Sierra Club Green Home

Are you ready to refresh a room or two for the New Year? Good news: there’s no need to cover your walls with VOCs! Here Sierra Club Green Home explains the benefits of environmentally friendly wallpaper, and how to find it. (Photo courtesy of Wallpaper Collective)

SAN FRANCISCO — Cargo containers—those giant, steel, rectangular boxes most often seen hitching a ride on a train, truck, or ship—hold a myriad of industrial goods. But now the shipping container itself is a home. Cargotecture is a modular home that is portable, off the grid, and made of recycled materials. HyBrid Architecture | Assembly designs sustainable living spaces in cargo containers and coined the term “cargotecture” to describe these novel new structures.

Regardless of the project size, make sure you have a written contract spelling out the details. If there’s something you think should be done that isn’t specifically mentioned in the contract, it likely isn’t included in the scope of work. Be sure to read the contract thoroughly; if it contains language you don’t understand, don’t sign until you know what it means.

Do it right from the start An architect isn’t required for all work in your home, but for certain projects, an architect’s services are indispensable. You’ll want one, for instance, if you are planning to build a custom-designed home. You should also consider hiring an architect if you are planning a renovation that will significantly [...]

Hans Fedderke and Aash Desai with their partners Joe and Andy Magliochetti of Helios Design + Build have an ambitious objective: take vacant lots in Chicago and build environmentally sustainable homes with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths all in 1,400 square feet. What makes that ambitious you say? The price tag! Hans and Aash are going to sell these homes to low-income individuals…

Was your kitchen in its prime in 1971, when orange laminate countertops and avocado refrigerators were all the rage? When you open the dishwasher, does it block access to the cabinets? Is the lighting so dim you can’t tell if a recipe calls for potatoes or tomatoes?

It may be time for an overhaul. But where do you begin? Whether you do it green or not, remodeling can be a daunting process.

If you’re a proud homeowner who has devoted time towards making your home greener we encourage you to share your story for This Old House’s consideration.

Deconstruct, don’t demolish Is “out with the old and in with the new” the motto of your remodeling project? If so, you’re hardly alone. Many remodeling projects involve gutting a portion or all of the home–in other words stripping the interior of everything from light fixtures to cabinets to wallboard so the builder can start [...]

Finding a contractor for your healthy home It’s hard enough finding a builder who will do the work you want for the price you’re willing to pay, and deliver it on time and on budget. Add to those criteria your need for a green-building expert, and you can assume that your search for a general [...]

Corbett Lunsford of Green Dream Group in Chicago provides step-by-step advice on how to seal gaps and cracks in your home. It’s easy to do and can save you significant money!