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A team of young architects and an engineer from France have developed a concept of modifying existing electrical towers to harvest wind power.
Photo by Elioth + Encore Heureux
The idea is still in its infancy, but I love the fact that they are thinking of ways to produce sustainable power for our society while attempting to utilize existing infrastructure. The team won the 2009 “Next Generation” competition organized by Metropolis Magazine. More information can be found at the following link:
Metropolis Magazine | Harvesting the wind
I updated my Mom’s website today with some of her latest artwork. She is producing some amazing work. Below is one of my favorite pieces called “The Five Elements”
Click here to visit the website for Deb Jones Yensen & see more of her artwork!
I was recently contacted by one of our window suppliers recommending that I pass on information about tax incentives in 2009 for replacement of windows, doors and skylights. While I am an advocate for upgrading the efficiency of homes, I also believe that any remodel project should not be undertaken without careful consideration of other factors.
Many of the homes that I work on are historic homes, and often I am ask to evaluate the condition of windows and make suggestions on whether or not the windows should be replaced.
Below are some questions I usually ask myself before making a recommendation:
- Do the windows contribute to the historical character of the home?
- If the answer is “yes” then I take a look at the condition of the windows. If the condition of the existing windows are in poor shape, then I look at replacement options. When looking at replacement options I try to find a manufacturer that is able to manufacture new windows that will most closely match the configuration and mullion pattern of the existing windows.
- Have the windows been painted shut?
- Often times the windows are still in good condition, but they have been painted shut by a past owner. It takes some work, but the paint can typically be cut along the operable areas and the windows can be refurbished to original working condition with much less cost than replacing the windows. Often in older homes we will find a true double hung window with the top panel painted shut and the bottom panel still operable. The original idea behind a double hung window is that in warmer months of the year the top panel can be lowered to allow air flow high in the room. Since heat rises, the operable top panel allows hot air to escape which reduces the need for mechanical cooling. Due to this same theory we sometimes see transom windows in kitchen areas of old homes to allow heat to escape from the hot kitchen to cooler areas of the home.
- Do the windows have single pane glass?
- It is definitely true that old single pane glass windows are not as efficient as newer double pane or even triple pane glazing systems, but the glass may be adding character to your home and that is sometimes overlooked by some homeowners and remodelers.
- Glass is actually a liquid that is being pulled slowly in the direction of gravity. Many of the older homes that I work on have glass that over the years has become thicker at the bottom of the pane than at the top. This gives a “wavy” illusion to objects on the other side of the window when looking through the glazing sometimes called the “bottled glass” effect.
- If your single pane glass adds a character to your home that is irreplaceable you might consider adding storm windows to the home. My own home has custom storm windows that we can easily remove and replace with screens during the summer months. The screens allow for cross-ventilation while keeping insects out of the home during the hot summer months. During the winter months, the extra layer of glass provided by the storm windows keeps the windows from “sweating” and building up condensation. It also helps seal the house and makes it easier for the heating system to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home. It is a bit more maintenance to change out the screens and storm windows each spring and fall, but in my mind it is worth it to be able to keep the original glass. If you are thinking of installing storm windows, there are a few companies such as Van Dykes Restorers that have some nice looking hardware to attach the storm windows to your home.
- If you have still come to the conclusion that you should replace your windows, you are in luck because there are some tax incentives in 2009 that will help to reduce this upgrade.
- Before we get into this though, let’s first look for windows that match your home as we discussed earlier. In addition, windows with wood interior and an aluminum clad exterior will be highly efficient, will have a softer more natural feel than vinyl, will last a lifetime and also be low maintenance.
- I dislike nothing more than walking into an old historic home with beautiful old style woodworking to find that someone has replaced the original wood windows with white vinyl windows. There are a few projects where I have recommended vinyl windows, but they are few and far between and never in a historic home.
- The Tax Credit is for qualifying products that will be installed in 2009 and 2010. The maximum credit will be $1,500 and will be based on 30% of the purchase price and does not include installation. The windows must also be for the person’s primary residence.
- There are also some limitations as to how energy efficient the windows need to be. The windows must have a U factor of 0.30 or less and they must have a SHGC of .30 or less.
- A good website for more information on window efficiency and the tax incentive is The Efficient Windows Collaboratives. There is also a .PDF available at the following link:
Adobe .PDF on Window Replacement Tax Credit
Are you getting tired of all the negative news and reporting? I ran across this site called the “Good News Network” the other day and have added it to my homepages. There are a lot of interesting legitimate news stories that have a more positive take on our society and our world. There is even a free thirty day trial. Check it out when you get a chance by clicking on the logo below:
I received my license to practice Architecture in the State of Colorado today!! Below is a map of all the States I am currently licensed in. Next year I will go for Utah. I am concentrating on States with large ski resorts! :)
There will be an Open House from 5:30 to 7:30 at Whittier Elementary School at 301 N. 29th Street in Boise, Idaho on Tuesday, October 28th. Please come out to see the latest plan and have a chance to voice your opinion about a project that will have a huge influence on our community. There will be two formal presentations starting at 6:00 and at 6:45. For more information on the project and a link to the Boise City website, please click on any of the renderings below (Renderings of the 30th street project are from the Boise City website):
Alan Greenspan outlined his opinions on the financial crisis. Below is a link to his testimony before the “House Committee of Government Oversight and Reform”
Greenspan TestimonyI listened to a speech that Wells Fargo Chair Richard Kovacevich gave to the Commonwealth Club of California on Tuesday. Kovacevich gave a brief history of the banking and financial industry from the end of WWII to our current time. One of the more interesting things to me was to make the distinction between an “economic” crisis and a “financial” crisis. Kovacevich explains that we are not in an “economic” crisis. He sites examples of the 1980’s “economic” crisis when we saw interest rates over 20%, a huge numbers of unemployed, and a growing defecit. In his speech he says that our economy is actually doing fairly well with very low interest rates and low unemployment rates. The “crisis” is in the “financial” sector of our system and he targeted banks and the other financial institutions as the cause of the situation.
His description of how the industry has changed through technology, deregulation, and the world market is also intruiging. In the question and answer portion after the speech he is ask about Japan’s financial difficulty over the past several years and he sites that the length of their crisis has been prolonged by the inability of their government to step in. He also discussed “deflation” and how it can snowball much quicker than inflation.
In the construction industry we are seeing signs of this deflationary effect. Architects, designers, contractors, and sub-contractors are lowering their bids and prices just to get work even when their profit margins are very low or non-existent. This is great news for the consumer, but throws the pendulum from one extreme to the other. What I would like to see is a bit more balance in our marketplace. Honest pricing for goods and especially services, I think it goes a long way to helping stabilize the situation from a “ground-up” approach instead of the “trickle-down” effect.
Kovacevich makes one final point that is probably the most important in his speech. It comes down to “people”. Treating others how you would like to be treated, surrounding yourself with talented and innovative people, and providing the tools and means for them to think freely and act on thier ideas.
Below is the link to the speech. “Real Player” is required to play the speech and the run time is about one hour.
The youngest of my three younger sisters recently received her landscape architecture license in Idaho. She graduated from the University of Idaho in 2003 (Go Vandals!!). Alyssa has worked with us on past projects and has done a great job of specifying drought tolerant plants and designing low water consumption irrigation systems. The Idaho Statesman published this article in the business section the other day. I am really proud of Alyssa and her accomplishments. Keep up the great work! Congratulations Alyssa!
Also, in the same section is recognition of a new contract for Drake/Cooper. They were recently selected as the ad agency for the United Dairymen of Idaho. Great job Karma and the rest of the Drake/Cooper team!