Retrofit Green

Teepee Roundup - Home Decor Ideas for Kids

2013-08-25T10:59:00.001-07:00

When designing rooms for kids its important to make them healthy, transitional, fun, and safe to live in. Next week, we will blog great home design tips and ideas for kid's rooms. We wanted to give a preview of our favorite essential for kids. The teepee has taken its place in children's room decor replacing princess castles and tents everywhere. These are a few of our favorite teepees that can be designed for indoor rooms or outdoor play areas.

Visit the remainder of our Teepee Roundup at Kid-friendly Interior Design.

New Solar Skylights by VELUX

2013-05-07T21:27:00.003-07:00

*30% solar tax credit may apply to skylight and installation cost.

For more information or contact information visit Forrest Glover Design

Spencer Herr

2013-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

Along with sustainable residential design, Forrest Glover Design is now offering original works by Spencer Herr. info@forrestgloverdesign.com

Sonoma Home Designer

Solar Dryer

2012-06-27T15:44:00.001-07:00

Using a clothesline can save energy and extend the life of your clothing. The sun also naturally brightens white clothing eliminating the need to use bleach.

For more design tips and contact info click Home Energy Efficiency

Our Favorite House Plant

2012-05-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

Fiddle leaf ficus, Ficus Lyrata, is by far the favorite house plant at Forrest Glover Design. The big leaves look great in the bushy form but also make a spectacular tree when pruned up.

Home Decor Ideas

Occupancy Sensor Switches

2012-05-27T15:06:00.002-07:00

I recently installed occupancy sensors in my pantry, workshop, bathroom closet, and upstairs bathroom. I don't normally leave a room with the lights on, but it has been a pleasant change to have the lights turn on and off automatically. Who knew such a quick and easy upgrade would be so exciting? Occupancy sensor switches can be install where the current light switch is in about ten minutes. Please be sure to work safely around electricity and call an electrician where required by law.

If you or your children have a habit of leaving the lights on, you can save a lot of energy by installing these simple switches. Closets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages and children's rooms are great places to install occupancy sensors. Sensor are available in many price points and options. Most include adjustable settings for length of time the light is on. Others include dimmers and on/off override switches. There is a great selection of switches from $15 - $50. Dimming an incandescent bulb by just 10 percent can save up to 20 percent on energy and greatly increase the life of the bulb.

Home Energy Savings

Metal Roofing

2012-05-23T08:33:00.002-07:00

Though metal roofs have a great amount of embodied energy and cost more up front. There are many advantages to them.

Serviceable for 50+ years
Recyclable and many are made from up to 95% recycled materials
Superior energy efficiency in both heating and cooling seasons
Perfect for rain catchment systems
Fire resistant
Provide maximum wind resistance
Leak resistant
Solar panels can be installed on them without drilling into the roof deck
Beautiful and complementary with many architectural styles

Home design for fire protection

Advanced Framing

2012-05-11T08:44:00.001-07:00

Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) or advanced framing is a framing technique developed in the 1970s. It can reduce the amount of lumber used for framing by 20 percent and preforms better thermally.

Instead of 2x4s 16in on center, the building is framed with 2x6s 24in on center. This allows for more insulation and less thermal bridging through the studs.
Corners are framed with two studs rather than four.
Headers eliminated in non-load bearing walls and sized according to their specific load in other walls.
The foundation generally calls for poured slab on grade to reduce wood for first floor framing.
Floors are framed with I-joist.
Roofs are built with trusses, eliminating a significant amount of wood used in conventional framing.
Insulation rigid foam is applied to the exterior plywood to further reduce thermal bridging

When building a new home or adding an addition, consider advanced framing to save framing cost and create a space that is less expensive to heat and cool.

Poor framing technique:

For more information or contact info visit Forrest Glover Design - Home Remodeling.

Natural Swimming Pools

2012-05-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

350 Home & Garden Challenge - May 12 & 13

2012-05-06T07:54:00.001-07:00

Join your neighbors in Sonoma County to save water and energy, grow food, and build community. Removing your thirty lawn can save more water than replacing all your interior fixtures. Plant vegetables, herbs, or create a beautiful native garden. Daily Acts has more information about the successes of the challenge since 2010. Some actions they suggest:

convert your lawn (or patio/balcony) to grow food
plant a fruit tree
create an herb garden
grow a row for a local food bank
start a worm bin or compost
install low flow
set up a greywater system

harvest rainwater
switch to drip irrigation
hang a clothes line
conduct a home energy audit
unplug and tune-in to Nature
have a block party and share stories
help a neighbor meet the 350 Challenge

Forrest Glover Design has recently joined forces with a wonderful native garden design and landscaping company to create stunning, earth friendly, and low maintenance gardens for your home or business.

Oak and Steel

2012-04-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

Understanding Window Energy Ratings

2012-04-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Buying new windows for your home can be expensive and intimidating. Understanding the Energy Performance Ratings can make the process less painful while adding comfort and energy savings. There are four main measurements to look for when shopping for new windows: U-value, solar heat gain coefficient, visible transmittance, and air leakage. But what do these numbers mean?

U-Value is a measurement of the heat flow through the window. It can be compared to the R-value (resistance) in insulation though it is the opposite. A lower U-value means less heat is transmitted through the window. U-value = 1/R-value. A window with a U-value of 0.33 would have a R-value of 3. A lower number provides more insulation.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is the ratio of solar heat gained by the window compared the amount of solar energy hitting the window's surface. The measurement is a number between 1 and 0. A SHGC of 1 indicates 100 percent solar gain while 0 indicates no solar gain. It is best to develop a window strategy with different SHGC for different windows. West-facing should be avoid but when they are used, the SHGC should be very low to avoid over heating the home in the afternoon. South-facing windows should have a high SHGC to allow low angle winter sunlight in to heat the home passively.

Visible Transmittance is the measure of how much light the window transmits. The number is also between 0 and 1. The higher the number, the more light allowed to pass through the window.

Air Leakage is the measure of cubic feet of air leakage per minute per square foot of window. Windows with air leakage less than 0.3 cfm/ft2 is recommended. Casement windows generally preform better than sliding windows in air leakage while fixed windows perform the best.

"Air leakage siphons about half of an average home's heating and cooling energy to the outdoors each year. Air leakage through windows is responsible for much of this loss." -Paul Fisette Energy-Efficient Building

Spring Has Sprung

2012-04-11T19:20:00.002-07:00

When pruning flowering trees in spring, bring some of the branches inside and place in water. The heat in your home with force the branches to bloom. An easy way to celebrate the changing of seasons and bring beauty inside.

Shipping Container Conversions

2012-04-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Sustainable Residential Remodeling - Sonoma

Simple Savings - Window Treatments

2012-04-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

Ideally after your retrofit is complete, your house will have dual paned windows with UV filtering glass in the right places. Window replacement is quite expensive and is generally the last step in a phased remodel. The whole low hanging fruit and bang for your buck idea. In the meantime, there are first steps to help you stay comfortable and save energy.

Well designed window treatments can go a long way to cutting your energy and saving you money. Heat moves to cold, so depending on the situation or time of year, you will use different strategies. Thermal lined drapes or roman shades are best for keeping the heat in during the winter. Open them up during the day to let the sun warm the room and close them tight after the sun goes down. There are special thermal lining products on the market and an additional flannel interlining can increase the insulation. In the summer, it is best to keep the sunlight off of the window rather than block it once it in inside. Outdoor solar roller shades, permanent overhangs, or deciduous plants can help block the summer heat when well designed.

A Case for Clay

2012-03-19T11:06:00.001-07:00

Indoor air quality is often overlooked when people think of green building. Since most people spend 90% of there day indoors, it is important to consider. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are chemicals with low boiling points that allow them to be released readily into the air at room temperature. VOCs can cause many health problems including headaches, asthma, allergies, and even cancer with prolonged exposure. Young children and infants are at greater risk than those with fully developed immune systems. VOCs are in many interior products and finishes including paints, carpet, vinyls, and adhesives. Think of the smell of wet paint or a new car.

Many paint companies have been working to reduce or omit the use of VOCs in their products. Clay based products can be an alternative to conventional paints. They are healthy and beautiful while bringing another natural product into your home giving you greater connection to the natural world. Clay based finishes generally come in two different forms. Bioshield offers clay paints in many beautiful colors. These can be painted directly onto a matte surface such as existing paint or drywall. American Clay is a natural plaster product. (Sorry iPad users, the website uses Flash!) It comes in four finishes from matte to a beautifully smooth finish called Porcelina. They work with local companies and applicators who can mix a multitude of custom colors.

Paint is an easy way to change interiors and is often what homeowners change first. Look for healthy alternatives for you and your family. Clay being only one of the options currently on the market.

Outdoor Living

2012-03-13T18:03:00.001-07:00

Increase you living space without a major remodel. In Northern California, you can live at least 6 months outside without threat of rain. Outdoor living can be as simple as a couple of lounge chairs. Our favorite is a dining area for beautiful dinner parties and al fresco lunches with friends and family.

Color Trends - Blues

2012-03-06T19:31:00.000-08:00

In 2012, we find inspiration in faded denim, lakes, rivers and sky. Blues we love come in mid-tones to very dark. Down Pipe by Farrow and Ball has been one of our favorite darks for the last year. It is so versatile from monochromatic color stories to using it as a base for brights such as pink and orange. Blues with a strong hint of green have been included though green in another color we are excited about in the coming years.

Design note: Use vivid colors like aqua in ways that can be easily changed. Many colors like this come and go quickly as people tire of them easily. Use as accents to avoid expensive changes and wasted materials. Skip the window treatments and upholstery.

Yolo Colorhouse - Water .05

Sherwin Williams - Bracing Blue

Bioshield - Sea Goddess

Farrow & Ball - Down Pipe

Sherwin Williams - Honorable Blue

Farrow & Ball - Drawing Room Blue

Farrow & Ball - Stone Blue

Natural Air Purifiers

2012-03-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

As we continue to make our houses more air tight with greater insulation, it is important to have an electronic ventilation system to provide fresh air. For better health in these homes, houseplants can increase the oxygen and even purify the air of VOCs including benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. NASA completed a study of the best air-filtering houseplants.

The list includes:


Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata "Bostoniensis")

English Ivy (Hedera helix)


Mother-in-law's Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Dwarf date palm (Phoenix roebelenii)


Golden pothos (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

Kimberly queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis sp.)

Nest Thermostat

2012-02-27T08:13:00.000-08:00

Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.

The new generation of thermostat is here. There is wait list for the Nest thermostat. It took about two weeks to receive an invitation to purchase. Nest programs itself to help you save energy. It even included a sensor to turn off when you leave your home and can be turned on through your smart phone. Nest cost $250 and can easily be installed by a homeowner.

Color of the Year 2012 - Tangerine Tango

2012-02-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

Mix fresh hues of orange with grays, blues, and neutrals for a polished look. It brings something special to both interiors and exteriors. Remember to use low or no VOC paints especially for interiors. If a low VOC option is the only one available air out the room for several days and use air purifying houseplants to create better indoor air quailty.

LED Lamp Review - PAR20

2012-02-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

At Forrest Glover Design, we have become increasingly interested in the use of LED retrofit lamps. They use a fraction of the energy of incandescent lamp, use current fixtures, and often better light quality. Since we also love using original artwork in our designs, there is the added bonus that LEDs are UV free and will not fade the art.

Buying LEDs has put me in a more cautious mood when buying the lamps however. PAR20 LEDs cost around $25 compared to $5-10 for their Halogen counterparts. They also last around 20 years so you want lamps that you are happy with. We have tried four different lamps in a dark hallway of our studio with vivid pieces of art.

Good

Philips - R20 LED

The Philips R20 is everyone's least favorite. It is very dim and has an unexpected blue tint for its 3000k color rating. The lamp is also quite long and sticks out of the standard fixture for PAR20 lamps.

Better

GE - PAR20 LED

We tried the GE PAR20 in two different color temperatures. The 2700k has a warmer light than the 3000k which is bright white. Of the two, most liked the 2700k light better. That said, the light has as pink tint to it rather than yellow that is associated with incandescent lamps. It very pleasant and was my favorite until we tried the Philips PAR20 LED.

NOTE: Most people do not like the color of 4100k lamps. If you are not lighting offices for increased worker productivity, stay away from them.

Best

Philips - PAR20 Led

There are a few reasons, this lamp is our favorite. The main being its shape. We were all very excited about the GEs but there are a lot of fixtures that they do not fit in. The Philips PAR20 is so close to the shape of the halogen it is replacing, that is even fits into wire clip fixtures that used to be so popular with track lighting. The color is also a beautiful yellow with a nice halo around the lighted surface. Compared to MR16s, that are often used to light artwork, the LED PARs have such a smooth transition from light to dark that I think many people will prefer them.

Purchase LED replacements as your incandescent lamps burn out, and you will be making any easy start to greater energy efficiency and lower bills. In our area of Northern California, the payback for switching to a LED PAR20 lamp is about one year when used 4 hours a day. Over the lifetime of the lamp, you will save around $400 in lower energy usage and lamp replacement. That's even if the price of energy does not increase within the next 20 years.

Color Trends - Neutrals

2012-02-17T16:29:00.000-08:00

This year we continue to look to the natural environment for inspiration. As people become more aware of the earth and it environments, we tend to celebrate the beauty of our natural surroundings. Neutrals are as complex as the earth and provide a natural base for home decor. They can be used successfully to create many different moods and feelings.

Example photos below are taken from Pinterest with color swatches of colors we love. Bioshield is a natural clay paint and YOLO Colorhouse offer only zero-VOC paints in its collection.

What are some of your favorite paint colors?


36 Beige - Bioshield

210 Sand - Bioshield

Stone .06 - YOLO Colorhouse

Leaf .02 - YOLO Colorhouse

Quick Fix - Shower Savings

2012-02-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

The great thing about beginning to retrofit green is there are often many easy and inexpensive changes that can make a big difference. We will talk about water circulation systems in a future post. Before you take on a larger project, its nice to take small steps. In the shower, you can save water and energy by installing a shower shut-off valve.


Danco Valve

The valves cost between $5-10 and the project takes 30 minutes to complete. After installation, simply turn the water off at the valve while shampooing, lathering or shaving. Complete instructions are available at Lifehacker. This can cut your water and energy use significantly without having to rush your shower. It is often overlooked that, even if you are not in a water sensitive area, using less hot water also contributes to big energy savings.

For added water savings, collect water in a bucket while the shower heats up. This clean water can be used to water houseplants or vegetable garden.

Sustainable Flooring

2012-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

The floors in your home offer a few unique consideration when you are retrofitting your home. As always, it is best to keep your existing flooring rather than ripping what you have out to put new floors in. Even if you recycle the old flooring, there is some materials waste and financial expense to have the job completed. Hard flooring is generally healthier than carpeting. It is easier to keep clean and does not contribute as much chemical off gassing. If you are interested in replacing your homes flooring, it is a great time to consider hydronic radiant heating.

Horizontal

That said, there are some exciting new flooring products on the market. One of our favorites is Timber Millwork by Sustainable Flooring in Boulder, CO. Timber Millwork is created from post-industrial byproduct sourced from furniture manufacturers and pulp industries. It is FSC-recycle certified, contains no added Urea Formaldehyde, and twice as strong as oak. It is available unstained or prefinished in four colors. Buying flooring that is prefinished will likely provide of better indoor air quality since it will not need to be stained after installation. Millwork is available in horizontal and vertical patterns.


Vertical

Sustainable Flooring also offers other products including bamboo and cork.

Wall Installation