Wave Home Solutions

Energy Management

Energy management systems are a focus with most homeowners today who are struggling with rising fuel prices.  In an article published in October's "Indoor Environment Convictions", they write that "there is more focus on making homes more energy efficient, (with) less emphasis on investing in special function rooms such as home office or game room." 

"With the housing market weak and home energy costs remaining above normal levels, sustainable design features, with a particular emphasis on energy management and conservation are the home features growing most in popularity."

Additionally with the weak housing market, more dollars are being spent in remodeling of existing homes and adding energy conservation features that contribute to making the home "green".  Focus today is becoming less on increasing the size of the home but more on adding key energy efficient solutions.

An indication of trends in the housing market; it is being reported that new project billing for architectural firms is soft along with a softening in all major residential construction.  The home improvement segment of the market however is still showing some gains for many residential architects.

The economy is pushing homeowners to be more conscious of their maintenance costs, more prudent about where they spend their money and how they spend their money.  It has made home improvement projects more commonplace with an emphasis on projects that can improve the efficiency of the home as well as improve the quality of the home for the long term.

Water Softener Legislation

The last entry spent time with a bill that was in front of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that would ban water softeners in California and require already installed softeners to be removed.  The bill was vetoed by the Governor much to the relief of the softener industry but in recent articles it was acknowledged that it's a virtually certainty that a similar, if not identical anti-softener bill will be introduced in the new state legislative session next year.

Similar legislation is popping up in other cities and states about the increasing rise in saline levels in wastewater.  It's a battle the softener industry is trying to counter by improving the efficiency of softeners and reducing the amount of saline discharged as the softeners run through their cycles.  This seems like a battle that will be fought again and again and with an ever increasing focus on being "green", it's a war that the softener industry may loose as when one state passes a bill to ban softeners, it is inevitable that it will follow in other states across the country.

Being Eco conscious is the driver in this war and it will create an entire industry devoted to alternative solutions to the traditional solution of using saline to soften water.  Markets change every day and this is one where the water treatment industry is being challenged to provide smarter, better, more effective solutions to hard water problems. 

California is the first state to introduce legislation to ban water softeners using salt to treat hard water and the result is triggering news stories across the country with similar concerns leaving an industry scrambling to defend itself and counter with modifications to their existing technology.

Stay tuned ...............

Energy Efficient Products Reduce Health Problems

An excerpt from the September, 2008 EcoHome Magazine confirms that homeowners “…will pay extra with no expectation of a financial return for…products…that positively impact the health of their families, consultant Ellen Tohn told hundreds of public health and housing industry officials Sept. 15, 2008, during the National Healthy Homes Conference. She also stated that “…products that make the home more energy efficient are ones that reduce health problems too.”

Tohn, of Tohn Environmental Strategies, said the main reasons houses make the occupants sick are mold, mildew, chemicals, malfunctioning combustion equipment, lack of or poor ventilation, peeling lead-based paint in older homes, and radon.  Proper ventilation begins in basements where "bad" air tends to accumulate.  Installing a system that can expel the air, gases, and other toxins from the lowest point in the house while at the same time exchanging the air drawn down from the upper floors creates a healthier environment in the home.  Many homes today are built so tight that they actually trap air inside the home and require mechanical means to circulate air within the home.  Proper ventilation is achieved with an air exchanger as well as having a system in the lower level of the home to vent the stale air to the outside.

Untreated damp conditions in a home can lead to a buildup of mold which has been scientifically linked to asthma conditions with some people with the chronic disorder as well as coughing, wheezing, and upper respiratory tract symptoms in otherwise healthy people.  Providing proper circulation of the air will help reduce the potential of mold buildup but in many homes these conditions typically exist in basements and/or crawl spaces where ventilation is limited.  Installing a ventilation unit that pulls the stale, damp air from the lowest level will help reduce and in most cases, eliminate the potential of mold buildup in the home.

California Bill Pending To Ban Water Softeners

In an article in WaterTech On Line, there is a bill to ban water softeners in California that has been passed by the California assembly and is now awaiting a signature from Govenor Arnold Schwarenegger.  The bill would amend water code quality to allow regional water boards in California the right to ban softeners in new construction as well as possibly the mandate the removal of previously installed softeners.

This movement towards the banning of softeners was brought on by concerns about the rise in discharge saline levels in the wastewater and other sources and should it be signed into law, has significant implications for other parts of the country.  It's a dramatic step that has softener manufacturers scrambling to find ways to reduce the saline required to "soften" water but it might be too little, too late. 

Hard water problems exist in many markets and have traditionally been addressed with water softeners which use salt as a means of removing the minerals in the water and flushing the waste water into the sewer system.  Mineral deposits from hard water accumulate on heating elements, clog shower heads and faucets, can reduce or restrict the flow in the plumbing and can reduce the efficiency and life of appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and hot water heaters.  It can also affect clothing washed in hard water making them appear dingy and feel harsh to the skin.

Alternatives to water softeners are available in the market but have not been widely used as the market has not been looking for alternatives content to use the "traditional" salt based water treatment systems.  That may be changing as a result of this bill and is certainly a focus for homeowners in California.