tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40974179909134406082011-11-27T16:57:56.343-08:00I am an architect interested in all aspects of sustainable design. I also get into graphic design, urban planning and issues of historic preservation.Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.comBlogger91100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-81905210284180729442010-01-22T10:37:00.001-08:002010-01-22T10:37:26.089-08:00

This is the Newsfeed for Dwellsol Architecture, Planning and Interiors.

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-20445615128691607092009-06-02T11:24:00.000-07:002009-06-02T11:38:12.949-07:00

A Christian Science Monitor OP-ED piece recently bemoaned that the "Big house, better house" concept of home design is "so 2007". Prof. Maxwell points out some excellent points about the importance of HOW we use space versus how MUCH space a home has.It has been over 10 years now since Sarah Susanka published her watershed "Not so Big House". The real estate community treated it as a niche

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-12926228732396187242009-05-18T10:39:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:03:45.332-07:00

I have just updated some tutorials on Passive Cooling. One is an overview of common passive cooling methods, the second is how to determine the appropriate cooling method for your climate, and the third on calculating your building's heat gain. All are hosted on Squidoo, linked below. Soon to come, sizing the different cooling methods to maximize their efficiency.Passive cooling methodsChoose

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-55267127409225312692009-02-18T17:16:00.000-08:002009-05-15T09:27:15.994-07:00

The new stimulus bill, aka the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes a modification of the income tax credit for the energy efficient renovation of ones residence. Your energy efficient remodel can get you up to a $1500 tax credit if construction is between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The rebate is based on 30% of the cost to add energy efficient components to your home,

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-32113011050232464402009-02-07T14:14:00.000-08:002009-02-07T14:48:16.391-08:00

So, I have been out sick for a week with an ear infection/inflammation. But right back where we left off...Clothes washing.In the previous post I talked about toilet efficiency, because it is the number one water user in a home. Right behind it is clothes washers. On average a clothes washer will use 40 gallons of water per wash. It is also worth noting that the electrical/energy use of a

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-47351349761373338752009-01-30T17:18:00.000-08:002009-01-30T18:12:44.921-08:00

Today the newspapers were reporting on the deep drought that Sonoma County is currently suffering. So what are some things you can do to reduce your water consumption if the City/County enforce a 30-50% reduction in end user consumption? The average US household consumes 350 gallons of water per day. Water rationing would require you to cut that by 105-175 gallons per day.Here is the typical

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-42993556024853679372009-01-29T17:23:00.000-08:002009-01-29T17:47:09.598-08:00

I am often asked what it is that I think is the most important part of designing energy efficient homes? The first thing that comes to mind is that you need to educate the building owner and occupants about energy conservation. This is a no brainer, consider the graph at the top of the page. Danny Parker gives a presentation where he talks about a housing development in Sacramento by Beazer

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-89833204365990004612009-01-27T17:45:00.000-08:002009-01-27T18:11:59.674-08:00

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by phone for the local business journal. I have done it before. I was very naive in my first interview and didn't realize the extent to which the journalists need to pare your comments to fit into the story. It seemed that what I remebered saying and what was printed weren't really in sync. The reality was that I wasn't misquoted, or even that

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097417990913440608.post-12059837235578030492009-01-27T17:30:00.000-08:002009-01-28T16:47:22.371-08:00

I got a call yesterday from a long time client/contractor that I usually do commercial and industrial work for."So, your website is all residential/sustainable, can you do modern style design?""Can I do Modern? You bet!"It was like a strange surreal dream! Most of my work is pretty traditional, not because I prefer it to Modern/Contemporary styles. In fact, if I were to design my own home (which

Dwellsolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16050141545423487558noreply@blogger.com0