The 2011 American Institute of Architects conference was held in New Orleans this year.
While the flood waters of the Mississippi raged on the other side of the levee, conference goers attended educational sessions, visited exhibits and even learned some things. Plus, they enjoyed New Orleans food, music and ambiance.
Above, I explain to a crowd of architects the ins and outs of raised floor insulation, ventilation and moisture management.
If you're from a "heating climate," one where you spend most of your annual utility bill on heating your home in the winter, you have quite a different experience from those of us in a "cooling climate," where the bulk of our annual utility outlay is spent on air conditioning during the blazing hot summers.
I never considered one type of climate control more important that the other. But I have come across some articles lately on the federal budget cuts, one of which is cutting heating assistance for poor people, and one of the criticisms for the program is that some people use those funds for air conditioning.
This got me thinking: is heating really more vital to human well-being than air conditioning? I say no way! If you live in an area like I do where the temperature can be 100 degrees with 90 percent humidity, that is life-threatening, my friend.
Some people think we're being extravagant down here in the south to use air conditioning. But do they feel they're being extravagant heating their homes in winter? We use very little energy down here in the south during the winter. I guess we could say to the northerners: man up and live in a cold house. But of course, I wouldn't say that.
Others say: Turn off your air conditioner because our ancestors lived without air conditioning. The truth is, houses back then were built to allow for air flow. There were tall ceilings and leaky walls and porches and transoms.
Now the houses are tighter, with windows that barely open, and insulation in the walls.
If we are to cut down on air conditioning costs, we can either restore to our old homes the air-moving features of a century ago, or we can seal them up so a very little bit of air conditioning goes a long way.
No matter what we do, please don't discount our need for air conditioning. If you could experience what we experience down here, you'd know it's a matter of life and death, not just comfort.
In exchange, I won't challenge your need and right to warm your home in the winter. Deal?
From Bill Robinson and Train2Rebuild
RRP Question — Is it a violation of the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) for a homeowner to hire a firm that is not certified?
RRP Answer — From the EPA:
The Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) does not impose requirements on homeowners, unless they are performing renovations in rental space. However, the hired firm would be in violation of the RRP Rule if it was uncertified and performing a covered renovation.
From Bill Robinson at Train2Rebuild
Are you worried about moisture damage to your New Orleans home? You should be.
From Bill Robinson at Train2Rebuild
Just FYI, I'll be part of the team putting on this CEU workshop Nov. 18 and Dec. 2. If you need CEU credits, and are in the area, register below:
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CEU Training for Builders and Code Officials
BREAKING IN to new methods or markets is such a challenge. Consumers are more energy conscious. Building codes are more demanding. The learning curve is steep and the first-time do-overs are too costly, right?
NOW - for just a few months - you can benefit from a builder's experience with :
$30 - REGISTER NOW
Each class limited to 30
Workshops at Going Up Going Green can be customized for designers, engineers, architects, realtors and others.
Contact Pat about a date and your program interest at (225) 578-2910 or [email protected].
Let’s learn what you can from these homes before they’re closed up this spring and sold to three lucky families.
Register with Southern Forest Products Association
FAX: 504-443-6612 or [email protected]
Homes made available by
Wooden Creations Homes, Inc.
Have you seen Daily 5 Remodel, the new offering led by Leah Thayer, a former senior editor at Remodeling Magazine?
d5R, as it's known, is a daily blast of news and features custom made for remodeling contractors and others in the industry. Here's the shout-out I got today:
He Trains, They Build
"I've taught thousands of remodeling professionals and teach at least one RRP class a week, but the most fun I've ever had has been since Kathy (my wife) and I moved to New Orleans two years ago to be part of the rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. Kathy and I live in a house facing the 1,300-acre New Orleans City Park with oak trees that were here when Columbus landed."Bill Robinson, Train to Rebuild, New Orleans, Louisiana
This week I had the pleasure of teaching the RRP certification class to a group of apprentices who are learning traditional building crafts thanks to Prince Charles and The Prince's Foundation For the Built Environment.
As you can see, these young folks are having fun in the class, as young folks are wont to do. This program is being co-sponsored by the highly esteemed Preservation Resource Center in New Orleans.
You know, I could have fun doing this every day of the week. If you have any young or young-at-heart people who need RRP certification, please let me know.
NEW Train2Rebuild DVD
On-the-Job Training: RRP Lead-Safe Practices
Above: BIll Robinson leads a field training day for those involved in New Orleans rebuilding.
As we move through the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region, more resources are being made available to improve the process.
These comes from many sources and one important resource is Global Green.
Using grant funds, the local Global Green office is providing training to local rebuilding groups to raise the bar for building efficient, durable and healthy homes.
Bill Robinson, through Train2ReBuild, delivered a one-day field exercise to point out real world examples of how the process can be improved.
The highlights were insulating gutted homes, air sealing, and material selection.
During the one-day outing the importance of preplanning and team building were emphasized.
When hurricane Katrina blew into New Orleans four years ago, Matt Petersen watched in shock as the floodwaters retreated, revealing one of the most devastating natural disasters in US history: billions of dollars in damages, 80 percent of the city flooded with filthy water, and a government response that provoked a firestorm of criticism.“I watched everything play out in horror,” says Mr. Petersen. “And, like everyone else, I went through the process of thinking, ‘What can I do?’ ”
Petersen donated money and considered volunteering, but that wasn’t enough. “I kept feeling this well up inside me, I felt compelled to act,” he says.
As the city’s cleanup began, Petersen, the president and CEO of Global Green, an environmental nonprofit that promotes green building, saw a silver – or green – lining in Katrina’s catastrophic wake
See the whole story at features.csmonitor.com
