Information on making building and remodeling projects more eco-friendly.
Climate change, energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint are driving aspects of home design. Solar panels are an option that many homeowners are considering. You might be surprised to learn that a French physicist began making discoveries about solar energy around 1839. The first patents for solar-powered engines were filed in the 1860's. By
Last week, I talked about what makes repurposed buildings such a great choice for businesses and communities. Now, I’d like to look at the kinds of buildings savvy business owners are reclaiming and renovating. The options for repurposed buildings are limited only by supply and your (and your architect’s) imagination. Existing offices and retail spaces
Repurposed buildings are becoming a more important part of the architectural landscape. Here's why I think they’re a great choice for business owners. What Are Repurposed Buildings? A repurposed building is an existing building that has been adapted for reuse. Repurposed buildings sustain old structures rather than demolishing them, often modernizing them and adding new
Post-frame construction has been around since humans first started building spaces to live in, but it is becoming a more popular option for new home and commercial construction, thanks to its flexibility, sustainability and cost-effectiveness. What Is Post-Frame Construction? Post-frame construction is an engineered-wood-frame building system that meets Uniform Building Code (UBC) and International Building
Building design can have a signficant impact on your health. According to the landmark National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS), conducted between 1992 and 1994, people spend an average of 87 percent of their lives in enclosed buildings, where pollutants like tobacco smoke, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), asbestos, pesticides and carbon monoxide can prolilferate and,
Make energy efficiency part of your 2021 New Year's resolutions. January is typically a time to take stock of ourselves and our goals. Many of us ask ourselves, “What do I want to achieve this year?” Along with going to the gym five times per week, eating less meat, or finally finishing that novel
This post first ran in 2017. Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the word. Globally, about ten billion tons of it are produced each year. Since the Romans pioneered its use more than a thousand years ago, architects and engineers have used it in everything from skyscrapers to suburban backyards.
This post first ran in 2017. In a 2017 post, I mentioned converting to LED lighting as a simple way to improve your home's "green quotient." Today, I'll take a more in-depth look at LEDs and what you need to consider when converting from incandescent or CFL to LED bulbs. Why
This post first ran in 2017. What Are VOCs? VOCs – volatile organic compounds – are carbon-containing chemical compounds that vaporize easily at ordinary temperatures and are released into the air. VOCs are all around us. They can occur naturally – they give certain evergreens that “piney” smell – or in man-made products like paint.
A version of this post first ran in 2016. Using greywater (sometimes spelled graywater) to irrigate your landscaping is an excellent way to reduce your water use in California's drought-prone climate. What Is Greywater? Greywater is water generated from household use that would otherwise go to waste. Water from bathroom sinks, laundry, shower, bath and
