A big part of home improvement is about repairs. When something is not working correctly it is important to get it fixed. Additionally, by fixing a problem as soon as possible, you will
prevent further damage.
I have identified two such areas: Basement Waterproofing and Septic Tanks issues. These two issues can soon become huge problems which can easily compound into major expenses for you.
Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)
Location
4895 N. Ravenswoood, Chicago Map
Owner
Michael Yannell
Architect
Farr Associates
The Yannell Residence is a new two-story plus basement, 2,675 sf home seeking LEED for Homes Platinum certification. We haven’t seen many LEED for Homes projects in Chicago (the Mauceri Residence recently earned a Gold certification), mostly because the program has been in pilot phase for years, but the USGBC has finally sent it for final member approval. The home also seeks to be one of Chicago’s first zero net energy homes - a challenging goal that can only be demonstrated by studying a year’s worth of utility data after the home is completed.
Nearly every energy conservation measure possible is applied in order to reach the zero energy goal: spray foam insulation contributes to R-30 walls and an R-40 roof, and triple-pane argon-filled windows provide an exceptionally low 0.17 U-value. An combination mass wall/plenum air return system provides active and passive solar heating, while the remaining heating and cooling are provided by a geothermal system.
The project has received city approval and is seeking state approval for a greywater and rainwater harvesting system that will be used both for toilet flushing and irrigation. The inverted roof visible in the rendering is designed for rainwater collection, but also cleverly hides the solar hot water and solar electric panels that round out the energy approach. This is a nice example of a design statement and two different performance goals all working in tandem.
An interesting feature of LEED for Homes that doesn’t receive a lot of discussion locally is a durability plan, which focuses primarily on moisture control (e.g. both through the building envelope and in wet locations). This is another example of the increasing overlap between ‘green construction’ and ‘quality construction’ - most of the durability concepts have long been considered best practice, but are still overlooked in the typical spec-built American home.
Finally, there are a variety of site-related green aspects, including 100% pervious paving, two green roofs, and a zero-turf landscape design, which contributes to a planned Certified Backyard Habitat. Other project team members include MEP engineer dbHMS, landscape architect McKay Landscape Architects, structural engineer Senffner & Associates, and general contractor Goldberg General Contracting.
Original post by Erik
We’re getting into the coldest days of the year now, and a lot of homeowners are being faced with an important decision: my 20 year old furnace is dead, what kind of furnace should I buy? Should I get the cheaper model or the more expensive one that has the higher efficiency rating? Is two stage operation or a variable speed fan worth the extra cost?
A good place to start is to figure out your current heating costs. If you use natural gas, what other natural gas appliances do you have? If you’re only other natural gas appliance is a hot water tank, this will typically consume $200-$300 in gas every year. A gas stove will typically consume less than $50 in gas a year. The rest should be used by your furnace.
Another method to determine the energy costs of your heating is ask for your month by month energy costs for the last year (or more) from your utility company. The difference between your gas costs in the winter and the summer provides a good estimate of your heating costs. (more…)
Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)
As environmental pollution and global warming become a daily reality, people are becoming more concerned about their impact on the environment. Beginning with the home, people are seeking new ways to beautify their house without damaging the environment. The first great place to begin is with your floors. Bamboo flooring can be a great option for flooring, and it offers many of the qualities of hardwood at a fraction of the cost.
For those who want to protect the environment, one of the best advantages to bamboo is that it has a very low impact on the ecosystem. A parent bamboo plant grows new stalks each year, and in approximately six years, the stalks are ready to harvest. The manufacturers of bamboo flooring can then continually grow and harvest bamboo with no lasting impact on the bamboo forest. With other hardwoods, the trees take much longer to grow; even with reforestation techniques, it can take decades for a forest to grow back to its original state.
To make bamboo flooring, the bamboo is harvested, split, flattened, processed, and dried. These thin planks are then glued together to create the boards that can be used for flooring. Other types of bamboo flooring involve the bamboo being crushed, with the strands glued together to form boards. Once the glue is dried, the boards are prepared, milled to have proper tongue and groove edges needed when being installed, coated to protect their durability and finish, and then shipped to the store or directly to you. You can even choose to have your bamboo flooring stained to match your décor and tastes. (more…)
Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)
Windows maintain the temperature in your home, keeping the cold out in the winter and the heat out in the summer. To capture upon the benefits of windows, it is important to have well sealed, efficient, and double paned glass window. The benefits to having quality windows are endless, including rebates with the heating company and improving the look of your home. Let’s look at great reasons that you may wish to consider when upgrading the windows in your home.
1. Rebates from utility companies are given for new, energy efficient windows. Rebates are often given for homes that purchase new energy efficient windows. For more information, you can contact your local energy company to obtain specific details on these energy incentives. These incentives could save you hundreds per year.
2. Utility bills become less expensive with good quality windows. Quality windows ensure that the home uses less gas to heat the home. This commonly results in a noticeable reduction in your monthly utility bills. Imagine the money that will be saved each month and at the end of the year! When you add up the savings, the new windows will essentially pay for themselves. (more…)
Original post by blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)
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