A functional kitchen is the key to a happy home. In today's family structure the kitchen is often the heart of the home where all the activities originate and gatherings happen. The kitchen needs to be practical, have an appropriate work triangle, and be flexible enough to allow for one cook to multiple cooks to be active. The keys to the design should also look at the materials selected taking into account for indoor air quality, natural light, and appropriate active lighting. Designing in drawers that pull out, for easy access, multi-height counters, and front appliance controls will make the kitchen last a lifetime.
Energy Costs are rising by an average of 6% every year. So what is a home owner supposed to do to keep up? Energy efficient options are all around your home, you just need to know where to look.
A solar hot water system costs around $2,500 to install, has a annual savings of $280 and a payback in 8.9 years. You don't want to spend that much, duct sealing costs around $450 and has an annual savings of $300 or a 1.5 year payback. Still not enough? A programmable thermostat costs around $115, saves $180 annually or a .6 year payback. Small changes make a big difference. Start with the first step and see how much you can save.
Many developers are looking for new solutions to their traditional projects in this new economy. From live work spaces that allow for small business to start on the lower level and for the owner to live above to smaller footprint lots, innovation is happening. We have recently done projects that mix commercial and residential in the same building, townhouses that have studio space below, and small footprint homes. The solutions that we are going to use for the next economy will not look like those from the past. Sure there will be some exceptions to the rule, but the time of the big front yard with no connection to your neighbor is coming to an end as people are looking to be connected to their neighbors and to their community.
No matter what your goals, you can design a house around the way you live and for your site. This home has a jacuzzi on the roof to take advantage of the views and the way this client lived. While a house this specific to one person may have an issue with resale, if you are designing your dream home, why would you design it for someone else?
"The SAVE Act" is legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia). This bipartisan legislation is intended to improve the accuracy of mortgage underwriting used by Federal mortgage agencies by ensuring that energy costs are included in the underwriting process. The bill, S. 1737 (112th Congress), was introduced on October 19th, 2011. It was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban affairs. The proposal is supported by a diverse coalition of organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Appraisal Institute, The U.S. Green Building Council, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
This legislation would provide lower mortgage rates for efficient homes, allowing home owners and builders to recover their investments. This act would also provide an accurate picture of repayment risk and the expected cost of home ownership. It would also increase demand for energy efficient design and construction for new homes. Also important is that it would put people back to work doing energy efficient upgrades. It is estimated that the SAVE Act would create 83,000 jobs and $1.1 billion in annual energy bills savings.
The Gaines Group, PLC is an architectural firm that specializes in common sense green solutions that add value to your project through energy efficient, durable, and low maintenance designs.
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