It’s started; just yesterday a 6-person jury and a judge awarded $2.4 million to a Coconut Grove, Florida family. The drywall distributor, Banner Supply Co., is responsible for delivering half of the settlement. This case will probably send them to the poor house; what about all the other litigation cases against them? But in all fairness, they rolled the dice and lost.

And what about the carpenters who installed this tainted Chinese drywall in the first place? The media hasn’t even mentioned them yet and all those vultures in suits are still busy settling mesothelioma asbestos cases.

Hanging drywall is a dusty job. Hangers use either drywall saws or Rotozips to cut out rectangles circles, squares, and rectangles for can lights, electrical outlets, and things like that. My contention is that if merely the presence of this stuff will corrode copper, what’s the dust from it doing to carpenter’s lungs? The culprit is high sulfur content.

The only parties involved that we can be reasonably sure aren’t going to sue are the poor workers in the Chinese factory. I’m pretty sure they just go with the flow like the guys that put the lead paint on all the exports.

So what’s likely to happen? It’s fairly obvious that a building supply distributor can’t fund all the claims. They’re just not in the same fiscal league as big oil, big tobacco, or big pharma. It smells like another government bailout orchestrated by Obama and his band of Chicago thugs.



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In these tight economic times, it seems everybody is looking for a way to pinch pennies. One of the best places to begin is in the home. But the commitment to lower utility bills requires biting the bullet and opening the wallet.

There are many home improvements that will start you down that frugal road - insulation, radiant barrier foil, and replacing your incandescents with fluorescents. But a huge ROI is installing replacement windows.

There are a lot of variables to consider. It’s a balance between budget, aesthetics, and the geographic area you’re located in. Another consideration is what you need to install in order to order to qualify for an energy tax credit. It’s not enough to simply have Energy Star products like it is with refrigerators or dishwashers.

Where you live is as important. What will qualify in Wisconsin is not necessary the same as in Texas. What wacky, goofy, out-of-touch guys those legislators up in Washington are.

Then there’s the choice of filler in double-pane windows. The most common choices are air (poor), argon (better), and krypton (best, and not just because it freaks Superman out).

The prices for these three fillers go from low to high along with their efficiency. Krypton doesn’t cost more just to clean out your bank account; the gas itself is expensive. Many experts will tell you that the price isn’t justified as the payback time frame is so darned long.

Read more about fillers, pros and cons of the different types of frame materials, the U-factor, and how the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) applies to your choice. Education is key before you talk to a salesman.

Other related articles:

• Save Money with Door and Window Weatherstripping
• A Certified Home Inspector can Improve Energy Efficiency
• Save Money with Solar Window Film

I know; the first time I heard of soy-based insulation, I also had a what-the-heck moments too. It’s true though. It is available in both open-cell and closed-cell versions; the closed kind is best suited to exterior walls and the open for the interior.

One problem is that it is hard for the DIYer to retrofit because of things like, well, drywall, brick, and siding. But for new home construction it’s hard to beat. Read the whole article on soy insulation.

If this thing really takes off, I wonder if the same thing will happen to corn due to ethanol. What a misguided concept that is. Problem is, corn is one of those primary products. It goes into all kind of livestock and chicken feed. It goes into cereal and many canned and boxed foods

It’s the old law of supply and demand. When more of the available corn crops go to fuel initiatives, the price goes up. Ergo, food prices go up, up, and away, just like the old Superman show on TV. In fact, this morning on the news, it was announced that this summer the price on meat will be the highest in 20 years.

I suppose you could always go vegan. As long as you don’t include corn in your meager bottom-of-the-food-chain food lineup.

But back to insulation. Add it to your home. You will save money every month on your utility bills and you can claim an energy tax credit the next time you file your taxes. I know - I lowered my bottom line during the last filing for both attic insulation and radiant barrier foil, which is classified as an insulating product.

So, the bottom line is insulate thyself. And stock up on meat by-products while you still can.

You will also want to read:

• Radiant Barrier Foil and Paint
• Save Money with Door and Window Weatherstripping
• Great Ways to Get the Most out of Your Air Conditioner

When low flow toilets were first foisted on the public, I really hated the idea. Ironically, they usually had to be flushed twice to get the business done so they used more water rather than saving it. Another typical government bonehead legislation.

But the plumbing industry has matured somewhat and the best low flush toilets now use high pressure flushing devices or vacuum assisted tank mechanisms to make the flow go, so to speak.

The top-of-the-line models don’t come cheap though. The top model, the Toto Neorest Cyclone Flush, will set you back a staggering $3000! For that kind of money, I don’t want a cyclone; I want a hurricane! Shite!

Another ironic thing is that it seems that in this case we can’t save one element of the environment without bumping another. Kohler’s Purist Hat Pump model for example; it incorporates an electric pump to work its magic. So on the one hand, we save water. On the other hand, we use more electricity. Electricity of course,  is generated by burning evil coal, which fouls the environment.

And as we all know, that brings on “proven” global warming. Maybe Al Gore will rescue us.

You might also want to read:

• How to Fix Common Toilet Problems
• How to Replace a Toilet Wax Ring
• Benefits of the Tankless Water Heater

It’s true that it’s still cold out there, but summer will be here before you know it. So what’s the rationale for a home inspection just now? For one thing, those income tax refunds are just around the corner. If you want to find out what you need to do to conserve energy next summer and have time to do it, a certified home inspector will give you a great deal of relevant info.

For example, you might get recommendations on adding insulation, caulking windows, or installing radiant barrier foil. But a home inspector will also load you down with other info - structural integrity of the structure, condition of plumbing, foundation damage; things like that.

Note that there’s a difference between home inspectors and energy auditors. An energy auditor is more tightly focused on energy conservation, so the only aspects of the structure he or she is interested in is how it relates to your energy bill.

For example, he’ll do a blower door test. This will tell how “tight” the envelope of your home is. In general, the tighter it is, the more AC or heater air is escaping.

You should also ask for that a thermal or thermographic imaging be done. You’ve probably seen one of these on a weather report on TV. It’s a colored picture where the redder an area is, the hottest it is and bluer, cooler. This will indicate both leaks and the absence of insulation.

So basically, what you pay one of these pros is like Karma; you’ll get paid back in the long run.

Related Articles:

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I’ve got electric central heat here in my house, but the winters aren’t too severe here in South Texas so it’s not too much of an issue. But I know that readers here and over at Suite101 where I write the home renovation and repair articles live all over the place, and some have severe winters.

For that reason and because of the available energy tax credits, I’ve researched other methods of heating. It turns out that biomass fuel technology is a green and sustainable way to heat your home. Pellet stoves do a dandy job in this area.
Wood Pellets from $279, Free Ship Offer - get details

The stoves don’t come cheap and they do require some maintenance, but they are very efficient and economical to operate. The fuel (pellets) are made from things like corn stalks, scrap from cabinet shops and furniture factories. Since this is material that was destined for the landfill anyway, and will just be regrown again, it qualifies for a renewable and sustainable resource.

And we all know how hip it is to be green, long before Frank Sinatra sang that song. Boy, just knowing that song dates me, doesn’t it?

So, if you are looking to upgrade your home heating system, you might want to look into a pellet stove. They come as inserts for your existing fireplace if that’s the route you want to go, but you’ll just irritate Santa Claus.

Bamboo is fast becoming one of the hottest green flooring materials. Why green? There are at least two reasons. First and foremost, it’s sustainable. If you’ve ever had any in your backyard, you know how hard it is to contain. Even worse if you don’t want it, but it’s an under-the-fence gift from a neighbor!

Yes, I know there are non-spreading varieties. But the point is, compare bamboo’s renew rate to hardwood.

The second green aspect of bamboo is that it’s a natural product. Carpet usually has a lot of synthetics in it, and that means petrochemicals and off-gassing issues. Formaldehyde may also be an ingredient. Yuck.

There’s a variety of choices for installing bamboo flooring. It requires a dry floor and a membrane or layer of felt. Other than that, it can be nailed, glued, or floated like laminate floors. There’s something for whatever kind of subfloor you have!

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Appliance Model Number

Been there, done that. Plumbing being what it is, kitchen and bathroom drains will get stopped up on occasion, and obeying Murphy’s Law, they pick the most inconvenient times to happen.

For some reason, this is more of an issue in homes that contain small children. Ya think?

Anyhow, I am in no way a proponent of caustic, toxic chemicals like Liquid Plumr (why the heck can’t they spell that right? Marketing ploy? Ya think?) or Draino. I like the idea of those bacterial biological concoctions, but haven’t really had much luck with them.

No, I’m a believer of drain snakes and good old fashioned plumbing disassembly when it comes to unclogging drains. But sometimes, there’s no time for those remedies. Enter the homemade drain cleaner recipes. Here’s one green solution:

1. Pour 3/4 cup baking soda down the drain.
2. Follow that with 3/4 cup of vinegar
3. Go boil a quart or so of water or so and pour that in the sink.
4. Cross your fingers.

It’s not rocket science, but it may save the day. And who knows? You might end up looking like a hero to your spousal unit while saving money!

Appliance Model Number

If you live in an area with a moderate climate, you can save a bundle on utility bills by using a heat pump rather than a conventional central A/C.

On the other hand, if you reside in the arid desert, you’ll be better off with a swamp cooler. Heat pumps and central or window units remove humidity from the air while swamp coolers add it in. Having the right amount of moisture in the air is the key to comfort.

We might get some welcome rain today. That would be nice since the temps have been going over a hundred degrees F. Whew. It was so hot yesterday that my dog was chasing a rabbit and they were both walking. Ha!

Modern heat pumps have been made even more efficient by incorporating things like dual-speed compressors and blowers,  desuperheaters (love that word), and scroll compressors.

I’m not due for a new unit yet, but you can bet I’ll be looking into these when it’s time.

Most of the current green building measures focus on energy saving items like creating a tight envelope, using the recommended amount of wall and attic insulation, using salvaged and sustainable construction materials, and outfitting with Energy Star appliances. But is there more to it? Sure there is.

Consider Water Conservation

Lately there has been a great deal of concern over the availability of clean, potable water. It’s always an issue in third-world developing countries, but there’s the occasional fluster in the Western US over water rights. Other parts of the country have their own woes during droughts when water rationing takes effect. No car washing, no lawn watering, no vegetable garden action, etc.

Now the folks that make water delivery in the home both possible and attractive are getting into the green business.

John Fitzgerald, who is the Director of Marketing of the Chicago Faucet Company, puts it this way, “We regard sustainability as an opportunity to travel down new roads with our customers. Sustainability and social responsibility are closely interrelated and are important subjects for Chicago Faucets in thinking and acting in research and development and in production.”

Of course, we’ve had it up to here with low flow this and low flow that. It works well when shower heads have flow restricters installed, but toilets don’t make the grade unless they are properly designed or have some kind of turbo accelerator to take care of business.

In any event, look for your plumber to become a more caring, sensitive, politically correct person.

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Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to run!