Apr

3

Clean + Green: New EPA Renovation + Repair Law

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Beginning this month, a new certification is required for all remodelers, general contractors and handy men that work on homes constructed prior to 1978, the year lead in paint was banned in the U.S.  This certification is required by anyone doing work on the home, including window installation companies, flooring installers (carpeting too!), and just about anyone you hire to do work on the home.

The purpose is to protect people from lead poisoning, and, most importantly, to not allow children and expectant mothers to breath in unhealthy, lead filled dust from the job.

EPA Requirements

Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.

To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning in April 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

Until that time, EPA recommends that anyone performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools follow lead-safe work practices.

  • All contractors should follow these three simple procedures:
    • Contain the work area.
    • Minimize dust.
    • Clean up thoroughly.

Homeowners will now receive a “Renovate Rights” pamphlet on commencement of the work. The abatement procedures are standard dust mitigation, cleanliness, and building a containment barrier with plastic sheeting around the doorways into any room being worked on, and posting warning signs.  A homeowner may choose to “Opt Out’ of the abatement if they live in the home, and there are no children under 6 years old or pregnant women on the premises.

HBI is set up for training and certification on April 21. We encourage you to only use contractors that display the lead safe certification icon on their web sites and other materials after April 22, 2010.  In the mean time, stay safe and have your remodeling done by HB Building + Design, the team than keeps your safety top of mind, and will stay with you until your job is complete!

Mar

25

Clean + Green: Earth Hour

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As a business, HB Building + Design is committed to being socially responsible in every way, from our recommendations for products, to our office systems.  We encourage use of repurposed or environmentally friendly products to every client, for every job we do. Today we request that you, our clients, followers and fans, sign up for Earth Hour…just click right here!

We reuse and recycle everything we can in the office, and on the job site, we are especially careful with our waste materials, and dispose of old, used materials according to the guidelines for a wide variety of waste products: fluorescent bulbs, old treated or painted wood, glass, metal, etc. Everything is sorted and brought to the dump or recycle facility.

In our office, we email and do as much work on line as possible. In April, we will be switching providers for our payroll outsourcing, primarily in order to be able to access and input information on line, doing away with pounds of paperwork we receive from our current provider.  We recycle all our office waste, including ink cartridges, use recycled paper for printing non-essential drafts, etc., and offer recyled products, WaterSense certified plumbing, and maintain our Green Remodeling certification for our builders. 

This week, we are putting out a request for all our clients to participate in the 1-hour lights out Earth Hour initiative. On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people around the world will come together to call for action on climate change by doing something quite simple — turning off their lights for one hour. The movement symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in this fight, protecting our future and that of future generations.

Click the link below to indicate your commitment to our Earth, and sign up to make a stand for our future! 

Click Me Up!

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