Thoughtforms Corporation | Specializes in building high-end custom homes and unique institutional buildings in eastern Massachusetts

MIT Cycling Team Shines at National Collegiate Road Championships

2012-05-17T17:30:50Z

As a sponsor of the MIT Cycling Club, we here at Thoughtforms were thrilled to hear about the team’s success at the National Collegiate Road Championships! The MIT Cycling Club is an organization that is dedicated to encouraging the enjoyment of all types of cycling in the MIT community. Cycling around MIT is a great way to stay active as well as give back to the environment.

Photo from Thoughtforms

On May 4th and lasting through the 6th, the MIT Cycling team sent 10 members to Ogden, Utah to compete in the National Collegiate Road Championships. We were thrilled to see that these members won the team omnium for division 2 schools. In addition, the women’s team did very well by having three members place in the top three for the Division II Criterium, and one member claiming the top spot for the Division II Female Road Race.

The men’s team place second in the team time trial and had several members land in the mid-teens to early-20s for the Division II Criterium and Road Race. We are so excited for the MIT Cycling team and cannot wait to see what the future has in store. If you are looking to bring the sustainable aspects of cycling into the home, Thoughtforms can help. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

A Case for the Outdoor Fireplace

2012-05-09T14:38:01Z

Having an outdoor fireplace in your custom New England home is a wonderful way to spice up your spring evenings and parties. Outdoor fireplaces are perfect for sitting back, relaxing and enjoying a beautiful Boston night. We have rounded up a few reasons why we are loving outdoor fireplaces this season, take a peek:

Photo from Thoughtforms

Vertical focal point: One of the main reasons we love outdoor fireplaces is due to the ability they possess of creating vertical focal points. The immediately catch the attention of the eye and add a new element of dimension and depth. They are also able to add a visual element to a space that may have felt a bit blank previously.
Structure and definition: In addition, outdoor fireplaces are also capable of creating structure and definition in the home. If you have a wonderful view but you feel as though it needs an extra something, consider an outdoor fireplace to give the space a feeling of structure. Outdoor fireplaces can also act as an anchor, tying the entire space together.
Light and warmth: Last, but certainly not least, outdoor fireplaces create an inviting, warm and welcoming atmosphere. Make your guests feel right at home and at ease with an outdoor fireplace that creates a warm and welcoming ambiance in the home.

If you are interested in learning more outdoor fireplaces, Thoughtforms can help. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

Reduce Your Air Pollution Footprint

2012-05-04T14:22:37Z

It’s no secret that air pollution happens everyday. However, did you know that by making some changes in your home you can reduce your air pollution footprint? We have rounded up a couple of tips for reducing your air pollution footprint through your custom green home, take a peek:

Check out some ways to reduce your air pollution footprint.

Consider compact fluorescent lights: Simply switching out the light bulbs in your home can make quite the difference in your air pollution footprint. Consider compact fluorescent lights due to the fact that they use less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Approximately 40 percent electricity we use comes from coal-burning power plants, which means by making a quick change, we can easily help to reduce this.
Use low-VOC paints: Making the decision to use low-VOC or zero-VOC paints in the home is an excellent way to reduce your air pollution footprint. These types of paints include fewer Volatile organic compounds, which can convert to gas or vapor at room temperature. VOCs have also been linked to a wide variety of health issues as well.
Reuse salvaged building materials: One of the best ways to reduce your air pollution footprint is to use salvaged building materials for your home. Using recycled glass, tile and wood materials is a fantastic way to conserve energy and reduce production emissions.

Reducing your air pollution footprint is a fantastic way to go green in the Boston area. If you are looking to create a greener home, Thoughtforms can help. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

Photo from Free Digital Photos

Green Residential Market Driven by Quality and Value

2012-05-02T13:12:32Z

Recently we discussed the increase in growth among the residential green building market. However, now it seems that two important factors are behind the driving force in this growth. Quality and value are two very important factors to homeowners that appear to be driving the growth in the residential green building market. If you are considering building a green custom home in the New England area, there is no better time than now.

The residential green building market is showing signs of growth due to quality and value.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), McGraw-Hill Construction recently released its latest SmartMarket Report: New and Remodeled Green Homes: Transforming the Residential Market at the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) National Green Building Conference and Expo. This report also the estimate that of the construction done in 2011, green homes made up 17 percent of it, which can be equated to $17 billion. This number is also expected to rise between 29 and 38 percent by 2016, which could be a $87–114 billion opportunity, based on the five-year forecast for overall residential construction.

Many homeowners are beginning to see how green homes can be beneficial due to the important factors of value and quality. Green homes are typically built with a higher quality, which makes it easier to save money on energy and other utilities. NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg noted how the green residential building market has a great amount of potential:

“The results highlight the tremendous growth in green building, and the potential market opportunities that lie ahead. As more projects seek green certification, NAHB and the NAHB Research Center stand ready to meet the demands of this exciting and ever-changing market.”

We are always thrilled to hear about an increase in growth when it comes to the residential green building market. If you are considering building green in Boston, Thoughtforms can help. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

Photo from Free Digital Photos

The Newest Green Materials for the Home

2012-04-30T17:14:38Z

Green building, as with any other industry, often follows certain trends and patterns. Being aware of the current trends when building a custom green home in the Boston area is important in order to ensure your home looks up-to-date. We have rounded up some of the newest green materials being used in environmentally friendly homes, check them out:

Take a look at some of the newest materials for green building.

Bio-glass: Bio-glass is one of the newer choices for countertop materials in kitchen and baths. This material is made from 100 percent recycled glass. In addition, Bio-glass contains no binders, colorants, fillers, or other admixtures and adds a gorgeous satin touch to any space. Several colors are available for this material, making the choice to be green in the home even easier.
Leather tiles: Believe it or not, even leather can be found tossed into the trash. However, leather is a great material for flooring due to its ability to be re-purposed into beautifully colored tiles. Using leather as a flooring option will give you a sound-absorbent material that is also relatively easy to clean.
Natura paint: Choosing a paint that has low VOCs is important in a green home, however, there are often complaints of a strong odor. Natura paint contains fewer VOCs than most paints and also dries within 30 minutes. This paint also has virtually no odor, making the environment more comfortable.

Being aware of the most current material trends when building a green custom home or renovation in New England is important. It will ensure that your home blends well with the environment surrounding it. Thoughtforms is a custom builder in the Boston area who highly values sustainable building, specializing in custom homes, home renovations, and unique institutional buildings.

Photo from Free Digital Photos