Habitat for Humanity REstore-Spokane Valley

During these tough economic times a surplus and used architectural materials yard is a great find. If you are remodeling a house and need a door, window or vanity you can get one new or used. With a little thought you can reuse someones kitchen for a entertainment center or cabinets and workbench for the garage. Artisans love to repurpose architectural salvage to add a touch whimsy to their craft. Habitat REstore - Spokane Valley, Washington purchases also fund Habitat's home projects for families in need.

Whether you are looking for cheap or chic try an architectural salvage yards. Click on reuse at the bottom of this post or on the side bar for more surplus and salvage sources.

Conservation-How much can it save you?

Conservation for little or no cost can save you a lot of money. A minor life style change like turning off a 100 watt light bulb can put $25.00/year back in your pocket. Switching to compact florescent can save $80.00/year for the typical household. Other ways to save are:

• Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and corners with caulk and weather-strip.
• Turning down the water heater to 120 degrees F saves 6-10% on your energy bill.
• Low flow shower heads save 1/3-1/2 that an old style fixture uses.
• Wash clothes in cold water and use hot water for only very dirty clothes.
• Energy Star washing machines use less than 1/2 the water and energy that old machine.
• Choose a front loading washing machine for cleaner and more water and efficiency over top loading styles.
• Using your dishwasher can save 5,000 gallons of water each year and $40.00 in utilities.
• Wash full loads dishes. It cost the same to wash one dish as it does to wash a full load.
• Microwaves, convection ovens and crock pots use less energy than a stove or oven.
• A clean Microwave is more efficient than a dirty one.
• Use a fan first before you use air conditioning.
• In summer take advantage of the cooler night temperatures to cool your home.
• Set the thermostat to 78 degrees F in summer and 65 degrees in winter.
• Set your mower higher. Longer grass loses less water to evaporation.
• A shut-off nozzle saves water when watering plants.
• Use lids to keep in steam in to cook more quickly to reduce cooking time and use less energy.
• Check the refrigerator temperature it should be between 36 and 38 degrees.
• Clean furnace filters monthly to maintain high airflow and efficiency.
• Unplug power adapters and chargers when done charging cell phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, music players and other electrical devices to stop drawing phantom power.
• Windows coverings should be closed on hot summer days to keep heat out and open in cold winter days to let the sun's warmth in.
• Shut the fireplace flue when not using the fireplace.

 Technology is constantly improving efficiency but even simple lifestyle changes are money in the bank.

SOM designs T4 at JFK for Delta Airline

SOM's Delta-T4 at JFK is not another TWA terminal but functional and not without its charm. I hope this is more of a success than Denver's fiasco. All the new Homeland Security functions are below the skin somewhere. This has got to be one of the first major terminals since the recent additions of scanners. This is only the tip of the iceberg that we can see.


It is great to see a presentation form one of the big offices. SOM's presentation incorporates fly around and walkthroughs. It has many animated people walking through the terminal. Cabbies unloading bags, agents at ticket counters and the dreaded TSA officers at the expansive security screening area. I would be interested to see what software this was rendered on. In the distant past I know SOM had their own software for CAD.

Solar Decathalon 2011

This Solar Decathlon 2011 collaborative entry from Students from Parsons The New School for Design, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, and Stevens Institute of Technology is socially and environmentally aware. Teaming together to deliver design and technology for low cost housing in a Washington DC neighborhood. Donated land from the city in which 2 homes will be built. The Decathlon home will be relocated to the site one the competition is over. The other will be built on site. Habitat for Humanity will also benefit by receiving the design and technological developments to use in their future projects.

What does the fight between hybrids and plug-ins have to do with your home?

The fight between hybrid and plug-ins begins. Round one goes to the the Nissan Leaf. Watch the commercial on YouTube here.

YouTube - Nissan LEAF: Gas Powered Everything The Chevy Volt gets a bloody nose here. Pre-fight commentators give hybrids the edge because they can go the distance.
A little tongue in check description here. It is much a kin to the three way fight in home energy use. Passive solar is the lest expensive to implement but as with the plug-in car may need help to go the distance. Passive solar needs a professional to implement effectively and is subject to solar access issues. Building, growth of trees and cloudy days.
PV solar panels, wind turbines and hydro electric are expensive and need even more care in planning and rolling out. Paybacks are longer and are also dependent on natural ebb and flows.
Conservation is often a first step to alternative power projects. Reduction in in the over all load reduces the required energy to power the project. Reducing the overall square footage by combining room functions, open plans, convertibility and built-ins.
Energy efficiency reduces energy requirements but are not zero-emissions design. Insulation and envelope tightness cost a little extra but have great paybacks.
Hot water heaters provide an interesting example to compare the different approaches. A super insulated tank is the conservation approach. An on demand water heater is a energy efficient model. A solar hot water panel is a active solar model. Locating the water heater inside the building envelop is a passive design strategy to capture excess heat while reducing heat loss.
Low-tech design is a good solution. Like a bike instead of a car. Like thinking of outdoor space as additional rooms for the house. Even a sleeping porch, outdoor kitchen, patio/porch as living room diffuses the distinction between inside and outside. The experience of shelter is increased with no additional energy required.

Solyndra Cylinder Solar Panels

Solyndra panel collects direct, diffuse and reflected light and installs over a flat reflective roof surface. The 200 series as shown here is fast and requires no tools or ballast for installation. At 2.8 lbs/sf are light weight and need no roof penetrations. Mounts snap together lowering labor costs and setup time. Moving the system for future roofing and retrofit changes is a simple process. Tubes are lined with thin film solar membrane and collect in 360 degrees.

Plug-in Cars and Your Home.

As plug-in cars are entering the market it is and opportune time to ask how will this effect home design. Several questions come to mind. What about charging? How can I use green power? How does cold effect batteries? What new possibilities do plug-ins afford to home design?

Charging is the most basic need of a plug-in. Ranges are about 100 miles requiring a full charge for most driving. True, charging stations are popping up in many metro areas with more being planned. So, how will you charge your car? A plug-in car can simply plug into a standard 110 v outlet. Long charging times will make many homeowners want an upgrade to 220 v or a dedicated charging station or two. Plug-in an expensive electric car to just any outlet maybe trigger some thoughts of computers frying in electrical storms or questions about miswired polarity and grounds. Surge protection and line conditioning should be considered. Nissan Leaf requires an approved specialist to design, install and check their charging station. Something to be considered for all plug-ins.

The plug-in car is one of the most compelling reasons to consider alternative power. PV solar, wind power and hydro-electric offer a sustainable source of power. Although the initial costs of these systems maybe high, early adopters will be driven by their eco-conscience to be trail blazers. As more people shift plug-in cars and alternative-energy will become more commercially viable.

Temperature has an effect on the ability of a battery to store power. With every degree drop, available power drops too. Hot climates may have the advantage of being more carefree for plug-in owners. A semi-heated garage in moderate and cold climates are a consideration.

Americans love their cars. Cruising up and down streets, going to the drive-in/thru (to combine eating with driving) and planning our communities around them. Parking for cars is a requirement at home, work, shopping and entertainment. At home you at the very lest have a parking space. A carport protect from the sun and snow. A garage offers even better protection and a place to work on your love the car.

The 80's show Vegas starring Bob Ulrich as a Vegas PI who parked his classic Corvette in his living room behind a short wall.  Now this brought to mind one big building code violation which we happily overlooked in order to enjoy the show and to fantasize about the Vette. The flammability of gas and the carbon monoxide of our beloved kept us separated from our cars by a one hour separation wall. Will the microbus instired EV VW "Bulli" really be eco mannered enough for us to camp in our livingroom? What about a sexy Tesla next to the couch? We can dream can't we?

See the Bulli and other plug-ins at Electric Volkswagen Microbus Becomes Reality in New Concept PluginCars.com

Skip the CFL's and go right to the LED's.

Skip the CFL's and go right to the LED's. CFL's have blueish casts, flicker and have mercury which is a hazardous waste. LED's are longer lasting, good color rendering, no annoying flicker and no special requirements for disposal.

Here are Phillips lighting choices for LED's that directly replace most common bulbs in your home. Advanced LED light bulbs for the home