We are building a Passive House in a Manhattan brownstone. Instead of using more synthetic materials to air seal the brick walls (crucial for PH) we are using clay. Here are some notes to a successful clay application over New York brownstone brick walls: – Use reinforcment mesh (fiberglass is best, hemp is mesh also usable, […]
Clay Plaster Walls For New York Passive House Read More »
The book “Complete Guide to Water Gardens Ponds and Fountains” gives you everything you need to know to build and run a small to medium sized water feature in your yard. The book lays out every detail in clearly worded and well organized sections with plenty of supportive photographs and images. It is focused on
Water Gardens Ponds and Fountains Book Read More »
A couple years ago I was looking into the cold blue eyes of a lying, money grubbing man. He also happened to be a neighborhood contractor. And he said to my face in all seriousness, “I am a green contractor.” Having seen the future of contracting he had started to use low VOC paints and he had
Green Contractor Defined Read More »
As part of our service in the green renovation of a brownstone Eco Brooklyn looks at the brownstone plot in its entirety. This means we don’t just gut and renovate the interior. We also look at how the interior effects the exterior. As a NY green contractor we look at the whole system, from the
NY Native Trees, Holistic Green Building and Water Read More »
We love buildings made out of shipping containers. They are a green builder’s version of the cardboard box that every child turns into their own world. We very much look forward to building a shipping container home in brooklyn. Or maybe our first shipping container building will be our Eco Brooklyn office and salvage center.
Eco Brooklyn Loves Shipping Containers Read More »
Here is an itinerary for our driver I just found. It gives a cool insight into the daily workings of a green contracting company in New York. Monday Truck Schedule: Pick up Truck Lowes – pick up doors and misc materials from broken sale section Home Depot – Reusable Demo bags, palet of mortar (put
Itinerary of a NY Green Contractor Read More »
I came across a video that struck a chord and I have shared it below. I realize your food habits may not appear to be a green building topic. But the definition of green builder is somebody who puts the welfare of the world ecosystem before all else. And it all starts with what you put in
Mass Market Meat Video Read More »
In our constant search for turning Brooklyn and NY green we come across other trail blazers who are exploring green ways of living. Here is yet another example, this one in Texas. This guy lives off the grid in the harsh Texas desert. He is an inspiration to us at Eco Brooklyn as we continue on
Alternative Living Read More »
Here is a very useful document outlining the New York Tree Planting Standards. It is what Eco Brooklyn references when planting trees in sidewalks. The city and Eco Brooklyn agree on one crucial thing: that the open space around the tree should be as large as possible. They want it because it lets the roots
New York Tree Planting Standards Read More »
Check this video out of Dan Phillips who builds entirely out of salvaged material. At Eco Brooklyn our definition of green contractor is one who works with salvaged materials. The greener you are the more you are able to salvage. It is a very simple metric and easily measured. Next time a NY contractor tells
Dan Phillips – Grandfather of Salvage Read More »
