It’s efficiency that drives the design of kitchens by Robert Hidey Architects in Irvine, Calif. And it’s not the size of the kitchen that matters most; it’s meeting the needs of each family and maximizing floor space that determines customer satisfaction.
As homes become smaller, the needs of the typical family remain the same, requiring those who design kitchens to be creative, says Scott Rivers, RA, CGP, studio director, Robert Hidey and Associates. One of those needs is storage, so Rivers and the team at RHA use every bit of space they can find.
“We’ve tucked storage space under stairs, in corners of cabinets, and have been pretty creative at using finding space to store things,” Rivers says. “We’ve even created hidden storage such as a small pantry with a door that opens to a more expansive pantry behind it. Unused ceiling space can also be turned into a storage area.”
Most of the kitchens designed by RHA feature islands because of their versatility. As families use the kitchen for eating, studying, holding meetings and generally as a gathering place, an island serves many purposes, Rivers adds, such as a place to eat, store things, prepare food and do homework. “The kitchen is now the hub of the home so we make sure it’s accessible and adjacent to all other living spaces,” he says.
More Than Kitchens
RHA is a full-service architecture firm built on home design, with an emphasis on and respect for traditional styles both in aesthetics and detail. Love for traditional style is meshed with contemporary layout including open floor plans and multiuse spaces. “We also pride ourselves in creating luxurious accommodations for the master suite, great amenities such as wine storage, and what we call the super laundry room. We also focus on ensuring ample storage space especially as it relates to entry points. We’re bringing back mud rooms because we find them quite useful where kids are coming in through the garage. This way they have their launch point in the house, and then we like to provide one more formal launch point in addition to the mud room,” Rivers explains.
Not a full-fledged design/build firm in the traditional sense, RHA does not perform construction, but it will get involved in planning. “So in the sense that we are involved in construction from the early stages of planning and throughout completion, we practice design/build,” Rivers says. “Formal education for architects trains you to work with the building contractor, and be involved right from the beginning from site planning through construction documents and cost analysis. Supervision of the project during construction is also part of the deal.”
Benefits of being so involved in a project is the attention to followthrough and not forcing contractors to try and interpret what a designer meant with a particular design element. “In the execution of those details, we want to be present and involved. Oftentimes we become the interior designer, or even the landscape architect. And through the design/build approach, when the contractor is onboard earlier in the process and dealing with a tight budget and level of cost, it’s important to be involved in early,” Rivers says.
“When we take on a project our approach is personalized, so we assign a team leader who remains a constant throughout the project. It adds to the success, having that continuity,” he adds.
Leadership continuity also keeps clients happy, which can be challenging when their design ideas differ from what RHA believes makes the most sense. “There’s a way to work through that. You as the designer have a responsibility to know how your client’s family lives and functions, and, for example, prepares food in the kitchen. Some clients insist on a galley kitchen but we try to show them the benefit of an island kitchen. We work through it together, being a resource for them as architects should be. At the least, make sure your clients are making educated decisions,” Rivers explains.
Courtesy: http://rdbmagazine.com/print/Residential-Design-and-Build/Need-Driven-Kitchen-Design/1$4012 For the best concepts in kitchen remodeling and workmanship of the highest quality, homeowners need look no further than Mediterraneo Design and Build of Menlo Park, CA. The company can be contact on (650) 368-1361 or by email. Details of the work they do may be seen on their website www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Showing posts with label Mediterraneo Design and Build. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mediterraneo Design and Build. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Installing a Green Roof Interlocking pre-grown panels add little dead load to the roof -by Bruce Zaretsky
Last fall, I was in a client’s second-floor office hashing out the details of an ongoing landscaping project when I noticed a door to the outside. I asked where it led. “Nowhere, really,” my client said. After checking for myself, I understood what she meant. The door opened onto an unattractive deck that — despite a great view of Lake Ontario — was clearly unused. An EPDM membrane covered the floor, and I could imagine how hot that black surface got in the summertime.
I suggested adding a roof garden. Though my client knew about the environmental benefits of green roofs, she was surprised to learn about the lightweight planting system my company had recently been trained to install. While these vegetative panels from Green Living Technologies (800/631-8001, agreenroof.com) are primarily used for commercial construction, they’re reasonably priced and easy to work with, and they make green roofs feasible even for small residential projects, where aesthetics are more important than LEED points. The maker coordinates distribution with regional growers and uses trained, certified contractors for installation.
A Modular Approach
GLT’s modular panels — an alternative to the more common complex layered green-roof systems (see sidebar) — combine a thin growing medium with a root stabilizer and water reservoir. Designed so that they interlock, the 39-by-39-inch (or 10.72-square-foot) panels are about an inch thick before planting and 3 inches thick when they’re vegetated. Each can retain approximately 8 gallons of water, but even when they’re installed on the roof and fully saturated, they weigh only about 15 pounds per square foot.
The panels we used on this project are designed for roofs with pitches up to 4/12. GLT also makes panels for roof pitches between 5/12 and 12/12 and has a bracket system that can be used to adapt the panels for pitches up to 90 degrees. In addition, the company offers self-contained trays for flat roofs. We preferred to use panels for this project, because they can be cut on site to fit irregular shapes. Our plan was to mix preplanted panels with site-built ipe deck sections to transform the 10-foot by 20-foot deck into an attractive living space.
Because of their thin profile and light weight, the panels can often be installed with no major modifications to the existing structure. Here, the deck was a slightly pitched porch roof above an entryway and was conventionally framed with pressure-treated lumber supported by 6x6 PT posts. Though ugly, the single-ply 45-mil EPDM membrane covering the 3/4-inch plywood was in good shape and showed no signs of leakage. After consulting with our engineer, we decided that the deck wouldn’t require additional reinforcement to support the new loads from the roof panels, but we did want to beef up the waterproofing layer.
First, we thoroughly cleaned the old membrane by sweeping and vacuuming it; then we laid down another 45-mil EPDM membrane on top of it. We lapped the edges up the walls, tucking them behind the existing synthetic stucco siding as best we could, and cut in around the existing 4x4 deck posts, then primed the edges and seams before sealing them with self-adhesive EPDM seam tape. Because the roof deck framing was enclosed by the porch ceiling underneath, we used the same basic waterproofing details we would have used for a deck above living space.
Next, to protect the EPDM against punctures but still allow for drainage, we laid down a heavy-duty landscape fabric — DeWitt 20-year weed barrier (800/888-9669, dewittcompany.com), the same 4.1-ounce fabric we use for landscaping projects on the ground
Wind uplift can be a problem on rooftop gardens. On larger projects, GeoEdge (800/356-9660, permaloc.com), an L-shaped aluminum edge restraint, is normally used to prevent uplift at the eaves and at the transitions between planting areas and hardscape or drainage areas. On this small deck, however, we finished the outside edge with 5/4 ipe deck boards laid on edge and fastened to the outer face of the deck posts. A slight gap between the ipe and the landscape fabric allows water to drain into the porch roof’s gutter.
Installing the Panels
We ordered panels planted with a mix of sedum and thyme and picked them up from a distributor on Long Island. Sedum is a prolific and hardy water-storing succulent; because it’s drought-tolerant, it’s often used instead of grass on green roofs. Creeping thyme is a low-growing herb that adds a little fragrance to the garden. (We hope eventually to work primarily with plant-in-place panels that we’ve seeded in our own small greenhouse, which will allow us to vary our plantings and control the delivery schedule.)
The dimpled HDPE membrane used for the base layer of these panels has considerable compressive strength (the same material is used as a drainage layer in road construction), so features like planters, paving, and decking can be placed directly on the panels after they’ve been installed. This is the typical approach on large roofs where planters and pavers occupy a small percentage of the surface area. On a small project like this one, where those features cover a large portion of the deck’s footprint, we saved material by first installing the ipe deck, stepping pads, and planters, then cutting the panels to fit using a cut-off saw with an abrasive blade.
Prevegetated panels are about 95 percent planted, with the eggcrate-like reservoir layer exposed along two of the edges. When the panels are installed, their edges overlap, which locks them together. It takes only a month or two before roots completely fill in the small gaps between panels. As the plantings mature, the seams disappear — though one of the advantages of this system is that individual panels (or the entire roof) can be removed if repairs to the waterproofing layer are ever required.
Green roofs are normally installed with automatic irrigation. But in our reasonably wet Upstate New York climate — and with the water-retention capabilities of the panels — we expect that the homeowner will be able to handle any supplemental watering with a garden hose. This spring we plan to connect rain-barrel collectors to the gutter system to help monitor how much water actually flows off the roof (some systems pump collected water back up to the roof when irrigation is needed).
Cost
We completed the project in October, relatively late in the area’s growing season, which gave the root system little time to establish itself before first frost. Still, we don’t anticipate having to do any reseeding this year. Total cost was $7,214, or about $35 per square foot, with materials accounting for about $5,000 of that total. The square-foot cost was high because of the scale of the project (200 square feet); costs for a more typical green roof project using this system are usually in the $10- to $20-per-square- foot range.
Courtesy: http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/4bd96433017df9c227170a32100a0662/UserTemplate/69?s=4bd96433017df9c227170a32100a0662&c=064e2287a5de4890278ee23a86bdbefc&p=1
Homeowners interested in knowing more about installing green roofs or any other types of remodeling may contact Mediterraneo Design and Build of Menlo Park, CA on (650) 368-1361 or by email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com. The company website www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com provides more information on the company and a partial portfolio of the projects they have undertaken.
I suggested adding a roof garden. Though my client knew about the environmental benefits of green roofs, she was surprised to learn about the lightweight planting system my company had recently been trained to install. While these vegetative panels from Green Living Technologies (800/631-8001, agreenroof.com) are primarily used for commercial construction, they’re reasonably priced and easy to work with, and they make green roofs feasible even for small residential projects, where aesthetics are more important than LEED points. The maker coordinates distribution with regional growers and uses trained, certified contractors for installation.
A Modular Approach
GLT’s modular panels — an alternative to the more common complex layered green-roof systems (see sidebar) — combine a thin growing medium with a root stabilizer and water reservoir. Designed so that they interlock, the 39-by-39-inch (or 10.72-square-foot) panels are about an inch thick before planting and 3 inches thick when they’re vegetated. Each can retain approximately 8 gallons of water, but even when they’re installed on the roof and fully saturated, they weigh only about 15 pounds per square foot.
The panels we used on this project are designed for roofs with pitches up to 4/12. GLT also makes panels for roof pitches between 5/12 and 12/12 and has a bracket system that can be used to adapt the panels for pitches up to 90 degrees. In addition, the company offers self-contained trays for flat roofs. We preferred to use panels for this project, because they can be cut on site to fit irregular shapes. Our plan was to mix preplanted panels with site-built ipe deck sections to transform the 10-foot by 20-foot deck into an attractive living space.
Because of their thin profile and light weight, the panels can often be installed with no major modifications to the existing structure. Here, the deck was a slightly pitched porch roof above an entryway and was conventionally framed with pressure-treated lumber supported by 6x6 PT posts. Though ugly, the single-ply 45-mil EPDM membrane covering the 3/4-inch plywood was in good shape and showed no signs of leakage. After consulting with our engineer, we decided that the deck wouldn’t require additional reinforcement to support the new loads from the roof panels, but we did want to beef up the waterproofing layer.
First, we thoroughly cleaned the old membrane by sweeping and vacuuming it; then we laid down another 45-mil EPDM membrane on top of it. We lapped the edges up the walls, tucking them behind the existing synthetic stucco siding as best we could, and cut in around the existing 4x4 deck posts, then primed the edges and seams before sealing them with self-adhesive EPDM seam tape. Because the roof deck framing was enclosed by the porch ceiling underneath, we used the same basic waterproofing details we would have used for a deck above living space.
Next, to protect the EPDM against punctures but still allow for drainage, we laid down a heavy-duty landscape fabric — DeWitt 20-year weed barrier (800/888-9669, dewittcompany.com), the same 4.1-ounce fabric we use for landscaping projects on the ground
Wind uplift can be a problem on rooftop gardens. On larger projects, GeoEdge (800/356-9660, permaloc.com), an L-shaped aluminum edge restraint, is normally used to prevent uplift at the eaves and at the transitions between planting areas and hardscape or drainage areas. On this small deck, however, we finished the outside edge with 5/4 ipe deck boards laid on edge and fastened to the outer face of the deck posts. A slight gap between the ipe and the landscape fabric allows water to drain into the porch roof’s gutter.
Installing the Panels
We ordered panels planted with a mix of sedum and thyme and picked them up from a distributor on Long Island. Sedum is a prolific and hardy water-storing succulent; because it’s drought-tolerant, it’s often used instead of grass on green roofs. Creeping thyme is a low-growing herb that adds a little fragrance to the garden. (We hope eventually to work primarily with plant-in-place panels that we’ve seeded in our own small greenhouse, which will allow us to vary our plantings and control the delivery schedule.)
The dimpled HDPE membrane used for the base layer of these panels has considerable compressive strength (the same material is used as a drainage layer in road construction), so features like planters, paving, and decking can be placed directly on the panels after they’ve been installed. This is the typical approach on large roofs where planters and pavers occupy a small percentage of the surface area. On a small project like this one, where those features cover a large portion of the deck’s footprint, we saved material by first installing the ipe deck, stepping pads, and planters, then cutting the panels to fit using a cut-off saw with an abrasive blade.
Prevegetated panels are about 95 percent planted, with the eggcrate-like reservoir layer exposed along two of the edges. When the panels are installed, their edges overlap, which locks them together. It takes only a month or two before roots completely fill in the small gaps between panels. As the plantings mature, the seams disappear — though one of the advantages of this system is that individual panels (or the entire roof) can be removed if repairs to the waterproofing layer are ever required.
Green roofs are normally installed with automatic irrigation. But in our reasonably wet Upstate New York climate — and with the water-retention capabilities of the panels — we expect that the homeowner will be able to handle any supplemental watering with a garden hose. This spring we plan to connect rain-barrel collectors to the gutter system to help monitor how much water actually flows off the roof (some systems pump collected water back up to the roof when irrigation is needed).
Cost
We completed the project in October, relatively late in the area’s growing season, which gave the root system little time to establish itself before first frost. Still, we don’t anticipate having to do any reseeding this year. Total cost was $7,214, or about $35 per square foot, with materials accounting for about $5,000 of that total. The square-foot cost was high because of the scale of the project (200 square feet); costs for a more typical green roof project using this system are usually in the $10- to $20-per-square- foot range.
Courtesy: http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/4bd96433017df9c227170a32100a0662/UserTemplate/69?s=4bd96433017df9c227170a32100a0662&c=064e2287a5de4890278ee23a86bdbefc&p=1
Homeowners interested in knowing more about installing green roofs or any other types of remodeling may contact Mediterraneo Design and Build of Menlo Park, CA on (650) 368-1361 or by email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com. The company website www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com provides more information on the company and a partial portfolio of the projects they have undertaken.
Monday, May 10, 2010
10 Ways to Cut Utility Bills -By Martin Holladay
Here's a ten-step program that's guaranteed to reduce your utility costs.
The steps in the energy conservation pyramid are not set in stone; every house is different, and different climates may dictate different strategies, which will be determined as soon as you take the first step.
1. Get a home energy audit
Before beginning any energy retrofit work, have a home energy audit done to identify and prioritize problem areas.
A good home energy audit always includes a blower-door test. To be sure your auditor is well trained, choose one certified by RESNET or BPI.
The audit can cost as much as $600. Subsidies are available from some utilities and local governments, so check there first.
Why spend money on an energy audit?
• When considering energy retrofit work, most homeowners prioritize the wrong steps. An energy audit provides valuable information to counterbalance misleading advertising pitches for worthless products.
• Your audit is likely to reveal unseen defects in your home — for example, thermal bypasses (air leaks) through convoluted, hidden chases, or insulation gaps revealed by an infrared camera.
• At the end of your audit, you’ll receive a customized list of the most important energy retrofit steps for your house — a list that may differ from your assumptions (or even from the recommendations of the energy conservation pyramid).
• By identifying the most important retrofit tasks for your specific house, a good audit can save you hundreds of dollars that might have been wasted on inappropriate work.
2. Unplug and turn off
This step, though obvious, is often neglected: turn things off.
Inattention and laziness are responsible for a significant amount of energy waste; this step off can yield significant savings for a very small investment. To lower your electric bill:
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off appliances that aren’t being used.
• When not in use, unplug chargers for cell phones and similar battery-operated gadgets.
• Put televisions and other “instant on” appliances on a plug strip — and remember to turn off the plug strip when the appliance isn’t in use.
3. Use efficient light bulbs
The next step is very cost-effective: make sure your house is incandescent-free. Since most LED lamps are still less efficient than CFLs — and far more expensive — CFLs are still the best lamp for most fixtures.
For kitchens and basements, consider installing fixtures that use efficient linear fluorescent tubes (T5 or T8 tubes).
4. Seal air leaks
Air-sealing work is best done by an experienced home-performance contractor equipped with a blower door. Although this step usually costs hundreds of dollars, it will usually yield a quick payback in energy savings.
Air sealing work is not the same as caulking. Many homeowners have spent hours wandering around their house with a caulk gun — on the interior, filling cracks between window trim and plaster, or on the exterior, filling cracks between clapboards. Most of this caulking is a total waste of time. In fact, by trapping water, most exterior caulking does more harm than good.
Blower-door directed air sealing work is usually concentrated in a home’s basement (especially at the rim-joist area) and attic (where huge thermal bypasses are often hidden under a layer of fiberglass batts). Most air leaks are best addressed with two-component spray polyurethane foam.
5. Replace inefficient appliances
Once you’ve paid for blower-door-directed air sealing, it’s time to take a close look at your appliances. If some of your major appliances —your refrigerator, clothes washer, or dishwasher — are more than ten years old, you may want to replace them with more efficient models.
Don’t be tempted to buy a bigger refrigerator; small is good. Pay close attention to the yellow EnergyGuide labels — especially the annual kWh number — when you go appliance shopping.
6. Improve the insulation
Ideally, your home has plenty of insulation in the attic, above-grade walls, and basement walls. But if you’re insulation isn’t up to snuff, it’s well worth improving it.
In colder climates, it makes sense to install R-60 insulation in your attic — as long as the attic is accessible and roomy enough to accommodate the insulation depth.
If your stud bays are empty, they can be filled with dense-packed cellulose insulation installed through holes drilled from the exterior.
Basement walls can be insulated on the interior with rigid foam insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam.
7. Replace an inefficient water heater
If the configuration of your home’s plumbing pipes permits, you should install a drainwater heat-recovery device — especially if members of your family prefer showers to baths.
If you have an old, inefficient water heater, you may wish to replace it. Options include:
• A high-efficiency gas-fired water heater;
• A high-efficiency electric resistance water heater;
• A heat-pump water heater;
• An instantaneous gas-fired water heater;
• An indirect water heater connected to a boiler;
• Any of the above, supplemented by a solar water heater.
Of all of the options listed in this section, the fastest payback will probably come from the drainwater heat-recovery device. Although a new water heater can lower your energy bills, you shouldn’t expect a fast payback on the investment.
8. Improve on space heating and cooling equipment
When inefficient heating or cooling equipment gets old enough to replace, be sure to invest in the most efficient available equipment. If you’re shopping for a new furnace, look for a high AFUE (in the 90s). If you are shopping for a new air conditioner, look for high SEER (14 or higher).
There’s an important reason why energy-efficiency experts recommend holding back on the purchase of new heating and cooling equipment until air sealing and insulation work is complete: envelope improvements may permit heating and cooling equipment to be downsized. If you replace your heating and cooling equipment before finishing necessary air-sealing work or insulation upgrades, you’ll waste money on oversized equipment.
9. Insulate or replace windows
We’ve now reached the top of the pyramid. Further measures will probably reduce your home’s energy consumption, but they are unlikely to be cost-effective. The reason these measures are at the top of the pyramid is that few homeowners want to spend more on retrofit work than they will ever see in savings.
In a heating climate, the installation of low-e storm windows is more cost-effective than installing new replacement windows.
If, for reasons unrelated to saving money, you insist on new windows, be sure to choose windows with low-e glazing. Glazing with a low U-factor is desirable in all climates. In climates with cold winters, south-facing windows should have a high solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC); in climates where air-conditioning bills are high, windows should have a low SHGC.
10. Invest in wind or photovoltaic systems
At the top of the pyramid is the category of work least likely to provide a payback: the installation of a photovoltaic system or a wind turbine. There are many reasons you may want to have PV panels or a wind turbine, but saving money isn’t one of them.
Remember, it makes no sense to invest in an expensive PV system until after you have invested in all of the other measures listed on the pyramid.
No silver bullet
One of the Minnesota Power representatives who makes regular use of the conservation pyramid is Dean Talbott, a program manager for the utility.
“I handle a lot of customer calls, and lately I’ve seen a growing interest in renewable energy,” Talbott told me. “A lot of callers are looking for the silver bullet. I just got a call this week from a residential customer who’s spending $200 a month on electricity, and he told me he wants to install solar and wind. I told him he’d be better off to start with efficiency upgrades first.”
Courtesy: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/12059/10-ways-to-cut-utility-bills/page/all
If you would like to know more about increasing the energy efficiency of your home, contact Mediterraneo Design and Build on phone number (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
The steps in the energy conservation pyramid are not set in stone; every house is different, and different climates may dictate different strategies, which will be determined as soon as you take the first step.
1. Get a home energy audit
Before beginning any energy retrofit work, have a home energy audit done to identify and prioritize problem areas.
A good home energy audit always includes a blower-door test. To be sure your auditor is well trained, choose one certified by RESNET or BPI.
The audit can cost as much as $600. Subsidies are available from some utilities and local governments, so check there first.
Why spend money on an energy audit?
• When considering energy retrofit work, most homeowners prioritize the wrong steps. An energy audit provides valuable information to counterbalance misleading advertising pitches for worthless products.
• Your audit is likely to reveal unseen defects in your home — for example, thermal bypasses (air leaks) through convoluted, hidden chases, or insulation gaps revealed by an infrared camera.
• At the end of your audit, you’ll receive a customized list of the most important energy retrofit steps for your house — a list that may differ from your assumptions (or even from the recommendations of the energy conservation pyramid).
• By identifying the most important retrofit tasks for your specific house, a good audit can save you hundreds of dollars that might have been wasted on inappropriate work.
2. Unplug and turn off
This step, though obvious, is often neglected: turn things off.
Inattention and laziness are responsible for a significant amount of energy waste; this step off can yield significant savings for a very small investment. To lower your electric bill:
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Turn off appliances that aren’t being used.
• When not in use, unplug chargers for cell phones and similar battery-operated gadgets.
• Put televisions and other “instant on” appliances on a plug strip — and remember to turn off the plug strip when the appliance isn’t in use.
3. Use efficient light bulbs
The next step is very cost-effective: make sure your house is incandescent-free. Since most LED lamps are still less efficient than CFLs — and far more expensive — CFLs are still the best lamp for most fixtures.
For kitchens and basements, consider installing fixtures that use efficient linear fluorescent tubes (T5 or T8 tubes).
4. Seal air leaks
Air-sealing work is best done by an experienced home-performance contractor equipped with a blower door. Although this step usually costs hundreds of dollars, it will usually yield a quick payback in energy savings.
Air sealing work is not the same as caulking. Many homeowners have spent hours wandering around their house with a caulk gun — on the interior, filling cracks between window trim and plaster, or on the exterior, filling cracks between clapboards. Most of this caulking is a total waste of time. In fact, by trapping water, most exterior caulking does more harm than good.
Blower-door directed air sealing work is usually concentrated in a home’s basement (especially at the rim-joist area) and attic (where huge thermal bypasses are often hidden under a layer of fiberglass batts). Most air leaks are best addressed with two-component spray polyurethane foam.
5. Replace inefficient appliances
Once you’ve paid for blower-door-directed air sealing, it’s time to take a close look at your appliances. If some of your major appliances —your refrigerator, clothes washer, or dishwasher — are more than ten years old, you may want to replace them with more efficient models.
Don’t be tempted to buy a bigger refrigerator; small is good. Pay close attention to the yellow EnergyGuide labels — especially the annual kWh number — when you go appliance shopping.
6. Improve the insulation
Ideally, your home has plenty of insulation in the attic, above-grade walls, and basement walls. But if you’re insulation isn’t up to snuff, it’s well worth improving it.
In colder climates, it makes sense to install R-60 insulation in your attic — as long as the attic is accessible and roomy enough to accommodate the insulation depth.
If your stud bays are empty, they can be filled with dense-packed cellulose insulation installed through holes drilled from the exterior.
Basement walls can be insulated on the interior with rigid foam insulation or closed-cell spray polyurethane foam.
7. Replace an inefficient water heater
If the configuration of your home’s plumbing pipes permits, you should install a drainwater heat-recovery device — especially if members of your family prefer showers to baths.
If you have an old, inefficient water heater, you may wish to replace it. Options include:
• A high-efficiency gas-fired water heater;
• A high-efficiency electric resistance water heater;
• A heat-pump water heater;
• An instantaneous gas-fired water heater;
• An indirect water heater connected to a boiler;
• Any of the above, supplemented by a solar water heater.
Of all of the options listed in this section, the fastest payback will probably come from the drainwater heat-recovery device. Although a new water heater can lower your energy bills, you shouldn’t expect a fast payback on the investment.
8. Improve on space heating and cooling equipment
When inefficient heating or cooling equipment gets old enough to replace, be sure to invest in the most efficient available equipment. If you’re shopping for a new furnace, look for a high AFUE (in the 90s). If you are shopping for a new air conditioner, look for high SEER (14 or higher).
There’s an important reason why energy-efficiency experts recommend holding back on the purchase of new heating and cooling equipment until air sealing and insulation work is complete: envelope improvements may permit heating and cooling equipment to be downsized. If you replace your heating and cooling equipment before finishing necessary air-sealing work or insulation upgrades, you’ll waste money on oversized equipment.
9. Insulate or replace windows
We’ve now reached the top of the pyramid. Further measures will probably reduce your home’s energy consumption, but they are unlikely to be cost-effective. The reason these measures are at the top of the pyramid is that few homeowners want to spend more on retrofit work than they will ever see in savings.
In a heating climate, the installation of low-e storm windows is more cost-effective than installing new replacement windows.
If, for reasons unrelated to saving money, you insist on new windows, be sure to choose windows with low-e glazing. Glazing with a low U-factor is desirable in all climates. In climates with cold winters, south-facing windows should have a high solar heat-gain coefficient (SHGC); in climates where air-conditioning bills are high, windows should have a low SHGC.
10. Invest in wind or photovoltaic systems
At the top of the pyramid is the category of work least likely to provide a payback: the installation of a photovoltaic system or a wind turbine. There are many reasons you may want to have PV panels or a wind turbine, but saving money isn’t one of them.
Remember, it makes no sense to invest in an expensive PV system until after you have invested in all of the other measures listed on the pyramid.
No silver bullet
One of the Minnesota Power representatives who makes regular use of the conservation pyramid is Dean Talbott, a program manager for the utility.
“I handle a lot of customer calls, and lately I’ve seen a growing interest in renewable energy,” Talbott told me. “A lot of callers are looking for the silver bullet. I just got a call this week from a residential customer who’s spending $200 a month on electricity, and he told me he wants to install solar and wind. I told him he’d be better off to start with efficiency upgrades first.”
Courtesy: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/12059/10-ways-to-cut-utility-bills/page/all
If you would like to know more about increasing the energy efficiency of your home, contact Mediterraneo Design and Build on phone number (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Are Your Windows Outdated?
Windows are not just for light and ventilation but are an expression of your home’s personality. At some point in time your windows might become outdated and require replacement. Replacing windows can be a bewildering task with an overwhelming selection of styles and designs offer. When looking at window replacements a homeowner should consider the design which must be in keeping with the existing style of the home, and they should be easy to maintain. The most popular styles are bay windows, single-hung, double-hung, bow, sliding, casement and garden windows.
Window styles can also be customized with specialty-shapes. One suggestion is to replace flat windows with bow or bay windows which create an illusion of space. The additional natural light that these windows provide adds to the texture and dimension of the house. These windows come in a range of styles, the most common being the angled bay window which angles outwards at a 30° to 45° angle. A 90° angle would make it a box bay which could be fitted with a glass roof to make it a garden window. Most bay windows allow for a window seat, as an added attraction. A window seat is a great place to sit and watch the world go by.
Specialist Advice
A remodeling specialist can offer suggestions on window replacements compatible with your existing structural style. One such company is Mediterraneo Design and Build (MDB), a Menlo Park, design and build company. They undertake all residential building projects including home remodeling. MDB is well staffed with specialist personnel which includes designers, builders and interior decorators. A homeowner gets the benefit of diverse expertise in one company. To contact MDB, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Planning a Kitchen Remodel
Kitchens are the hub of the home and as is commonly known, kitchens and baths sell the home. Kitchens on average are remodeled every 12-15 years.
A kitchen remodel requires careful planning and foresight. This space, more than any other room in the home, is often the most expensive per square foot and the remodel construction phase has the potential to temporarily disrupt the family’s routines.
Homeowners should start the process by defining the scope of the kitchen remodel, often with the help of a professional kitchen designer, to determine a practical budget and a time frame for completion.
For example, if you are planning to expand the kitchen to include a breakfast nook or design an open concept kitchen with great room, change out windows or add garden access doors, the cost and timeline will reflect the structural changes and/or the new square footage added.
A successful kitchen remodel demands careful consideration of functionality in the space, efficient layouts for the work zones, aisles and traffic paths, and , proper dimensioning for locating plumbing, electrical and ventilation systems.
The development of new technologies to conserve natural resources is evident in kitchen showrooms and local home improvement centers. Energy star appliances from refrigerator/freezers to dishwashers, and low wattage fluorescent and LED under cabinet task lighting and decorative interior cabinet lighting are standard in today’s kitchens. The offerings are diverse for other design elements such as cabinetry, counter surface materials, decorative backsplash wall tiles and flooring.
Professional Remodeling
A kitchen remodeled by a professional, experienced residential construction contractor has significant advantages over the “Do It Yourself” (DIY) handyman approach.
A residential design and build company experienced in remodeling projects, offers a range of valuable services that include design development, finish selections, the permit process, project management and quality construction. One such company that serves Bay Area homeowners is Mediterraneo Design and Build (MDB) of Menlo Park, CA.
MDB has over nineteen years of experience with residential building projects including kitchen remodels. A variety of completed projects can be viewed at www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com. To contact MDB, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Why Remodel Your Kitchen
Kitchens on average are remodeled every 12-15 years and as is commonly known, kitchens and baths sell the home.
If you are planning a kitchen remodel it is essential to have a clear understanding of the motivating factors and personal vision for the project. Your estimated budget and timeline for the design and construction phases for the project will be determined by your expectations.
The common reasons for kitchen remodels are:
- the existing kitchen space does not meet the needs of the homeowner/s or family lifestyle
- the layout restricts functionality and accessibility
- there isn’t enough natural light or views to the exterior landscaping
- the overall kitchen style and design elements are dated
- the overall components are damaged or in disrepair from water damaged cabinetry doors, cracked tile or scratched laminate counter surfaces and worn out flooring materials
- appliance performance is poor and the water and electricity consumption demand is high
- the lighting is inadequate and inefficient
- the existing pantry, cooking equipment and serving wares storage is inadequate
- you are preparing to sell and want to present a “turn key” home to prospective buyers
-
When you have assessed the “why”, you then begin to develop your personal objectives and vision for the project.
The scope of the project may be a complete remodel that involves gutting the existing kitchen, often exposing the wall studs and floor and ceiling framing.
Partial remodels may involve upgraded appliances, often with the result that the existing cabinetry may need adjustments to accommodate the new appliance dimensions or to create a built-in appearance. The existing cabinetry layout may be satisfactory but the door and drawer panels need replacement and a new counter surface is a necessity.
Knowing what you want and what you must have will influence your remodeling budget, as will the quality and cost of the materials and appliances you select.
Homeowners with “Do It Yourself” (DIY) skills may choose to execute their own project but for the majority of homeowners, a successful kitchen remodel is dependent upon the residential design and build professionals you collaborate with.
A Successful Kitchen Remodel with MDB
If you are a Bay Area resident, you should consider contacting Mediterraneo Design and Build for a complimentary consultation.
MDB, located in Menlo Park, CA, is a full range residential design & build services company with over eighteen years of experience in providing homeowners with a professional and comprehensive approach to their remodel, addition or new home project.
As MDB is a single source of service, the homeowner is better able to communicate and monitor project progress. Furthermore, single entity responsibility can result in significant cost savings.
For kitchen remodeling or any residential building project, please call MDB at (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com. Visit www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com for more information about the company and their wide variety of completed projects.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Room Addition Solution
As your family expands or as the family’s lifestyle evolves, often the existing floor plan and number of rooms no longer meets the family’s needs.
Consider the possibility of adding on to your existing home. Perhaps an at home office is needed, or another bedroom either for a child or visiting grandparents, or a more spacious family room adjoining the kitchen. Enlarging existing rooms or building new rooms is often a viable and practical solution to the alternative of moving to a larger home.
Be familiar with your lot size, setback requirements and the maximum square footage you can build on your property. Is there space in your rear yard to push out the back of the house or patio and deck areas that can be restructured into enclosed living spaces? Does the garage have the potential for adding a room or two above the required parking spaces?
Here are a few key points to keep in mind when considering an addition and or remodel project:
Determine your budget with an understanding of the project scope and entities involved. Consider design services, structural and civil engineering services, construction project costs, permit process fees, and miscellaneous costs i.e. tree removal.
Drafted plans should include a dimensioned site plan, floor plan and elevations.
Local planning and building departments will require that permit applications be filed.
Prepare for the inevitable disruption to your daily routines during the construction process.
Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional Contractor?
Many people are ambitious enough to embark on such an addition themselves. They may save some money but the project is likely to take longer and will lack the quality provided by a professional contractor. Some homeowners believe that they are truly saving money by not contracting with a professional residential building contractor. This is often not the case.
Mediterraneo Design and Build (MDB) of Menlo Park, CA specializes in room additions. The company has highly experienced professional architects, designers and structural engineers on its team and is very well equipped to examine your existing home and recommend how one or more room additions can be made at the least cost with minimal inconvenience to the occupants. The company prides itself on rigid adherence to high quality building standards, meeting committed delivery dates and staying within the homeowner’s budget.
For more information about MDB’s completed projects, please visit the company’s website at www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com. To contact MDB, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Bathroom Remodeling - The Design Component
Bathrooms today have a more important role in the home than simply a place for personal grooming. Design trends offer a wide variety of decorative options that are sure to please the senses while the elements of form and function should integrate seamlessly into every bathroom space. Plumbing fixtures and fittings, lighting, ventilation, mirrors, cabinetry and storage are components of every bathroom project.
When remodeling a bathroom consider the user/s, their habits and preferences. Designing a master ensuite bathroom has very different criteria than a Jack and Jill bathroom adjoining the kid’s bedrooms. Guest bathrooms, powder rooms and outdoor living bathing facilities all require attention to the whole house floor plan and how each bathroom will be used.
Whether the remodel will include a double person steam or spa shower, an infinity soaking tub, an accessible curbless bathing area or the space saving tub shower combination; a double vanity or single pedestal lavy; a dual flush toilet or a wall hung unit; the services of a professional bath designer will ensure a successful design project.
Plumbing fixtures and fittings and finish materials are the highlights of a themed bathroom. Creating a theme is a personal expression that requires careful planning to ensure years of enjoyment and satisfaction. Themes run the gamut from rustic mountain to sophisticated urban chic, from European minimalism to traditional luxury.
Mediterraneo Design and Build, a residential design and build firm can offer a host of suggestions to transform a bathroom or any other room in your house. Located in Menlo Park, CA this firm of building professionals undertakes complete remodeling and building projects in the Bay Area. For more information on its completed projects and the services that they offer, please visit the firm’s website www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com. To contact, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
A Central Vacuum System
There’s no better time to install a Central Vacuum Unit (CVU) than during the remodel of a home. This system has a number of advantages over the traditional vacuum cleaner, the most obvious being one doesn’t have to transport the unit around the house, especially if the house is on split levels. The central unit itself is located in a remote location like a garage, basement or attic. During remodeling, inlet points can be carefully selected and the necessary tubing can be fitted behind walls in such a manner as to be strategically concealed. Some of the other advantages in a CVU are:
Assurance of healthy air with each cleaning since collected dust is sent to a remotely located unit.
The unit is driven by a more powerful motor than the traditional portable model leading to more efficient suction.
No inconvenience of cord length and cords tangling with furniture or becoming a potential tripping hazard. Only the brush unit and hose is plugged into a conveniently located wall inlet.
Quieter operation since the central unit is remotely located where the walls insulate the sound of the motor.
A Central Vacuum System enhances the value of a house.
Mediterraneo Design and Build is a design and build firm located in Menlo Park, CA which specializes in remodeling of homes. This firm advises its clients on those installations and modifications that are best undertaken during a home remodeling. The firm can provide complete information on Central Vacuum Units, the costs and other advantages. For home remodeling or building additions, please call MDB at (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
The firm’s website www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com has more on the design and construction services available and the various projects it has completed.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Flooring – An Impressive Design Element in Any Home
First impressions are lasting impressions. Flooring is a design element that is immediately noticed when you step into a home.
Replacing flooring material that is dated or in disrepair gives your home a new lease on life. Most remodel and addition projects include flooring upgrades and green flooring is often the preferred choice.
The use of sustainable, FSC certified and reclaimed woods is gaining in popularity and homeowners are more aware of building options that contribute to a healthy indoor air quality.
Environmentally responsible homeowners can be faced with a bewildering selection of eco-friendly flooring products. Bamboo, hardwoods, cork, linoleum, concrete, tiles and stone can be harvested, manufactured and distributed to qualify as certified green materials. Flooring materials free of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) do not release harmful off gasing chemicals into your home environment. When shopping for flooring materials we recommend you confirm that the products are “certified green” as specified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Mediterraneo Design and Build for Remodeling
Successful green flooring selection and installation is best left to knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Mediterraneo Design and Build is a residential construction firm located in Menlo Park that has successfully utilized the Design and Build business model for 18+ years. The MDB team of professionals is very experienced in all the disciplines connected with residential construction and remodeling. MDB consistently meets committed schedules and maintains budgeted costs utilizing their “one stop” business model making the home owner’s entire experience much easier and far more effective.
More information about the company is available at: www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com. To contact MDB, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
An Energy Efficient Home
Energy efficient homes significantly reduce standard operating costs. Installation of high efficiency heating and cooling systems, energy star rated appliances, fans, windows and glazed doors, upgraded insulation, water efficient plumbing fixtures and high efficacy lighting can save as much as 40% of the home’s operating costs.
Homes utilizing high efficiency clean energy systems improve the indoor air quality (IAQ). Health hazards related to dust mites, pollen, mold, radon, combustion by-products and contaminants are reduced.
It is commonly known that energy produced by the consumption of fossil fuels contributes to carbon emissions, global warming, acid rain and other environmental problems. Green point rated homes built according to “Build It Green” standards produce significantly less pollutants and conserve our earth’s natural resources.
Residential building systems that maximize energy efficient materials and products requires staying current on product knowledge, resources, availability and cost. This planning and selection process begins in the design phase, impacts the project costs analysis, is mandatory during the construction process and essential to living in a healthy home with a minimum fifty year life cycle.
Efficient Construction Saves Project Cost
To minimize project cost without sacrificing efficiency it is highly advisable to award the contract to a design and build firm such as Mediterraneo Design & Build (MDB). Partnering with this type of residential construction company offers distinct advantages. Key benefits are clearly defined accountability, cost effective construction, quicker and better communication and most importantly, on-time completion of your residential building project. Homeowners planning to build an energy efficient home in the Bay Area gain these advantages by contracting the services of Mediterraneo Design and Build located in Menlo Park. MDB has the necessary expertise and employs the many required skills to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget.
To learn more about MDB’s completed projects please visit the company’s website at www.mediterraneodesignbuild.com. To contact MDB, please call (650) 368-1361 or email info@mediterraneodesignbuild.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)