[Greenbuilding] a bunch of thoughts

[Stephen Collette]

Hello everyone, just a bunch of thoughts on a few topics that have  
been posted.

I'm in Ontario and I'm Bullfrog powered www.bullfrogpower.com and  
they are an independent renewable energy provider. They have a yearly  
audit that I get in the mail stating they are selling power for what  
they actually can produce. In two years, they have added 4 new  
genny's since they began. They now operate in Alberta as well. They  
charge roughly $1/day for residential. I pay $22/month since I don't  
consume as much as most. A great program and company and a seriously  
successful business model. Their business model allows you to write  
off the additional surcharge and works for home based businesses.  
It's great.

As for sprinklers, I think that in a residential situation my  
insurance company and a few others in Canada give a discount if you  
have residential sprinklers. For those looking into them, it would be  
worth a call to your insurance company. Water damage is cheaper than  
fire damage.

For straw bale walls and thicknesses, I found that it varied by  
building official around Ontario. Some counted from the outside (the  
ones we didn't like) and some from the inside. It's all about their  
interpretation of the rules. I do appreciate the official (even if  
American) rules that were posted. I'm sure the Canadian ones are  
similar.

Stephen

Stephen Collette B.B.E.C., LEED AP
Principal
Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building Consulting
www.yourhealthyhouse.ca
stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
705.652.5159