How to Install and What Are the Benefits of a Grass Roof

Besides their outstanding appearance, grass roofs have many benefits. One of these benefits is a
good insulation of your home, which makes heating and cooling expenses to decline
significantly. With a grass roof your home is integrated in the environment.
You can easily install a grass roof. The secret is to work in layers. If you install a good
foundation for your grass seeds, the rest will be extremely easy. In fact, from this point, a grass
roof is similar to a regular lawn. It is almost, maintenance free. Little water (only when not
raining) is all that requires such a roof.

Materials & Tools

Concrete; Aluminum Green Build Edging; Plastic Sheeting; Asphalt Mastic; Polyester
Filter Fabric;

Trowel; Paintbrush; Wind Blanket; Fiberglass Tape; Roofing Nails;

Grass Seeds; Top Soil; Compost; Mulch; Gravel; Pumice; Drip Irrigation System;

Shale; Expanded Slate; Volcanic Pumice or Crushed Clay Tiles;

How to Install a Grass Roof

1. Check the Roof Structure
Before starting the installation of such a roof, it is imperative that you ask the advice of a
structural engineer. Only a structural engineer can tell you if your roof is suitable for such work.

2. Install the Plastic Sheeting

The first step is the covering of the house roof with plastic sheeting. This thick sheeting will be
the grass roof waterproofing membrane.
To attach the membrane to the roof structure use asphalt mastic.
The overlapping of two plastic sheeting must be at least 4-inches.
You can tape the seams with fiberglass tape.

3. Install the Edge of the Roof Perimeter

If you have a pitched roof, use aluminum green build edging to maintain the layers of your grass
roof.
Edge the entire perimeter around, with L part of the edging above the plastic membrane.
Attach the aluminum edging using roofing nails.
4. Pour a Concrete Layer
Pour -inch of concrete layer over the plastic sheeting.

Using a trowel spread the concrete and cover the entire roof surface.
The concrete layer will prevent the grass roots to grow through the plastic membrane.

5. Spread Gravel & Pumice

Spread gravel and pumice (equal quantities) over the concrete surface.
Rake the gravel and pumice until you have a uniform 2-inches thick layer.
This layer will be your drainage layer.

6. Add a Polyester Filter Fabric

This polyester filter fabric protects the drainage layer from the soil and it will allow the water to
drain.

7. Cover the Polyester Filter Fabric with Growth Medium

The best is to have a lightweight roof. It is therefore advisable to use an inorganic growth
medium at a rate of at least 70%.
You can use one of the following materials or a combination of them.

- Shale or Clay;

- Expanded Slate;

- Volcanic Pumice;

- Crushed Clay Roofing Tiles;

Mix your inorganic materials with organic soil such as top soil or organic compost. Make sure
your soil is weed free.

8. Install a Drip Irrigation System

You do not need a too complicated irrigation system. A simple drip irrigation system, connected
to your garden hose and a water timer is enough for your grass roof.

9. Plant the Grass Seeds

Next step is planting the grass seeds. Choose seeds that are the best suited for the area where you
live.

10. Protect your Lawn

Use a wind blanket and cover the roof to protect your grass seeds.
Water the soil every day until the grass sprouts.
Enjoy your grass roof.
Posted in Environmentally Friendly, ROOFS | No Comments

North America First Zero-Energy Home

Richard Wyne house dream come true: 2,200 square foot, zero energy, three levels house. The
house is located on a high hill facing mountains views of Whistler, BC Canada. It is part of a
new development is eco-friendly, being all green.
Without giving up the comfort this green house has high standard of living.
The entire energy in this house is provided by a solar photovoltaic system. The sun light is
converted by five hundred square feet solar panels into electricity and is enough energy to cover
the entire house consume.
For his house Richard used Insulspan Structural Panel Walls, that mean less lumber
comparative to a wood framed home. This way less energy was recurred to heat and cool his
house.

The outside of the house is

fiber cement and it is not affected of moisture or freeze thaw cycles, and it is never in danger of
rotting.
Inside of the walls, there is foam insulation that is made from reusable plastics and vegetable oil.
This way the house is perfect seals against air leakage dust and pollen.
Windows are from fiberglass, triple glazed that save a lot of energy. The floors are polished
concrete and they look very much as black granite, realizing the heat from the sun during the
day.
The hydronic pipe, underneath, makes the floor to stay cool in the summer and warm in the
winter.

In the kitchen area, there are high efficiency appliances and a HVAC system for recapturing the
heat out of the grey water going down into the drain and it is recovering the warm air from the
dryer.
By using these types of methods, Richard is expecting to save around 5,000 to 5,500 dollars per
year.
This house is a luxury one, it got a double oven, a built in automatic cappuccino machine and
butcher style kitchen island with round corners done by Edge Design.
Richard house is estimated to 1.3 million and was available for viewing during 2010 Olympic,
sponsors offering discounts and donations.
The land cost 130,000 dollars. The cost for a zero-energy home is 10 to 15 per cent higher
compare to a conventional one.

Richard house is part of a program who intends to build houses with low or no environment
impact. The house is very warm and relaxing giving a feel of a large home.
This is truly the home for the future, healthy leaving in a healthy home, being part of healthy
communities.
Posted in ***MISCELLANEOUS***, Environmentally Friendly | No Comments

How to Make Your Kitchen Eco-Friendly

Having an eco-friendly kitchen is not only about cooking with organic ingredients, it is about
using the right kitchen tools too. There are so many options to make your kitchen eco-friendly.

Use Steel and Cast Iron

Instead of non-stick coatings, opt for stainless steel or cast iron cookware.

Food storage
Many containers contain BPA a toxic substance. BPA can be found in hard, clear plastics bottle.
BPA is related to risk of cancer disease.

You should opt for glass containers or stainless steel and avoid the plastics one when this is
possible.

Wax paper
You should buy your wax paper from health store food, it is made with soya compare with the
regular wax paper made with paraffin wax a petroleum by-product.

Cotton linens
Use organic cotton linens; commercial cotton got pesticides that are harm for environment and
represent a high risk for chronic disease.

Utensils and wooden cutting boards

When you look for utensils and wooden cutting boards, buy those made from forest certified
wood.

How to make your dishwasher eco-friendly

Do not use your dishwasher if is not full. You can avoid to the air-dry program by stopping the
machine and prop the door open.
Use only natural detergent; avoid sulphates with artificial color and fragrances.
You should avoid plastic sponge and plastic scrubber; opt for organic cloths.

Dinning out
Try to choose eco-friendly kitchen too, when you decide to eat out.
Choose environmentally restaurants and cafes.
Posted in Environmentally Friendly, KITCHEN, Smart Ideas | No Comments

What are the Benefits of Teak Lumber and the

Environmentally Impact of Deforestation

Teak wood is the type of lumber that is getting more and more popular every day. Knowing
which its special qualities are you will understand why Teak lumber is in continuing and
increasing demanding. In fact, Teak lumber seems to be perfectly fit for furniture or decking
construction.
Any homeowner is pleasantly surprised by its special beauty and extraordinary durability, even if
it is exposed in harsh weather conditions.

A Little History of the Teak Lumber

Teak lumber comes from a tropical tree, Tectona Grandis, which grow in the Southeast part of
Asia. However, you can find this kind of wood growing in many places around the world but
Burma is the main exporter of Teak lumber, almost one third of production is coming from this
Asian country. It was used especially in the manufacture of the outdoor furniture and boat decks
construction.

The Environmentally Impact Conflict Teak

Today the huge demand of Teak lumber had lead to deforestation of large areas in Southeast
Asia, and especially in Burma. Burmese government regime has used the money from sales of

teak and gems to finance their maintenance in power. Of course, that has lead too many human
right violations.
For that reason many Western countries, and among them the U.S. administration, have
prohibited Teak lumber import.
A better, environmentally friendly but more expensive alternative of the Teak lumber production
are the renewable Teak plantations from South America. However, because many people
consider Burma Teak lumber having superior durability, this Conflict Teak is still in high
demanding, despite the environmental and political issues.

Teak Plantation
How I mentioned above, Tectona Grandis wood is cultivated on large plantations in South and
Central America. These plantations are very successful, because the wood has similar growing
conditions as in Burma. Not to mention the fact that sustainable Teak can be grown without using
irrigation or fertilizers. In addition, because these plantations are geographically closer from
United States, the cost of lumber is significantly cheaper.
In fact, there are no differences as quality and durability between the Burmese Teak lumber
(Conflict Teak) and Plantation Teak.
Therefore, is wiser to choose Plantation Teak lumber for your project. Only in this way, you can
enjoy the qualities of an extraordinary wood and protect the tropical forest.

Find teak wood on the planet and make a lot of furniture

Posted in Environmentally Friendly, Lumber | No Comments

How to Eliminate Pest Using Environmentally Friendly

Solutions Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
What is Integrated Pest Management or IPM?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally friendly solution, which can be
successfully applied for pest elimination. Based on human power of understanding and
knowledge, this program is used everywhere in agricultural field or in households. Therefore,
IPM is focused on the pest life cycle, their place and role in the environment. IPM is the way to
control pest without any harm for human beings, animals and without damaging our properties.

This goal can be achieved through:

a)

Observation

b)

Monitoring

c)

Prevention

d)

Intervention

The main idea is to reduce and even eliminate the use of chemical pesticides that poison our
environment. It is evident that a better alternative is to use both organic and natural pesticides
and human intelligence to control pest.

Lets see in detail the four steps.

Observation: This step is extremely important in assessing the severity of the problem and the
steps that we can take to deal with it. It takes time and patience and needs accuracy. Seeing only
one single pest does not mean that we are facing an infestation. Of course, if our observations
lead us to the fact that we are dealing with an infestation, a different approach is required.
Monitoring: This step is a critical step. Having all the observations, you have to take the proper
decision regarding the infested area. Is it necessary to use chemical pesticides or not? Take in
consideration that IPM try to reduce the use of pesticides. Therefore, you should analyze
carefully all the solutions. Maybe, it is only enough to pick up the pest or its larvae with your
hands, or maybe you can use natural and organic pesticides.

Prevention: Prevention is the next step and you need to plan carefully this step. Supposing you
have solved the problem for now, you want to make sure that you will not get an infestation in
the future. Therefore, you should take all measures to prevent recurrence. There are many ways
to do that. You can periodic spray the area with natural and organic pesticides, grow resistant
breeds of plants or specific plants that repel the pest away.
Control: This is the last solution, your plan B, if the pest infestation persists. Now, you need to
weight carefully the options that you have, in fact the use of chemical pesticides. It is a big
decision and it is recommended to try some natural products such as Cedar Oil, before applying a
radical solution.