Von Löwen Designs » Green Leaflet

Kitchen Cabinetry – Design & Remodeling Considerations

Lars — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 06:58:30 +0000

It seems as though family life has always been centered around the kitchen. Whatever culture or country you may be in, socializing takes place in the kitchen; from parties to family meals, an occasional snack, even just a simple chat with friends over coffee, often takes place in the kitchen.

Fitted kitchens have gone from being considered a luxury to an … [visit site to read more]

Green Remodeling In Practice – Part II

Lars — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:11:36 +0000

Green remodeling and sustainable design should embrace an overall greener lifestyle approach and incorporate features that will facilitate environmentally responsible living. Specific design elements can range from something as simple as incorporating recycling receptacles when greening your … [visit site to read more]

Green Remodeling In Practice – Part I

Lars — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:37:04 +0000

As addressed in my previous post Green Remodeling Defined – green remodeling involves both design and construction methods which principal aim is to produce the healthiest home possible, increasing it’s life cycle, while reducing the structure’s environmental impacts. With that said, it becomes obvious that the importance of a design approach that is rooted in the concept of … [visit site to read more]

The Holistic House – Part II

Lars — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:09:41 +0000

Infiltration & Exfiltration.

Air leaks, or drafts, can be responsible for 25 percent of the heat loss in a newer house, more in older homes. Moreover, when air moves through the house because of leaks it is often laden with moisture that can end up in wall cavities and condense, increasing the likelihood of mold and structural deterioration. In the course of remodeling air traffic control is the key. We have grown used to sealing the obvious problem areas with foam under bottom plates, expanding foam around window and door framing, and insulation stuffed into smaller wall cavities. It is the invisible and often convoluted paths of air leakage that need our attention. Because air leaks are so detrimental to the energy … [visit site to read more]

The Holistic House – Part I

Lars — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:20:34 +0000

It’s much easier to turn a remodel green for a house when you understand how heat and cold move from one object to another, and how air and moisture move inside our home. Green remodeling practices and design, in addition to the selection of appropriate materials, revolve around a few basic principles.

• Thinking of the house as a holistic system of interrelated parts.

• Energy loses some of its potential each time it is converted from one form to another, which helps explain why passive solar heat is much more efficient than electric heat.

• Form follows function when it comes to design, meaning that construction should be tailored to the environment in which the … [visit site to read more]

Greening Your Kitchen Remodel

Lars — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:36:32 +0000

Today’s kitchens are often the most active and multipurpose rooms in the house and typically offer many opportunities when remodeling to select and implement sustainable choices – resulting in not only a more beautiful and usable space, but a much more healthy and eco-friendly indoor environment overall. From lighting and … [visit site to read more]

Let There Be Light

Lars — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:00:51 +0000

As man and technology forge ahead with the removal from our natural habitat to create a near synthetic environment, artificial lighting could easily be argued as one of the most important developments in the modern world. Be it business or recreation, the use of artificial light allows us the luxury to work and play independent of day or night. Lighting and its applications are endless, with contemporary lighting design often providing a much desired aesthetic and artful feature both inside and outside of the home. With recent market trends and technological improvements homeowners can reap the rewards and substantially reduce the energy they use for lighting while actually increasing its quality, comfort, and convenience.

visit site to read more]

Radon – Myths & Facts

Lars — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:51:37 +0000

MYTH: Scientists aren’t sure radon really is a problem.

FACT: Although some scientists dispute the precise number of deaths due to radon, all major health organizations (like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Lung Association and World Health Organization) agree with estimates that radon causes thousands of preventable lung cancer deaths every year. This is especially true among smokers, since the risk to smokers is much greater than to … [visit site to read more]

National Radon Action Month – Part III

Lars — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:00:42 +0000

Radon and Home Sales.

More and more, home buyers and renters are asking about radon levels before they buy or rent a home. Because real estate sales happen quickly, there is often little time to deal with radon and other issues. The best thing to do is to test for radon now and save the results in case the buyer is interested in them. Fix a problem if it exists so it won’t complicate your home sale. If you are planning to move or are buying or selling a home, be sure to check out EPA’s ‘Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon,’ which addresses some common questions. You can also use the results of two short-term tests done side-by-side (four inches apart) to decide whether … [visit site to read more]

National Radon Action Month – Part II

Lars — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:45:57 +0000

Nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Elevated levels of radon gas have been found in homes in your state. Contact your state radon office for general information about radon in your area. While radon problems may be more common in some areas, any home may have a problem. The only way to know … [visit site to read more]