energy efficiency

I say it all the time, your home is the most complicated machine you own. One of the main reasons for this statement is your (HVAC) Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems. If you have a forced air Heat Pump that is controlling the temperature in your home, you are...

I know when we were looking for our first home we never talked about the monthly electric bills. We were pre-approved at the bank for our mortgage, we had our cars paid off, we both had steady income. I thought we were set and understood how it all works. However, nobody ever...

Does Going Green Cost More? Nope!

I ask this question a lot of people I run into at home shows / county fairs. Many put up a defensive immediately, thinking I am trying to sell them something (I am – my experience and knowledge). I almost always get the same answer “my house is very efficient.”...

Change is constant, the future is fiction, what story do you want to write? ~ William McDonough We all have to make choices in life, where to eat, where to buy, how fast to drive. With every choice comes a result, a reaction to that choice. You might choose to live a healthy...

I hear it all the time, my house if pretty energy-efficient. Do you really know that it is or are you just guessing? Have you measured your home’s performance on the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick? Have you done all the little things to make your home more...

A 2010 study, Energy Efficiency in the South, released by Georgia Tech and Duke University illustrated the potential impact of energy efficient policies in Virginia (and other southeastern states) over the upcoming decades. For example there could be a $3.36 billion reduction in...

As an architect, I pride myself in being able to help people save money, live healthier, and conserve resources. I have used the terms, green design, sustainable design, and eco-friendly design to describe what I know how to do for my clients. The knowledge I have about these...

As I look out from under the deadlines and phone messages, I find it hard to stay positive that my work is making a difference. Is anyone listening? Am I just adding to the background noise that blinds us from making this moment in time the point at which we come together as a...

I am often invited to give presentations to share the lessons learned I have gained over the years. Here is a short video promoting an event that I did last year. If you are interested in having me join your non-profit or civic group for an event, let me know.