Custom Green Home built with luxury in mind

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 24, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Harrisonburg Architect

Thinking about building an energy efficient home? Want luxury living? They can easily be combined. Green design does not set a particular style, size, or aesthetic, it simply requires an understanding of building science. Here are more pictures of this incredible project built by Trost Custom Homes.

Here are the other updates

Green Term Defined: Detached Garage

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 22, 2014 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building, Harrisonburg Architect

It all started so innocently, we became a car based society and wanted to protect our investments. So we went from parking our cars in a driveway to parking them in the carriage house at the end of the driveway. Then came the carport – an attached to your home open air structure that protected the car from rain and snow. Then someone, probably an architect, said, lets build walls around this structure and make it part of the house. That is where our troubles started.

Yes, the attached garage is a convenience that most people in our area enjoy on cold and wet days, but there are problems lurking. It is impossible to completely separate them from your living spaces. This leads to indoor-air-quality issues in your home. As wind blows against your garage door, the space become pressurized pushing fumes and chemicals into your house. After all, where do you keep all those pesticides, gas cans, old paints if not in your attached garage?

So what is the solution? A detached garage not directly connected to your home. It can be connected via a covered walkway or screen porch. This detached structure is completely separated from your living space protecting your indoor-air-quality. Interesting that the google web definition is a garage not attached to a home, usually found in older homes. We have found that many of our clients want a healthy home. To create this you have to make the thermal envelope very tight which makes the indoor-air-quality contaminant prevention even more important.

Get your home ready for an #energy-efficient and #healthy home this fall

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 21, 2014 | architecture, Harrisonburg Architect

Check your door and window weather-stripping. Air leakage is the biggest energy waste that we find in homes. Making sure doors and windows seal tight will make your home more comfortable this fall and winter. Keeping doors and windows locked when closed will increase the performance against winter winds.

Make sure heating vents are clear of furniture. If your system is designed to perform optimally then it needs to blow air / radiate heat without obstructions. Keep draperies, furniture, and rugs off the floor vents and away from radiators to make sure you are getting heat to the right places.

Close your fireplace damper when not in use. A chimney is a huge hole to the thermal envelope and of course heat rises. Cut your energy use by making sure the damper is closed tight so as little heat as possible can escape to the outside. If you no longer use your fireplace, seal up the chimney with a chimney balloon and insulation.

Check your landscaping. Cut back overgrown plants that block airflow to your air handler and trees that overhang your roof. Protect your plants from coming heavy snows by trimming them back. Plant a winter crop on your garden and collect leaves and grass clippings in your compost bin for a beautiful spring crop.

Close your crawl space vents. The best thing to do is to close your crawl space vents permanently and insulate your crawl space walls. If that is not possible at this time, at least close your foundation vents for the cold months. Add a square of rigid insulation over the vent to help things stay modestly warmer below your floor.

Clean out those gutters. You made it through the summer without having to crawl on the hot roof, congratulations. Now that temperatures are more moderate, it is time to make sure you don’t get damage come snow season. Take advantage of this time of year to clean out your gutters and inspect your roof.

Clean for efficiency. Refrigerators are huge energy hogs so keeping them maintained is critical. Vacuum the coils on the back and bottom and check the temperature. While you are at it, clean the lint hose for your dryer – this will prevent potential fires and reduce mildew problems.

Hang heavier curtains on your windows. No matter the quality of your windows, they are still the weakest part of the thermal envelope of your home. Adding insulating curtains will help offset against heat loss during the cold months that are looming.

Open the windows. The more energy efficient you get your home the less “fresh” air you get inside. Open the windows on these cool autumn days to not only enjoy the sounds of nature, but also air out any toxic chemicals that have built up over the summer.

Have your chimney and furnace inspected. Make sure your fireplace and heating system is ready for the colder weather that is on the way. Get your chimney professionally cleaned to make sure it is free of buildup and birds’ nests. The same can be done for your heating system; clean and efficient is the goal. You should have your HVAC system serviced twice a year (fall and spring).

Penn Laird Custom Home – project update – Solar Courtyard

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 18, 2014 | architecture, Harrisonburg Architect

We got some new pictures of one of our favorite projects, the Penn Laird custom home. These show the solar system that was installed by the clients. I hear all the time that solar is ugly. I think this shows how solar can be done to look good, blend into the architecture, and provide clean energy for this home owner.

This incredible home is done in Penn Laird, built by Trost Custom Homes. Here are the other updates:

Solarize Harrisonburg deadline is October 31!

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 15, 2014 | architecture, Harrisonburg Architect

If you’ve ever thought about using solar power for your electricity, here’s your chance!

Solarize Harrisonburg is a local, grass-roots cooperative to increase the use of solar power in Harrisonburg/Rockingham County. Under this program, community members leverage bulk buying power to lower their installation costs. It began at a June 2 meeting which about 100 persons attended. Solarize Harrisonburg officially launched on July 28, assisted by Community Power Network (CPN). Since then, about 70 persons have completed a survey/signup form on the web site, http://www.vasun.org/solarize-virginia/solarize-harrisonburg/, and are receiving free solar roof assessments. CPN and cooperative members will select installer(s) in mid‑September. Contracts and installations will occur Q4 2014. A final informational meeting will happen at Massanutten Regional Library, Harrisonburg, on Oct 21, at 6 PM. The signup deadline is October 31. To ask questions, email solarizeharrisonburg@vasun.org and come to the meeting.

Construct Show Baltimore recap

by harrisonburgarchitect | Sep 13, 2014 | architecture, Harrisonburg Architect

The Construct Show has come and gone. It was a great event with excellent learning opportunities, networking, conversations, and sight seeing. If you can make it next year, I would encourage you to be in St. Louis! Here are some highlights from my experience this year.