Serenbe?

What is Serenbe? It is a funny name. Evidently the developers, restaurateurs Steve and Marie Nygren of Atlanta thought it fit their concept of an ideal community to be built south of Fulton County, Georgia, in Palmetto.
Serenbe is in the middle of the 40,000 acre Chattahoochee Hill Country and the owners were obviously determined to make a statement about showing how this area can be home to many and still be preserved. The idea was to preserve 80% of the open space, create and environment where the residents could be part of an active sustainable community centered on the local environment, live in close proximity to forests and community gardens, and be part of the Nest Concept. What’s this? How about downsizing with a brain.
“The ‘Lew Oliver Nest’ cottage is not simply downsizing, it is a lightening up, bringing about an increase in quality of one’s life,” said Lew Oliver. “Simple living patterns and increased leisure time are consequences of life in a Nest house. All of the luxuries found in the McMansion are found in the Nest Cottage, only much more efficient, green, and up-to-date, without the overwhelming maintenance and mortgage associated with the typical house,” added Oliver.
Check it out at www.serenbe.com.
So plan a road trip. See what else is out there. But does this idea sound familiar? How about applying this concept of creating a small sustainable community (a nest) in close proximity to existing growth areas? How about downsizing with a brain? Aren’t we all ready for a change in how we live and our attitude towards our community? Think globally but act locally? Creating a small “nest” is a lot easier that the usual multi-hundred PUD. How about areas of Florida? Check out Sea Glass on Sanibel.

Jeff Good
Benchmark General Contractors, Inc.

Ken Kern is Dead!

But his ideas seem to be alive. Most people in the 70’s, who wanted to build a home more in tune with their particular climate or by themselves had a copy of Ken’s book “The Owner Built Home”. This book was much more than how to construct a foundation, build a wall, shingle a roof, etc. Although the book covered everything from selecting building sites to painting, Ken’s work was best known for introducing us to some “unconventional techniques” when designing and building our homes. What were these techniques? I’m glad you asked.

These were some of the “unconventional techniques”:
Placing a home on a site to take best advantage of compass orientation. For example, in northern climates concentrating glass in directions that would maximize solar gain and installing less glass on the “cold”side.
Again in northern climates, constructing an overhang that would shade glass in warm months and then allow sunlight in colder months.
Using “insulated” glass.
The use of innovative insulating techniques, i.e., incorporating dead air spaces in wall systems and the use of reflective products in wall and roof systems.
Orientating room layout to make best use of the path of the sun during the day.
The use of trees and vegetation to shade certain portions of the home.
Developing internal ways of circulating interior air flow in order to minimize the load on the heating and cooling systems.

These were generally radical ideas at the time, especially in the early 70’s, when energy was cheap and the country was still debating the issue “is smog really bad for you?”

Ken also wrote a book in 1978 called “The Healthy House”, addressing the idea of indoor air pollution and the use of contaminants inside of our homes. Whoever thought that our houses could make us sick? Ken Kern’s ideas were marginalized and considered to be “wacko” tree hugger concepts. Now we get LEED points for addressing many of these same concerns. Today’s architecture and especially the “green” movement are founded in many of Ken’s ideas. While Ken Kern did not develop these concepts, he certainly put them in a simple form that many of us could understand.

Ken, an architect by education, traveled the world studying the home building techniques of indigenous peoples. He presented us with ways to get efficiency and sustainability out of low-tech materials and systems. Good lessons for all of us now concerned with these issues.

Ken actually died in a home he designed. A concrete slip form home he built collapsed during a freak windstorm. If you’re going to go, it might as well be with something you love. If you find a now out of print copy of “The Owner Built Home”, keep it. It’s a collector’s item.

Jeff Good
Benchmark General Contractors, Inc.

Community Gardens

Residents of Lee County who have wanted to start gardening but either lacked the space or know how, or both, will now have the opportunity, thanks to the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department. The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation, in association with Lee County Parks and Recreation, recently announced the creation of the Community Garden of Lakes Park, which is the first phase of the Lakes Park Botanic Garden. The Community Garden will be comprised of fifty-three (53), 4’ x 8’ raised garden bedsin a sunburst arrangement.

Beds rent for $50 annually, all proceeds will benefit the Lakes Park EnrichmentFoundation and will be re-invested back into Lakes Park. Parks and Recreation is refering to it’s garden plot renters as “Local-Vores”, a.k.a. community citizens wishing to cultivate produce or flowering species within the Community Garden of Lakes Park. This is a progressive concept to revive the practice of growing produce and plantings close to home. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to jump into this activity. Each Community Gardener will be required to sign an agreement, to uphold the regulations of the Community Garden, namely restrictions on the use of pesticides and fertilizers, pledge to maintain the Community Garden plot and attend quarterly meetings/classes. Gardeners will supply their own tools and plantings.

Volunteer Garden Manager Austin Tincher will direct sign-ups and operations. Call (239) 533- 7529 or e-mail gardenplots@leegov.com. Applications to lease a garden plot are also available at the LPEF Web site, http://www.lakesparkenrichmentfoundation.org/. Classes, demonstrations and other opportunities will be available to registered gardeners.

Renovation Incentives

If you installed windows or insulation in 2008 and are looking for a tax credit, sorry, but you’re out of luck. But, hey, it is now 2010 and times have changed. So, it’s drafty, your electric bills are looking like a mortgage payment and your windows were installed by Noah’s Ark Windows & Doors, LLC. You’re ready for a change!

Here's a look at what's available:

•A tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient doors and windows, insulation, air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and boilers, up to a lifetime cap of $1,500. This credit is available for 2009 and 2010.
That means if you spend $5,000 on new windows this year and claim a $1,500 tax credit on your 2010 tax return, you won't be able to claim an additional credit in 2011.
This is a more generous credit than the one that was available in 2006 and 2007, which covered 10% of the costs, up to a lifetime cap of $500. The old credits also contained individual caps, such as a $200 limit on new windows. With the new credits, you can claim 30% of all your energy-efficient costs, up to the lifetime cap.
For windows, doors, insulation and other similar projects that tighten up the "shell" of your home, the credit is limited to the cost of materials.
However, if you buy a new air conditioner, furnace, heat pump or boiler that meets the energy-efficient guidelines, you can include the cost of installation in calculating the credit.
Only improvements to your primary residence qualify for the credits, unlike other tax credits, there are no income phase outs. In addition, taxpayers who are subject to the alternative minimum tax — a parallel tax system that often affects people who pay high property taxes — will be able to claim the credit.

•Expanded tax credits for more ambitious projects, such as solar water heaters.
Starting in 2009, homeowners who install solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and wind energy systems are eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost, with no caps. Previously, caps on these types of projects ranged from $2,000 to $4,000. These tax credits are available through 2016, and both labor and materials qualify.
So, look to the future, realize that what you spend today, wisely, can enrich your life and be a small part of a better world.

Jeff Good
Benchmark General Contractors, Inc.

The Small House

The McMansion it’s not; many are opting for living in a “Small House”. Living “small” is hardly a new concept. Henry Thoreau moved into a 150-sq.-ft. house on Walden Pond in the 1840s, and the city of San Francisco built some 5,600 cottages for survivors of the 1906 earthquake. But over the past decade, dozens of architects and builders have begun specializing in tiny-house designs. After Hurricane Katrina, Architect Marianne Cusato designed a series of homes, called “Katrina Cottages”, that were meant to replace the much maligned FEMA trailers. These homes ranged in size from 308 ft to 437 ft. and some of the models, as well as others, are now available as kit homes from retailers such as Lowes. The cottage in the photograph was designed by Bud Lawrence of Period Style Homes.

Many home buyers are motivated by the desire to simplify their lives, use fewer resources and save money. Many are falling in love with the little things. It has been estimated that anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand homes measuring less than 500 sq. ft. and costing less than $100,000 have been built since this trend was first noticed around 2002.

“It’s a very exciting moment,” said Shay Salomon, a green builder in Tucson, Ariz., and the author of “Little House on a Small Planet” (Lyons Press, 2006), “because it feels like a chapter of American history might be ending, the chapter called ‘Bigger is Better.’ I’m not the Gallup poll, but I hear the same story over and over: I got rid of that big house, and now I have time to see my husband. Before, we used to work all week and then we’d spend the weekend on the house.”

Small homes make sense not just for the frugal or displaced but also for single city dwellers like students or business travelers. In Germany six students at the Technical University of Munich spent a year living on campus in cube-shaped Micro Compact Homes, designed by British architect Richard Horden. Measuring about 74 sq. ft. and selling for $95,000, the houses are modeled after a Japanese teahouse, with a sunken eating space and a bed that folds up against a wall. Building a minihome offers the challenge of figuring out how to make every nook and cranny count. A recent design for a 625-square-foot guest house uses a loft sleeping area and built-in beds to create more room below. Windows were added in the loft and alcoves at the head of each bed with recessed lighting fixtures to facilitate reading in bed.

Designers believe amenities typically found in “Small Houses” prove that downsizing doesn't mean downscale. "When you build smaller, you can put in a lot more quality than you can in a larger space," says Geoffrey Warner of Alchemy Architects in St. Paul, Minn. Warner's weeHouses, shaped something like shipping containers, start at $69,500 for a 364-sq.-ft. studio with bamboo flooring, built-in cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.

Many times “efficiency” in building design can go well beyond just making large spaces more efficient to operate. While "small houses" are well suited for a special client, many of the concepts can be incorporated into condensing a "normal" sized home. There are many ways to approach the issue of sustainability and efficiency if we have an open mind.

Jeff Good
Benchmark General Contractors, Inc.

New Developments in Lighting

Generally speaking, about 30% of your electricity bill is spent on lighting in your house. You can reduce this expense by using energy efficient light bulbs. By using the energy saving light bulbs you can decrease the amount of your electricity bill by getting the same amount of light like the standard light bulb with the use of less electricity. These new developments in technology tells us that energy saving light bulbs can be up to 8 times more efficient than the standard light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs use very low energy for the lighting purpose and provide you with a number of varieties of energy saving bulbs as well as fittings. You would generally get the same amount of light using less wattage. These bulbs and fittings are best suited for your outdoor as well as indoor lighting. You can also get a wide choice of LED fittings and LED bulbs. You should know that the working of energy efficient light bulbs depends upon some special units. Some will not work with the standard dimmers, timers and sensors. Check the capabilities of each type of bulb before installation. The different types of domestic light bulbs are as follows:* Halogen Bulbs- they have a small pocket full with halogen gas that emits a bright and a white light. A great degree of light is emitted as compared to the standard light bulb having similar wattage and using less electricity at the same time. In addition, they also a longer time of burning, about 2000 to 3000 hours. The old units of halogen needed a transformer and ran at a low voltage. Thus, their output was limited to about 20W. But now the halogen bulbs are available that do not need a transformer any more and at the same time would give you better outputs.
* Standard Fluorescent Bulbs- these are thin and long tubes that are generally found in the offices of garages. They are considered as more efficient as compared to the standard light bulbs as heat is not produced in them. They have a burning time of about 10,000- 20,000 hours. They can last for about 10-20 years long due to this longevity in life time.
* Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs- this fluorescent bulb is recommended greatly over a regular bulb. It produces about 4 times more light as compared to the regular bulb of the same wattage. The lasting period of the fluorescent light bulbs is about 10,000 hours. If you are thinking of replacing the standard light bulbs in your house with an energy efficient bulb, then the compact fluorescent light bulb will be one of the best options available to you.
*LED Lighting-Perhaps the most exciting development in energy efficient lighting is the development of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. Small and highly efficient, these products are highly efficient at converting electrical energy to lighting energy, about 80% efficient as opposed to 20% for incandescent bulbs. While cost has historically been prohibitive, the cost has been dropping dramatically as technology and production improves. Also, the lifespan of many LED products can be in excess of 40,000 hours.
There have also been some interesting developments with high efficiency fluorescent fixtures, such as T5 & T8 bulbs, more about that later. Everything has it’s cost and everything has its return. Contact Benchmark General Contractors, Inc. for information of how these energy savings devices can improve the performance of your building or home and save you money!.

Let's Go to the Bathroom!

We all want our homes to be attractive, function well and create a feeling of comfort and refuge. Often times knowing that our spaces are well designed and energy efficient can add to our enjoyment of our homes. Let’s start with the bathroom!

There are a number of design features and fittings that can improve bathroom energy efficiency and reduce energy bills and our “carbon footprint”. Whether designing a new bathroom or remodeling an existing one, there are simple ways to save you money and energy. 1. Energy Efficient Hot Water System Select an energy efficient hot water system and place it as close to the bathroom and laundry as possible to reduce pipe length and reduce heat loss. 2. Install Energy Star rated Ventilation Fans: Bathroom moisture is often controlled by the use of an exhaust fan. The fan sucks out the moisture-laden air, which is then replaced by drier air. Fans help move out moisture, which can increase the level of humidity in your home. High humidity can damage building materials. Worse, high humidness can cause mold growth and mold may affect your family's health. 3. Install Compact Fluorescent or LED lighting: Another easy way to increase your bathroom’s energy efficiency is to install light fixtures that use compact fluorescent or LEDE lighting. These products are increasingly more affordable, have a much greater lifespan add value to your home as well as reducing home energy bills. 4. Insulate Walls and Ceilings: The walls behind tubs or showers often have many floor, wall and ceiling penetrations. These can be sealed and insulated to prevent air and moisture intrusions. 5. Energy Efficient Windows and Doors If you are replacing or installing new windows, doors, and skylights, consider those with Energy Star certification. 6. Energy Efficient Fixtures: The shower can be the largest user of a family’s hot water. Install a solar thermal water heater. These are generally easy to install and function well. There are also federal tax credits as well as many state rebate programs available. These products can pay for themselves in a very short period of time.
7. Water Pipes and Water Saving Devices Also, there are many water saving fixtures available such as dual flush toilets, flow restricting shower heads, etc., that are not expensive. Check with your plumber or contact us at Benchmark to see what is available.
Lastly, pay attention to your design. Are you using too much space, do you have too many fixtures? It’s often harder to design a small well functioning bathroom that is smart and efficient than a large opulent bathroom. While large and opulent may look good in the magazines, it can be inefficient to live in and maintain.