By admin, on October 24th, 2012
Dear Readers,
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The Green Architecture Notes Team
By Leslie Bennett, on September 24th, 2012
While the edible garden may seem rather unconventional today, 65 years ago, when the nation was at war, edible landscapes were the norm. In a huge effort, the government encouraged individuals to plant Victory Gardens in their own yards or in community settings, to help fill in gaps in the food supply. It was seen as patriotic to provide food for oneself or for one’s neighbors. Continue reading »
By Bobby Markowitz, on August 21st, 2012
 Photo by Joe Fletcher In June, I made a presentation at the Dwell Design Conference in Los Angeles entitled “Luxury Eco-Homes go Net Zero Water for the California Landscape”. The following post outlines the key points of my talk that illustrate how to achieve Net Zero landscape design.
Greywater and rainwater systems are a sustainable, cost effective ways to irrigate your landscape and are key to achieving net zero water usage. To achieve Net Zero, the landscape design must be done intelligently, with the supply anticipated so that the available water will inform the demand that is generated. Similar to an income which determines allowed expenses, the landscape design may need to be adjusted in order to respond to the available water by adjusting the specified irrigation system and plant choices. Continue reading »
By Briar Wu, on August 8th, 2012
 Photo by Briar Wu AIRFLOOR is a hybrid radiant/forced air system that leverages the advantages of a forced air system; rapid response times, and provides both heating and cooling yet delivers the thermal comfort and efficiency advantages of a radiant system. In lieu of using heated water lines like a traditional radiant floor system, AIRFLOOR uses conditioned air from conventional mechanical equipment.
Continue reading »
By Dora Chan, on July 5th, 2012
If you’re looking to light up your home with a pendant, consider choosing an LED. You save in the long run while keeping it elegant! This dining room is beautifully lit with the Moooi Raimond mimicking the city lights in the background. A centerpiece like this will surely make your home feel more complete, while keeping it green. Continue reading »
By Briar Wu, on June 12th, 2012
 Photo by Paul Dyer Photography For many older homes built before the advent of hot water recirculation systems, lag times while we wait for hot water to come out of a faucet is something many of us deal with in our homes every day. This not only wastes our time, but it also wastes energy and a lot of water, 6+ gallons of water a day on average per household. This equals 700M gallons a day, nationwide, dumped down the drain because the water was not hot enough for its application. Continue reading »
By Jeff King, on May 17th, 2012
HOW DO YOU MAKE 1,800 GALLONS OF RAINWATER DISAPPEAR?
With a typical roof shedding hundreds of gallons of water in a major rainstorm, an important and potentially expensive issue arises in many San Francisco remodels: where does it all go?
Rainwater diversion can be a cost-effective and sustainable solution. In this post, we will walk you through the definition of rainwater diversion, its benefits, and the permitting issues and methods necessary for execution.
Continue reading »
By Bridgett Shank, on April 22nd, 2012
In the spirit of Earth Day and being good stewards of the environment, it is important to also remember to be good stewards of our community. Rebuilding Together San Francisco is a non-profit organization that connects volunteers with construction projects focusing on the rejuvenation of communities. With projects ranging from single family homes to non-profit organizations and school facilities, the San Francisco chapter has helped over 1,000 houses and 250 facilities since its inception in 1989. Continue reading »
By Doug Nomiyama, on April 10th, 2012
 Photo by Matthew Millman Photography In 2007, Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders worked out of a loft-like industrial space in the Mission that lacked sufficient air flow on the handful of warm San Francisco days. During those San Francisco “heat waves,” we had to haul out 6’ tall industrial fans in a feeble attempt to move the air. With the fans howling, it felt like working in an old airplane hangar with prop planes readying to taxi out to the runway. Continue reading »
By Michael Kunz, on February 29th, 2012
 Photo by Paul Dyer Photography
Most households in the U.S. use natural gas to heat water. Other fuel types include electricity, propane, and heating oil. A typical gas storage water heater has an Energy Factor (efficiency rating) of about 0.6, while a typical electric storage water heater will be rated about 0.9. Based on these Energy Factors it would seem an electric water heater uses less energy. Actually the opposite is true, here’s why: Continue reading »
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