Save Money and Resources

In the interest of saving the planet while we save money for ourselves, it is good to remember that simple changes can do a lot. If you are going to replace an appliance, large or small, purchasing and Energy Star rated one can save 15% or more on its energy consumption. Low flow toilets and shower heads mean that you will never even notice the difference in most cases but save a lot on water bills and water consumption. "On Demand" tankless hot water heaters mean instant hot water and lower bills because you are not heating a 30 - 50 gallon tank all the time. Solar hot water tanks can either heat all your water or preheat it so that your conventional hot water heater works less.
Wood laminates, plantation grown wood , rubberwood and alternatives like bamboo or tile are good flooring choices. You could also choose recycled wood or carpet made with fibers from recycled plastic containers.
Using fans and natural ventilation saves on cooling costs and evaporative cooling is less expensive and enercy consuming than refrigerated air (and probably healthier too).

What's in Your House???

According to the 1997 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, lighting and appliances (refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stoves) used 27% of all energy used in residences and accounted for more than 45% of energy costs. These numbers do not include the cost of water and the cost to heat water, resulting in savings potential that is even higher than these numbers reflect.
Most of us learn to conserve water and weatherstrip our windows, but we often forget to think about other practical ways to reduce our energy consumption. Compact florescent light bulbs and energy efficient appliances help reduce unwanted summer heat as well as cost less to operate. Reuse the old lamp...just change the bulb!

Al Gore Rocks!!

Just finished reading more about Al Gore's new movie AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. It is a must see for those of us really concerned about the state of the planet. If we have family and friends that need convincing, this might just do it. If you want more information about the validity of the science presented go to http://www.realclimate.com and read their review. There is als a great interview with Gore and others in the current issue of Vanity Fair.
Is anyone else out there familiaqr with the EcoBroker designation for Realtors?

Creative Reuse

Just saw in the Sunday paper a great article about the creative reuse of space for housing. We all are a lttle crazzy now and then but most of us never seriously considered voluntarily moving into an "insane asylum"....until now. Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts is currently being turned into condominiums. The old State Hospital will join Dammasch State Hospital in Wilsonville, Oregon and one in Traverse City Michigan as condominiums geared to living units that provide short commutes, parking and charm. Another development has been built at the former New York City Lunatic Asylum on Manhattan's Roosevelt Island.
As developers become more concious and land becomes more scarce, they begin to do what they should have been doing all along....converting existing structures to a different use. Schools, old mills and wharehouses are finally being used for offices and housing rather than destroyed to put up a completely new structure. I recently saw a listing for a commercial building now used as a local health club that began it's life as a school. Buildings have a much longer useful life than anything else we use on a daily basis. We are well served to learn to use them better for longer.

REVIVING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S USONIAN HOUSE

I was reminded today of the elegance of Frank Lloyd Wright's solution to affordable, beautiful housing. There were about a hundred Usonians built over a 15 year period. They were meant to be easily affordable and simple enough that the owner could do a lot of the building. These homes featured underfloor hot water heating with concrete floors and lots of glass, wood and masonry. The predominant material of the house was determined by what was locally available.
Clerestory windows provided natural light in the interior of the homes and the "workspace" was open to the dining and living area so that the cook was not separated from family or guests.
Space was sometimes defined by a step up or down or a piece of built in furniture. Built in beds, seating and bookcases were common as were desks and dinning tables. The building materials--glass, concrete, wood and stone provided lots of mass and there were many windows and doors for cross ventilation. Because he was an artists, Wright's solutions were not only practical and simple; they are also beautiful.
Click on the title above to see Matt Taylor's tribute the Wright tradition and learn more about the history and development of the Usonian House..

Heating and Cooling Issues

As warmer weather approaches, many of us are getting our cooling systems geared up for the summer. Here in the southwest evaporative cooling is still installed on many homes and most older homes have evaporative systems rather than refrigerated air. This serves a puropse other than cooling--since there is literally next to no humidity in our air, evaporative cooling tends to be very effective and helps us have some needed moisture in the air we breathe.
The least impactful system is a passive location that allows breezes to circulate. Unfortunately, we often have windstorms that cover every surface with sand and tumbleweed rather than cooling breezes. Strategically placed ceiling fans can work wonders and many people prefer them. They use less energy than even evaporative coolers and are certainly healthier the refrigerated air.
In older homes, windows and fans are often the most effective, especially if you have good insulation.