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ideas and resources for your home
Designing Green Smart Home Automation D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 / J A N U A R Y 2 010
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[ C O N T E N T S ] DESIGNING
GREEN
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Eco-Fabulous Making your home Green is easier than you think. By Heidi Doerfert
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Going Green with Home Automation Thinking ahead will save both time and money on your installation. By Stuart Lee
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Comfort Starting at the Ground Floor Keep your home warm all winter long with Hydronic heating.
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December 2009/January 2010 THM South Bay/Silicon Valley
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
ideas and resources for your home
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BayArea.com Search the Bay Area’s ultimate resource guide for more articles
B UILD I T G REEN 18 Your Pathway to a Healthier, More Energy Efficient Home GreenPoint Rated Existing Home. By Annette Hartsfield
CCIDC 20 The Forever Home: Going Green Designing Green to last a lifetime. By Patsy Zakian-Greenough, CKD, CAPS, CGBP, CID
CLCA 22 Tips On How To Begin Again Recommendations to help protect your property after a fire from the California Landscape Contractors Association.
of interest, links
Refacing Your Home “On The Cheap” Tips and tricks to beautify on a budget. www.todayshomebayarea.com/feature
to more resources, Web sites, and professionals who can help you with all your home projects. Custom Design in Today’s Economy Jeanese Rowel Design offers fine design for every budget. www.todayshomebayarea.com/jeaneseroweldesign
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Beam Me Up! Add architectural flair to your home with wood box beams. www.todayshomebayarea.com/jackelenterprises
Controlled Lighting Screens are the perfect way to manage natural and artificial light. www.todayshomebayarea.com/lutron
Find more great ideas and resources for your home on
TodaysHomeBayArea.com Post your Web page on TodaysHomeBayArea.com! Contact Information • Multiple Links to Your Web Site • Photo Gallery • Press ON THE COVER Della Robbia Zatana Sectional Sofa. Photo: Della Robbia (www.dellarobbiausa.com). TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Call 925.659.6200 or e-mail Jeff@THmag.com for more information. South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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Volume 11, Issue 6 • December2009/January 2010
Why TODAY’S HOME Should Be YOUR Marketing Partner. The Bay Area’s best resource for your lifestyle at home.
VAL LEY S OUT H BAY/S IL ICON
Target Audience Reach homeowners who are looking for ideas and resources for their home.
PUBLISHER
Steven Gandy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Cook’s Paradise Photo: Neff Kitchens
Affordable Upgrades Kitchen Spaces 09 FEB RUA RY/MA RCH 20
High-quality Look and Feel
Jeff Curry
The quality and appeal enhances your company’s professional image.
GENERAL MANAGER/EDITOR
Jason Douglas
SOUTH BAY/SI LI CON VA LL EY
Outdoor Dining
Interesting and Informative Articles
FEATURE WRITERS
Locally orientated stories that homeowners save and refer to.
Photo: El Dorado Stone
Liquid Oasis Gorgeous Landscaping
A PRI L/MAY 2 00 9
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ces for your home ideas and resour
Relax in Solitude
Targeted Distribution
Heidi Doerfert Annette Hartsfield Stuart Lee Patsy Zakian-Greenough ART DIRECTOR
Deliver your company’s marketing message in the right places to homeowners who are actively planning home projects with 4 channels of distribution. Check out the partial list of Industry Showrooms you can find Today’s Home.
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On-line E-edition and Resource Guide Photo: Laufen
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Today’s Home is a marketing company that works with companies to help build their business with effective marketing and advertising. Our approach is very different from other marketing options. We work to develop a strong strategy and marketing mix to increase your sales. Call us today at 925.659.6200 or email Jeff@THmag.com for a FREE marketing analysis and to develop a custom marketing program to help you build your business 2010.
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Today’s Home is looking for highly motivated Account Executives with 2 years of advertising and marketing experience.
Advertiser’s Success Kit—a 20-page booklet that will give you new ideas to help your marketing immediately. 6
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No Mystery. Control Your Advertisin g. Build Your Business.
We offer a dynamic environment, excellent growth opportunities, competitive earnings, and a benefits package. Full and part-time positions available. Please e-mail resumes to Jeff@THmag.com. TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Sivoia QED™: One touch raises or lowers shades in virtual silence.
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Expensive art and furnishings can be ruined by direct sunlight. Lutron, the world leader in lighting control solutions, enables you to adjust your electric light and lower shades to adjust natural light all in a single keypad. Choose from a wide variety of fabrics, from sheer to complete blackout to meet your light control needs.
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South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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ecoBY
HEIDI DOERFERT
O GREEN!” IS A MESSAGE that seems to be everywhere. The movement towards a healthier planet is no longer limited to a small group of environmentalists. Everyday people are realizing the need for using materials that are kinder to our personal and global environments. You may want to take part but wonder how you can fit eco-friendly elements into your existing home and lifestyle. The best way to bring Green into your life is to start small. Many companies are answering the demand for more natural and safer products that are eco-and-bank-account friendly.
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If Walls Could Talk Jack O’Neil of Kelly Moore in Concord says they have long been an innovator and leader in Green options for paint. “Kelly Moore introduced E-Coat almost 21 years ago. It’s nicknamed the “earthquake paint” because when the 1989 earthquake hit, huge drums of paint spilled all over our San Carlos plant. We recycled that paint and E-Coat was born.” E-Coat is made from a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste. For example, if a commercial project has a large quantity of leftover paint, it can be shipped to Kelly Moore’s Sacramento plant where it is recycled into new paint. You know when you try to match paint to a certain color and it doesn’t come out quite right the first time? Rather than throwing it out, Kelly Moore remanufactures that mistinted paint and recycles 99% of returned paint. E-Coat is an excellent and affordable choice for use in places that are occupied during application, such as health care facilities and schools. The proof of this recycling program is in the landfill. Actually, the proof is what isn’t in the landfill… like several thousand tons of solid waste! Another plus is the conservation of millions of gallons of water. Kelly Moore’s Enviro-Coat, which first came out as a low-VOC paint over 10 years ago, became a zero-VOC product in 2008. Volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s, are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOC’s include a variety of chemicals, some of which may >>
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fabulous
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Floor It After you’ve turned your walls Green, turn your attention to the floor. You may already know that cork, bamboo and wool carpet are eco-friendly options but there are some exciting new choices in environmental flooring. Carpet One’s Green Select initiative represents their commitment to making our environment better through their relationships with customers, suppliers and their employees. They are continually working with vendors to produce flooring that meets strict eco-friendly standards. Carpet One carries products that have earned their Green Select label, which means they are recyclable, contain a minimum of recycled material and/or are made from a natural, sustainable, quickly renewable resource. “Mohawk carpet’s SmartStrand technology is made up of 37% renewable resources such as corn that give it a softer feel than nylons or polyesters,” says Laurie DeSimone of Carpet One in Livermore.The SmartStrand fibers have really good stain protection so cleaning up those spills is less of a headache. Another great option is Anderson Hardwood. They only harvest wood from professionally managed forests that are under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Laurie says Anderson will actually plant a tree in your honor in one of America’s Heritage Forests when you purchase an Anderson hardwood product! Their motto is “Replace what you take. Follow the rules and leave the place better than how you found it. That’s what it means to be Green.” The latest innovation is leather flooring, which is made from 100% recycled leather and comes in plank or tile form. Torlys Leather Floors, available at Carpet Photo courtesy Eco timber (www.ecotimber.com)
have short- and long-term adverse health effects. According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOC’s are up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors, largely due to toxic emissions by paints and finishes. “The awareness of living Green has really taken off in the past few years,” Jack explains. “The demand for eco-friendly paint began with architects and contractors working on commercial jobs like hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. They needed a product that didn’t have the unpleasant fumes that typical paints carry.” Enviro-Coat, and its commercial counterpart, Green Coat, offers low odor, easy clean up, and mildew-resistance in addition to zero-VOC’s. “Not only is it kinder to the environment,” Jack notes, “It’s also kinder to folks who suffer from asthma and allergies.” The California Water Environment Association honored Kelly Moore’s efforts for taking proactive steps to manufacture quality products with the least possible impact on the environment. “We are proud to say that not one drop of water that falls on our San Carlos factory campus goes to waste,” Jack notes.
Photo courtesy Shaw Floors (www.shawfloors.com)
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One, contain no harmful VOC emissions, no added formaldehyde and exceed California Indoor Air Quality standards, among the most stringent in the world. It is made from the scraps of leather that are left over from making belts, purses, and car interiors. It is as durable as hardwood and is absolutely beautiful on the floor. Laurie points out that Green flooring is becoming more and more in demand as word gets out about the growing variety and options that are available. “If a homeowner can buy a floor that they love and know that it is also eco-friendly, it makes them feel that much better about their purchase,� says Laurie. To find out how to add color to your home without the toxins, visit Kelly Moore at their Web site www.kellymoore.com. To go Green on the floor, visit Carpet One at their Web site at www.carpetone.com. For more tips on Going Green, check out www.treehugger.com and www.gogreenonline.com. THM
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South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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W HOLE -H OUSE S OLUTIONS
H OME T HEATER & W HOLE -H OUSE A UDIO
SECURITY SURVEILLANCE MONITORING
D S L D AT A / T E L E P H O N E LIGHTING CONTROL
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Planning a remodel? Enjoy the comfort of knowing your home is prewired ready to Call today for your design consultation
handle all your current and future technology needs. We specialize in full home automation including heating/air conditioning automation, lighting control, high definition video distribution, whole-house audio, structured wiring, and security systems. We offer quality components from the top manufacturers. Call us today for your design consultation.
(408) 887-4479 1610 Monterey Road • San Jose
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December 2009/January 2010 THM South Bay/Silicon Valley
Hours: Monday–Saturday 9–6 Closed Sunday ®
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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Going Green with Home Automation BY
STUART LEE
Thinking ahead will save both time and money on your installation.
TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
O YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT DOING AN ELECTRONIC UPGRADE TO your home. You’d like to keep it Green, so minimal power consumption is a must. When talking about Audio, High Definition Video, Lighting Control, Automated Heating and Air Conditioning, Automated Shades and lastly Security Camera Recording, can someone achieve both high quality performance and low power consumption at the same time? You bet! Is it still possible to achieve everything in an affordable package? Of course, so let’s break down how to achieve this step by step.
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Step 1) Determine your goals. Does the savings and safety of having an automated lighting control system seem attractive? Is the system that the contractor’s proposing deem itself scalable? Do you have to install all the automated dimmers and switches now, or can they be installed later when it’s more comfortable to afford each set of components? “Often, our clients feel a bit daunted and overwhelmed with the number of decisions required during a remodel. They’re definitely more comfortable once they know that we can upgrade as we go”, says Stuart Lee, Hi Def Audio Video’s design consultant. “We try to offer as many options as possible, from simple to fancy. What fits for one client definitely won’t fit for everyone. But flexibility and creativity are a must in this economy”, states Lee. Crystal clear Audio and High Definition Video are a must in all homes, but tying all your components together in a central hub not only makes for >>
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a cleaner installation but also saves money. “We remove the eight or nine cable/satellite boxes, each being charged anywhere from $5 to $17 a month extra and reduce it down to the number of folks living in the home which is usually two to three. That’s a savings of $100 a month, or equivalent to a new high def big screen tv per year! Step 2) Determine your budget. Whatever it is, be realistic. Have a professional take and break down the components of the job. Nice sounding speakers start at $399 + per pair. If you would like six rooms, the math adds to $2,400 + for music speakers. Music components typically go for $2,500-$3,000. Keypads that control the music system can also control the video, lights, heating/air conditioning, and view the security cameras. This is a HUGE savings by not having to buy separate control panels all over the house. Plus the reduction of electronic babble all over your walls makes for a much cleaner and tasteful appearance. Step 3) Keep the system modular and scalable. If starting a remodel, remember that wires are the cheapest part of a system. The time to wire is while the walls are open, not later when the paint’s dry. Wiring for automated shades becomes especially important when the walls are open. It will cost three to four times more when the walls are closed up. But wireless technology is also available as an option. Automated shades offer many benefits such as controllable natural lighting and climate control for a more energy efficient home. A scalable system allows additions to the system at anytime down the road. Let’s face it, we all want it all but your spouse isn’t always on the same boat when it comes to electronics. Trying to
get a grasp on what’s important and of value is essential. Look for functions that make your life easier and save you money in the meantime. This will help bring focus to your electronic additions. Step 4) Do not try to reinvent the wheel, find someone you can trust to work with. Look for someone that has a firm grasp of all facets of the project. Trying to become foreman and designer yourself is both time consuming and expensive. The problem with most everyone is they’ve become so specialized that they only know their area of expertise. An Integrator or Home Automation specialist not only needs to know their audio and video, they also need to know HVAC requirements, Title 24 energy efficiency codes for lighting, as well as being Internet Protocol proficient. A qualified professional can address your concerns and help you select an affordable, easy to use, energy efficient system that meets your requirements. Scheduling an estimate in your home is a good place to start. For more information, contact Stuart Lee at (408) 887-4479 or visit Hi Def Audio Video at 1610 Monterey Road in San Jose. THM
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30TH ANNUAL
s h o w c a s e CLAUSEN ELECTRIC, is experienced in highend new construction and remodeling since 1992. Specializing in “Smart Technology,” we’ve worked with some of the nation’s top lighting designers. Let Clausen Electric, Inc., light the way for your plans. CLAUSEN ELECTRIC, INC. 19970 McKean Road San Jose • (408) 927-7332 www.clausenelectric.com
You’ll Love The Home Show!
BLACK DIAMOND LANDSCAPE & DESIGN in addition to our landscaping work, we are pleased to offer an online retail outlet for pond and water-feature projects. Black Diamond is the installer for all of your landscape needs.
REMODELING DECORATING LANDSCAPING
BLACK DIAMOND LANDSCAPE & DESIGN 800.942.1955 www.blackdiamondlanscape.com
DEMONSTARTIONS & SEMINARS At MARBLED ELEGANCE, you can find
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custom manufactured stone surfaces for beautiful grout-free bathrooms. Cultured marble and other cast polymer products achieve the beauty of natural marble and granite, while providing a variety of shape, size, and color.
NEW Flower and Gardening Experience
Remodeling Guru Steve Katkowsky
HGTV/Carpenter Hunk Anthony Gilardi
Looking to increase the value of your home without spending a fortune? You will find plenty to see & do at the 30th Annual South Bay Home & Garden Show. Get innovative remodeling, decorating and landscaping ideas and explore the services of top home and garden specialists, while shopping the largest selection of must-have new home-related products. Be sure to check out the new Flower and Gardening Feature area where you will find everything you need to plan for that Spring Gardening Experience. Or visit the Bay Areas own unique Woodcrafters section, featuring hands on demonstrations and techniques for the Do-It-Yourselfers. Then, stop by the main stage for demonstrations and advice from top professionals including HGTV Carpenter-Hunk Anthony Gilardi of the hit TV show “Myles of Style” or gain an insider’s perspective on kitchen and bathroom renovations from guru Steve Katkowsky and his incredible Kitchen (and bath) Machine. And don’t forget that Saturday you can meet culinary expert Gene Burns for our Celebrity Wine Tasting. I Love the Home Show and so will you.
JANUARY 22, 23 & 24
SANTA CLARA CONVENTION CENTER www.southbayhomeshow.com •408-236-2000 TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
MARBLED ELEGANCE 2008 Martin Avenue Santa Clara • (408) 970-8991 www.marbledelegance.com
ROOM WITH A VIEW, $695 “Homeowners need design advice without feeling the pressure to buy,” says Sandy Wulf, owner. The session includes 3 hours in your home answering decorating questions and providing room-by-room specific design ideas/products with below retail shopping sources. The fee includes a color portfolio of all information. www.crackerjackcreations.com 408.241.4044 BROCHURE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
Promote your business in the TODAY’S HOME showcase Call (888) 274-1140 South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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Comfort Starting at the Ground Floor
Keep your home warm all winter long with Hydronic heating. S WINTER WEATHER APPROACHES, OUR thoughts turn to cozying up on the couch with a cup of tea and staying indoors as much as possible. But how warm we stay is directly connected to the way we heat our home. Forced-air heaters have remained a familiar fixture in North American homes, but hydronic heating systems are now becoming more and more popular and taking heating to a whole new level of comfort and efficiency. Hydronic (or radiant) heating differs from traditional furnaces by heating water, instead of air, and pumping it through insulated in-floor piping or radiators. The advantages of hydronic over forced-air heating include more comfortable heat, lower energy bills, and less potential harm to your health and the environment. Hydronic heat, which is the most common form of modern heating worldwide, is also more economical because water holds heat longer than air. Therefore less energy (both gas and electrical) is required, saving homeowners up to 60 to 70 percent per month on their PG&E bill. Hydronic systems also take up less space in the house and utilize the same condensing boiler that provides all other household hot water needs. Hydronic heat is considerably quieter than forced-air furnaces and allows for varying comfort levels throughout the home.
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Hydronic heating is the most comfortable form of heating for the body. Living things feel more comfortable when their feet and body are warm and their head is cool. With forced-air furnaces, the hot air rises so your head gets hot and stuffy, and your feet stay cold. The opposite is true of hydronic heat, which flows up from the floor so your feet and body stay warm while your head remains cool. This mimics the way we sleep, with our head out of the covers, and our bodies covered and warm. Additionally hydronic heating provides better air quality. Because hydronic heaters don’t take in air like a furnace, they don’t collect household dirt, dust, pollen, and pet dander and blow it back out through vents. Eliminating air ducts and vents also helps to prevent allergies and dried-out sinuses. When it comes to preserving the environment, hydronic heating is a good choice. Forty percent of a home’s carbon footprint comes from heating the house and hot water. Installing a system that runs for less time can reduce that number by 80 percent and the boiler only runs for about an hour each day. There’s nothing like being warm and cozy indoors when the weather gets cold. Curling up with a good book in the warmth of hydronic heat will raise your quality of life. For more ideas and resources visit www.todayshomebayarea.com. THM TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
The Bay Area’s Largest Door & Window Showroom.
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South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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Your Pathway to a Healthier, More Energy Efficient Home BY ANNETTE ECIDING TO MAKE “GREEN” UPGRADES TO YOUR HOME IS a personal decision. Whether it’s concern for the environment, saving money on utility bills, or creating a healthier living space for our families, we all have different priorities when it comes to choosing more sustainable options. But knowing where to start is a different matter. A home remodel is already a very overwhelming process without having to worry about the carbon footprint of the products you choose, or how to maximize energy and water efficiency. Just as you might hire an interior decorator, or a landscape designer to help you identify the best options for your tastes and budget, you might consider hiring a GreenPoint Rater to help you navigate the choices involved in adding Green elements to your home. Growing consumer demand for healthier, Greener products that aren’t much more expensive than their conventional counterparts has resulted in a greater range of choices. But more isn’t always better. How do you know which ones are really Green and which ones are just jumping on the sustainability bandwagon? Many of the products have certification labels, but with over 400 Green consumer labels currently on the market, it can still be confusing. Do you
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HARTSFIELD choose FSC or SFI Certified wood products? Indoor Advantage or Green Guard? Green Seal or EcoLogo? And that’s just products. How do you decide which energy efficiency improvements to tackle first? Do you install solar panels, or is it more economical to seal leaks and add better insulation? What about your windows—should they be exchanged first? Or is that even necessary? Do you opt for a tankless water heater? A solar hot water heater? Or maybe the “hot water on demand” system is the best choice for your needs. Depending on the vintage and location of your home, your priorities, and your budget, what makes your home Green can take many different forms. Hiring a GreenPoint Rater to help with your Green remodel can take the guesswork out of a lot of these decisions. Whether you are undergoing a whole house remodel, or just tackling one room, the Rater will work with you to make the greatest impact in the areas most important to you. Working off the GreenPoint Rated checklist, which allots points in five categories (Community, Energy, Indoor Air Quality, TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
Resource Efficiency, and Water), the Rater will help you assess which Green building measures are best suited to your needs and budget, and will help you navigate the product choices. While the program is primarily concerned with the economy, comfort and health of your home, having the GreenPoint Rated label can also add re-sale value to your house. A study in the Seattle region recently found that homes with “environmental ratings” sold quicker and for more money than homes without a rating. This summer, the San Francisco MLS (Multiple Listing Service) became the first regional MLS in California to add GreenPoint Rated and other Green ratings as a search criterion. As homebuyers become increasingly concerned with energy efficiency and indoor air quality, the GreenPoint Rated label might give your house the edge it needs in the marketplace. The GreenPoint Rated program is an impartial, third-party verified rating system administered by Build It Green, a non-profit organization in Berkeley that promotes the advancement of Green building practices throughout California. By assigning a point value to each improvement you make, the program serves as a pathway to a more resource-efficient, healthier and environmentally friendly home.
Jackel Enterprises, purveyor of quality lumber & millwork, offers distinctive wood products to enhance your home’s ambiance. Real Wood Box Beams Wood Mantles Trims and Moldings in Imported & Domestic Woods
1-800-711-WOOD www.woodboxbeams.com www.jackelenterprises.com
Annette Hartsfield is a Build It Green Program Associate and Grant Writer. For more information on the GreenPoint Rated Existing Home program, and to locate a GreenPoint Rater, please visit www.builditgreen.org/greenpoint-rated. THM
347 Locust Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831-768-3880 FAX: 831-768-3883
1284 L INCOLN AVENUE , S AN J OSE , CA
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S I N K S T U B S S H O W E R D O O R S F A U C E T S T O I L E T S B I D E T S A C C E S S O R I E S M I R RO R S L I G H T I NG TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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[ C C I D C ]
The Forever Home:
Going Green BY
PATSY ZAKIAN-GREENOUGH, CKD, CAPS, CGBP, CID
Designing Green to last a lifetime. 20
December 2009/January 2010 THM South Bay/Silicon Valley
HEN IRIS HARRELL AND ANN BENSON DECIDED TO REMODEL their two-story home, they were sure about two things. First, they wanted “The Forever Home” so they could age-in-place and have people of all ages and abilities visit. Curb-less showers and an elevator were installed. Secondly, they wanted to implement as many Green practices and materials as possible. As a Green guideline, they used a rating system from “Build It Green”. When a choice was needed, good judgment was foremost. “It’s about making the right decision and doing what’s important,” says Iris Harrell. Instead of replacing the old furnaces, ducts were sealed and tested. At 93% efficiency the furnaces avoided the landfill. With Genie Nowicki, a Certified Interior Designer in the State of California and a Certified Green Building Professional, Iris and Ann achieved their goals. Here are some tips for your project:
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Energy Savings: Add solar panels Use dual-glazed windows European Rolling Shutters at windows - shades on skylights Reduce furnace use with “Zone Heating” such as gas fireplace inserts and heated floors Consider heat recovery ventilation systems Insulate walls and floors Use fluorescent and LED lights Energy Star appliances Whole house fan and ceiling fans TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
RESOU RCE G U ID E
Indoor Air Quality/Health: HVAC–seal ducts, install Hepa filters No VOC paints Use exterior plywood in interiors—no formaldehyde Check crawl space for dampness and drainage
AIR CONDITIONING & HEAT
Hussey Brothers 408-733-6360 www.husseybros.com
Materials: Use Forestry Stewardship Certified Woods (FSC) Recycled glass countertops or other man-made countertops Engineered floors or refinished floors Wool carpet
CA Bathroom & Kitchen Remodelers 408-360-9700 www.cabr.net KITCHEN & BATH SHOWROOM
ARCHITECT
2M Architecture 415-826-5459 www.2marchitecture.com ARTIFICIAL TURF
CABINETS & GRANITE
The concept of The Forever Home and being Green was laced into every decision. Throughout construction photos and videos were taken to document the project. Serving as a model for professionals and homeowners alike, this project documentary can be seen on PBS stations: “The Forever Home: Going Green.” Visit www.theforeverhome.com. Remember, good design is always beautiful regardless of the specialty you’re designing for. A house should be built not just for whom you are today, but also for the person you’ll become tomorrow. Patsy Zakian-Greenough is a Senior Designer with Harrell Remodeling, Inc. Residential Design + Build in Mountain View, California, www.harrell-remodeling.com. For a list of Certified Interior Designers in your area or to view the CID Pages (a visual directory of CID’s), visit www.ccidc.org/cidpages. THM
Home Design Cabinets & Granite 408-571-1888 www.homedesigncabinets.com CULTURED MARBLE
West Bay Landscape Company 408-271-0510 www.westbaylandscape.com LUMBER & MILLWORK
Jackel Enterprises 800-711-WOOD www.jackelenterprises.com PAINTING
Marbled Elegance 408-970-8991 www.marbledelegance.com DOORS & WINDOWS
Rhino Shield 408-266-7048 www.rhinoshieldca.com PAVING STONES
Viking Door & Window 408-294-5546 www.vikingdoor.com
Black Diamond Landscape & Designs 800-942-1955 www.blackdiamondlandscape.com
ELECTRICAL
PLUMBING FIXTURES
Clausen Electric 408-927-7332 www.clausenelectricinc.com GARAGE STORAGE
Make one room into two!
Kitchen & Bath Showplace 408-554-1552 www.kbshowplace.com LANDSCAPE
Heavenly Greens 866-724-8873 www.heavenlygreens.com
Water Conservation: Use a re-circulating pump with timer Consider automatic faucets Water conserving appliances
KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING
Plumbing N’ Things 650-363-7333 www.plumbingnthings.com REMOLDING CONSTRUCTION
Premier Garage 650-286-9676 www.premiergarage.com
S.E.A. Construction 650-287-4202 www.seaconstruction.com
GARDEN ORNAMENTS
SCREENS AND SHADES
Giannini Garden Ornaments 650-873-4493 www.gianninigarden.com GRANITE
Screen Solutions 408-374-8156 www.phantomscreens.com SHOWER DOORS & ENCLOSURES
Granite Wholesale 510-657-4400 www.granitewholesaleusa.com HOME THEATER
California Shower Door 800-675-6225 www.calshowerdoor.com SWIMMING POOLS
Hi-Def Audio Video 408-294-6632
Lifetime Pools 650-494-7070 www.lifetimepools.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
CUSTOM DESIGNS ALSO AVAILABLE!
The largest display of wallbeds in the Bay Area!
Jeanese Rowell Design 650-323-1065 www.jrdesign.com
Wnallbedsore " "
WALLBEDS
Wallbeds “n” More 408-761-4732 www.wallbedsnmore.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
M
Crackerjack Creations 408-241-4044 www.crackerjackcreations.com
A Comfortable extra bed for any room!
1350 DELL AVENUE • CAMPBELL Showroom Open by Appointment
(408) 761-4732 Other Locations:
WINDOWS & DOORS
Argonaut Window & Door 408-376-4018 www.argowin.com
KITCHEN & BATH GALLERY
Splashworks 408-279-5202 www.splashworkskb.com
San Ramon (925) 570-5663 • Burlingame (650) 888-8131
WallbedsNMore.com TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
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South Bay/Silicon Valley THM December 2009/January 2010
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[ C L C A ]
Tips On How To Begin Again IRE DESTROYS HUNDREDS OF HOMES each year in California and often burns thousands of acres of land. If your property was damaged by fire, the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help your landscape recover and to help protect your property. In general, many plants and trees are exposed to fire in their native environment and many will recover in the spring and should be left alone. Any pruning or cutting back of fire-damaged plants should not be done until the plants show signs of recovery. Removing bark, leaves or limbs can expose the plants to sun damage. Heat from the sun can actually kill the tissue beneath the bark on some trees. It is best to leave them alone until new growth appears. Some plants recover faster than others. Burned plants can still be green underneath and still have healthy roots. If similar plants appear to be recovering, wait a few more weeks before removing damaged parts. Full damage to woody plants may not be apparent until the next spring or summer season. Re-examine them at that time and then carefully remove damaged wood to make room for new growth. Ash on the plants will not cause damage and should be left alone. Damaged trees that have branches that are cracked or overhanging homes, driveways etc., that can be a future hazard, should be removed. Trees that have shifted in the soil due to wind or burn damage and those with burned roots should be removed as well, because they are now considered unstable and could potentially fall. If fire has completely burned off all the bark around the entire circumference of the tree and/or fire has burned deep into the trunk, the tree should also be removed. Fertilization is not recommended. Immediately fertilizing can cause damage to the roots and cause additional harm to the plants. Waiting also gives the soil time to recover. Wait until the spring and fertilize at half rates with a product containing nitrogen. Do not fertilize with manures at that time, since they contain a high concentration of salts that can injure roots. Plastic irrigation lines, parts and drains may be damaged. Check your existing irrigation system for leaks and damage and document them for your insurance company. Also shut off irrigation water immediately after a fire to help prevent erosion and further damage. It is generally not recommended to water plants immediately after a fire. If your area is experiencing a drought and water is necessary, water gently by hand. Severely burned soils do not absorb water well. Make sure the flow of water is slow enough to be absorbed. Also examine and clean concrete drains and swales. Many become filled with ash and mud during a fire. In areas where protective plants are removed or destroyed, soil becomes vulnerable to erosion. Soil erosion can happen slowly or it can happen very quickly in a heavy rain. The exact measures needed for your property are based on your soil type, slope grade,
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home location, weather, water availability etc. Also areas exposed by fire can open the door for invasive species and weeds. In some areas erosion control materials or mechanical control measures may need to be applied. Contact your local CalTrans office or local forest service for guidelines in your area. Water flow is an important factor of any erosion plan. Never underestimate the power of storm water and debris. Evaluating the area and planning for storm events is a critical first step to protecting your property and improper or inadequate measures can aggravate potential problems. If you need help with erosion control or fire prevention landscaping, be sure to hire a licensed professional who specializes in that area of expertise. Ask for references, insurance certificates and request to see their license. You’ll want to protect your home and your neighbors’ as well. It is also an important time to evaluate your property’s landscape and damage. Take a look at what worked and what did not and try to determine how to make your property safer in case of a future fire. For future reference, it is also a good idea to keep records and photos of your landscape as part of your home inventory list for insurance purposes. For helpful information about fire prevention landscaping please go to: www.clca.org/clca/education/fire-protection.php. THM
December 2009/January 2010 THM South Bay/Silicon Valley TODAYSHOMEBayArea.com
CABINET & GRANITE WHOLESALER OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SPECIALIZING IN: KITCHEN & BATH CABINETS GRANITE COUNTERTOPS TILE & MARBLE FLOORS BEAUTIFUL SINKS UNIQUE ACCESSORIES
Standard kitchen remodel completed in 7 days Highest quality imported cabinets 40+ colors of granite – over 1,000 prefabricated granite countertops in stock Complete sales, design, and service company Excellent customer service
Home Design Cabinet & Granite
We listen to what you need, what you want and what you desire. We pay close attention to detail from assisting you with selecting the products, 48 hour turnaround on delivery, as well as completing your project through the installation process.
(408) 571-1888 • 680 BRENNAN STREET • SAN JOSE • HOMEDESIGNCABINETS.COM
Enjoy Energy Savings and Comfort Too. You wouldn’t have only 1 light switch for your whole house… why have only 1 thermostat?
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Make your home comfortable for the whole family and enjoy up to 40% energy savings. *As seen on Ask This Old House. *Received “Best of What’s New” award from Popular Science magazine, 2008. *Can be installed in most existing HVAC systems with little alteration.
• Cooling efficiency rating up to 20 SEER
HUSSEY BROS., Inc
• Heating efficiency up to 96.7% AFUE
Air Conditioning & Heating
• Two and three stage operation for additional energy savings and comfort
408-733-6360
• Variable speed blowers for increased efficiency and quiet operation
husseybros.com • Serving the Bay Area since 1977
• AccuClean Air Filtration Systems–rated the best whole house air filtration system by the Harvard School of Public Health
A+ Rating BBB • Contractors License #675669
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650.286.9676 Proudly Serving the Bay Area
PremierGarage.com
Call Today for Your Free In-Home Design Consultation! Lic. #894280