energy efficient

“Green” Architect Helps Seniors Conserve Energy Use and Costs, Age In Place

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During the Orange County Department on Aging Housing Expo2014_Senior_Housing Expo

Chapel Hill architect Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA will help senior citizens and their families discover ways to make their homes more energy-efficient during The Orange County Department on Aging Housing Expo Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Seymour Center.

Schechter specializes in “super-green” housing with a focus on passive homes built to PHIUS (Passive House Institute US) standards, which are among the most stringent sustainability standards in the world.

“Passive houses are not quite the same thing as passive solar,” Schechter noted. “They are much more than that, although passive solar is often one of the many features of a passive house. ”

She explained that passive houses include super-insulation, a tight building envelope, and the elimination of thermal bridging (junctions where insulation is not continuous and causes heat loss). As a result, passive houses use dramatically less energy than the standard home and recoup the up-front costs for the extra insulation with dramatically lowered electrical bills for the rest of the house’s life. The US Department of Energy has praised Passive House standards as being the best path to Net Zero.

From her booth at the Expo, however, Schechter will help seniors explore simple energy-conservation options for their existing homes.

“The US Department of Energy says that replacing 15 old light bulbs with LED lights will save you about $50 per year on your electric bill.” she said. “There are so many other little things you can do around your home that will add up to real energy cost savings, such as stopping air leaks with caulk and weather-stripping and insulation to save money and make your house more comfortable. When it comes time to replace an appliance, I’ll recommend buying ones with the Energy Star® rating. Same with windows: If you have to replace them, switch to high-efficiency windows that have the right type of glass. Some passive house windows have an R-value almost the same as a standard insulated stud wall. And with the droughts that are becoming the norm every summer in our state, I’m a big advocate of collecting rainwater, whether with simple rain barrels or more involved cistern systems for lawn and garden irrigation.”

Schechter also specializes in “age in place” houses. According to AARP, older homeowners overwhelmingly prefer to age in place, which means living in their homes safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age or ability. Schechter will be available to discuss home modifications that could allow seniors to remain in their houses rather than move into long-term care facilities by increasing access and maneuverability.

“Modifications range from simple solutions to elaborate undertakings,” Schechter said. “Simple modifications include changing out lights to brighter LED bulbs for aging eyes, adding bath and shower grab bars, and changing floor coverings to accommodate a wheel chair or to get rid of slippery surfaces. More involved efforts might include removing a shower curb to make it curb-less, adding a simple exterior ramp to your entry instead of a staircase, widening doorways, creating a multifunctional first floor master suite if the master bedroom is currently on the second story, and even installing a home elevator. How much you do will depend on need and budget.”

The Chapel Hill Seymour Center is located at 2551 State Road 1777, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. For more information on the Housing Expo, go to http://www.co.orange.nc.us.

For more information on Arielle Condoret Schechter and her work, visit http://www.acsarchitect.com.

About Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA:

Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA, is a licensed, registered architect based in Chapel Hill, NC, who specializes in Modernist, energy-efficient buildings of all types and sizes, especially houses. She admits that she is “obsessed with light,” which drives her designs more than any other single element. Her firm also offers interior and lighting design, and custom furniture and fixtures. She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Juilliard School of Music, and NC State University’s College of Design. She lives with her husband, Arnie Schechter, and an assortment of foster animals in a Modern, energy-efficient house she designed. For more information: www.acsarchitect.com.

Tonic Design + Tonic Construction Receives Fifth Energy Star® Rating

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Raleigh design/build firm continues work on energy-efficient homes.

September 13, 2012 (Raleigh, NC) – Tonic Design + Tonic Construction, an award-winning design/build firm in Raleigh, NC, recently received its fifth Energy Star® rating for the design and construction of the Bahama Modern House, a modern, energy-efficient home owned by John Monroe of Bahama, North Carolina.

This is also the fourth Energy Star rating the combined architecture firm and construction company have received this year for residential designs.

Energy Star is a government-backed program that helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. To earn the Energy Star rating, a home or business must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Homes achieve this level of performance through a combination of energy–efficient improvements, including,

  • Effective insulation
  • High-performance windows
  • Tight construction and ducts
  • Efficient heating and cooling
  • Energy Star® lighting and appliances

“We find the Energy Star rating and process to be of great benefit to our clients,” said project designer and Tonic co-owner Katherine Hogan. “It not only reduces their annual operating costs by up to 20 percent, it also helps to achieve a more consistent interior thermal comfort and increases the indoor air quality of their home. The smaller decisions and building practices along the way can have a big impact on final product.”

Southern Energy Management has been the local Energy Star rater on all of Tonic’s residential designs.

“After living in a two-story, 1914 farmhouse for 30 years, which originally had no insulation, no running water, no electricity, and only the six fireplaces for heat, I was well aware of the limitations of this vernacular housing,” said homeowner John Monroe. “Having a comfortable living environment with reduced consumptive energy usage was appealing. I’ve spent the summer in the new house and beside the absolute beauty of the modern design, knowing that the house remains cool even with its almost full wall of windows makes me feel that the extra efforts to insulate the house and use the geo-thermal system, among other efforts were well worth it.”

Hogan describes the Bahama Modern House as a “new, modern residence that reads as a mid-century modern,” with its flat rooflines; open floor plan and mixed-use interior spaces; and extensive glazing to blur the line between indoors and outdoors and to maximize natural lighting, including clerestory windows that allow natural light to penetrate deeply into the interior.

The project also includes extensive terraced landscaping, a swimming pool and decking, and a pool house.

For more information on the Energy Star rating system, go to www.energystar.gov.

For more information on Tonic Design + Tonic Construction, visit www.tonic-design.com.

About Tonic Design + Tonic Construction:

As two separate but interacting companies, Tonic Design and Tonic Construction work toward executing sensitive modern design solutions that make a difference in their clients’ lives and contribute to the architectural fabric of their buildings’ communities. Owned and operated by Vinny Petrarca and Katherine Hogan, Tonic has the flexibility to take on the role of architect or general contractor, or to collaborate together as an award-winning design-build firm. The firm’s projects have been featured in many national publications, including Architectural Record, Residential Architect,Dwell, Custom Homes, Inform magazine, and Metal Architecture. For more information visit www.tonic-design.com.