LOG CONSERVATION & RENEWAL

Our supplier, The Original Log Cabin Homes Company is completely committed to protecting the environment and forest resources. Their roles include preserving the legacy of the log home demand and take a leadership position in efforts to maintain and expand the precious natural resources.

They support reforestation programs through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). With their dedicated partners over 1.5 billion seedlings are planted in the United States each year. These efforts include the reestablishment of appropriate species to ensure continued healthy ecological diversity while meeting the needs of wildlife and industry. By taking these proactive steps to achieve success in conservation and renewal, they striving to help preserve the natural heritage of log home living.

SOLAR ENERGY

There are many ways that solar energy can be used effectively. Applications of solar energy use can be grouped into there are three primary categories: heating/cooling, electricity production, and chemical processes. The most widely used applications are for water and space heating. Ventilation solar air heating is also growing in popularity. Uptake of electricity producing solar technologies is increasing for the applications photovoltaic (primarily) and concentrating solar thermal-electric technologies. Due to recent advances in solar detoxification technologies for cleaning water and air, these applications hold promise to be competitive with conventional technologies.

Advantages of solar energy

Solar energy has the following advantages over conventional energy:

• The energy from the sun is virtually free after the initial cost has been recovered.
• Depending on the utilization of energy, paybacks can be very short when compared to the cost of common energy sources used.
• Solar and other renewable energy systems can be stand-alone; thereby not requiring connection to a power or natural gas grid.
• The sun provides a virtually unlimited supply of solar energy.
• The use of solar energy displaces conventional energy; which usually results in a proportional decrease in green house gas emissions.
• The use of solar energy is an untapped market.

 

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

A geothermal system uses the energy of the sun, stored in the earth, to keep you in comfort all year round. Even in the winter, when a blanket of snow covers the ground, the earth's temperature remains approximately 10°C (50°F) at only six feet below the surface. This means that you have a steady supply of heat to keep you in comfort, even in the depths of the coldest winter. Geothermal systems use a renewable resource, the earth, which is efficient and non-polluting. Replacing a fossil fuel system with geothermal immediately cuts your household energy emissions by 50%, the equivalent of taking four cars off the road.

 

WIND ENERGY

Wind energy converts kinetic energy that is present in the wind into more useful forms of energy such as mechanical energy or electricity. Modern uses of wind energy include generation of electricity and pumping water.

Benefits of wind energy:

• Wind is infinitely sustainable form of energy
• Wind energy is a pollution-free
• It doesn't require or use fuel
• It doesn't produce greenhouse gasses
• Wind energy is quiet and does not present any significant hazard to birds or other wildlife
• Wind reliable and very efficient

 

HYDRONIC RADIANT FLOOR HEATING

Radiant floor heating is a method of heating your home by applying heat underneath or within the floor. Comparable to warming yourself in the sun, this type of heating warms objects as opposed to raising the temperature of the air. There are three types of radiant floor heating: hydroid, electric and air. Hydroid radiant floor heating is a system of plastic or metal tubes/pipes laid within a floor that carries hot water into specific rooms or "zones", dispersing the heat through the floor surface.

Benefits of hydronic radiant floor heating:

• Comfort
• Energy-Efficiency
• Energy Source Compatibility
• Quietness
• Cleanliness
• Room Function

 

ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING

Energy-efficient lighting offers more than energy savings. Energy-efficient products often use more advanced technology. As well, they help preserve our limited natural resources and reduce the impact of human activities on the environment.

If every household in Canada replaced just one standard incandescent light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL, Canadians would reduce GHG emissions by 400 000 tones - equivalent to taking 70 000 cars off the road for a year - and save more than $73 million a year in energy costs.

Benefits of energy efficient lighting:

• Up to 75 percent reduction in energy consumption
• At last 10 times more bulb hours
• Gives the same amount of light as traditional light bulb
• Energy Star qualified

 

ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS & DOORS

High-performance windows and doors offer significant improvements in solar control, thermal comfort and energy efficiency. This is done by incorporating low-E coatings, inert gas fills, and better edge spacers and frames.

Benefits of energy efficient windows & doors:

• Savings in Heating Costs
• Savings in Cooling Costs
• Increased Comfort
• Higher Humidity Without Condensation
• Lower Sound Transmission
• More Daylight
• Increased Passive Solar Potential
• Reduced Mechanical Complexity

 

ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

Energy efficient appliances allows for the same quality of lifestyle and the same utility from the same amount of energy.

Benefits of energy efficient appliances:

• Reducing water consumption
• Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
• Saving on utility bills
• Less impact on the environment
• Reducing the pollutants that cause smog
• Reductions in electric energy

 

IRRIGATION AND OUTDOOR WATER USE

Optimize water use, groundwater diversion and lower overall groundwater demand.

Benefits of irrigation and outdoor water use:

• Rain water harvesting
• Storm water re-use
• Storm water management pond to allow for irrigation withdrawals
• Communal sewage treatment plant
• Communal production wells

 

RECYCLING GREY WATER

Any household wastewater with the exception of wastewater from toilets is grey water. Typically, 50-80% of household wastewater is grey water from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, bathroom sinks, tubs and showers. It's a waste to use fresh drinking water for toilets or irrigation.

Benefits of recycling grey water:

• Reclamation of otherwise wasted water
• Reduce fresh water use
• Reduce stain on septic system or treatment plant
• Reduce energy and chemical use
• Ground water recharge
• Maintain soil fertility

 

DRAIN-WATER HEAT RECOVERY

Any hot water that goes down the drain carries away energy with it. That's typically 80-90% of the energy used to heat water in a home. Drain-water heat recovery systems capture this energy to preheat cold water entering the water heater or going to other water fixtures. Drain-water heat recovery/exchangers can recover heat from the hot water used in showers, bathtubs, sinks, dishwashers, and clothes washers.

 

LOW FLOW PLUMBING FIXTURES

Low flow plumbing fixtures including toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads have been developed that save substantial amounts of water compared to conventional fixtures while providing the same utility. Low-flow toilets use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared with about 3.5 gallons of water used by a standard toilet. Low-flow shower heads use about 2½ gallons of water per minute compared to between 4 and 5 gallons per minute used by conventional heads. Low-flow faucet aerators can cut the water usage of faucets by as much as 40% from 4 gallons per minute to 2½.