Fiddling on a Green Roof...

Everything that was old is new again. As we continue to look for the latest, cutting-edge green technology, it’s not surprising to learn that some of the best new ideas are decades, if not several millennia, old. Growing plants on the roof is one of the current up-and-coming technologies in the U.S. with its roots (get it?) based in ancient history. A green roof system can be an addition to a building’s existing roof or designed into a new home. Basically, it’s a multi-layered system that begins with the structural roof support, with a vapor barrier and...

Passivhaus (Passive House) II...

This blog follows on from our previous post – Passivhaus (Passive House I). It’s a whole new playing field for construction these days. Designing and building with the environment is becoming the standard in new home building and remodeling projects. It’s an exciting time and fun for us to keep our eyes peeled for exceptional projects out there. We’ll post those often as we discover the nuggets, but for now, here is a couple that we think are worthy of note. 1.Passivhaus (Passive House) -Whistler, BC This is an interesting project that is taking place just...

Passivhaus (Passive House) I...

With concerns about rising energy costs and detrimental climate changes, it’s no wonder uber energy efficiency is finally starting to catch on. The Passivhaus Institute has created the highest energy standards to date in our country. Imagine heating your house with the btu’s generated by repeatedly throwing a squeaky toy down the hallway for your royal indoor Retriever. The concept of the Passive House (Passivhaus in German) – PHIUS for short in the United States — was first developed by Professor Bo Adamson and Doctor Wolfgang Feist. The first...

Solar Tutorial Part A – The Very B...

Creating electricity from the sun has been around since 1954, but using the sun for heat energy has been around since the dawn of time. Have you ever leaned against a rock late in the evening that had been ‘cooking’ in the sun all day and discovered it to be warm? That’s solar thermal energy being stored in the rock or ‘thermal mass’. The ancient architects were all over that one! Despite it’s long history “solar energy” is still a mystery to many. Good Questions: Are there different types of solar energy? What is insolation? How viable is solar in...

Solar Tour in Olympia...

Come join us October 3rd, 2009, for the Olympia Solar Tour of Homes. For the second year running, The Artisans Group is proud to participate in this event. This year we’ll have two stops on the tour to showcase some of the latest solar technologies that work well in our region. The Olympia Solar Tour of Homes is part of the American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) National Solar Tour program; our local tour is held annually on the first Saturday in October, to kick off National Energy Awareness Month. On the tour you’ll find real world solar applications,...

Homes for a Lifetime – Certified Aging...

As more and more Baby Boomers hit their retirement years, housing for this generation becomes an evermore important issue. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) approximately 80% of Americans over the age of 55 own their own home. Not surprising, many Americans would stay in their home rather than move to assisted living or other alternate living arrangements. Enter the Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) program. What is CAPS, though and who benefits? The Certified Aging-in-Place program was designed by the National Association of Home Builders...