmental Activism

California Green Building

2 replies | 13343 views | Posted on: 04/05/2017 | Last updated: 04/06/2017

 

Please be kind and respectful!

Please make sure to be respectful of the organizations and companies, and other Rate It Green members that make up our community. We welcome praise and advice and even criticism but all posted content and ratings should be constructive in nature. For guidance on what constitutes suitable content on the Rate It Green site, please refer to the User Agreement and Site Rules.

The opinions, comments, ratings and all content posted by member on the Rate It Green website are the comments and opinions of the individual members who posts them only and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies or policies of Rate It Green. Rate It Green Team Members will monitor posted content for unsuitable content, but we also ask for the participation of community members in helping to keep the site a comfortable and open public forum of ideas. Please email all questions and concerns to admin@rateitgreen.com