I took the ferry to San Francisco last Saturday to attend the West Coast Green Residential Building Conference and Expo. Armed with an empty backpack and a cloth shopping bag, I was ready to learn about green products for new buildings and reconstruction. Over 150 exhibits showcased green innovations in insulated wall systems, roofing, floors, countertops, windows, and solar systems. In other words, a lot of information that I will share with you in this and future columns.

One of the things that I appreciated about the expo was that it featured Bay Area companies. If you are in the market for green living, you can visit a local design showroom to see and touch these products. Most companies have web sites, so you can do your homework before your adventure.

SOLAR
There were a dozen solar companies with products ranging from full roof systems and water heater systems to a flexible solar shingle. If you are not ready for solar, you may want to consider energy conservation with products such as Solatube (www.solatube.com, 888 Solatube) or Natural Light (www.nltubular.com). These tubular skylights can bring light into dark rooms and are easier to install than traditional skylights.

Legrand (www.wattstopper.com) is offering residential vacancy sensors. Their Watt Stopper turns a light switch into a motion sensor. I installed a motion sensor in my bathroom a couple of years ago and really like it except when I forget to override it before taking a shower.

PAINT AND WALL COATINGS
Paints have really changed and now have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs are the fumes that you smell while you paint and sometimes several days after. High levels of VOCs in paints can cause headaches, allergic reactions, and health problems. Interior latex paint should have no higher than 250 grams VOCs per liter. I recently painted my husband's bathroom with a paint that had less than 50 grams VOC per liter. At the expo, I learned that Kelly Moore (www.kellymoore.com) has an Enviro-Cote with less than 15 grams of VOC per liter. Several companies have Zero VOCs. They include www.greenplanetpaints.com, www.yolocolorhouse.com, www.dunnedwards.com and Auro Natural Paints and Finishes which is located in Petaluma, (www.aurousa.com, 1 888 302-9352).

Two design centers; EcoHome Improvement (www.ecohomeimprovement.com, 510 644-3500) in Berkeley and Green Fusion Design center (www.greenfusiondesigncenter.com, 415 454-0174) in San Anselmo carry a limited supply of these paints. Alternative wall covering included two interesting products. Tobias Stucco is an interior tinted stucco that can be applied on new surfaces as well as over existing paint. This non-toxic and odor free product is made in Santa Rosa by Randolph Johnson Design Store (www.tobiasstucco.com, 707 577-8196).

Another fiber coating is being offered by Wind Canyon Wallworks (www.windcanyonwallworks.com, 707 748-1483) in Benicia. Developed in Germany, JaDecor Natural Wallcovering is a loose cotton fiber material mixed with water and professionally troweled on in a continuous plastering process. It can be applied in a variety of colors and textures. This product adds thermal insulation and sound absorption to your rooms. For a list of green products and manufacturers go to the knowledge page on www.westcoastgreen.com.

LOCAL CLEANUP
A big round of applause is in order for the 205 Vallejo volunteers who picked up over 19.5 tons of debris, 1500 pounds of recyclables and 57 tires at our annual Coastal Cleanup event on September 16.

If you missed this event, you can join a new year-round cleanup on the Hanns Park corridor (Skyline Drive). The Vallejo Watershed Alliance will be removing invasive weeds and planting native plants to improve the creek banks. They will be working on October 14 and November 4 from 9 a.m. to noon and refreshments will be served. For information call 648-9764 or www.VallejoWatershedAlliance.org.