ECO Solution LLC has opened a green building supply store in Copper Hill, Virginia, which is located in Floyd County. The store will feature environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials. These include:
- Paints – zero VOC Safecoat paints, primers, sealers and interior/exterior stains. Bioshield clay and milk paints and penetrating sealers.
- Flooring – All types of Bamboo and Coconut Palm flooring. Earth Weave wool carpet, natural cork flooring and Marmoleum – a natural linoleum.
- Building materials – Cotton insulation, Wheat Board, Bamboo plywood, EnvirosafePlus lumber, and non-toxic adhesives and caulks.
- Cleaners – a full line of Safecoat and Bioshield household cleaners.
ECO Solution’s mission is “to promote building solutions for a sustainable future”. They are also a full service painting and wallpapering company that provides sustainable and non-toxic options. Eco Solution is painting and wallpapering the education room of the Sustainable Living Education Center (SLEC) using all zero VOC paints and wall- paper adhesives. They are graciously providing the labor for this effort at no cost to SLEC.
ECO Solutions is owned an operated by Jon Roberts, Matt Sebas, and Katie Roberts. The store is located at 8909 Deer Run Road, Suite A, Copper Hill, VA (just off Highway 221) and they may be contacted at 540-929-4499. Give them a call and visit the store for information and sales of environmentally friendly and sustainable building products.
STRAW BALE STRUCTURE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT SLEC
Groundbreaking has begun on a 325 square foot straw bale structure at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, Virginia. This will be part of the Sustainable Living Education Center (SLEC) and will be used to educate people about green and alternative building methods. The straw bale space will also serve as a meeting room, artist studio, and space for poetry readings. Leon Davis, a recent Architecture graduate of Virginia Tech, has designed the building and will be spearheading the construction process. This is being done in partnership with Virginia Tech, The Jacksonville Center, AECP, and the SLEC Advisory Board.
Straw Bale construction uses baled straw from wheat, oats, barley, rye, rice and others in walls covered by stucco or natural plasters. It is important to differentiate from straw and hay. Straw is the dry plant material or stalk left in the field after a plant has matured, been harvested for seed, and is no longer alive. Hay bales are made from livestock feed grass that is green/alive and not suitable for construction application. The straw bale technique was practiced in the plains states in the 1800’s and early 1900’s and many of these structures are still standing. This technique has been recently revived as a low-cost green building method with a high insulation value (R-30 to R-45).
There are two basic styles of straw bale construction: post and beam construction with the straw bales used as wall infill and structural straw bale construction where the bales are load-bearing and support the weight of the roof. The SLEC straw bale will be post and beam and will use a natural earth/clay plaster versus a concrete stucco.
AECP HOSTS 12TH ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
AECP will host its 12th annual membership meeting in conjunction with the Virginia Council Against Poverty and Virginia Weatherization Program’s Interchange at the new Hilton Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA. The meeting will be from 10-12 on Monday, June 13. A reception sponsored by Conservation Strategies will be held at Mahi Mahs at 6th and Atlantic that same evening from 5-7. All AECP members are welcome to attend.
VSBN HOSTS 10TH ANNIVERSAY CELEBRATION
The Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN) is hosting its 10th Anniversary celebration and Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA. Special guest speaker will be Richard Fedrizzi, CEO and Founding Chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council. Other highlights will an introduction of the new VSBN Board, green products and services exhibits, Virginia Green Innovation Awards, and a silent auction.
VSBN has spent the last 10 years promoting and advocating green building design and practice in the commercial and residential sector in Virginia. To register online and to learn more about VSBN visit their website at www.vsbn.org .
ENERGY TIP
Consider using at a minimum low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) or preferably zero VOC paints, primers, sealers and stains in all interior/exterior applications. Reducing or eliminating harmful off-gassing will improve air quality – indoors and outside.