Marrokal has another ASID winner with John Mills Davies with his design for a Singular Residential Space.
Read the full article here.
Once an unsalvageable 1906 shack that had only front and side yards, the latest design creation of John Mills Davies of Marrokal Design & Remodeling is now a modernist bungalow equipped with a multi-use patio, casual outdoor theatre, and eco-friendly features. The cast-in-place concrete slabs take space efficiency to a new level as they serve as a versatile patio, dog run, and triple-deep off-street parking. In the summer, the side yard is used to project images on the east façade of the house, creating a carefree and relaxed environment for movie watching.
Showing posts with label Green Building San Diego. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Building San Diego. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Hiring a Green Home Contractor
Rising energy costs and a slow residential resale market throughout most of the United States make green remodeling a better option for most people than buying a new home. But simply hiring a remodeling contractor to install green building materials and energy-saving appliances does not guarantee that your new kitchen or master suite will be energy-efficient and eco-friendly.
Are your expectations realistic?
Homeowners often face sticker shock at the cost of remodeling. For example, in Hawaii, where the cost of materials is higher because of shipping and taxes, a simple kitchen remodel that includes replacing cabinets and counter tops, and installing high-end appliances can easily cost more than $40,000 just for materials.
Sustainable materials can also cost more than their standard counterparts. For example, things like concrete countertops, LED lighting, reclaimed wood flooring, heat-reflective exterior coatings and closed-cell spray foam insulation (SPF) have higher upfront costs associated with them, but represent good value when long-term savings and life-cycle analysis is taken into consideration.
Are green building options affordable?
Take a practical approach. First ask what makes sense for your particular family and the way you live. For example, lower cost options to decrease air conditioning expense could include installing energy-efficient windows, maximizing cross ventilation or replacing a dark-colored roof that absorbs heat with a cooler white roof that reflects heat.
Are your expectations realistic?
Homeowners often face sticker shock at the cost of remodeling. For example, in Hawaii, where the cost of materials is higher because of shipping and taxes, a simple kitchen remodel that includes replacing cabinets and counter tops, and installing high-end appliances can easily cost more than $40,000 just for materials.
Sustainable materials can also cost more than their standard counterparts. For example, things like concrete countertops, LED lighting, reclaimed wood flooring, heat-reflective exterior coatings and closed-cell spray foam insulation (SPF) have higher upfront costs associated with them, but represent good value when long-term savings and life-cycle analysis is taken into consideration.
Are green building options affordable?
Take a practical approach. First ask what makes sense for your particular family and the way you live. For example, lower cost options to decrease air conditioning expense could include installing energy-efficient windows, maximizing cross ventilation or replacing a dark-colored roof that absorbs heat with a cooler white roof that reflects heat.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Green Home Remodeling is More Than You Think
Green home remodeling doesn't just apply to the finished product or the materials used. If you are hiring a remodeling contractor, you should consider how to make the renovation process itself "green." Here are some steps a green home remodel must include:
Control Potentially Harmful Dust
Dust is an inevitable side effect of remodeling, but it can contain asbestos, lead paint, or other particles you don't want to inhale. During a remodeling project, remodeling companies must use barriers, such as plastic covering doorways, to contain dust to the renovation area. In addition, they should cover work areas with plastic tarps and wet down surfaces before sanding or scraping. If your house was built before 1978, assume that it contains lead paint and ensure you work with a properly trained contractor.
Provide Proper Ventilation
A green home remodel shouldn't expel pollutants into your home. Responsible remodelers use exhaust ventilation, such as a fan, that pulls air out of the work area and vents it to the outside. This helps expel dust and other pollutants, and it creates a pressure barrier that prevents pollutants from spreading to other parts of the house. Activities such as installing flooring and carpeting or painting can emit pollutants. Remodelers should provide ventilation during these activities and for at least 72 hours afterward.
Control Potentially Harmful Dust
Dust is an inevitable side effect of remodeling, but it can contain asbestos, lead paint, or other particles you don't want to inhale. During a remodeling project, remodeling companies must use barriers, such as plastic covering doorways, to contain dust to the renovation area. In addition, they should cover work areas with plastic tarps and wet down surfaces before sanding or scraping. If your house was built before 1978, assume that it contains lead paint and ensure you work with a properly trained contractor.
Provide Proper Ventilation
A green home remodel shouldn't expel pollutants into your home. Responsible remodelers use exhaust ventilation, such as a fan, that pulls air out of the work area and vents it to the outside. This helps expel dust and other pollutants, and it creates a pressure barrier that prevents pollutants from spreading to other parts of the house. Activities such as installing flooring and carpeting or painting can emit pollutants. Remodelers should provide ventilation during these activities and for at least 72 hours afterward.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Green Building Also Saves You Money!
Of course, simple things like changing your light bulbs to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can help you cut costs; lighting can contribute anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of your electrical usage. LEDs will cost a little more upfront but they last more than 11 years and they don’t contain the toxic element, mercury, as the less expensive Compact Fluorescent Lights do.
Centrullo says during the design phase of the remodel, environmental factors such as the sun, wind, and shade, are given special consideration because they will later affect the need for heating and air conditioning of the home. “We’re taking advantage of Mother Nature,” says Centrullo. This creates an economic benefit later for the homeowner.
You can also invest in better insulation for your remodel. “Marrokal Design & Remodeling uses an upgraded insulation which makes a difference. The less heat exchange from inside to outside the home, the more money you will save,” he says.
Centrullo says that another big cost-saving benefit for Green Building is to use re-circulating pumps to help you save water. “Most of the time when the water is turned on, it’s not hot right away, so people just let it run until the water heats up,” says Centrullo. The average American family can waste 10,000 gallons of water each year just waiting for it to get hot, according to Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
Re-circulating pumps are devices that push the water through the pipes and re-circulate it back to the water heater instead of pushing it down the drain. That process can amount to a couple hundred dollars of savings in your water and utility bills. “These are simple devices that we can install. They can be left on all the time or set to come on at certain times throughout the day,” says Centrullo.
Imagine never having to pay another utility bill? That is becoming a reality rather than just a thought for many homeowners. In fact, news reports reveal that some families, thanks to solar thermal (for heating water) and solar photovoltaic (PV) (for producing electricity) are generating even more power than they use. These days, homeowners are considering solar panels to supply electricity to warm their pools, generate home electrical needs, and even supply power for a plug-in electric vehicle.
Centrullo says during the design phase of the remodel, environmental factors such as the sun, wind, and shade, are given special consideration because they will later affect the need for heating and air conditioning of the home. “We’re taking advantage of Mother Nature,” says Centrullo. This creates an economic benefit later for the homeowner.
You can also invest in better insulation for your remodel. “Marrokal Design & Remodeling uses an upgraded insulation which makes a difference. The less heat exchange from inside to outside the home, the more money you will save,” he says.
Centrullo says that another big cost-saving benefit for Green Building is to use re-circulating pumps to help you save water. “Most of the time when the water is turned on, it’s not hot right away, so people just let it run until the water heats up,” says Centrullo. The average American family can waste 10,000 gallons of water each year just waiting for it to get hot, according to Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
Re-circulating pumps are devices that push the water through the pipes and re-circulate it back to the water heater instead of pushing it down the drain. That process can amount to a couple hundred dollars of savings in your water and utility bills. “These are simple devices that we can install. They can be left on all the time or set to come on at certain times throughout the day,” says Centrullo.
Imagine never having to pay another utility bill? That is becoming a reality rather than just a thought for many homeowners. In fact, news reports reveal that some families, thanks to solar thermal (for heating water) and solar photovoltaic (PV) (for producing electricity) are generating even more power than they use. These days, homeowners are considering solar panels to supply electricity to warm their pools, generate home electrical needs, and even supply power for a plug-in electric vehicle.
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