« November 2007 | Main | January 2008 »
December 13, 2007
No corny title, just illumination
Hello, my name is Andrew and I am addicted to sunlight.
Yes it is true, and I am not inclined to seek help for this malady anytime soon.
It seems like such an unfortunate turn of events that we seek shelter from the weather by putting roofs over our heads and then have to figure out how to import illumination to make our living space comfortable and functional. We solve one problem only to create a new one, albeit a lesser problem than freezing to death or living in a water-soaked rambler.
Getting light into dark corners, closets, stairwells, seems to be getting easier with wireless technologies but we are still talking bulbs, wires, and switches. Easy is keen, but I want my light to be organic!
Traditional skylights have evolved over the years and now offer Low-E (low emissivity) to help offset heat gain and loss. This is great and the home that Stacy and I are updating with energy saving technologies will certainly have a few well-placed skylights to let the sunshine in. But what about that long hallway that leads to the bedrooms, or the space above the kitchen where a skylight would have to be installed near the peak of the roofline?
Is there anyway to PIPE natural light in? How can I FUNNEL sunshine into my house? Are there any TOTALLY TUBULAR solutions?
Just in case you missed it, check out what the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) deemed the Top 10 Remodeling Technologies for 2007. Tubular skylights might have come in at number ten on their list, but in my heart these inexpensive little gems of lumens will always be numero uno!
Posted by Andrew Hunt at 1:25 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
December 5, 2007
How much waste was generated from your home's construction?
Doesn't it just make sense to minimize waste through proper engineering, material handling and storage and to recycle the rest?
From the U.S. Buildings Energy Data Book: 3.4 Construction Waste, September 2007
- Two to seven tons of waste (a rough average of 4 pounds of waste per square foot) are generated during the construction of a new single-family detached house.
- 15 to 70 pounds of hazardous waste are generated during the construction of a detached, single-family house. Hazardous wastes include paint, caulk, roofing cement, aerosols, solvents, adhesives, oils, and greases.
- Each year, U.S. builders produce between 30 and 35 million tons of construction, renovation, and demolition (C&D) waste.
- Annual C&D debris accounts for roughly 24% of the municipal solid waste stream.
- Wastes include wood (27% of total) and other (73% of total, including cardboard and paper; drywall/plaster; insulation; siding; roofing; metal; concrete, asphalt, masonry, bricks, and dirt rubble; waterproofing materials; and andscaping material).
- A much as 95% of buildings-related construction waste is recyclable, and most materials are clean and unmixed.
Come on folks, we can do better than that. What does your company do to minimize waste and increase the amount of recycled material used during construction?
Posted by Stacy Hunt at 12:17 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
