Energy Star Rated Home

In 2008, The Repurposed Home was hired to spear head a team of design and professional contractors to convert a three story, four unit, century old apartment building into a one family luxury brownstone.  Working together the team's objective was to incorporate as many energy efficient systems and building materials afforded by the budget to create a home that was not only comfortable but also energy conscience.

"To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (http://www.energystar.gov/?c=new_homes.nh_features)."  If a home meets these standards - is deemed ENERGY STAR rated - it runs at least 15% more efficiently than a typical home.

"ENERGY STAR certified homes can include a variety of 'tried-and-true' energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution (http://www.energystar.gov/?c=new_homes.nh_features)."

Specific to the brownstone conversion, close attention was paid to choosing effective/higher standard insulation and air sealing of the home's envelope and ducts, installation of high performance windows, choosing properly sized, high efficiency heating and cooling systems.  Other features that added to the homes efficiency ranged from the inclusion of a programmable thermostat, IC rated lighting fixtures, Solatube - tubular daylighting device, Water Sense rated toilets and plumbing fixtures and an exterior water drip irrigation system for the back yard.

Beginning with the planning and prioritizing and ending with implementation and completion of project, the results clearly illustrate lower ownership cost - tax credits, resource efficiency, supplemental incentive, utility bills quantified to be significantly less than structures of similar size in Northern New Jersey.  However, the larger environmental impact far exceeds the individual gain.

http://www.energystar.gov/?c=new_homes.nh_features

Indoor Air Quality - Baby Nursery

Preparing for baby is much like preparing for spring. We work hard leading up to spring's arrival to prepare our yard for the birth of new growth. Throughout the 9 months leading up to the birth of baby, parents work nonstop to ready their home for this, the sweetest of arrivals. Most soon-to-be moms and dads are focused on getting the essentials: crib, changing table, car seat, stroller, diapers and clothes. Often, the air quality of indoor environments is overlooked. This fundamental and often critical aspect of home readiness should be viewed as important when preparing for baby.
The facts leave no doubt as to why special attention needs to be paid to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Per the Environmental Protection Agency, we spend 90% of our time indoors with 65% of that time being spent at home. Moreover our indoor air contains higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants than the outdoor air, sometimes as much as 25% more polluted and occasionally more than 100 times as much. With this, it is easy to understand why indoor air pollution is listed as one of the top five public health risks.

As an interior designer, I approach this task with expectant parents by looking first at their overall home health. We begin by taking a close look at their Building Envelope and Systems. Through this lens, we are looking at the physical shell of the home and the mechanical systems as related to climate control, making sure all are functioning efficiently and effectively. From there, we move on to Material Selection. Anything and everything that’s brought into the home environment is scrutinized based on function and overall health impact. The final phase is putting together a Systems and Material Maintenance Plan for future home health.

The need to create a warm and welcoming and, most importantly, healthy home for baby is clear. Considering Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as part of the readiness process ensures that your home becomes the optimal backdrop for thriving growth.

For more information on this topic, I have found the most accessible and reliable resources focusing on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) housed on the EPA’s web site at www.epa.gov. A great starter’s guide is located on the site at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/careforyourair.html. For more information visit http://www.pregnancy.org/article/toxic-indoor-air-pollution-in-your-babys-nursery and http://www.greenguard.org/uploads/images/GGCertification_Nursery_Checklist.pdf.