UPDATE: Gregorio Progress Report

A time lapse view of where the Gregorio remodel is at today from when we broke ground on the project in June (click to enlarge).


CLOSEUP SHOTS


Master Bedroom Suite


View Into Master Bedroom Suite


Panorama of Master Bedroom


Complete Kitchen Rehab


Front with beginnings of new roof and facade


Go Green is on the job!

UPDATE: Gregorio Concrete Foundation Poured Today!

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We are pouring the concrete foundation of the Gregorio residence remodeling project in Lake Balboa, CA. We utilized a high-fly ash content concrete as part of our commitment to make this remodel as “green” as possible.

Over half the electricity produced in the U.S. comes from coal-fired power plants. Fly ash is a byproduct of coal burning and can be substituted for more than half of the Portland cement typically used in a concrete mixture. Use of fly ash in concrete is beneficial to the environment in several ways:

1. It keeps the fly ash from entering the waste stream
2. It saves the energy ordinarily used to manufacture Portland cement
3. It needs 10% less water than traditional concrete

Because less water is used with high fly ash concrete, and because of the chemical reaction between the fly ash and lime which is given off in cement hydration, the end product is denser and stronger than traditional Portland cement-based concrete. Fly ash is made up of tiny, glassy beads; its physical composition creates a lubricating effect which enables the concrete to flow and pump better, filling the forms more completely. Additionally, high-fly ash concrete costs the same as or sometimes slightly less than traditional concrete.

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According to Headwaters Resources, for every ton of cement manufactured about one ton of carbon dioxide is released. Replacing that ton of cement with fly ash saves enough electricity to power the average American home for 24 days, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions equal to two months’ use of an automobile.

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Here’s a picture of producer R. J. Bain from Discovery Home’s “Green That House” program filming the pour – they’ve been tracking the progress and filming various “green” elements as the remodel moves forward.

UPDATE: Excavation Underway at Gregorio Residence

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The mini-excavator and our crew were busy on June 18 preparing for the foundation of the green addition to the Gregorio residence. Below is a close up of the Structural Insulated Panels (or SIPs) that will be assembled to create the floors and walls of the addition. These panels consist of dense, 10" layer of foam sandwiched between large sheets of engineered wood panels. This combination creates an insulation barrier that outperforms traditional fiberglass batt insulation up to 300%.

Closeup of SIPs Onsite (Click To Enlarge)

Check back for more pictures of our progress on this exciting project!

NEWS: Groundbreaking on "Green" Remodel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Go Green Announces Groundbreaking on Green Residential Remodel

CONTACT:
Leslie S. Glennon
Go Green Construction, Inc.
Tel: 818.718.7477
Fax: 818.718.7117
leslie@gogreencalifornia.com

Los Angeles, CA, June 12, 2007 - Today we break ground on a green addition to an existing single-family home in the Lake Balboa area of Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley. The crew is excavating in preparation for pouring the footings next week; over the next few days a mini-excavator and a few crew members will be readying the site for construction.

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We will de-construct instead of demolishing any portion of the house which abuts the new construction. These de-constructed materials will be sorted and recycled in lieu of being sent to the landfill and adding to the waste stream. This project calls for adding 820 square feet to the existing 1,115 square foot home; we’ll give the owners a new master suite and bath plus a new laundry room. The “green” aspects of the project include construction of the addition with SIP (Structurally Insulated Panels) panels which are manufactured offsite and generate less waste than conventional stick framing. SIP panels offer superior "R-Values" (the measure for insulating capabilities) compared to traditional insulation methods, which adds to the long-term energy efficiency of this structure.

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We also intend to install and/or utilize a restricted flow showerhead; a dual-flush water conserving toilet; low- or no-VOC paint finishes in all rooms; a strategically placed skylight to minimize need for interior lights during daylight hours; dual-pane, low-E windows; a front loading water-conserving washer and energy efficient dryer; and a tankless water heater to service the new bath and laundry facilities.

A television crew from Green That House may be stopping by to film our progress – watch for us on Discovery Home.

ABOUT GO GREEN CONSTRUCTION - We are providers of sustainable building solutions for Southern California. We pride ourselves on delivering quality craftsmanship using renewable materials. Our creations offer an attractive alternative to traditional construction while promoting a healthier environment for our clients and the planet. We have 33 years’ experience serving the high-end residential market in Southern California, providing expert consulting, design and construction services. Contact us today at info@gogreencalifornia.com or 818.718.7477

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DESIGN: Gregorio Residence

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA

COMPLETION: Target 2007

GOAL: Adapting an existing 1950s structure to meet a growing family’s needs rather than demolishing the entire structure and building from the ground up. We will utilize sustainable materials and techniques to decrease energy costs, to create a more comfortable, healthier indoor environment, and to minimize costs associated with transporting debris to a landfill.

SCOPE: Addition of 820 square feet to an existing 1,115 square foot 2 bedroom, 2 bath single family residence. The process will involve careful “deconstruction” of the existing structure, sorting and diverting material to recycling facilities; framing with structurally insulated panels (SIP); installing a dual-flush toilet and other water-reducing plumbing fixtures; selecting materials and finishes that have minimal impact on natural resources and that expose neither the homeowner’s family nor the manufacturer/installer to toxic chemicals.

SUSTAINABLE ATTRIBUTES

• Modification of an existing structure has less impact on the environment than construction of an entirely new home because there is less material harvested, manufactured, or transported.
• Carefully deconstructing portions of the existing structure and sorting by material type enables valuable resources to be recycled, keeping them out of the landfill.
• Because they are prefabricated to exact specifications offsite, SIP panels generate less construction waste and thus save trees.
• SIP panels are more energy efficient than conventional wood-framed walls with fiberglass batt insulation because they have a higher insulating capacity, or R-value, for the same wall thickness.
• Use of sustainable materials such as bamboo flooring, which rapidly renews itself, lessens the impact on the natural environment.
• Use of materials having little to no harmful chemicals prevents those chemicals, during their manufacturing phase, from entering the waste stream or contaminating the water supply.
• Plumbing fixtures with “low-flow” features reduce household water use and thus preserve the water supply in an arid region