Solar Power Panels on Your Roof - It's in Your Home's Future

Irwin Weiner ASID - This election year is bringing lots of talk about Dirty Energy and providing new Clean Energy jobs for United States citizens. I looked into Danny Kennedy and his new business, Sungevity. The former Greenpeace activist is now actively calling on all homeowners to Solar-Up your home. His company has the software to estimate how effective a specific number of solar panels will be to power your home, and with a US Bank homeowners loan, you can install solar panels on your roof for roughly half the cost of materials and labor, enjoy the energy savings "off the dirty energy grid," and pay back your energy loan in easy installments.

Go to Amazon and learn more about Danny Kennedy's new book, Rooftop Revolution.

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Design2Share Recommends - Summer Reading for Design Lovers

Irwin Weiner ASID - Whenever I'm in Los Angeles, I make it a point to visit the Hennessey + Ingalls Art & Architecture Bookstore. They have an excellent selection of books and sidelines that are outstanding, and here are some of the titles that really caught our eye while we were browsing through their tremendous stock. Click on each book cover for more information on what we think will be great summer reads; example: The Wallpaper Book by Genevieve Brunet (top photo) is a glorious full-color ode to the history, utility, craftsmanship, and artistry of wall covering, and the new artists who are expressing themselves in this decorative medium will amaze you.

Bonus

Click here to watch a video and read about Axel Vervoordt - Interiors That Respect the Old.

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Our Top Tips: How to GREEN-UP Your Home's Interior

Irwin Weiner ASID - There's little excuse ... well, maybe inertia ... for not jumping on the GREEN bandwagon with your home design and decor. If you want to think ahead and plan for your family and planet's overall health and wellness, GREEN is the answer. We've come up with a list of eleven tips on how to go more eco-friendly around the house.

• Engineered quartz countertops made with recycled materials are scratch resistant, stain resistant, scorch resistant, chemical resistant, mold and mildew resistant, and stronger than natural stone or other solid surface materials. Use them on countertops throughout the house, including kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, and mud rooms. 

• Always use highly rated Energy Star appliances to save energy.

• Air purifiers and humidifiers ensure optimal indoor air quality regardless of the weather. An ERV (energy recovery ventilator) works with the purifier and humidifier to make sure fresh outdoor air circulates year-round and indoor air is kept fresh and clean.

• Traditional vacuum cleaners actually pollute indoor air. A central vacuum system is 5 times more powerful than handhelds, eliminates 100% of the dirt it comes in contact with, and reduces allergy systems up to 60%.

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Hillside House Solves Eco and Sloping Lot Challenges

 

Irwin Weiner ASID - I admire new home design that solves multiple problems. The Hillside House designed by architect and homeowner Scott Lee solves the problem of siting a house on a small lot on an impossibly steep slope. It uses energy-efficient systems throughout - from solar-heated hot water to a home systems control panel that automates light controls and motorized/concealed window shades. Innovative Kohler fixtures reduce water usage in this California home to a bare minimum. Finally, most of the building materials are locally sourced or locally recycled. This home earned its LEED-certified Platinum home status without sacrificing beautiful contemporary design. Watch the following video from Kohler to learn more and tour Hillside House.

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