Everyday Green Home

Habitat for Humanity helps many people have a home of their own.  Gabbing with Michelle Woods with Habitat for Humanity- St. Charles. To date, Habitat for Humanity – St Charles has built 75 homes, all to green building principles.

Michelle says “Green Building is common sense building.” The vision of Habitat for Humanity- International is “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

Using green building techniques allows Habitat to build affordable homes yet affordable does not necessarily mean cheap. It means smart and sustainable, and less expensive to operate and maintain.

Read more at The Green Home Coach Website! The Green Gab Podcast Links Bar:  Subscribe via iTunes |   Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page |  Stitcher Page Connect with The Green Gab Podcast Hosts:

— Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

— Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

 Green Gab: About the Hosts of The Green Gab Podcast:

Green Gab Podcast Host Marla Esser Cloos is the Founder of The Green Home Coach – a company leading the way to inspire you to learn about, focus on and put into place Green Solutions when it comes to your life, home building and more.

Marla is an NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP and Missouri Woman Business Enterprise. She Earned her B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy from Washington University.

Click here to learn more about Marla at her website online via TheGreenHomeCoach.Com

Connect with Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Green Gab Podcast Host Tony Pratte is the Director of Builder/Contractor Relations at The Sound Room in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tony is a graduate of St. Louis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability at Harvard University

Tony’s 20+ year career has allowed to him to collect a number of experiences, connections and perspectives that offer an incredibly unique point of view that adds incredible value to each episode.

Connect with Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

All of us want to breathe well in our homes.  Yet often, the indoor air quality or the indoor environment, may not be allowing us to breathe as well as we want.  There are immediate actions all of us can take to breathe well in our homes.  Years ago, I started switching to non-toxic, safer cleaners and now I even use a few homemade cleaners. 

Both your local stores and online outlets offer many safer, non-toxic cleaning products and natural cleaning recipes abound on the internet. 

Next, you will want understand how leaky your home is, as leaks bring pollutants into our homes, as well as leaking the heated or cooled air.  There is a lot you can do on your own, yet you may want to bring in a home professional, such as an energy auditor, to help locate the leaks and advise the best way to address them.

Click here to read more…

  Subscribe via iTunes  |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page

Connect with the Hosts!

Connect with Marla Esser Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Connect with Tony Pratte Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Use the Links Below to Share This Episode Now, and Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section Below!

All of us want to breathe well in our homes.  Yet often, the indoor air quality or the indoor environment, may not be allowing us to breathe as well as we want.  There are immediate actions all of us can take to breathe well in our homes.  Years ago, I started switching to non-toxic, safer cleaners and now I even use a few homemade cleaners.  Both your local stores and online outlets offer many safer, non-toxic cleaning products and natural cleaning recipes abound on the internet. 

Next, you will want understand how leaky your home is, as leaks bring pollutants into our homes, as well as leaking the heated or cooled air.  There is a lot you can do on your own, yet you may want to bring in a home professional, such as an energy auditor, to help locate the leaks and advise the best way to address them.

Read more at The Green Home Coach Website!

The Green Gab Podcast Links Bar:

 Subscribe via iTunes |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page | Stitcher Page

Connect with The Green Gab Podcast Hosts:

-- Marla Esser Cloos on - The Web - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn

-- Tony Pratte on - The Web - Facebook - LinkedIn

About the Hosts of The Green Gab Podcast:

Green Gab Podcast Host Marla Esser Cloos is the Founder of The Green Home Coach - a company leading the way to inspire you to learn about, focus on and put into place Green Solutions when it comes to your life, home building and more.

Marla is an NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP and Missouri Woman Business Enterprise. She Earned her B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy from Washington University.

Click here to learn more about Marla at her website online via TheGreenHomeCoach.Com

Connect with Marla Esser Cloos on - The Web - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn

Green Gab Podcast Host Tony Pratte is the Director of Builder/Contractor Relations at The Sound Room in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tony is a graduate of St. Louis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability at Harvard University

Tony's 20+ year career has allowed to him to collect a number of experiences,

15 years of Green Buildings are Better in the St. Louis Metro brings Hope Gribble of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Missouri Gateway Chapter to the studio to gab with us. 

The USGBC chapter in the St. Louis area has a wonderful partnership with the Missouri Botanical Gardens and their sustainability arm, EarthWays Center.

Hard to believe 15 years ago, 15 volunteers formed one of the first six chapters in the country and now the chapter offers a host of programs to our 500+ members and the community.

Click here to read more…

  Subscribe via iTunes  |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page

Connect with the Hosts!

Connect with Marla Esser Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Connect with Tony Pratte Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Use the Links Below to Share This Episode Now, and Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section Below!

15 years of Green Buildings are Better in the St. Louis Metro brings Hope Gribble of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – Missouri Gateway Chapter to the studio to gab with us.

The USGBC chapter in the St. Louis area has a wonderful partnership with the Missouri Botanical Gardens and their sustainability arm, EarthWays Center. Hard to believe 15 years ago, 15 volunteers formed one of the first six chapters in the country and now the chapter offers a host of programs to our 500+ members and the community.

Read more at The Green Home Coach Website!

The Green Gab Podcast Links Bar:

 Subscribe via iTunes |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page | Stitcher Page

Connect with The Green Gab Podcast Hosts:

-- Marla Esser Cloos on - The Web - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn

-- Tony Pratte on - The Web - Facebook - LinkedIn

About the Hosts of The Green Gab Podcast:

Green Gab Podcast Host Marla Esser Cloos is the Founder of The Green Home Coach - a company leading the way to inspire you to learn about, focus on and put into place Green Solutions when it comes to your life, home building and more.

Marla is an NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP and Missouri Woman Business Enterprise. She Earned her B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy from Washington University.

Click here to learn more about Marla at her website online via TheGreenHomeCoach.Com

Connect with Marla Esser Cloos on - The Web - Twitter - Facebook - LinkedIn

Green Gab Podcast Host Tony Pratte is the Director of Builder/Contractor Relations at The Sound Room in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tony is a graduate of St. Louis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability at Harvard University

Tony's 20+ year career has allowed to him to collect a number of experiences, connections and perspectives that offer an incredibly unique point of view that adds incredible value to each episode.

Connect with Tony Pratte on -

Conversations about green homes often start with energy efficiency and it is a large part of the whole package.  A basic understanding of the energy efficient practices and features in a home and the anatomy of a typical green home provides a starting place for understanding the terminology used when building an energy efficient home.  It will also give you a roadmap for maximizing the energy efficiency of your own home. 

The anatomy of a home starts with the “skin” or the walls, roof and foundation.  Here is where the basic science of air movement really plays a part.  We just have to remember that air will always go from hot to cold areas, as well as wet to dry, and plan accordingly.  Of course, the “plan accordingly” piece is where the details really matter and air sealing and insulating is a key part of this. Without air-sealing, you will not be able to take complete advantage of your insulation. “Like wearing a down coat with the zipper open”.

Click here to read more…

  Subscribe via iTunes  |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page

Connect with the Hosts!

Connect with Marla Esser Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Connect with Tony Pratte Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Use the Links Below to Share This Episode Now, and Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section Below!

Conversations about green homes often start with energy efficiency and it is a large part of the whole package.  A basic understanding of the energy efficient practices and features in a home and the anatomy of a typical green home provides a starting place for understanding the terminology used when building an energy efficient home.  It will also give you a roadmap for maximizing the energy efficiency of your own home. 

The anatomy of a home starts with the “skin” or the walls, roof and foundation.  Here is where the basic science of air movement really plays a part.  We just have to remember that air will always go from hot to cold areas, as well as wet to dry, and plan accordingly.  Of course, the “plan accordingly” piece is where the details really matter and air sealing and insulating is a key part of this. Without air-sealing, you will not be able to take complete advantage of your insulation. “Like wearing a down coat with the zipper open”.

Read more at The Green Home Coach Website! The Green Gab Podcast Links Bar:  Subscribe via iTunes |   Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page |  Stitcher Page Connect with The Green Gab Podcast Hosts:

— Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

— Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

 Green Gab: About the Hosts of The Green Gab Podcast:

Green Gab Podcast Host Marla Esser Cloos is the Founder of The Green Home Coach – a company leading the way to inspire you to learn about, focus on and put into place Green Solutions when it comes to your life, home building and more.

Marla is an NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP and Missouri Woman Business Enterprise. She Earned her B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy from Washington University.

Click here to learn more about Marla at her website online via TheGreenHomeCoach.Com

Connect with Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Green Gab Podcast Host Tony Pratte is the Director of Builder/Contractor Relations at The Sound Room in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tony is a graduate of St. Louis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability at Harvard University

Tony’s 20+ year career has allowed to him to collect a number of experiences, connections and perspectives that offer an incredibly unique point of view that adds incredible value to each episode.

Connect with Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

Gabbing about green remodeling in historic homes and general remodeling projects with a green tint with Kate Ewing of Mosby Building Arts.

Mosby Building Arts is a custom design/ build remodeler here in the St Louis Metro area.

Kate shares her own experience buying a sustainably remodeled home, plus lets us in on the processes that have made Mosby Building Arts so successful.

Click here to read more…

  Subscribe via iTunes  |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page

Connect with the Hosts!

Connect with Marla Esser Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Connect with Tony Pratte Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Use the Links Below to Share This Episode Now, and Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section Below!

Gabbing about green remodeling in historic homes and general remodeling projects with a green tint with Kate Ewing of Mosby Building Arts. Mosby Building Arts is a custom design/ build remodeler here in the St Louis Metro area.

Kate shares her own experience buying a sustainably remodeled home, plus lets us in on the processes that have made Mosby Building Arts so successful.

Read more at The Green Home Coach Website! The Green Gab Podcast Links Bar:  Subscribe via iTunes |   Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page |  Stitcher Page Connect with The Green Gab Podcast Hosts:

— Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

— Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

 Green Gab: About the Hosts of The Green Gab Podcast:

Green Gab Podcast Host Marla Esser Cloos is the Founder of The Green Home Coach – a company leading the way to inspire you to learn about, focus on and put into place Green Solutions when it comes to your life, home building and more.

Marla is an NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, LEED AP and Missouri Woman Business Enterprise. She Earned her B.S. in Engineering and Public Policy and a Certificate in Energy from Washington University.

Click here to learn more about Marla at her website online via TheGreenHomeCoach.Com

Connect with Marla Esser Cloos on – The Web – Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

Green Gab Podcast Host Tony Pratte is the Director of Builder/Contractor Relations at The Sound Room in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tony is a graduate of St. Louis University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has earned a Masters in Environmental Management & Sustainability at Harvard University

Tony’s 20+ year career has allowed to him to collect a number of experiences, connections and perspectives that offer an incredibly unique point of view that adds incredible value to each episode.

Connect with Tony Pratte on – The Web – Facebook – LinkedIn

Good old common sense is really the foundation for the basic principles of green home.  It does seem that sometimes common sense is not so common.  One of the basic premises of green design is lot and site or rather how the home sits on the land and interacts with it. 

Homes, even temporary ones, have some impact and interrelationship with the land they sit on. Today’s episode is dedicated to “lot and site” or where the house is and how it interacts and impacts the land it resides on, or better yet, where a home lives. 

Click here to read more…

  Subscribe via iTunes  |  Subscribe via RSS Feed |  Facebook Page |  Twitter Page

Connect with the Hosts!

Connect with Marla Esser Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Connect with Tony Pratte Now! LinkedIn — Facebook — Twitter

Use the Links Below to Share This Episode Now, and Share Your Thoughts in the Comments Section Below!