Fall 2009

Greetings!

I went to the West Coast Green trade show and it was inspiring talking with other green designers and builders. To see some of the great new products read more below.

You can now find past issues of Home Innovations on my website.

Doug Coe

West Coast Green trade show favorites
Stimulus package = home improvement savings
Make the most of a little-used room
Compact fluorescent lights: good news, bad news
In-law addition added to my website

No new-cabinet smell anymore | PureBond Plywood

Solar panels create energy, reduce installation hassles | Solar in a Box

The most common type of insulation, now without chemicals | EcoBatt from Knauf

Least expensive solar water heating system | SunCache Solar Water Heating System

Beautiful old world plaster walls are "greener" | EcoStucco lime plaster

The federal economic stimulus package (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) has something great in it for homeowners. Tax credits for energy efficiency items for your house.

The list includes windows and doors, water heaters, furnaces and air conditioners, and insulation. A 30% federal tax credit (which is much better than a deduction) is allowed in 2009 and 2010 up to a total of $1,500. Even better, solar panels qualify for the credit through 2016, along with solar water heaters and several other energy devices.

Plan your remodeling projects carefully and you may get them at a much better price than you imagined possible. Get started learning the details at Energy Star.

Wouldn't it be great to have more space in your home?

I really enjoy learning how people use their house and imagining it made bigger, better, and more stylish. But before starting a design for an addition I like to ask how the current rooms are being used. And sometimes it turns out there is a little-used room waiting to be made more of.

With imagination a neglected living room can become a game room with a pool table. A formal dining room could be transformed into a crafts area. The bedroom of a child who has moved out of the nest might be just right for a home office.

Also, the greenest addition is one you don't need to build. There is less space to heat, many fewer materials are used, and most of the "green" can stay in your wallet. So take a fresh look at how you use the rooms in your house. You might just be able to have an "addition"" easier and quicker, and for less than you think.

After delaying for years, earlier this year I put compact fluorescent light bulbs in most of my home's light fixtures. And felt like I had done the right thing. CFLs use a quarter of the energy of old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, reducing green house gasses, and they last up to ten times longer.

Unless you happen to break one. That's where the bad news comes in. I learned recently that the small amount of mercury in each CFL is very toxic. The EPA outlines a six-step process for cleaning up a broken bulb (wear gloves!), and if a bulb just burns out you are required to take it to a hazardous waste disposal center.

So, use CFLs to save energy and to save money—the payback period is as little as six months. Just make sure everyone knows what to do if one gets broken, and look for the low-mercury brands.

A family in San Leandro was planning to have the mom's mother move in with them. So the dad asked me to design an addition for his mother-in-law.

This new area includes a suite with bedroom, bathroom, and closet. Adjacent to the bedroom is a sitting room that can be opened to the bedroom with double pocket doors. She has her own heater and air conditioner for complete control and comfort.

See this Backyard Addition for Mom in the Projects section of my website.

Doug Coe Architect
Berkeley, CA
510-540-5029
arch@dougcoe.com
www.dougcoe.com

Certified Green Building Professional

Doug Coe helps homeowners create their dream home. He brings his experience in carpentry, training in green building, and creative architectural talents to fulfill your vision for your home.