Comments for ThinkDwell http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog A Green Blog Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:54:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 Comment on Q: What Are SIPs / Are They Green? by chris kavala http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/q-what-are-sips-are-they-green/#comment-5386 chris kavala Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:21:46 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=86#comment-5386 steel sip videos and pics http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&channelID=468602158 steel sip videos and pics

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&channelID=468602158

]]> Comment on Q: Wood Frame vs. Straw Bale Home Construction: Which is More Sustainable? by Ron http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/q-wood-frame-vs-straw-bale-which-is-more-sustainable/#comment-5044 Ron Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:46:30 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=61#comment-5044 There is a lot of inaccurate information about the R-value of straw-bale walls. Like statements of an R-value of 45. Oakridge National Laboratories did two tests, the first was faulty so a second was done using a wall that "Several nationally known straw-bale home builders oversaw construction of the walls and the testing." The testing showed an overall rating of 1.45 per inch or R-27.5 for a 19 inch wall. The testing and results can be found at this link http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/AWT/HotboxTest/Hybrid/StrawBale/index.htm There is a lot of inaccurate information about the R-value of straw-bale walls. Like statements of an R-value of 45.

Oakridge National Laboratories did two tests, the first was faulty so a second was done using a wall that “Several nationally known straw-bale home builders oversaw construction of the walls and the testing.”

The testing showed an overall rating of 1.45 per inch or R-27.5 for a 19 inch wall.

The testing and results can be found at this link
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/AWT/HotboxTest/Hybrid/StrawBale/index.htm

]]> Comment on Does Affordable Green Design Have to Be So Modern When I WANT TRADITIONAL!? by Gregory Richard http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/does-affordable-green-design-have-to-be-so-modern-when-i-want-traditional/#comment-4174 Gregory Richard Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:05:17 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=340#comment-4174 Modern and traditional can co-exist easily. Yet 95% of our population wants to live in a traditional home. The trouble, as I see it, is that most housing is poorly designed. It is neither good modern nor good traditional. Its just plain crap. Very few homes should be "one offs" individually designed for a specific client. What I think we need are better mass market plans and better plan books. The homes you see in your typical supermarket plan book are just awful. It may be that this is all the consuming public sees so many of them think that's what they should be asking for. Most architects have abdicated that segment of the market. But they would do well to start doing great plans for the masses. Best. Gregory M. Richard Modern and traditional can co-exist easily. Yet 95% of our population wants to live in a traditional home. The trouble, as I see it, is that most housing is poorly designed. It is neither good modern nor good traditional. Its just plain crap.

Very few homes should be “one offs” individually designed for a specific client. What I think we need are better mass market plans and better plan books. The homes you see in your typical supermarket plan book are just awful. It may be that this is all the consuming public sees so many of them think that’s what they should be asking for.

Most architects have abdicated that segment of the market. But they would do well to start doing great plans for the masses.

Best.
Gregory M. Richard

]]> Comment on Does Affordable Green Design Have to Be So Modern When I WANT TRADITIONAL!? by Danny M. http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/does-affordable-green-design-have-to-be-so-modern-when-i-want-traditional/#comment-4164 Danny M. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:14:05 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=340#comment-4164 Ludwig Meis Van der Rohe Tadao Ando Leandro Locsin These architects have shown that 'traditional' decorative elements aren't required to 'beautify' a building. Let those decorative elements live in the past, in old world mansions, museums & themed hotels. I'd rather see buildings that have balance, symmetry, scale and texture (as naturally exuded by its building materials); performing its function as a machine for man to live in. All too often the efficiency of the building takes a backseat to cost & aesthetics; and these designers have the gall to call themselves architects. When clearly they are just sculptors who were able to con a patron into having their sculpture funded. Ludwig Meis Van der Rohe
Tadao Ando
Leandro Locsin

These architects have shown that ‘traditional’ decorative elements aren’t required to ‘beautify’ a building. Let those decorative elements live in the past, in old world mansions, museums & themed hotels.

I’d rather see buildings that have balance, symmetry, scale and texture (as naturally exuded by its building materials); performing its function as a machine for man to live in.
All too often the efficiency of the building takes a backseat to cost & aesthetics; and these designers have the gall to call themselves architects. When clearly they are just sculptors who were able to con a patron into having their sculpture funded.

]]> Comment on Does Affordable Green Design Have to Be So Modern When I WANT TRADITIONAL!? by Kelly http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/does-affordable-green-design-have-to-be-so-modern-when-i-want-traditional/#comment-4160 Kelly Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:15:51 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=340#comment-4160 Thank you - I just posted about this and was searching to find others in my field who had the same viewpoint and came across your post. I've linked to it in my blog. Regards, Kelly Thank you - I just posted about this and was searching to find others in my field who had the same viewpoint and came across your post. I’ve linked to it in my blog.

Regards,
Kelly

]]> Comment on More MPG by Andy http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/more-mpg/#comment-4140 Andy Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:07:43 +0000 http://thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=21#comment-4140 thats a mercedes benz slr mclaren thats a mercedes benz slr mclaren

]]> Comment on Q: What Are SIPs / Are They Green? by Steve http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/q-what-are-sips-are-they-green/#comment-2653 Steve Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:28:57 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=86#comment-2653 I think there are a lot of benefits to SIPs but I recently bid a SIPs project and the cost was nearly three times that of conventional framing. With proper framing and proper insulation the same R-Values can be achieved. Steve I think there are a lot of benefits to SIPs but I recently bid a SIPs project and the cost was nearly three times that of conventional framing. With proper framing and proper insulation the same R-Values can be achieved.

Steve

]]> Comment on A Home Is Like A Tomato by Dennis http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/a-home-is-like-a-tomato/#comment-2009 Dennis Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:30:27 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=301#comment-2009 Tax law, business financing and land costs continue to be motivators for increased house size in my realm of experience. I live in a region with high-income families who take on larger mortgages (larger houses) for the larger interest deduction, business owners who were advised by their banks to buy larger homes in order to build more home equity to use as collateral to finance business expansion. Further, higher land costs encourage construction of more costly (larger) homes proportional to the value of the lot. The economics of a modest home on an expensive lot don't work. The drop in home values has temporarily stifled some of this motivation, but this may be a good time for another discussion about limitations on the mortgage deduction, as an economic motivator to build smaller more efficient homes proportional to the need. Dennis Tax law, business financing and land costs continue to be motivators for increased house size in my realm of experience.

I live in a region with high-income families who take on larger mortgages (larger houses) for the larger interest deduction, business owners who were advised by their banks to buy larger homes in order to build more home equity to use as collateral to finance business expansion. Further, higher land costs encourage construction of more costly (larger) homes proportional to the value of the lot. The economics of a modest home on an expensive lot don’t work.

The drop in home values has temporarily stifled some of this motivation, but this may be a good time for another discussion about limitations on the mortgage deduction, as an economic motivator to build smaller more efficient homes proportional to the need.

Dennis

]]> Comment on Tip Tank - a water conservation game for kids (and adults) by Park Howell http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/tip-tank-a-water-conservation-game-for-kids-and-adults/#comment-1992 Park Howell Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:46:00 +0000 http://thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=37#comment-1992 I just found this blog post on Google this morning, and was so happy you liked the game. As the creator of the Water - Use It Wisely campaign and the "Tip Tank" game, I'm always gratified to see people like you sharing your experience with the water conservation game. Thanks so much for including it in your blog, and I invite you to joine my green marketing conversation at http://parkhowell.com/. Cheers! I just found this blog post on Google this morning, and was so happy you liked the game. As the creator of the Water - Use It Wisely campaign and the “Tip Tank” game, I’m always gratified to see people like you sharing your experience with the water conservation game. Thanks so much for including it in your blog, and I invite you to joine my green marketing conversation at http://parkhowell.com/.

Cheers!

]]> Comment on Q: How Much Does a Green Home Cost? by Green Home Plans http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/q-how-much-does-a-green-home-cost/#comment-1473 Green Home Plans Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:04:32 +0000 http://www.thinkdwell.com/blog/?p=65#comment-1473 Even though green homes are typically a little more costly than traditional homes, but it's also important to remember that in the long run your costs associated with a greener home will be much less, so you will probably save a substantial amount of money. Great article, a lot of useful information. -Timothy Even though green homes are typically a little more costly than traditional homes, but it’s also important to remember that in the long run your costs associated with a greener home will be much less, so you will probably save a substantial amount of money.

Great article, a lot of useful information.

-Timothy

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