Archive for January, 2009
Stone: A Disappearing Resource
Stone has always been a huge plus when it comes to interior design, but if we keep using stone eventually it will run out. We may not see this in our lifetime, but it may happen in the next generations life time. Don’t 
worry though, you can still have stone in your home by using stone from homes that are being torn down or from someone remodeling, as long as you let them know first.
Since finding stone to recycle can be difficult there are also other great options for you to use that are very environmentally friendly. For countertops use concrete, glass or wood, preferably bamboo. You can also get countertops made from recycled paper and other recycled materials.
Flooring is a very easy fix, use renewable resources such as bamboo, and cork, you can also again use materials taken from a another home. Overall there are many ways to save our stone resources, companies have ways of making products that look exactly like stone as it’s made from stone, but not from stone that may disappear. Remember if your looking to be environmental friendly it doesn’t matter that the material can just be recycled, but it’s a matter of how renewable the resource is.
Protect Your Home And Keep Heat Out
Yes, in most areas of the world it is winter but winter will soon be gone and you will be thinking about the heat that is summer or it’s summer now and your tired of the heat. One great way to keep your home cooler is to use solar shades like the ones sold at The Shade Store. The reason I mention this store is that they h
ave two great style options for you. A simple solar shade that will work with any design or the roman solar shade that adds a little more style to your decor. I personally love the look of a roman shade.
The other great thing about this company is that they have an eco friendly fabric line that is PVC and Lead Free. Since now we have to watch lead levels when it comes to children this is a great option for any parent for their home. This fabric is also 100% recyclable. You don’t have as many color choices as you do with their other fabrics, but the ones they do have are actually very nice and would work well with any decor.
Keeping your home looking good, by keeping the rate of fading down is another good thing about these shades, have you ever walked into a room and looked at the carpet only to see areas that look like they are a different color? This is caused by light from windows fading out the color of your carpet or furniture. It’s easily fixed by using a solar shade to block light and right now you can get 15% off and free shipping on all orders; Use the code: IZEA01
Design Should Make You Feel
One of the most important things I have learned is that design should speak to you, it should make you feel something. If it’s really good it will bring back memories and connect you with the object, building or work.
Take a look at the pictures below, do you feel anything when you look at them. Are you intrigued or do you think of something from the past? Do they make you happy or sad?
Geothermal Energy Part III: Codes And Design
Codes and other Regulations
When installing a geothermal system you may be subject to different regulations depending on the type of system and the area you live in. Some examples of these regulations are:
Well construction code
Discharges to ground water
Discharges of surface water
Water use reporting
Underground ejection control.
If you are considering using a closed loop system you will also need to get a permit as boreholes may extend hundreds of feet in depth and could penetrate drinking water aquifers. Sealing the area between the vertical loop piping and borehole from the bottom up to the ground with a low permeability grout, as recommended by the manufacture and is also consistent with the state well code, is advised.
Design
Geothermal systems are usually installed and designed by an HVAC professional who has studied geothermal design. The process of geothermal design differs depending on the building to be constructed, the size shape and heating and cooling needs of the building effect the design of the system. A small system would be designed for a home, while a large system can be designed for a school or office building.
This concludes the Geothermal Energy series. I hope you enjoyed it.
Part I: Geothermal an Introduction
Part II: Geothermal Systems
Now You Can Put A Window Anywhere
If you live in a dark apartment I have a great product for you, it’s a window that is not a window, it’s really shades that use electroluminescent sheets for the light source. It’s very handy for anyone
who lives in a place where you either can’t put a window because there is no outside wall or if you live in an apartment that is underground. You can adjust the intensity of the light by manipulating the shades and it’s very easy to install.
This could really add something to every room, I would probably put it in 2 of our bathrooms as they don’t have any windows but really need something extra. It also could be used to confuse your friends. Yes I can be that mean, but only to a select few of them.
Technorati Tags: bathrooms, light source, windows