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“The plans were very complete with lots of detail.”
- A. D.
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go green
Going green - or making eco-friendly
decisions when it comes to your building or remodeling
project - is becoming increasingly easy with the many
innovative, new materials and building techniques
becoming available to consumers. And, making better
choices for the environment has immediate benefits, such
as saving money on energy and having a healthier home
for your family to live in. Not to mention, it feels
good to do your part and help the environment.
exterior eco-tecture
tankless hot water heaters save energy
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Tankless or "on demand" hot water heaters
are an energy efficient alternative because they
do not store hot water in a tank, but generate it
as needed. Because there is no "standby heat loss,"
energy isn't wasted keeping the stored water heated.
Available in "point-of-use" (delivers small amounts
of hot water for, perhaps, a cup of tea) and "whole-house"
(providing enough hot water for 2 or more bathrooms), three
variables have to be considered in properly sizing the units
throughout the home: "flow rate" or the volume of water required
to heat; the temperature of the water entering the unit
(geographical location and ground water temperature determine this);
and the desired temperature of the hot water exiting the unit.
Available in electric and natural gas or propane models, tankless
hot water heaters require far less energy to give you hot water,
making them energy efficient and qualifying homeowners for a $300
federal energy tax credit. . |
interior green
design innovations
alternative countertops
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A Kinder Counter...
Anyone faced with the opportunity to remodel
their kitchen or bath should look into some of
the exciting alternative countertop materials.
Take it upon yourself to test some samples and also
consider how far the products must travel to reach your
home. Among the revolutionary, new surfaces are 100%
recycled paper, aluminum, glass and concrete. And then
there is the beauty of wood..."Eco Top" countertops are
composed of a Forest Stewardship Council-certified 50/50
blend of bamboo fiber, a rapidly renewable resource, and
recycled wood fiber salvaged from demolition sites, bound
together by a water-based resin formula that is both petroleum-and
VOC-free.
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