30 things you can do to make your commercial building Earth Friendly How do you start? How do you create a commercial building that is sustainable? Here are 30 things you can do to make your commercial building Earth Friendly. Click the links and learn more. Upgrade the...

I had a chance to visit with another client yesterday as the excavators were finishing up the dig for his new Zero-Energy Home. A zero-energy home is a building that roughly uses the same amount of energy that is created on site by renewable systems. This “farmhouse”...

How much are you doing to reverse the impacts on our planet that the operation of buildings do everyday? Buildings account for 39% of all Carbon Dioxide emissions in the United States. This is more than industry and more than transportation. We have tight regulations in both the...

Adrienne, Ray, and I joined a small group of AIA-S students from the University of Virginia School of Architecture yesterday for lunch. Each of us spent a few minutes talking about what we do and how we got to our current place in the profession. For me, it has not been a...

I know I am an energy nerd. I talk about everything from spiders to caulk as it relates to how to save money at home. With anyone willing to listen. This is the topic I find interesting. This is a topic that I think everyone should find interesting – because you can SAVE...

The cold weather is coming! But you might already feel it if your house is cold every morning. Do you have to add a blanket on your bed this time of year because your house is always uncomfortable? Are you dreading the winter heating bills? Making your home energy-efficient also...

Thinking of renovating your kitchen? Start here. One of the most common renovation projects done in existing homes are the kitchens. It provides a 92.9% return on investment on average according to Remodeling Magazine. It is often a gathering place for the entire family. The...

Is your crawl space working properly? In our area the crawl space is popular and a popular place for problems. From critters to wet insulation these spaces are almost never right. Here are some posts that might help you get your crawl space in order. Your crawl space is impacting...

Thinking of Building a Custom Home? Start Here First!

In order to live you must find joy, otherwise you are just surviving Last week was a rare honor for me, my seventh grade daughter allowed me to join her class at Eastern Mennonite School on a field trip. I did not get invited to any last year, so I did my best not to embarrass...