St. Louis's Green Blog

Sage is closed. Now where do I turn for great green info in St. Louis?

2010-07-19T10:02:00.002-05:00

During its tenure as St. Louis's leading green builder, Sage made an effort to be the go-to resource for all things green locally. Now that the business is closed, we don't want to leave you without access to valuable green resources in the area.

The leading sites for finding out information on green in St. Louis are:

St. Louis Green
and, while national in its content, the locally-written blog http://blog.sustainablog.org/

We hope these links are of value. We'll miss being your trusted name in St. Louis green building.

Replishing the Earth, LLC helps you green up your business

2009-11-05T10:02:00.001-06:00

Replenishing the Earth, LLC helps corporations, schools, restaurants, institutions, and you save money, significantly reduce waste, and "replenish the earth."

The company helps your business apply cradle-to-cradle concepts to waste management and the product choices you make.

Service they offer include:

•Perform comprehensive waste audit to identify composting & recycling opportunities. Ninety percent of waste sent to a landfill can be composted or recycled (e.g., new construction site, institutions).

•Provide cost analysis of composting and recycling versus landfilling. Significant savings in waste disposal costs can be obtained.

•Outline opportunities for reducing waste by replacing disposables with recyclable, compostable, or reusable alternatives.

•Supply tools, education, collection containers, and signage for sorting and collection of compostables and recyclables.

•Manage collection, pickup, and delivery of food waste, compostable food serviceware, and other organics to a commercial composting facility.

They also offer product lines such as: compostable food service ware, green paper products (janitorial and food service), green janitorial supplies, pet supplies, and more.

This is a women-owned business RTE that is the flagship within the BEGIN New Venture Center (BNVC), an innovative business incubator located at the St. Patrick Center, a homeless center.

For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.replenishingtheearth.com

LEED for Homes Event - An Overview for builders and contractors

2009-10-15T17:41:00.000-05:00

"A COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THE LEED – H PROCESS AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOUR PROJECT."
November 10th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM

This is a two hour class prepared specifically for builders, contractors and trades-people. They will cover in detail the LEED for HOMES process as it would apply to a traditionally built new home, or gut rehab.

The following topics will be covered:
• All required submittals; Durability Risk Form, Durability Evaluation Form, Point Credit Review spread sheet, Accountability Forms.
• Project flow; timelines, deadlines, etc.
• Roles and responsibilities of team members; LEED AP, Builder, Key
Trades, Green Verifier, Client.
• Comprehensive overview of all mandatory measures (Prerequisites)
• A comparison of other green home certification programs.
• Q & A and a discussion of concerns and strategies.

LEED for Homes Certification is becoming a frequent request in the building market and stands to have a significant impact on how homes are built, now and into the future.

Instructors - This class will be taught by LEED AP Jen Loui (Project Manager and veteran teacher) and LEED AP Gary Steps (Senior Consultant and founder of Butterfly Energy Works.)
Date - November 10th, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
Where - The Butterfly office: 146 West Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Cost - $40 per person

To register call 314-961-8418.

Beer, wine and snacks will be provided at the break.

More on Energy Star

2009-04-17T12:02:00.003-05:00

Today's newsletter made mention of the Missouri Energy Star tax holiday. Here's a fun little calculator from Energy Star that can help you look at how much you could be saving if got rid of your old fridge (by recycling it on Craigslist or Freecycle =) ) and bought a new Energy Star model. Per the calculator, Missouri's average kWh is $0.0745 (For you hard core number crunchers, AmerenUE's quoted prices are .0792/kWh for their summer rate, with winter pricing on your 1st 750 hours at .0548/kWh and .0348/kWh for each additional).

Growing Green Awards Gala - STL-USGBC

2009-04-05T19:18:00.004-05:00

The St. Louis Regional Chapter of the USGBC held their first annual "Growing Green Awards" March 31st, and it was an absolutely wonderful event. The setting, the Coronado, was gorgeous and the food and drink delightful -- and it was green as could be.

From the program...

"All communication (in creating the event) has been electrionic rather than printed.
We wanted to provide this printed program as a momento of this occasion. It was printed with an ink-saving font on recycled paper. However, when you no longer have a use for it, please recycle it.
Awards are made from FSC wood and recycled paper.
The food is locally grown and/or organic.
The Coronado uses only eco-friendly cleaning products and recycles.
The wine is from Trinity Oaks, which plant a tree for each bottle sold.
The centerpieces are made frmo all natural and/or local materials.
The soy candles are locally made. Their containers are returned and reused.
The power for the event is being off-set with wind energy through Ameren/UEs Pure Power Program."

We were thrilled to be nominated twice, and to have one of our homeowners nominated (Dale and Sharon Becker, whose home took Platinum in the green category of St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles magazine awards).

The list of nominees was a who's who of the people who are taking going green as far as they can. The nominees for Residential were:

Dale and Sharon Becker
Matt Belcher, Belcher Homes
Champion Floor Company
Beth Gellman, Lewisites Landscape Architecture
Habitat for Humanity
James Holtzman Architects
Home Eco
Laclede Gas Company
Jim and Deb Matush
Tim Montgomery, TMA Architects
Tim O'Hallearn Smilin'O'Associates
Greg Polanik, Polanik Architects
Red Brick Community and Trust
Sage Homebuilders
Jason Stone, Sage Homebuilders
Trout & Co.
Tim and Christina Williamson

Habitat for Humanity came away the winner, and the award was well deserved. 27 homes - LEED Platinum! Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

Reclaimed Lumber

2009-03-17T17:42:00.002-05:00

Once in a while you have something on a project that just comes out so good that you just want to share it with everyone. I think this photo was taken on a cell phone, so it doesn't do the work justice (I'm still having technical issues loading my own photos so I'm stealing this one from our clients' blog =) ). Major kudos go to Bill Newberry (newberryfurniture.com) for the custom-made newel posts that he made from reclaimed lumber (from an old school house, I'm told). These are quarter-sawn oak, and if I may so, they are beautiful.

New-Home Construction Logs Unexpected Gain

2009-03-17T08:24:00.001-05:00

New-Home Construction Logs Unexpected Gain- AP
The government says construction of new homes rose sharply in February, defying economists' forecasts for yet another drop in activity. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that construction of new homes and apartments jumped 22.2 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 583,000 units. Economists were expecting construction to drop to a pace of around 450,000 units.

Another Winner! Photos are live!

2009-03-04T11:18:00.003-06:00

Congratulations to our clients, the Beckers, whose Sage-built, Sarah Susanka-inspired home has won a Platinum Award in this month's issue of St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles!

The home is featured on page 14 of the issue.

Here are some highlight photos you will not find in the magazine:

The Home Show starts Thursday!

2009-03-03T20:27:00.004-06:00

Vendor Highlight: Mwanzi Green Building Supply

2009-03-03T16:00:00.002-06:00

Mwanzi Green Building Supply was founded in 2005 in response to a market need: one of the most significant barriers to sustainable building was the difficulty of sourcing appropriate, affordable, alternative products in St. Louis. Four years later the challenge remains the same. Even when available, there is a lack of information on the benefits and uses of green products, or affordable pricing. To fill this void, Mwanzi was born: the first and only exclusively green building supplier in St. Louis (Ed. Note: Sage feels a kinship on this whole first and only exclusive green thing...). Its selection allows building professionals and homeowners to source green building materials from a centralized supplier, saving time and money. See their site for information on the green products they carry, which include flooring, countertops, paints and more...

Check them out at http://www.mwanzi.com/

DOE and EPA Recognize Bosch with 2009 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for Appliances

2009-03-02T18:44:00.003-06:00

With the upcoming Missouri sales tax holiday on Energy Star appliances coming soon, here's some news to consider (I've basically cut and pasted the highlights from their official press release, but I will say that the award should carry some weight. After all, Sage is an Energy Star Builder Partner.).

DOE and EPA Recognize Bosch with 2009 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for Appliances

Bosch Receives Award for its Continued Commitment to Energy-Efficient Appliances

(Huntington Beach, CA – March 2, 2009) – Renowned for its leadership in developing energy- and water-efficient appliances, Bosch has been named the 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Appliances by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes Bosch for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient appliances and helping to educate consumers about those products. (blah, blah, blah... had to cut this part - it was very dry)

American consumers, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $19 billion on their energy bills last year and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles. (blah, blah, blah...)

Bosch is the only U.S. manufacturer to have the ENERGY STAR qualification on all its product models in every major appliance category the program rates. In fact, Bosch offers a combination of eco-friendly product features that distinguish the brand as a high-efficiency champion, including the breakthrough EcoAction™ program on select dishwasher and clothes washer and dryer models. With just a push of the EcoAction button, consumers can enjoy additional energy savings of up to 25% without sacrificing the product’s cleaning results. Moreover, Bosch’s Evolution™ SHE98 and Integra® SHX98 dishwashers are the quietest models in the industry and among the most energy efficient. Both models exceed the minimum federal energy standard by 147%, with a yearly usage of only 190 kWh – approximately the same amount of energy as a dishwasher half their size. Bosch’s high performance refrigeration models combine technology with matchless environmental responsibility. Bosch’s award-winning microsite, the online Green Resource Center, highlights the brand’s green appliances and informational tools for consumers and builders. Through the Green Resource Center, consumers can learn about Bosch’s ENERGY STAR qualified products and money saving rebates, while builders and designers can access a tool that can be applied to their current projects and guide them through national and/or regional Green Building Certifications.

Bosch helps many non-profits, including the U.S. Green Building Council, promote sustainable construction. Bosch products have been included in many of the country’s first LEED homes. Bosch also supports green programs like Earth Pledge, and developers of new concepts in pre-fabricated green housing like LivingHomes®.

The 2009 Partner of the Year Awards are given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

For more information, please visit http://www.boschappliances.com/ or call 800.921.9622 to request a catalog.

For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov/ or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

GreenHome.com: Top 10 Greenwashes for 2008

2009-02-14T00:45:00.006-06:00

I'm a sucker for a good list (I read once that most Americans are), and this one was one I felt worthy of sharing (though I can't attest to the accuracy of any of their choices, only that they've provided links to documentation.). As the environmental and health issues of all things green continue to have traction with the public, we'll see more of the misuse of green in marketing. JS

From the site:

Since 1999 Green Home has only sold products that are 100% guaranteed to be green. (per GreenHome.com).

Recently, some companies, in an effort to associate themselves with green values, have been promoting themselves or their products as greener than they actually are - a process called "greenwashing."Greenwashing is very dangerous. Going green represents a monumental, positive shift in our country's priorities. While we love that many companies are now conscious of their environmental impact, some are not accurately or honestly representing their response to the climate crisis. People who are already feeling challenged about going green can easily become confused about what is truly green and what is simply green spin - and this confusion can quickly turn to apathy or an excuse to throw up their hands and do nothing.Greenhome.com has been making it easy for America to go green since 1999 by providing you with a wealth of truly green products under one roof. To aid you in separating true green from the green hype, here is our list of the Top Ten Greenwashes of 2008:

Chevron's "Will You Join Us" campaign and those Go Green Paper Coffee Holders- Original Source: http://www.willyoujoinus.com/

Chevron's profit on the oil they sold in 2008 was $40 billion. Meanwhile, last year they sold off many solar and wind investments to maximize short term shareholder benefit. Never mind the irony about one of the biggest polluters on earth asking us to join them in going green -- Green Home feels that the vehicle the campaign chose to disseminate their "green" message, paper coffee holders, is a total waste of paper. Throwing away a paper cup and coffee sleeve each time you drink coffee is no way to send a message about going green. Instead, use a reusable mug!

Best Expose: http://members.greenpeace.org/blog/greenwash/2008/09/26/chevron_oil

Greenworks by Clorox- Original Source: http://www.greenworkspresskit.com/
Clorox paid a significant amount of money for the Sierra Club's endorsement of their products, and it is not clear which of these two organizations is further stretched from their core mission by this deal. The Sierra Club has never been involved with cleaning products or even product claims of any kind. We were surprised by this partnership, as there has been no independent scientific evaluation of Greenworks products to determine if they are safe and green. Clorox has built their business on the idea that bleach is healthy to use on a daily basis. In fact, the overuse of bleach is one of the major causes of respiratory and other illnesses.
If you are interested in reading more about healthy cleaning products, see the cleaning issue of our Green Living magazine.

Best Expose: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/128/cleaning-solution.html?page=0,1

Chevy Tahoe as the 2008 Green Car of the Year- Original Source: http://www.greencar.com/features/2008greencar/

Although Chevy claims the Tahoe gets 20MPG in the city, it is not green. Manufacturing an SUV requires a huge amount of embodied energy (the total amount of materials and energy that go into the finished product). Detroit's unwillingness to stop focusing on SUVs as cash cows is one of the main reasons for the economic meltdown and subsequent bailout.

Best Expose: http://thesietch.org/mysietch/keith/2008/05/12/chevy-tahoe-hybrid-read-the-figures-and-weep/

Easyjet (Who advertised flying in an airplane as greener than driving a Prius!)- Original Source: http://www.easyjet.com/en/Environment/index.html

Easyjet makes the claim that less carbon is created flying in an airplane than driving a Prius. It's simply untrue. Flying is much more wasteful than driving, which itself is much more wasteful than taking public transportation. A single coast to coast roundtrip flight is equivalent to driving the average car 475 miles a month for a whole year. Scary fact, huh?Best Expose: http://www.greenwashingindex.com/ad_single.php?id=4118 http://airfare.michaelbluejay.com/modes.html

MBNA Eco-Logique Credit Card- Original Source: http://www.livclean.ca/Eco-Logique/index.php

Bank of America (MBNA's parent company), one of the world's leading lenders to the coal industry, offers an Eco-Logique MasterCard that claims to reward customers with carbon offsets as they use the card. Aside from the fact that it's another "spend more to save more" scheme (when over-consumption is at the heart of our country's economic crisis), only half a percent of the purchase price goes into purchasing carbon offsets. Great start, but we think they can offer consumers a better deal.Best Expose: http://www.pilmerpr.com/media/08.03.17.Beware-of-Greenwashing.pdf

Fiji Water- Original Source: http://www.fijigreen.com/OurPromise.html http://www.csrwire.com/news/11649

Bottled water, according to a 2001 report of the World Wide Fund, generates 1.5 million tons of plastic each year, almost all of which end up in landfills. Not to mention that when plastic bottles are heated, like when left in the sun, molecules from the #1 PET plastic leach into the water, ending up in our bodies forever when we drink it. While it's true that Fiji Water, owned by Roll International, measured and disclosed its carbon footprint in April of 2008 and joined the Carbon Disclosure Project, there's more to bottled water than carbon. Green Home's solution: Ditch the bottle, and buy a Klean Kanteen.

Best Expose: http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/07/news/companies/taco_fiji.fortune/

Green Diamonds- Original Source: http://www.thechicecologist.com/2008/12/eco-concious-diamonds-synthetics-and-simulants/

There has been little or no certification to the source regarding just about all diamonds coming into the USA. They are now largely routed through Canada, where some are sold as a Green Diamonds, but there has been precious little proof for this claim. Almost all diamonds come through DeBeers, and this company has an atrocious record of protecting the environment. Diamond mining requires moving large amounts of rocks and materials, and entire ecosystems are often disturbed in the process. The only environmentally friendly diamonds are man made.

Best Expose: http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1121.html http://www.amnestyusa.org/amnestynow/diamonds.html
Clean Coal- Original Source: http://www.greenwashingindex.com/ad_single.php?id=971
Coal-fired power plants produce massive emissions and are the largest industrial source of mercury pollution in the country. Coal is dangerous to mine and dangerous to burn. There is no such thing as "clean coal".

Best Expose: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/coals-other-major-pollutant-mercury.php?daylife=1

Ethanol- Original Source: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines07/0305-05.htm
Ethanol - A good idea in theory, but not in practice. Perhaps a cleaner burning fuel, Ethanol requires almost as much energy to produce (more, according to some studies) as it releases when it is burned. Ethanol will raise the price of food - more land will be used to grow corn, leaving less land to grow other grains and products, raising the cost of food across the board. Green? We don't think so!

Best Expose: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/311225_ethanol12.html http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/asfh-ebp070208.php

Simple Green- Original Source: http://www.womenandenvironment.org/pdf/2008_report_card.pdf
Women's Voices for the Earth (WVE) published the results of a study of five leading cleaning product companies regarding the use and labeling of toxic ingredients in products. Simple Green, manufactured by Sunshine Makers Inc., was one of the companies investigated and they did not pass. On their report card, they received a D+ in product ingredient disclosure, a D+ in toxic chemicals screening process, and a C in the toxic chemicals in their products. Is Simple Green "green"? No, it is not. Here are a few products that clean better and are actually green!

Best Expose: http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/04/simple-green-simply-greenwashing-consumer-for-decades/ http://www.care2.com/greenliving/greenwashed-by-simple-green-ask-annie.html

(Ed. note: I'm not sure I agree with this last one, as I LOVE SimpleGreen. To be fair, it's been around as SimpleGreen long before "green" meant what it now means (it's green colored). If you check the expose link there's a compeling response by the company's rep that they're not greenwashing. Plus, it smells terrific and it gets stuff CLEAN. I've used it on final construction cleans as long as I can remember. I have had mixed experiences with green cleaning products, but I do find that the Better Life line of products that we use in our home is very effective, particularly the glass cleaner, "I Can See Clearly Now." Also, I find a simple mix of 1 part vinegar to 9 parts water does wonders for cleaning my hardwood floors -- and it's crazy cheap to make.)

Efficiency Alone Could Cut U.S. Electricity Use by 30 Percent: RMI Study

2009-02-14T00:21:00.003-06:00

(Ed. Note: This is interesting news from GreenerBuildings.com about a report that's just come out from RMI. The report indicates that if we all followed the energy reduction practices of the Top 10 performing states, the country's energy consumption as a whole could be reduced by a whopping 30% (which could reduce our need for coal fired electricity by just over 60%). They're not talking researching new technologies or making huge economic investments in cleantech infrastructure, but simply reducing energy consumption through best practices.

Missouri ranks a disappointing 35th in its productive use of energy. We have room to improve. - JS)

Efficiency Alone Could Cut U.S. Electricity Use by 30 Percent: RMI Study

SNOWMASS, Colo. (http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2009/02/10/efficiency-us-electricity) -- An assessment of the "electric productivity" of the 50 states indicates that shoring up performance gaps through energy efficiency could not only cut consumption by 30 percent, but also eliminate the need for more than 60 percent of coal-fired generation, according to a new study by the Rocky Mountain Institute.

The RMI study, "Assessing the Electric Productivity Gap and the U.S. Efficiency Opportunity," determines the productivity rate of each state by measuring how much gross domestic product is generated for each kilowatt-hour consumed.

The results varied widely among the states. The five showing the highest electric productivity rates are New York, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware and California. The bottom five are Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky and, in last place, Mississippi.

If states were brought up to the range of productivity rates attained by the top 10 performers, which the report contends could be achieved through energy efficiency alone, then more than 60 percent of the country's coal-fired generation could be avoided, the study says.

"Closing the electric productivity gap through energy efficiency is the largest near-term opportunity to immediately reduce electricity use and greenhouse gases, and move the United States forward as a leader in the new clean energy economy," Natalie Mims, a consultant on RMI's Energy and Resources Team, said in a statement.

RMI developed an interactive map with its study. To view the map and determine how your state is faring, click here.

Other findings of the study include:
• If the rest of the country achieved the normalized electric productivity of the top performing states, with 100 percent adoption the country would save a total of ~1.2 million gigawatt-hours annually.
• 1.2 million gigawatt-hours amounts to about 30 percent of the country's electricity use, or 62 percent of the nation's coal fired electrical power.
• In 2020, if the United States can on average achieve the electric productivity of the top performing states today, the country can anticipate a 34 percent reduction in projected electricity demand and maintain 2.5 percent annual economic growth.

ANSI approves National Green Building Standards

2009-02-11T09:18:00.004-06:00

Big news from Residential Design Build Magazine (http://www.rdbmagazine.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=2857&pageNum=2)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 –The National Green Building Standard for all residential construction work including single-family homes, apartments and condos, land development and remodeling and renovation was approved today by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The approval signals a new era for the nation’s builders, remodelers and developers and also provides an extra measure of reassurance for home buyers, said Joe Robson, a home builder in Tulsa, Okla., and Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

“The National Green Building Standard is now the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes,” said Ron Jones, who chaired the consensus committee charged with developing the standard.

“The standard provides home builders and remodelers with a much more expansive third-party rating system that they can use to achieve green certification under NAHBGreen and the National Green Building Certification Program,” said Mike Luzier, CEO of the NAHB Research Center.

The Research Center provides certification for NAHBGreen projects, which until now have only included single-family homes. “Consumers are looking for authentic, verifiable green building practices, and now they’ll find them with a true industry consensus standard for residential green building,” Luzier said.

The standard defines what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction and how home owners can operate and maintain their green homes.

But the National Green Building Standard also provides for flexibility - allowing home builders and home buyers to make green choices based on climate and geography as well as style preferences and budget.

As part of the stringent process required by ANSI, NAHB and the International Code Council gathered a fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts. The work of the consensus committee was administered by the NAHB Research Center, an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer.

The consensus committee deliberated the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings and evaluated over 3,000 public comments in the development of the standard.

From Seattle Real Estate News: Green homes selling faster, for more

2009-02-11T08:54:00.004-06:00

From: http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/realestatenews/archives/142431.asp

Green homes are selling faster and for more, for more Homes certified as environmentally friendly are selling faster and for more money than other homes in King County, according to a new analysis.

Seattle's GreenWorks Realty looked at sales for the nine months ending May 31 using statistics from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which added green features fields to its system in June 2007.

New houses with third-party green certification – such as Built Green, Northwest Energy Star Homes and LEED for Homes – sold in 18 percent less time and for 37 percent more per square foot than non-certified houses, GreenWorks said. Green-certified condos sold 10 percent faster and for 28 percent more per square foot.

Certified houses accounted for about 17 percent of King County house sales and 19 percent of condo sales in those nine months. The analysis did not ask buyers what factor certification played in their purchase decisions. "

This is good news for our kids, our communities, our planet," GreenWorks founder Ben Kaufman said in a news release. "This information encourages savvy remodelers and builders to make green a priority."

Previously, the idea that people would pay more for green homes was mostly based on surveys and expectation, said Aaron Adelstein, executive director of Built Green of King and Snohomish Counties. "Now we have the first hard data to back up what many of us have believed for a long time – green homes have greater value."

Green construction can conserve energy and water, improve indoor air quality, reduce construction waste and replace some materials with others that are better for the environment.

In the Know: Blue is the new Green?

2009-02-05T14:02:00.006-06:00

"According to the Color Marketing Group, an international non-profit association of color design professionals that has been predicting color trends for more than 45 years, blue is the new green. This year, the green environmental message is delivered by the color blue." - HousingZone

Green Product: Kirei Board

2009-02-04T10:27:00.006-06:00

Sage is always being introduced to new and exciting green products. We're going to try to do a better job of including mentions of those products here at the blog.

Here's a short video on Kirie board, which keeps popping up into our line of sight of late. It's a unique looking green product that has a wealth of applications. Here's a video pulled from the high design, green building site Shift33.

Kirei Board is available locally through Mwanzi (tell 'em Sage sent you):
625 N. Euclid Avenue, Suite 320i
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-288-7778

Financial Incentives Could Spur Green Roof Installations

2009-02-03T12:30:00.006-06:00

Provision in new stimulus bill would grant homeowners a 30% tax credit toward the expense of such an upgrade.
By: Nigel F. Maynard

American landscape architects and a Canadian nonprofit green roof industry association say that the United States could see a surge in green roof installations if a provision in a recently introduced Senate stimulus bill becomes law.

The Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 (S.320) introduced by Sen. Maria E. Cantwell (D-Wash.) intends to create green-collar jobs and revitalize the economy through clean energy investments. But the bill also provides financial incentives for homeowners or commercial building owners which chose to install green roofs on their buildings.

A green (or sod) roof is exactly what it sounds like: a roof that consists of vegetation—usually drought-tolerant sedums, plants, or shrubs—that is planted in a growth medium. The roof generally involves a multilayer system of waterproof and root-repellent membranes, a drainage system, filter cloth, and lightweight soil.

Under Section 506 of the bill, residential (as well as commercial property owners) will receive a 30 percent tax credit for qualified green roof expenses. The tax credit applies to both new and retrofit projects, but it requires that at least 50 percent of the roof area be covered with vegetation.

“This is a watershed moment for the green roof industry," said Steven W. Peck, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, which worked with the American Society of Landscape Architects to help Sen. Cantwell’s office draft the section of the bill that is focused on the green roof incentive. “This bill will deliver an enormous number of green collar jobs, not just today, but also in five years from now, while also saving energy, improving stormwater management, cooling cities, cleansing the air, and beautifying our rooftops.”

Green roof advocates say the system offers a wide variety of benefits for homeowners, such as adding insulation to a house and helping to keep the house cool since the roof is not getting direct sunlight. But there are other benefits. “For society at large, green roofs strip the air of pollutants, and helps with stormwater management,” said Peck. “If you install enough in an area, it cools the area, which saves money in energy costs and limits greenhouse gas.”

That cooling effect is particular important in urban areas, where green roofs reduce the “heat island effect,” a situation in which dark surfaces—such as asphalt roofs in a city—absorb sunlight and radiate it back into the atmosphere as heat.

Peck said green roofs also help stimulate the economy because most of the jobs generated from green roof installations happen locally and regionally. “For every dollar spent, the $2 or $3 generated go toward creating jobs where the roof is installed,” he said.

Sen. Cantwell noted this benefit as well in a statement introducing the bill. “In these times of economic uncertainty, growing the green economy and investing in clean energy technologies is the key to job growth and breaking the United States’ debilitating dependence on foreign oil,” she said. “While installing a green roof may seem like a small step, these upgrades save energy, filter and absorb pollution, and store carbon. As individuals and businesses continue to look for ways to combat high energy costs and improve the health of their neighborhoods and environment, providing green roof incentives just makes sense.”

Meanwhile, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has launched a new, multi-disciplinary Green Roof Professional (GRP) program–-much like U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Professional Accreditation—and will administer the first exam at its annual conference this June in Atlanta. Under the program, an individual can become GRP-accredited to provide green roof design, products, and installation services to meet the new demands that potentially could be generated from this bill.

Nigel Maynard is senior editor, products, at BUILDER magazine.

Consumer Reports: 5 ways to slash your heating bills

2009-02-02T13:00:00.001-06:00

Some oldie, but goodie green advice direct from Consumer Reports...

With the cold weather still hanging around, there's still time to cut your energy bill. Here are five low- and no-cost moves to help you save money, while staying comfortable at the same time.

1. Add insulation. Insulating the attic or basement is typically inexpensive and easy to do yourself. Adding attic insulation can lower your heating costs from 5 to 30 percent, according to a U.S. Department of Energy study. Lay insulation between attic-floor joists and on the hatch or door, or add more if it's already there. Look for insulation that’s become dirty, a sign of air movement that reveals other gaps you must fill. Also insulate ducts running through the attic.

2. Seal up the leaks. Caulking and weather-stripping cracks and gaps around your home are some of the most cost-effective steps you can take to conserve heat. Focus on the attic, basement, windows, and doorways. Also check near pipes, vents, or electrical conduits that go through the wall, ceiling, or floor. When sealing leaks, use “no-VOC” or “low-VOC” caulking to minimize potentially harmful indoor gases. Look for these products at your hardware store or online.

3. Program thermostats for savings. Shave up to 20 percent off your heating costs by lowering the thermostat 5°F at night and 10°F during the day if no one is home. Most electronic setback thermostats let you set different schedules for weekdays and weekends. Some automatically switch from heating to cooling, and many tell you when it's time to change your furnace or air-conditioner filter. Read our October 2007 report on thermostats for more expert advice, and see how we test thermostats.

4. Save money on hot water. Insulating hot-water pipes and lowering the temperature on your water heater from 130° to 120° can help you save up to 5 percent on your energy bills.

5. Shorten showers. Showers account for two-thirds of your water-heating costs, so even shaving off a few minutes can help. Replacing a showerhead that’s more than 12 years old with a low-flow model can save up to half the hot water used for showering.

A Little Fun: Kohler's Water Quiz

2009-02-02T11:31:00.001-06:00

Did you know that by 2013, at least 36 states in the U.S. expect water shortages? You can make a difference. It’s easy.

Take a 90-second quiz, learn how to save money on your water bill, and join Kohler in helping Habitat for Humanity’s sustainable building efforts.

For every quiz completed, Kohler will donate $1 in water-saving products. Tell all your clients and friends! You can track the total donations every time you visit the site. Test your water smarts. Take the quiz now!

Announcing the USGBC-STL Growing Green Awards

2009-02-01T12:07:00.004-06:00

The St. Louis Chapter of the United States Green Buidling Council has announced the "Growing Green Awards - Transforming theBuilt Environment"

The Growing Green Awards: Transforming the Built Environment were launched by our local USGBC chapter on Monday, January 12. They will be accepting nominations until February 16 in six categories: Commercial, Government, Education, Residential, Innovator and Quietly Green. The public announcement of winners and an awards event will take place on March 31. Nomination forms for Growing Green Awards: Transforming the Built Environment are available at http://chapters.usgbc.org/stlouis/documents/GrowingGreenAwards-GeneralRequirementsCriteria.pdf.

For more information, call Emily Andrews at 314-577-0854 or email usgbc-stl@mobot.org.

Our 100th Post!: The 9,000,000 Jobs Investment Plan

2009-01-30T08:47:00.007-06:00

The Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan: A Better Use of TARP Funds
From Architecture 2030

(Ed. Note: Several years ago it was a call-to-arms speech by Ed Mazria of Architecture 2030 that was influencial in convincing the owners of Sage that going green-only was the only way to run our company.

In the article below, the organization lays out a compelling plan for using green to give the economy the kick start it needs. Within the plan is the funding for the extensive greening of our country's built environment. The plan offers a potential triple whammy of increasing efficiencies of our buildings, decreasing consumers' energy costs, and the infusion of a massive number of new jobs into the economy.)

....

To most effectively use remaining TARP funds and directly address the mortgage crisis, Architecture 2030 is urging the White House and Congress to support the The Two-Ye ar, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan (an update to the 2030 Challenge Stimulus Plan). With an investment of $192.47 billion ($96.235 billion each year for two years), this Plan creates, in just two years:

- over 9 million new jobs,
- $1 trillion in direct, non-federal investment and spending, and
- a new $236 billion renovation market that could grow to $2.6 trillion by 2030 and over $5.47 trillion by 2069.

Also critically important:

the Plan pays for itself annually through the new tax base created, this new tax base also provides the needed funding for public infrastructure and building projects, and
the Plan can be implemented quickly through existing federal programs.

What can you do?

Architecture 2030 wants you to add your voice to the cause. Please urge your representatives to support the Two-Year, Nine-Million Jobs Investment Plan. A sample letter is available at the Architecture 2030 website, here.

Hope Resides in the Private Building Sector

The Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan is so effective because it invests funds directly in the sector that is dragging down the entire economy, i.e. the private building sector. The private building sector represents 93% of total U.S. building stock and affects virtually every industry and sector in the U.S. It also generates substantial private investment and spending, which makes the 9 million jobs possible. Although important, the public building sector accounts for only 7% of total U.S. building stock and, compared to private building, generates very little private investment and spending, resulting in far fewer jobs. Addressing the foreclosure crisis and the collapse of the private building sector is critical to stabilizing the U.S. economy. The Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan addresses both, as well as many other challenges facing the country, including energy independence and climate change. With a single investment, the U.S. can create millions of jobs, strengthen the U.S. economy, reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption, and save consumers billions of dollars. Investing in the private building sector is the only investment that can accomplish all of these objectives simultaneously.

Additional information is available at the Architecture 2030 website. To read the updated Plan (along with the specifics of how they propose to accomplish these objectives) click here.

Edward Mazria Takes the Stage with Obama Advisor John Podesta

Edward Mazria is scheduled to appear alongside John Podesta at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC next month. Mr. Podesta, a key advisor to President Obama, is President of the Center for American Progress and served as Chief of Staff in the Clinton White House. Mr. Mazria will present the Two-Year, Nine-Million-Jobs Investment Plan. Mr. Podesta will discuss the impact of sustainability on the world political climate. For details, click here.

Great Day St. Louis Talks About Ameren's Pure Power Program

2009-01-29T17:11:00.003-06:00

In this video Ameren's Cindy Bambini talks to Great Day St. Louis about Ameren's Pure Power Program, which enable customers to buy renewable energy from a wind farm in King City, MO. It costs the average home about $15 a month, but it's good to be green (remember from my last post -- going green is one of the answers to our tough economy). Watch the video. (Oh, and yes, that's Sage's Rick Hunter and our Near Zero Energy home making cameos). Learn more about Ameren's Pure Power Program at http://www.mypurepower.com/.

Going green in answer to the tough economy

2009-01-26T22:15:00.002-06:00

I received this call-to-arms article from the Green America: Real Green website last week. For a while I have been suggesting that we need green to be the next Space Race. That it's an idea that could capture the nation's focus and collective ingenuity. These folks drew another idea from American history for funding green ideas -- green victory bonds. It's a novel idea and a quick read...

Read "7 Fixes from the Green Economy" at

http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/7fixes.cfm

Green tax exemption for Energy Star Appliances

2009-01-24T16:10:00.004-06:00

Coming in April is a little gift from the state for Energy Star appliance shoppers (items such as energy efficient refrigerators, washers and dryers, air conditioners and furnaces are elgible). Mark your calendars now for the the new "Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday." The "holiday" will run from April 19 through April 25 each year. The first $1,500 of Energy Star certified new appliances will be exempt from the state sales tax. Governer Blunt says Missouri is just the fourth state to enact such a tax break!

The legislation also allows income tax deductions of up to $1,000 for home energy audits and the implementation of their recommendations. Feel free to call us at Sage for leads on reputable companies who do energy audits. These audits can be money well spent on homes finding their energy costs slowly rising (that's most of us). Small, relatively inexpensive changes to your house made as a result of the audits can result in significantly lower monthly utility bills for years to come.

Jerry Yudelson Predicts Huge Growth for Green in '09

2009-01-13T22:31:00.003-06:00

Jerry Yudelson Predicts Huge Growth for Green in '09

I know what you're thinking. Who is Jerry Yudelson?

Jerry is a leading voice in green building. He's a green advocate, consultant and author. He's a guy with his finger on the pulse. His books are terrific resources (we have several at the office, and we bought them before Jerry included one of Sage's projects in his book "Choosing Green: The Home Buyers Guide to Good Green Homes" =) )

Here's the gist of what Jerry has posted on his blog (heavily edited for a quick read -- the original and full post is at http://www.greenbuildconsult.com/blog/green-building-to-rocket-in-2009-top-ten-trends/)...

1. Green building will continue to grow big time.
2. The Obama presidency will help.
3. The focus of green building will begin to switch from new buildings to greening existing buildings. (Ed. Note: Did we mention that Sage has a fast-growing renovation arm that launched in late '08?)
4. Water savings is going to be a bigger deal. (We agree, though St. Louis will be slow to catch on) 5. LEED Platinum-rated buildings will be more commonplace.
6. Solar power use in buildings will accelerate with the extension of solar energy tax credits. (Yes, yes, and more yes. This is one of the reasons that Sage is recommending to our clients that they opt for at least a solar ready package in '09).
7. Local governments will increasingly mandate green buildings from both themselves and the private sector.
8. Zero net energy designs for new buildings will gain increasing acceptance in both public and private buildings. ("Zero net energy" piqued your interest? You know we're always looking for investors to back our next demonstration home...)
*** 9. Green homes will come to dominate new home developments in more sections of the U.S., as builders increasingly see green as a source of competitive advantage. ***
10. The US will begin to rip-off European green building technologies (they're way ahead of us -- for now)

Generating Energy by Walking on your floors...

2009-01-02T10:49:00.004-06:00

First and foremost -- Happy New Year!

One of the things we had hoped to offer at the blog was links to new green technologies that we thought were extciting, so here's a one that fits the bill, plus a timely related note courtesty of a lead from reader Chip Stone...

Don't look for it in a Sage house anytime soon, but there's a technology for generating power that may finally be getting traction. It's called piezoelectricity, and it's a method for producing energy from mechanical pressure (such as footsteps on flooring).

Here are some highlights from an article on the subject, "Harvesting Energy from Human Movement"

"When pressure is applied to an object, a negative charge is produced on the expanded side and a positive charge on the compressed side. Once the pressure is relieved, electrical current flows across the material."

For example, "When the flooring is engineered with piezoelectric technology, the electrical charge produced by that pressure is captured by floor sensors, converted to an electrical charge by piezo materials (usually in the form of crystals or ceramics), then stored and used as a power source."

"In early 2008, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) installed piezoelectric pads in the flooring at the ticket gates at a station in Tokyo, an ongoing experiment to make train stations more energy-efficient... Electricity generated from the floor is used to power facilities such as lighting or automatic ticket gates in the station."

Though not as novel as simply stepping on the floor, it's interesting to note how they powered the 2009 sign in Times Square this year -- with human peddle power. It has me wondering why fitness centers pay anything to power companies! For more on the story, see the New York Times article "Ringing In 2009 With People Power."

A bittersweet day at Sage...

2008-12-18T18:10:00.002-06:00

I am sad to share that today was Mary Huxhold's last day with our company. Mary was Sage's Director of Sustainability and a frequent contributor to our blog. We are sorry to see her go, but are delighted that she has accepted a great new position in the natural foods industry. Her help will be missed as we pursue LEED on our new homes, whenever we have a green event to plan, a newsletter to go out, and when more and more new green product samples and literature arrive at the office. Who's going to stay on top of all this new stuff?!

We wish Mary the very best in her new career!

New project coming soon...

2008-12-17T00:02:00.009-06:00

Watch for this exciting, new, Jeff Day-designed custom home project coming soon. Sage will be breaking ground in Lafayette Square in early '09. What's your vision for your new home?

Building Green's Top 10 Choices...

2008-12-15T22:45:00.004-06:00

Building Green publishes an exhaustive directory of green construction products in its GreenSpec Directory and their Environmental Building News magazine. Each year for the past seven years the company has released a Top 10 of the best products they've covered in the year. This year's list can be found at their website.

One winner that caught my eye was this Resource Monitor from Agilewaves. It monitors your home's (or business's) energy consumption and you can follow along online. That's just too cool. If you can see how much energy you're using, it's easier to cut back to reduce your consumption. We'll definitely be looking deeper into these and systems like it in '09.

I'm not sure I agree with the judges on their Masonite door pick, though. It's important (in our minds at Sage) that Green should not come at a sacrifice to good design, and while Masonite's new Emerald line is admirably green, it doesn't cut it from a design perspective (particularly their Craftsman 3-panel attempt). It's a shame, and I certainly hope they improve on this year's offerings in '09 -- then they'll really have something going (and Sage will be first in line to install them in our homes). It's also a shame that these doors carry a premium on their price. It would have been nice to see this simply be their mainstream offering (that just happened to be green and environmentally friendly).

It's official - Sage has moved!

2008-12-02T12:48:00.004-06:00

We're finally in our new offices in the former Diane Breckinridge Interiors building in Clayton at 114 North Gay Avenue. It was quite an undertaking as 8 staffers loaded us and moved us in less than 24 hours. We've tried to keep the move as green as possible, minimizing trips, seeking recycled cardboard boxes (freecycle.com) and loading up our trash recycling as we left.

For advice on ways you can make your next move green, see "Pack Up a Load of Green Moving Tips" at
http://www.frontdoor.com/Buy/Pack-Up-a-Load-of-Green-Moving-Tips/1529.

Speaking of, we have lots of boxes we'd like to recycle and a couple of desks we're going to sell on Craigslist. If you're interested in either, just shoot us an email.

From our friends at the EnergyStar program ....

2008-12-01T22:20:00.003-06:00

Save Energy This Holiday Season

As you prepare to celebrate the holidays, the Sponsors of myenergystar.com have tips to help you decorate and shop for gifts while saving energy and money. Brighten up your holiday season by replacing your holiday lights with light emitting diodes (LED) bulbs. They use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs - plus LEDs remain cool to the touch. This makes the bulbs a safer choice around children and on trees.

Special pricing on these products is available from the Sponsors of myenergystar.com and can be found by visiting the ENERGY STAR Lights online catalog.

Know someone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint and is wishing for electronic products? The ENERGY STAR logo can be found on a multitude of electronics that have the same features while using less energy, which results in a reduced environmental impact. Products include DVD/Blue Ray Disk players, computers, televisions, and more. These gifts will get rave reviews when opened and for years to come with the energy savings. For more information on these items and more, visit energystar.gov.

Party Like It's 2008

2008-11-13T16:17:00.005-06:00

The 1Sky Campaign is holding a national Day of Action to carry the momentum from this year's election into the Capitol and White House. On Tuesday, November 18th, volunteers will gather all over the country-with help from 1Sky, the Energy Action Coalition and 350.org--to welcome the President-elect and the new Congress by calling on them to make climate an immediate priority in 2009.

St. Louis Events on November 18th Include:

2:30pm
Gathering at our newly elected representatives' offices nationwide to "welcome" them to Congress with a strong demand: make action on climate change a top priority in Washington. As part of the welcome, you'll deliver a large greeting card representing the thousands of people in your state who voted on climate. Missouri residents resoundingly showed support for renewable energy by passing Proposition C--the Clean Energy Initiative--by a wide margin, and it's crucial our representatives understand that urgent action is needed.

Senator Claire McCaskill has the potential to become a real national leader on climate change, so we are asking Missouri Residents to join us at her office on 5850 A Delmar Blvd St. Louis, MO 63112. If you are unable to make it but would like to help out with the effort, contact Sonya Carlson 314-266-5109 or by email at sonya@1sky.org to help deliver the other cards to US Representatives Todd Akin, Russ Carnahan, Wm. Lacy Clay, and US Senator Kit Bond.

7:00pm
1Sky will be hosting a party at the Tin Can on 1909 Locust St. They're hoping to demonstrate the public demand for preventing climate change by uniting individuals, elected officials, and organizations around a shared vision for a better future: a re-powered economy with 5 million new Green Jobs, the dramatic growth of renewable energy, and steep cuts in carbon emissions.

Scientists say we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to 1970's levels--so it's a 70's party! Wear your bell-bottom pants, afro wigs, Farrah Fawcett hair, and/or platform shoes. We'll be listening to community speakers, enjoying funk music, and writing letters to our new president to ask him to take a bold stance on climate change.

1Sky is a national highly collaborative campaign working to bring local groups together to galvanize a movement in support of the bold federal action on climate change that science and equity demand. For more information about the 1sky campaign, visit www.1sky.org

Zero Waste Event Celebrates Agriculture

2008-11-04T12:55:00.003-06:00

Pesto Festo is an upcoming "zero waste" green event to celebrate EarthDance, a new organization in St. Louis dedicated to celebrating the culture of agriculture. You will:

-See a bike-powered blender and pedal your own smoothie!

-Bid on everything from a handmade clay drum to a home energy audit to a basket of Missouri-grown foods in a eco product silent aution.

-Taste hot stuffed mushrooms from Riddle's, vegan carrot cupcakes from Thyme Table, and porcini tagliatelle from Mangia, and more!

-Enjoy yourself-knowing that this is a ZERO WASTE event.

-Enjoy the live music from the Vicksburg Stomp by The Buckhannon Brothers and to Redwing by The Grass Pack

-Watch a film premiere-a short documentary telling the story of the Mueller Farm.

-Join us in honoring Caroline Mueller, a woman who has spent her entire life growing organic fruits and vegetables for the St. Louis region.

You can buy your tickets to Pesto Festo in advance online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/41757 or at Thyme Table Cafe or the Ferguson Farmers Market. Tickets in advance are $25; tickets at the door are $30.

The event will be Saturday, November 8th, 6 p.m. at The Savoy, 119 S. Florissant Rd, 63135

Sage in the News: WFAA (Dallas/Ft. Worth)

2008-10-20T17:37:00.004-05:00

No, we're not building in Dallas (yet), but Sage has continued to gain national attention for its efforts and projects here in St. Louis. Here, Rick Hunter is interviewed about the up and coming role of green jobs in the economy.

Green Collar Jobs: Solving Environmental and Economic Troubles?

Speaking of green jobs -- Sage will be hiring a new office administrator/ bookkeeper in the near future. Interested parties should email their resume and salary requirements to greatjobs@sagestl.com.

Easy Battery Recycling in the St. Louis Area

2008-10-14T15:39:00.002-05:00

Batteries are not the best things to throw into the trash where they will go on to leach a variety of nasty chemicals and heavy metals. Luckily, St. Louisians now have two options for battery recycling.

Home Eco: Will recycled all rechargeable batteries

4611 Macklind Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63109

(314)-351-2000

Jefferson National Expansion Museum Store@ the Arch or the Old Court House: Will accept all alkaline batteries.

Sage in the News: Professional Remodeler Magazine

2008-10-14T12:59:00.004-05:00

This month's Professional Remodeler is green-centric, and Sage is delighted to have begin included in the issue.

Mind you, this is an industry-specific magazine that is not written for the end consumer, so it may be a dry read. It has some good information for people considering green renovation, but I think it missed an opportunity to talk about the ReGREEN program or about certification programs that can be used as examples on how to pursue green practices. It might be interesting to read about the perceptions of other consumers and what the market is perceiving of value when they seek green solutions (e.g. Energy Efficient Windows are the most in-demand green item). These could be the items you'd want to focus on your project, since these will be of value when it comes time to sell your home.

Professional Remodeler Magazine: 2008 Green Survey

Retaining Wall - Recycling Sale

2008-10-14T12:35:00.005-05:00

One of Sage's clients is removing a relatively new retaining wall from his job site. He would like to see the materials recycled through resale. If you have an interest in purchasing the material, please contact Jason Stone at 314-495-0718 or by email at jstone("at" symbol)sagestl.com.

The existing wall stands ~5' tall, runs for ~50' and is composed of 8" blocks. We expect the caps and first layer of blocks will be damaged in removal, but the bulk of the wall should come out cleanly. We can have the material palletted and shrunk wrapped for curb-side pick up or you can remove it and cart it off at a reduced cost.

All reasonable offers will be considered.

St. Louis HBA hosts green builder certification class

2008-10-11T08:33:00.009-05:00

The Home Builders Association of St. Louis & Eastern Missouri hosted a two day course in green building this past week. The class is a prerequisite for builders wanting to earn the CGP (Certified Green Professional) designation. What a turnout! In a packed room our instructor walked us through the green building program. This is the same program under which Sage has built all of its gold-level green homes, so we were familiar with the content, but it was good to attend for a refresher and to contribute. It remains our hope that more and more builders will embrace green as a way to build everything, rather than an upsell. With so many enthusiastic companies in attendance, it seems we're on the right path.

Some highlights of the event:

Per the instructor, who travels the country teaching this class, St. Louis is way ahead of the curve.
Our program was influential in the creation of the national program.
There are now over 150 members on the local HBA green building council (and the list is still growing).
For all of our successes, awareness that green building is an option in St. Louis is still too low.
Look for green renovation to be a hot topic in the coming year. Renovation companies made up a large portion of the class.
The ANSI green building standards are still in the works on a rolling timeline.
The new highest level, Emerald, designation is on its way.

When a Down Market Opens the Door to an Upgrade

2008-10-03T17:59:00.007-05:00

Today's economic climate can mean fantastic buying opportunities for buyers with solid credit. Banks are still lending, and lending with very good terms to those individuals savvy enough to buy land for low prices in this soft market. A custom home takes six to twelve months to build. In twelve months time we'll likely be looking at an improving economic outlook -- meaning land costs, materials costs, and labor costs will be climbing. Today is the day to act.

Sage has a licensed Realtor on staff, and has connections to many motivated sellers offering great deals on desirable lots and tear downs (full of recyclable and salvageable materials). Current opportunities include land in Kirkwood, Webster, Richmond Heights (Clayton Schools), Creve Coeur, Olivette, Clayton, Dogtown, and other area neighborhoods. Contact us for more information on these exciting possibilities. Call 314-576-5550 and ask for Jason.

Ilinois approves Ameren rate increase

2008-09-24T17:43:00.004-05:00

(Ed Note: Makes you feel like building an energy effiicient, green home, doesn't it?)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- State regulators have approved a $162 million annual rate increase for Ameren Illinois' gas and electric customers. The Illinois Commerce Commission on Wednesday rejected Ameren's original request for a $247 million increase. Ameren says the increase will fund infrastructure improvements throughout its service area in central and southern Illinois.

Consumer groups strongly opposed the increase.

Two weeks ago the ICC approved a $270 million rate increase for ComEd customers in northern Illinois.

Both Ameren and ComEd were criticized earlier this year after Illinois consumers' power bills doubled and tripled when a 10-year rate freeze expired.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV 09-24-08 1335CDT

Beneficial Bio-Gas Adds to Grid, Farmer Profits

2008-09-24T09:48:00.005-05:00

Renewable energy isn't just about solar and wind. Several dairy farms throughout the state of Vermont, are capturing the methane that comes from cow manure to produce electricity for the surrounding homes and businesses. "We saw this as an economic and environmental management too; It's helped to diversify our farm," one farmer said.

According to the New York Times article, "cow waste produces 250 to 300 kilowatts of electricity daily, enough to power 300 to 350 homes, according to the utility," earning around $200,000 of profit for the farmer. In addition to the profit and the added electricity on the grid, the farms are also recycling all of the cow waste, instead of just adding it to the waste stream.

Once the methane is separated from the waste using a large digester set at 101 degrees, it is further separated into solids and liquids; the liquids becoming fertilizer for the farm, the solids returned to the barn floor where they act as bedding. This has saved the farms thousands of dollars on cow bedding alone. They also take in leftover food from local businesses, most notably ice cream from local Ben and Jerry stores to add to their bio-gas digesting efforts. You can read more about this fascinating method in the article. As this innovative idea spreads across the mid-west, now used in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, Missouri will hopefully catch on and make use of our own farm waste.

Wind Power Faces Tough Fight

2008-08-27T13:58:00.002-05:00

Today's New York Times online featured an interesting article about the future of renewable energy, specifically wind. They recognize as many have recently, that wind power is not only one of the most viable sources of power in the U.S., estimated to provide 20% of our power in the upcoming years, but also has incredible potential to solve many of our climate issues. The article even touts that the two states of North and South Dakota could potentially fuel all of America if the grid was designed properly.

There in lies the rub. No power grid in the United States will be able to handle an increase in renewable power supply as almost all of our power grids are terribly outdated, accounting for the continued brown and black outs on both the east and west coasts, both of which are working multiple major metropolitan cities off of grids in excess of twenty years old. While some activists are seeking to get action from the government on this potentially catastrophic problem, most of the public remains unaware of the issue, in part, due to a lack of action by state governments to fix problems and upgrade lines that are already in desperate need of repair.

Sage in the News: St. Louis Business Journal (sort of)

2008-08-01T16:42:00.004-05:00

The August 1-7, 2008 issue of the St. Louis Business Journal featured an article titled, "Green Loans Help Lenders Find Business in Slow Time." The article featured a photo entitled, "Keys to Green Retrofitting," which was a shot of the interior of Sage's Near Zero Energy Home, a very green, but very new, not retrofitted, home. The picture reminded us that we need to get more photos of our renovation projects up on the site and here in the blog!

The artilce didn't mention that there are a number of lenders out there going above and beyond the EEM (energy efficient mortgage) program. For information on those programs, please contact our offices.

Sage in the News: St. Louis Business Journal

2008-07-28T08:05:00.002-05:00

From Green movement starts to grow on local government
St. Louis has successes (14th in LEED buildings) but lags in other areas (94th in sprawl)
St. Louis Business Journal - by Barabara Maynard

"Despite limited government support for green building, St. Louis has a relatively high number of LEED-certified buildings, ranking 14th in the nation as of April. While green building seems to have taken off on its own, Rick Hunter, principal with Creve Coeur-based Sage Homebuilders, said incentives could help speed the adoption and increase awareness of environmentally friendly practices." ... more

Gore Asks Americans to Shoot for the Moon

2008-07-22T12:15:00.009-05:00

We'd like to share a recent speech by former vice-president and green champion Al Gore, for the organization We Can Solve It. Gore's speech is inspiring both in its hope and its call for action, asking all Americans to band together as we have in the past to solve the major, devastating issues facing us today in order to build a safer, better, and happier America. No matter what your political beliefs, the speech is a great read or watch, especially during these uninspired times. Sage Principal Jason Stone was certainly happy to see this: he's been mulling around the office for an entire year asking why no one would give us another Kennedy-esque "moon speech." This one's for you Jason.

Sage in the News: Professional Remodeler Magazine

2008-07-21T16:38:00.004-05:00

On occasion, Sage will be contacted by the local press for information on how things are going in the realm of green building in St. Louis, but it's not every day that we're hit up for a quote or two in a national (and well received) trade publication. We're thrilled that Professional Remodeler magazine found us and that they were interested enough in what we had to say to actually print it.

A short piece appeared in the print version (pictured), and here's the article at the Professioanl Remodeler site: "TheGreenPiece: Can 'Co-Opetition Work for You?"

There is one point of clarification on the article that I want to address. I didn't actually say that I coined the "co-opition" term, just that I'm fond of it and that we use it around the office a lot. To be fair, I learned about co-opition from fellow green builder Matt Belcher, who is a great green building "co-opitator"... or is it "co-opetitor?" Thanks, Matt!

If you're asking yourself, "Wait -- they do remodeling?" the answer is yes. We work under the ReGreen Guidelines from USGBC and ASID. In fact, the green renovation of my home is what began this blog (see the Cobbler's House). If you're wondering what ever happened to my renovation, the answer is that we're back home and looking forward to showing off the house to future renovation clients. See you soon!

Staying Cool, Staying Green

2008-07-10T09:39:00.008-05:00

Air conditioning is often the pink elephant in the "green" room. We want to live in a variety of spaces, from the sweltering desert to Missouri with it's humid summers and that often means using air conditioning to simply survive. Air conditioning, by nature is not very green. Although high efficiency models exist, they still suck up a great majority of your home's energy.

But not all is lost. One of the easiest ways remove some of the load on your air conditioning system is to design or choose spaces the way your grandparents did; by using passive solar techniques.

Design for Cross Ventilation: By placing windows across from each other, or in a pattern that creates air flow, you can easily open your windows on warm days that you normally would use air conditioning. A solar chimney is another way to make use of natural ventilation. This opening at the very top of a home looks like a skylight and naturally draws hot air up and out as it rises.
Use the proper overhangs: Properly designed overhangs prevent the sun from shining through the window and heating the interior of your home. If you get the right design down, you can even get overhangs that keep the sun out in the summer and let it in to heat your house in the winter.
Plant trees with heavy foliage to shade windows in the summer: By planting trees in front of big windows, (like your overhangs) they will prevent heat from getting in the house during the summer and let it in when they lose their leaves in the winter.
Use ceiling fans: Just by turning on a ceiling fan, you can help create air circulation throughout your home by pulling cool air off the ground and hot air towards the ceiling.

Geothermal heating and cooling is another option for more efficient air conditioning. Geothermal requires drilling several wells either vertically or horizontally to reach steam and heat near the earth's core. Tubes with refrigerant are put into the well and with the help of a heat pump, exchange the heat when they reach the surface. During the summer, that same process sinks the heat from your home back into the ground. According the to EPA, geothermal systems can save a homeowner 30-70% on their typical energy costs, but they can have an initial high cost depending upon the site.

If you live in a preexisting home and need to replace your air conditioner, one of the best ways you can cut energy costs is to look for a model with a higher SEER number. A typical air conditioner is usually a 14 SEER model. 16 SEER or above can provide substantial energy savings. Make sure you get a correctly sized unit for your home. A unit that's too small has to work harder than normal, while one that's too large waste unnecessary energy. Looking for an Energy Star rated product can help take the guess work out of your purchase.

New companies are also looking to take air conditioning technology to the next level. In a recent post at Treehugger.com, writer Lloyd Alter asks why we never thought to create solar powered air conditioning systems and goes through some of the exciting technologies soon to be released, and some of the older, not so smart versions we've tried over the years.

Solar Thermal: Gaining Steam

2008-07-09T14:38:00.008-05:00

Sage Principal Mike Greene is planning to replace the old inefficient boiler system on his historic home with a new solar thermal heating system (see the diagram below). Solar thermal systems use the sun to heat water for space and water heating. Hawaii has already begun to require that all new construction make use of this hyper efficient technology, while several Middle Eastern countries including Israel, use solar thermal water heating almost exclusively. Check out the blog MetaEfficient for a closer look. We'll keep you updated on Mike's experience as he goes through the process.

Green for the Fourth

2008-07-01T11:01:00.011-05:00

One of the best ways to show off a new home is to fire up a new grill, and with July 4th around the corner, there's no time like the present. Below is a list of things that you can do to make your 4th of July celebration a little greener in addition to the red, white, and blue.

Use reusable plates. If doing dishes isn't your forte, look for bio-based plates, cups and utensils made from corn which biodegrade easily (even in your personal compost bin), unlike most disposable party ware, which will be in the landfill for centuries.

Choose gas over charcoal. Although charcoal seems like the obvious choice when it comes to carbon footprint, new studies have shown that the amount of transportation and other associated issues with charcoal make propane grills the more eco-friendly choice, despite their fossil fuel origin. According to the San Francisco Department of the Environment; "In the U.S. about 63% of backyard BBQs are fired up with briquettes, but using them to cook up a standard hamburger results in 105 times more carbon monoxide than if you cooked it on a propane grill. Briquettes also give off a whole lot of harmful Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs when lit." If you do use charcoal, using a chimney lighter in place of lighter fluid to cut down the amount of chemicals that end up on your burger, and in the air.

Shop locally and organically. Missouri has a wealth of sustainable and organic farms around us. To reap the best of Missouri, check out Local Harvest, a grocery store that specializes in Missouri grown veggies, meats, and other products. Local farmer's markets including Tower Grove, Soulard, Clayton, and Kirkwood all provide local options as well. You can also visit the Maplewood Farmer's maket at Schlafly Bottleworks each Wednesday for Schalfly's "Slow Food Day" and shop for more local products while you eat dinner or grab a beer.

Sage Hosts St. Louis Green Drinks TONIGHT! (Friday, June 27th)

2008-06-26T09:44:00.004-05:00

Join us to take a peek at Sage's Near Zero Energy Home in the Beacon Hill neighborhood at Ladue and 270. If you're interested in green homes, this is one you must see!

Tonight's Green Drinks event starts at 5, and the house will be open for self guided touring until 9. Last year, when we hosted this event at our Childress home in Dogtown almost 300 people showed up to a look around. It helped to put Sage on the map, and we are grateful to the folks at
Green Drinks for allowing us to host another great event. Thanks also to our sponsors of the event, Schlafly and Geocomfort.

Click on the picture for more information and visit google maps for directions!

Join Sage at the 2nd Annual HBA Tour of Green Homes: June 21st!

2008-06-16T11:59:00.002-05:00

2nd Annual HBA Tour of Green Homes
Saturday, June 21, 2008
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tour a Diverse Selection of Beautiful, New, Green-Verified Homes at Your Own Pace throughout the Day!

Learn about the Latest Green Products and Techniques from the Builders of the Homes and their Suppliers!

This is your chance to tour a wide variety of fabulous homes that have been or are in the process of being locally verified in accordance with the Green Building Guidelines established by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Each unique home will be open for public viewing on this special day and representatives will be able to tell you all about their environmentally friendly and energy efficient features!

Stop by on Your Way Home from Race for the Cure!
Visit http://www.stlhba.com/PageLoader.aspx?PageId=118 for address listings and directions!

Sage's Near Zero Home a Hit with the Post-Dispatch

2008-05-27T13:31:00.006-05:00

Sage's "Near Zero Energy" house in Creve Coeur was recently featured in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. You can read the article here.

As they point out in the article, this house is indeed special, one of the only of it's kind in St. Louis. Geothermal heating, an extensive, 4 kW PV Solar array, a tight building envelope comprised of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) combined with blown in fiberglass insulation, and energy efficient appliances keep the home sipping, rather than guzzling energy.

In addition to the incredible energy efficiency of the home, it's built with indoor air quality in mind. All stains, paints, carpets, countertops and flooring contains low to no VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), preserving the indoor air quality while mechanical ventilation constantly replaces the old, stale air with new air. Wood used throughout the home in both the custom cabinets and the beautiful maple flooring are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified and free of formaldehyde. Native landscaping and a permeable paved driveway help to keep exterior of the home green as well.

These are just a few of the features that make this home "special," but it's really the projected energy bills that make this home incredible. A typical 5,000 square foot home costs the owner around $5,000 a year, or ~$400 a month. After ten years, that's a cost of ~$50,000! The NZEH on the other hand, is projected to cost ~$140 a month, or ~$1,700 a year. Multiply that by ten years, and you get ~$17,000. That's a potential savings of $30,000 over ten years compared to a typical home!

For more information, or to join our E-Newsletter that keeps readers up to date on the latest and greatest green building techniques, visit the Sage website.

GREENTIPS: The Smartly Furnished Home

2008-05-19T12:06:00.006-05:00

Reprinted (with Sage editorial notes) from the GREENTIPS email newsletter:

If you are concerned about the environmental impact of your home, what should you do when you need to replace worn-out furniture? After all, a piece of furniture can contain materials that contribute in a small way to air pollution, global warming emissions, and tropical deforestation (at least 32 million acres of tropical forest—an area larger than Mississippi—are cut down each year, releasing 20 percent of all global warming emissions).

When searching for that perfect addition to your living room, dining room, or bedroom, consider the following options, which will minimize the amount of resources consumed and emissions released:

• Good wood. When buying solid wood furniture, look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal, which certifies that the wood came from forests or tree farms that are being managed in a sustainable way (Ed. note: When possible Sage uses FSC certified woods for flooring. Missouri has its own FSC certified forest, Pioneer Forest. Their material is avaiable through Smith Flooring). More than 200 million acres of forestland worldwide have been FSC-certified to date. Another alternative is the Rainforest Alliance’s “SmartWood Rediscovered” label, which certifies that the wood was recovered from landfills, manufacturing facilities, or other sources in an environmentally sound manner.

• Bamboo. This is a good option for furniture because it is both sustainable (it grows quickly and requires little water, fertilizer, or pesticide) and versatile (it can be molded into a variety of shapes). (Ed. Note: St. Louis's Grass Elements, a bamboo importer, retails their bamboo through Puckett Flooring).

• Recycled materials. A growing number of companies offer furniture made from recycled metal, rubber, glass, or plastic. Composite materials used in less-expensive furniture, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard, are generally not recycled, but some manufacturers are starting to make MDF from 100 percent recycled wood fiber. (Ed. Note: Where possible try to find MDF or particle board that is no urea-formaldehyde added. For more infomation on the negative impact of Urea-Formaldehyde on indoor air quality see this EPA page: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html)

• Natural upholstery. Avoid synthetic materials such as polyester, simulated leather, and polyurethane foam (which are all derived from fossil fuels); instead, look for latex foam and cotton, wool, linen, or hemp fabrics that have been minimally treated with chemical dyes or coatings.

You can further reduce your impact by buying antique or secondhand furniture, or by reupholstering your existing furniture (using environmentally friendly materials, of course)—all of which will preserve natural resources while reducing emissions. And keep in mind that the durability of higher-quality furniture will translate into fewer resources used in the long run.

Related Links

- The Green Guide—Product Report: Wood Furniture
- How to Green Your Furniture
- Sustainable Furniture Gurus
- GreenGuard Certification Program

Green Creates Green

2008-05-14T15:52:00.008-05:00

Tim Ferriss, author of the best selling productivity book "The 4-Hour Work Week," is famous for finding the best and most creative ways to streamline all parts of life, teaching his avid readers everything from how to retire twenty years early to how to taste wine. In a recent post, he talked about the unlikely return on investment that a green lifestyle can provide. He argues that by investing all the money you save from making small "green" changes, you can make a big impact on your savings account. You can read more at Tim's blog. Sage is definitely convinced that all those energy savings on utility bills and allergy medications each month can really start to build up. Two recent homes we've built show the same utility bills as homes that are half their size!

Time to Check Out Best Green Sites

2008-05-05T11:30:00.005-05:00

Time magazine online recently began a feature on the best green websites on the web today, including some of Sage's favorites, Treehugger and Ecogeek. Their list is a great way to get connected to the newest green info out there.

Article: Unearth the Facts to Buy a Greener Home (HGTV's FrontDoor)

2008-04-25T16:59:00.005-05:00

I was emailed the article, "Unearth the Facts to Buy a Greener Home" today from HGTV's new Front Door site. While the article was interesting, finding the new site was the biggest plus. I hadn't run across it before despite being a big HGTV fan. HGTV has done a great job of sharing the wisdom of going green, including having a series of professional-targetted videos on quality green buidling techniques. I'm sure that this site will continue to do right by green and will offer many good articles to come in the future. In the interim, here is a list from the site of their editors favorite current articles (not all of which are green-centric):

Top 10 Editor's Picks

Celebrate Earth Day: St. Louis Style

2008-04-18T15:47:00.003-05:00

Come join Sage and many other green vendors and organizations this Sunday in Forest Park for St. Louis Earth Day, from 11-6 p.m. Last year boasted a vast array of food, music, art, plant sales, fry oil cars, the newest hybrid cars, bamboo shirts and more. It's a great way to see what the green community has been up to the last year.

USAToday Article: Companies give folks solar help to go green

2008-04-10T10:27:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's article from USA TODAY, Companies give folks solar help to go green, introduces the exciting possibilities of "Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)". PPAs allow businesses and homeowners to get discounted or even free solar panels in exchange for purchasing the power they produce (often at rates lower than local utilities). PPAs haven't hit St. Louis yet, but with a likely rate increase from our local electricity provider, surely they're not far off.

One thing Sage often recommends to our homeowners is to consider making they're homes "solar ready". It can be less expensive in the long run to plan for solar at a later date that to try and retrofit a system when that day comes.

HGTV: New Studies Confirm Energy Savings in Green Buildings

2008-04-09T17:02:00.007-05:00

HGTV Pro posted this article yesterday: New Studies Confirm Energy Savings in Green Buildings. The article included some exciting information released in two new studies about the value of going green...

"Two recently released studies, one by the New Buildings Institute and one by CoStar, have validated what the green building community has known all along: Third-party-certified buildings outperform their conventional counterparts across a wide variety of metrics, including energy savings, occupancy rates, sale price and rental rates."

Exactly. We've been hearing this anecdotally for some time, so it's nice to see studies that back up the value of building green and getting green certification. Both of the studies apply to commercial, but we have no doubts that this will flow through to residential sales.

"Energy Star buildings are selling for an average of $61 per square foot more than their peers, while LEED buildings command a remarkable $171 more per square foot. "

$171 per square foot more in sales prices. If that doesn't encourage you to at least think about building green, what will?

Post Dispatch: Mansion gets Greene energy-efficient makeover

2008-04-06T14:01:00.009-05:00

Sage Principal, Mike Greene, was featured in this Sunday's Post Dispatch. Mike and his wife Melissa have done a beautiful job restoring their 98-year old home ... misnamed a mansion in the article, the house is just on the big side. Manse is probably more appropriate..., and the article highlights some of the steps the two have taken to make the house greener.

One green approach overlooked by the author was the home's age. Though a new green home will be significantly more energy efficient, in restoring a near-century old home, Mike is not cosuming a lot of new material -- a very sustainable practice. This concept is a driving factor behind Sage's renovation arm, which continues to grow quickly as homeowners choose to green up their existing homes.

Greening the Heartland Conference here in STL

2008-04-06T13:41:00.008-05:00

The USGBC-St. Louis Regional Chapter has completed the program for Greening the Heartland 2008. They have an exciting conference planned, complete with four master speakers, nearly 50 breakout sessions, bus and bike tours and professional training workshops. There are four content tracks: corporate; education; green communities and government. Sessions will include discussions on state-of-the-art energy technologies, new construction innovations, public policy issues, and case histories on how to create more livable communities. We will also have an extensive exposition featuring the latest in sustainable building products and services.

More information on registering for the conference can be found at http://www.greeningtheheartland.org/

Sunday's Lifestyle Section: "St. Louis builders find wisdom in going green"

2008-04-06T13:26:00.003-05:00

Many thanks to David Bonetti of the St. Louis Post Dispatch for this weekend's article in the Lifestyle section on Sage's home in Tower Grove South. Also, many thanks to those of you who emailed us about the article! The townhome at 3325 Gustine that is featured in David's article is now complete and ready for sale. 3319 and 3321 are under construction and should be completed around the end of summer. For buyers interested in choosing finishes, now would be the time to contract the home for purchase.

Going Gold

2008-04-03T13:53:00.004-05:00

Sage has officially gone Gold again! Both of our homes in Dogtown were verified Gold, the highest level in the HBA program. We are proud to say that each completed Sage home has now reached this level and we look forward to continuing our streak in the future. You can see what steps we took to go gold by visiting our website and checking out the NAHB guidelines and accompanying Sage created spreadsheet.

42 Ridgemoor, Claverach Park, Clayton

2008-03-26T12:13:00.010-05:00

Our new homes generate a lot of interest, but none to date as much as our upcoming project at 42 Ridgemoor in Clayton's Claverach Park. The big picture design for Ridgemoor is pretty well underway, with details to be worked out with the homebuyer who purchases the home. The planned Tudor home calls for a 4,000 sq.ft. footprint with 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and a 3-car garage - all built to the Gold standard of the St. Louis HBA's Green Building Guidelines and an Energy Star rating of 5+ (the highest available in both counts). The home incorporates materials that were saved from the original home that was removed from the lot, including brick, stone, and clay tile roofing. The home is offered at a starting price of $1.57 million. Interested buyers should contact Mike Greene at 314-239-7663. Floorplans are available. If you'd like a copy, please email Mike at mgreene(at)sagestl.com.

Best Green Blogs - Sage Makes the Cut

2008-03-24T16:44:00.004-05:00

It's official. Sage Homebuilders - Green Building Blog is now listed among the best green blogs thanks to the folks at the aptly titled website Best Green Blogs.

Art | House in the Post

2008-03-19T17:29:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I goofed. I'm reading someone else's blog -- Ted Wight's St. Louis Style -- and I realize he's talking about an article about Art|House that I read and intended to link to from the blog, but forgot. My thanks to Ted for pointing to the article (and for talking about the project on his site). Here's a link to the piece in the Post.

Comparing Apples to Oranges: Rehab vs. New Construction

2008-03-19T16:50:00.002-05:00

Making green choices can sometimes be overwhelming. Is it better to eat local oranges that don’t need to be shipped thousands of miles, but need energy to support growth in a cold climate? Or is it better to eat those grown far away, but in the right climate? The debate can rage on and on without any real answers in sight.

Unlike the local vs. shipped food conundrum, a new article on treehugger.com, finally claims to have answers for the green building community. They find that rehabbing an existing home not only gives you the same energy savings as new construction, but also has a drastically lower carbon footprint because fewer new materials are needed during construction.

This doesn’t imply that all new construction is bad. When we do construct new homes, we just need to ensure that they are built to last, a key standard in green building, so that there will be more and more acceptable homes in the future to rehab, and a lesser need for newer homes. As they point out, “We do have to stop this ‘dash for trash’ and stop people building homes which look good but will become unlivable. We have to go back to quality." Sage couldn't agree more. You can visit our website to see photos of both our new construction and rehabs, as well as get tips about starting any project whether its new or old.

What is Your Home's Carbon Footprint?

2008-03-11T08:12:00.003-05:00

From today's newsletter, as contributed by Sage's Rick Hunter. If you don't already receive the newsletter, you can sign up for free here.

The green building industry is in the early stages of a transition in focus towards measuring success in terms of GHG (Green House Gas) Emissions reductions, the most significant of which is Carbon. It may surprise you to learn that it is not Industry or Transportation that is the largest GHG emitting factor, but buildings – responsible for about 40% of US carbon emissions! (see chart)

Since most of our energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels (emitting GHG’s in the process), increasing the energy efficiency of buildings is one of the most significant things we can do to reduce GHG emissions.

Sage has had a focus on carbon footprinting of its homes from the start. A typical home we build has half the carbon emissions (direct and indirect) of a normal home. To put this in perspective, buying a Sage home is roughly the equivalent to taking 10 cars off the road permanently.

The not so long term goal for Sage is to be building all homes as zero energy and carbon neutral homes, as soon as possible. Eventually, zero energy and carbon neutrality will become mainstream – probably sooner than you might imagine. Did you know that Austin has a policy that all new homes will be built carbon neutral by 2015?

This is part of why we tell people that if you buy a green home now (whether ours or another builders), you are avoiding getting a home that will become outdated in the near future. So not only is buying green the right thing to do, it is the smart thing.

The Lots on Yale (Richmond Heights, Clayton Schools)

2008-03-10T16:35:00.003-05:00

(Ed. Update: Work is scheduled to begin on the lot in late October. It appears the two lots that were for sale may have been purchased, but Sage now has access to another lot in the neighborhood. Call the number below for details.)

Sage will be building a new home at 1061 Yale for a custom client. Right next door, and available for purchase today, is another lot. They won't last long at their current price. For more information call 314-495-0718.

View Larger Map

Are you a Scuppie?

2008-03-10T13:38:00.002-05:00

Having read the last post, Sage's Mary Huxhold came across a link to this site: Scuppie.com, which offers another perception of who today's green buyers are. Are you a Scuppie (Socially Conscious Upwardly-Mobile Person)? Check the site and see what you think.

Article: The Four Faces of Green - Eco for Every Individual.

2008-03-06T12:05:00.004-06:00

The Four Faces of Green - Eco for Every Individual. I've just read this blog post by Renée Labbé with May Globus written for Pittsburgh Paints Color Blog (we often use Pittsburgh Voices of Color color pallete, which is a well done collection, and available in low-VOC).

The article focuses on a high design, eco-retail outlet, where you can buy various green products. What I found intriguing was the store owner's classification of green buyers: Eco-Loco, Fair Trade, Eco-Techno, and Vintage. Sage has always found its own buyers to fall into the category "educated affluents," but this was a fresh look for me at the different way consumers approach green. We've definitely worked with the Eco-Locos and the Eco-Technos at our office, and we're just beginning to get rolling with the vintages (think renovation over new construction). I don't know that we've crossed paths yet with a fair trader, but I'm sure the day will come.

As for me, I fit the first three quite solidly as I undergo my own renovation. I think I like my titles.

Cobbler's Update - The surprise benefits of recycling

2008-03-04T16:21:00.005-06:00

At the beginning of this blog I had set out to green my own home and impove the house's design in the process. You can follow along in the progress photos in the lower right hand corner of the blog (Cobbler's Home). Today, we installed our rough lighting package and put the finishing touches on our rough plumbing. Next week, we insulate to the nines (and just in time)!

I've been relying heavily on Craigslist to help me recycle a lot of the material from the house that would otherwise end up as trash in a landfill (even with keeping as much as we can from the dumpster including recycling the carpet, aluminum gutters and siding, and the packing cardboard, we're still at 50 yards and counting of tear out and we haven't gotten to the ever-wasteful drywall portion!). I've managed to sell windows, skylights, an oven, and a countertop (I still have a used dishwasher, several solid core doors and hardware, a lot of cabinet doors, over 100 landscaping bricks and a cool coppola if anyone's looking.).

I've had an unexpected bonus during my project. Not only have I been challenged by the effort (in an entertianing way), but I've truly enjoyed the introductions to the buyers of my recycling. I've met Bill Russell, who is building a passive solar home that I can't wait to see; I've met Josh Dickinson, who's a sales engineer for sustainable storm water solutions (this is going to be a big deal for St. Louis now that MSD has passed the $.12/100 sq.ft. of impermeable space fee) whose restoring an historic home; and I've met Elmer and Jim, two exotic car restorers, who couldn't have been nicer guys. What a pleasant surprise to meet these folks, all of them interested in my project, and all interesting in turn to me.

When you tackle your next home renovation project, try salvaging all you can. You might be surprised what you gain from the experience.

Home and Garden Show

2008-03-04T15:59:00.004-06:00

Just wanted to pass out a general thank you to all of you who came by to say hello at this weekend's Home and Garden Show. The event was a tremendous success and we were very pleased with the turnout.

You can tell that awareness of green building is higher than last year -- less vacant stares and unusual questions, and more direct questions about the cost and wisdom of going solar, choosing one insulation form over another and things owners can do now in their current homes to have less impact on the environment or on their wallets (through reduced energy consumption).

We hope you'll keep those questions coming. Don't save them up for the home show next year, just email us or post your question on the blog. Better still, call us at the office. We'd love to hear from you!

(The picture from left to right is Rick Hunter, Mary Huxhold, Jim Thomas, and Jason Stone)

Post Dispatch Article

2008-03-04T11:12:00.002-06:00

The ArtHouse continues to generate buzz and interest. If you missed it, here's the piece that ran in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on the project...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/8973F906540D56B0862573FE00012C18?OpenDocument

Zero WasteGuest Blogger: Mary Huxhold, Sage's Director of Sustainability

2008-02-22T16:46:00.006-06:00

Waste recycling is a major issue for any sizeable industrial business, and it's an issue that Sage does its best to address. Any consumer goods, especially the larger items like homes and cars, inevitably generate overwhelmingly large amounts of waste during production. That presents a challenge. What’s a company to do when environmental concerns come to the forefront of the consumer conscience?

A manufacturer of one of the biggest carbon producers, the car, is actually doing something good for environment. USA Today has an interesting article about Subaru, whose automobile plants can now claim “zero waste “status. 99.8% of the waste created during production is diverted from landfills: Copper-laden slag left over from welding is shipped to Spain for recycling, styrofoam packaging is returned to Japan for the next round of deliveries,and even small plastic caps are melted down to make something else.

In addition to these steps, Subaru has entirely revolutionized the way it does business. One of their first steps was to purchase the right equipment based on size and function, limiting the amount of extra waste produced to begin with. They also hired a large staff devoted to recycling clean up and organization, and have a successful waste to energy program that helps heat the city around the plant. Other companies including Toyota and St. Louis’s own Anheuser-Busch are jumping on the zero waste bandwagon and setting up their own goals, some of which they’ve already achieved.

Today, home building generates so much waste. As March rolls around and brings with it the exciting advent of mixed construction recycling in St. Louis, Sage hopes to chase the "zero waste" goal as well. Watch our blog and site for more details.

In the Blogosphere...

2008-02-20T10:04:00.001-06:00

We just came across Matt Kastner's blog, St. Louis Real Estate Investment & Development. Matt has reviewed our Arthouse project and Gustine Townhomes project. Here's what he had to say:

St. Louis Real Estate Investment & Development Blog: Think Modern: Art House development has it right

I've added a list of other blogs talking about Sage in the lower right hand corner of this page. Take a look at the threads out there. Whether the comments are complimentary or constructive, we're just glad they're talking green!

Sage receives national attention in GreenBuilder

2008-02-10T19:52:00.000-06:00

The last issue of GreenBuilder Magazine ran with the headline "Green is Beautiful." Inside, on page 34, ran a terrific article on our company. It's a very well written piece and we couldn't agree more with that cover headline --- Green is Beautiful. That's how we've always envisioned it to be.

Once again we're honored by the recognition -- particularly this time since the readership of GreenBuilder magazine is green builders from around the country. We never imagined that green building would take us as far as it has; however, now that we have the momentum, we're hoping to continue to push the envelope. We want to do even greener work, even more exciting design, and even more inventive projects.

What's your dream of what would be an exciting development or home that St. Louis is missing? Share it with us by posting a comment -- you never know, we might help make that dream a reality.

Sneak Peek - 42 Ridgemoor, Clayton Custom home to be built

2008-02-10T12:50:00.001-06:00

More information on 42 Ridgemoor is now available. See the latest post.
Sage has partnered with an investor with property at 42 Ridgemoor in Clayton's prestigious Claverach Park. The proposed house, which is still in the concepting stage, will be approximately 4000 sq ft, 4 (or more) bedrooms, and 3 (or more) baths. It will be primarily brick construction. Early conversations have us leaning toward either a Prarie House design or Tudor Revival. Concept images will be posted at the blog when they're available.As with all Sage homes the house will be high design and green certified by an independent 3rd party. For more information call Mike Greene at 314-239-7663 or email him at mgreene@sagestl.com

View Larger Map

Website 2.0

2008-02-10T12:35:00.000-06:00

The Sage website, which we credit a good deal for our success, has been needing a tweaking since the day it launched. Friday we relaunced a 2.0 website (HTML-based instead of flash, making it more user friendly) . Upgrades include more photos, more news, and more information on why green is the only way you should be building from here forward. We welcome your comments!

Sage wins the Gold!

2008-02-06T15:42:00.000-06:00

Sage's project at 3327 Gustine was just awarded the Gold status under the National Assocation of Home Builders Green Building Guidelines. This is the first home in the City to have acheived this designation! 3319, 3321, and 3325 Gustine are all expected to receive Gold as well. 3327 Gustine has been sold, but 3325 Gustine (for sale at $319,900) is just nearing completion and will be ready for move in any day. 3319 and 3321 have just gone under roof and should be completed by late spring, early summer.

The home cuts energy bills through the use of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), low-e, argon gas windows, blown cellulose insulation, a super efficient (95+%) furnace and 15 SEER air conditioning, and a tankless hot water heater. It conserves water through a PEX piping system with a central manifold and low flow fixtures including dual flush toilets. It improves indoor air quality through the use of low-VOC paints, caulks and sealants, and a direct vent/sealed combustion fireplace. Finally, the production process minmized consumption through reduced waste, recycling efforts, and green flooring options.

Home Purchase Demand Up

2008-02-06T14:55:00.000-06:00

"The rise in (home mortgage) applications last week was largely due to increased demand for home purchase loans. "

Indications are the market is finally starting to make its turn for the better. Thanks to significant interest in green building, Sage has not felt the impact of the "soft market" and continues to do well, but we've certainly heard feedback from agents and buyers alike about their concern with the market. In our albeit biased opinion, and this is shared by custom home builders around the country, the market is the best in the past decade to build in - interest rates are very low, labor and supply costs are being pushed down by the overly hyped market slowdown and land costs are as well. Assuming the average homeowner stays in their home for 5 to 7 years, it is our opinion that by the time it comes to sell, the market will have changed for the better (assuming there's any thoughts of selling at all - Sage has built a number of age-in-place homes that allow people to make this home purchase their last). We also contend that green homes are going to sell at a premium over their non-green competition at resale.

Now it's just a matter of time before the larger media outlets catch up to this insider wisdom. CNBC recently posted the following article sharing that US Mortgage rates are at the highest rate since 2004: http://www.cnbc.com/id/22910715

Maren Engelmohr's "Waste Diet"

2008-02-02T14:09:00.000-06:00

Over the past month, Maren Engelmohr (a senior associate with St. Louis architecture firm Forum Studio) has been working on a project to reduce her trash over the course of a year. She's managed to reduce her 160 pounds of trash to just 23 pounds! You can follow her project at http://www.thewastediet.com/.

Though I didn't research the process, I had a similar experience when my household started to recycle. I still marvel that more of our waste goes into recycling than in the main trash. Next we might tackle composting at home. We already compost our coffee grinds and lunch leftovers at the office, and its a process I find both repulsive and fascinating at the same time. I'll have to let you know what becomes of the office compost, perhaps a very, very small garden project...

Rinnai tankless calculator

2008-02-02T13:42:00.000-06:00

I was doing a little homework trying to find an online calculator for measuring the savings green homes offer over traditional homes (aside from the easy math of 30% to 65% energy savings), and ran across this calculator arguing the cost savings of Rinnai tankless water heaters over other models and tank systems -- http://www.foreverhotwater.com/tank_compare/index.php.

We've had a good experience with the Rinnai brand, and find our homeowners like them. A couple of caveats: The systems can turn off if the delivered flow rate is less than .6 gpm (if you use a low flow shower head, you could run up against the system thinking you don't need hot water). To counter this problem, just install the remote thermostat in the bathroom and reduce the temperature output while you shower. That will send more hot water and raise the gallons per minute of flow. One of our homeowners suggested that we add a water softener system to reduce the minerals in the water (which are very high in St. Louis, which may be why our water tastes so good here). They swear by their softened water and loved their decision to add one.
Finally, you must clean the tankless once a year - and the first time Rinnai recommends you have a licensed plumber walk you through the process.

My take? I'm having one bid on my Cobbler job. My guess is that I will make the upgrade even though there's nothing currently wrong with my existing water heater (which I will donate to the Re-Store since it still has life left in it). I'll let you know what I decide...

I feel like a psychic

2008-01-30T20:40:00.000-06:00

We saw the green wave coming in 2005, but it's always nice to read articles like this one from the Chicago Sun Times where green has become a declared trend: Trend-spotter Predicts an Eco-friendly 2008.

Sage makes the Buzz list!

2008-01-25T16:55:00.000-06:00

Grab this month's Alive magazine and turn to pages 108-109. Sage is included among the people leading the "green charge" in St. Louis. I loved being included in this piece, but Jason Stone is just one of three partners in Sage, and Sage would not exist were it not for the other two: Mike Greene and Rick Hunter.

I was thrilled to be included, and it was particularly fun for me, since I consider the other four people in the photo (Jay, Paul, Matt, and Emily) to be friends in the business.

Many thanks to Alive for including me! I am truly honored.

Finally! Contemporary architecture in the City...

2008-01-25T10:14:00.001-06:00

Here's another sneak peek of a project you're going to hear a lot about very soon. Sage is very excited to be a part of the Arthouse Project in Grand Center. The homes will be right around the corner from the Contemporary Art Museum. This project is the vision of developer Kyrle Boldt. The project will pursue green certification, but it's yet to be determined if it will be LEED certified or HBA-GBI. Pre-sales are already underway based on the plans. Contact Mike Greene for more info. 314-239-7663 or learn more at http://www.arthousestl.com/

Sneak Peek-- 7426 Hoover

2008-01-24T18:55:00.000-06:00

There's no sign and no flyer available yet, but here's a sneak peek at the house that's proposed for 7426 Hoover in Richmond Heights (Clayton School District). Interested parties should give me a call -- 314-495-0718 or email me for more information as it becomes available.

Attention Investors!!!

2008-01-24T18:48:00.000-06:00

Mary Huxhold, our Director of Sustainability, is always passing on great green online items and news of note. This was a really interesting photo of the green roof (yes, roof) at Nanyang Technical University. This is just the kind of thing we want to be building here in St. Louis. Any takers? You can see more and larger photos of the building at http://www.ntu.edu.sg/OFPM/About+Us/Development+Division/adm.htm

Welcome Newsletter Readers - all 1,091 of you

2008-01-23T12:10:00.000-06:00

You really read down all the way to the bottom of the newsletter? Good for you!

So the cat's out of the bag that this blog exists. I hope that's a good thing, though now I feel like the pressure is on to say something worthwhile in this space. The goal is that this be a resource, but a more fun one than the website (by the way, here's a teaser for February -- the website is getting a touch up and will include much more information about our projects -- including photos!)

Enjoy, and please note the comment buttons. Please feel free to use them. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Clayton -- way to be!

2008-01-23T09:33:00.000-06:00

Karen Heet, a friend of Sage's, and the Real Estate Development Coordinator at Old North St. Louis Restoration Group passed on this Suburban Journals article to me this morning -- "What Does it Take for a City to go Green?" The article highlights what different municipalities in the St. Louis region are doing to promote green in their day-to-day practices. I know Clayton has been aggressively promoting greening itself (thanks to Clayton Mayor Linda Goldstein's leadership, and also in part to the efforts of Sage Commercial's Marc Lopata who is actively advocating the city's greening). I didn't realize they had gone the hybrid route, though. Very exciting and progressive. Keep up the good work Clayton!

Beware of "Greenwashing"...

2008-01-21T17:07:00.000-06:00

I just read the article "FTC to review green marketing" and was nodding my head through the whole piece. The fact of the matter is that Green is the latest hot trend (and it's my fervent hope that it is a here-to-stay trend, and not a fad -- don't forget Carter put solar panels on the roof of the White House, but Reagan promptly removed them), and that lots of companies are going to jump on the bandwagon. The problem is that many of them will do this solely for the marketing value, and not for the right reasons. I applaud all companies who genuinely attempt to make our lives a little greener, but I'm constantly concerned about companies trying to pawn off products as green which are decidely not. I don't want bad apples to spoil the bunch. It's my hope that the title of green will continue to have meaning and value.

You don't see that every day

2008-01-18T18:04:00.000-06:00

I've just come from a meeting with a local bank. Pretty typical stuff, except that I was in jeans and a construction jackets, since my attendance was a late audible call. What was impressive to me was that my appearance didn't matter. All of the reps from the banks seem to be more interested in what we were there to talk about (an upcoming and exciting modern construction project in the Central West End, more news later). The reason I say "You don't see that every day" was that there was a woman in attendance, a Business Development Representative, who clearly had the Green bug. She got it in a way that bankers don't always get. She was clearly an advocate, and a believer in the project. Not a "greenie," just someone who "got it" and saw why this project was important to do for both her bank and for St. Louis. I love that. I love when people catch the passion. I hope you get the bug, too.

Subtraction Before the Addition

2008-01-17T16:12:00.000-06:00

This blogging thing is harder than it seems. I guess if I can't find a half hour in a day to go for a healthy walk, a half hour for more work will not come easily. That said, I'm back as promised with pictures and news of the rewards of sustainable deconstruction practices (that's fancy talk for "sell your salvage material for fun and profit").

Green building starts at (and in fact the bulk of your success going green stems from) the planning process. A good set of architectural plans will go a long way. However, the fun of green (for me) started (ironically) with the swing of a demo hammer. On my project I've salvaged brick, landscaping stones, wood studs, carpet for recycling and windows and lighting fixtures for re-sale. It's a very strange part of the process where money (albeit small sums) goes into your wallet instead of flying out of it.

I have many thanks to B. Russell who purchased three of my Pella windows (which we're in very good shape would not have belonged in a landfill). I was delighted to hear that he plans to use them in the construction of a passive solar house. Very cool.

Ho Ho Ho, Green Giants...

2008-01-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

Marc Lopata, a partner in our commercial division here at Sage, was featured as a Green Giant in St. Louis Magazine this month. We always love media accolades and applaud Marc for the recognition! While I couldn't pull up the actual article online, I was able to read this Web-only related story at St. Louis Magazine's website -- http://www.stlmag.com/media/St-Louis-Magazine/January-2008/Green-Giants-Kay-and-Leo-Drey/

Blogger Steve Patterson, author of Urban Review STL, was also included on the list and comments at length on the article at http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3437.

St. Louis's local magazines have definitely gotten Green fever. We applaud their efforts in promoting the wisdom of taking proactive action to make the world a better place, and thank them profusely for continuing to include Sage Homebuilders as a mover and shaker.

On a related note, what's your favorite St. Louis rag? St. Louis Magazine, Sauce, Ladue News, Alive...? I'm curious to know.

What's Your Earth Impact Score?

2008-01-03T19:19:00.000-06:00

It's wonderful the way the Web works as a series of tangents. I was looking at an article today from a co-worker, which in turn pointed me to a green discussion group, who in turn directed me to this fun website: EarthLab, which has a scoring system for your Earth Impact Profile (thereby justifying my doing all this surfing during work hours).

Sadly, at 331 my score seems pretty terrible (above the national average of 325!), my 13.1 carbon footprint doesn't seem so hot either (even below the national average of 15). Granted, I'm sure I got few points for living in a 3 bedroom with only one other person, or for owning an SUV and a large pickup, but I didn't gain any points for being in the green building business (the fact that my office recycles paper did get me some points). I feel slighted and insist to all who will listen that I'm doing better than my score would indicate (I use this same line of BS with my wife when talking about my cholesterol levels -- hey, I'm only 35 and I like red meat and butter -- often together).

I'm curious to know your score. Please take the test and share!

As for me, I make this New Year's resolution that I will try harder. I've made a note to myself to re-take the test in 6 months (same for my cholesterol). I'll post the results here in July!

Farewell 2007!

2007-12-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

2007 was an exciting year for Sage, and 2008 holds even more thrilling things to come. Looking back at our accomplishments in '07, we:

- Built the first green home ever certified under the HBA-GBI Green Building Guidelines in the City of St. Louis (photo)

- Had our Near Zero Energy Home sponsored by Owens Corning and featured in the NAHB Green Building Conference Home Tour as well as appear on NBC Nightly News and a number of national publications

- Had the first certified homes listed in the MLS

- Quadrupled our staff and moved into our new offices in Creve Coeur

- Topped the 1,000 reader mark on our St. Louis Green Building Newsletter mailing list

- We represented St. Louis in force

- We launched Sage Commercial, a new arm of the company for light commercial construction and LEED commercial consulting

- We began tackling large-scale green renovations (watch for photos on the website in '08)

- What that's not enough?!? OK then -- watch for all the new things we hope to tackle in '08 right here and on our website http://www.sagestl.com/

Sage wishes you a Happy New Year and the best of all in 2008

The cobbler's children have no shoes...

2007-12-26T17:49:00.000-06:00

Enter the cobbler in this story, Jason Stone, co-owner of the leading green home building company in St. Louis, Sage Homebuilders. I'm both happy and nervous to share my story of greening my own home. I'm happy because I'm excited to finally begin tackling a project two years procrastenated. I'm nervous because I sit on the other side of the construction table for a living. I know what happens behind the curtain -- the unanticipated delays, the unexpected surprises, the unwelcome cost overuns and the perfect planning required to minimize all of the above. I have built home after beautiful home, ignoring my own until I had no choice. The cobbler / contractor is about to have his first kid, and I can't put off the inevitible. As it stands this is not a home I can bring a baby back to. It's act now or impose on the inlaws for a long time to come... Watch for pictures and updates soon...