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If you pay any attention to my Twitter or Facebook posts you may have noticed that I've been on a bit of a Passive House kick lately. Passive House is a holistic, "green" design concept that has been well tested in Europe and is starting to gain ground in the US. Here are a trio of recent articles that I've found interesting and informative.: One of the first Passive House projects that I'm aware of in the South Eastern United States. The economics of building 'Green', students and the... Read Full Story
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It's been a while since I've written about regionalism in sustainable design. Lately though, especially through my involvement with the Irvington Green Initiative , I've had a number of discussions about the sustainability of local business. So when I read an article by Lance Hosey in Architect magazine about "Localism" in sustainable design, I figured it was time to re-visit the subject and try to tie two of my passions together. Mr. Hosey's article is a different take on Vanity Fair's... Read Full Story
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Over the course of your Renovation hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions will be made and you’ll be responsible for many of them. You’ll select fixtures, finishes and furniture and approve hardware, locations and lighting. Each carries a price. Ideally most, if not all, of these will be completed in the design phase. But this isn’t always the case. Many times clients are afforded some leeway in the timing of decisions by entering allowances on budget lines for lighting and bathroom... Read Full Story
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Have you ever fantasized about working with an Architect to design the home of your dreams? Clete Kunce , of ONE 10 STUDIO , and I met recently with a couple who own a beautiful piece of property where they plan to build their next home. I’m enthusiastic about the prospects of their project. Their goals are sound and they’re really going about things the right way. They’ve done their research. They have a good idea what they want and what they need. They’ve decided what’s important to them... Read Full Story
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“But builders aren’t entirely to blame for this scenario. Antiquated zoning laws (and planning boards that uphold them) also play a part. When builders find themselves handcuffed to standard lot sizes, minimum square footage requirements, and high land costs, the tradeoff is often building to a lower specification to arrive at a pro forma that pencils. The solution ends up being a lumbering stock plan with a brick front, vinyl siding, and little to no side yard.” – Jenny Sullivan in “Is The... Read Full Story
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Are you sure that you're comparing apples to apples? I'll be honest, it's not easy for contractors to put together bids for projects. If you're not working with an Architect's comprehensive plans and specifications, contractors have to make guesses and assumptions; provide allowances and alternates. In the end, that makes it very hard for you to know what you're getting. I recently worked with a couple that was convinced that the two bids they were looking at were comparable. But were they... Read Full Story
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Are you tired of hearing people talk about Green this and Sustainable that? Have you heard enough about Petrol companies' commitment to the environment? I have. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't believe in protecting the Earth for future generations. Or that I think we should give up on designing responsible products and building smart homes. But the truth is if we're still talking about it we're not there yet. A recent article in ecohome magazine tells the story of a public-private... Read Full Story
| From : renovation-resources.blogspot.com
Not yet published.
Are you tired of hearing people talk about Green this and Sustainable that? Have you heard enough about Petrol companies' commitment to the environment? I have. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't believe in protecting the Earth for future generations. Or that I think we should give up on designing responsible products and building smart homes. But the truth is if we're still talking about it we're not there yet. A recent article in ecohome magazine tells the story of a public-private... Read Full Story
| From : renovation-resources.blogspot.com
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Yes, I knew better. It's just another example of how human we all are. The toilet had been running intermittently on its own for a while. I knew what was wrong. I had even stopped by the local hardware store sometime back and bought the new parts that I needed. But I was busy and I never got around to fixing it. Well, the water bill finally came. Here's a lesson in simple water conservation methods. All those "little" drips and intermittent running and old fixtures and general laziness adds... Read Full Story
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What's your biggest complaint about your about your home? What do you love most about your home? These are two questions that I recently posted on my Twitter feed and on my Facebook page. The responses that came back were perfect. Every one was different. That's the point. Some talked about maintenance, some their attached garage, one even traveled the philosophical road opining about house versus home. Just as no two of us are alike, none of us will answer these questions exactly the same... Read Full Story
