Tuesday, July 27, 2010

ENERGY STAR Home

Any home three stories or less can earn the ENERGY STAR label if it has been verified to meet EPA's guidelines.

Energy Star Homes are typically 20-30% more energy efficient than standard homes – why?  Energy Star homes incorporate these eco friendly features:

1. Effective Insulation
2. High-Performance Windows
3. Tight Construction and Ducts
4. Efficient Heating and Cooling Equipment
5. Efficient Products
6. Third-Party Verification

The benefits of building an energy efficient home are plenty:

LOWER OWNERSHIP COST
Compared with standard homes, ENERGY STAR homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling, and water heating-delivering $200 to $400 in annual savings.

Over the average 7 to 8 years you may live in your home, this adds up to thousands of dollars saved on utility bills. Additional savings on maintenance can also be substantial. Financing your home purchase using an energy efficient mortgage can also lead to savings.

BETTER PERFORMANCE
Properly installed energy-efficient improvements deliver better protection against cold, heat, drafts, moisture, pollution, and noise. An energy-efficient home helps ensure consistent temperatures between and across rooms, improved indoor air quality, and greater durability.

SMART INVESTMENT
To date, more than 8,500 home builders have partnered with EPA to construct more than 1 million ENERGY STAR qualified homes. The trend is clear. By choosing a home with the ENERGY STAR label, you can be confident that it will have an increasingly valued feature when the time comes to sell.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Did you know that your home can be a greater source of pollution than your car? In fact, 16 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide.

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate.

Source:  energystar.gov

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Events: Things To Do

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Lakeside Living Expo this weekend at the Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, New Hampshire.  Gilford is located on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, less than 90 minutes away from Boston and the seacoast!



This is the largest Lifestyle Show in New England with over 250 exhibitors in lodges and tents!  Bonin Architects will be exhibiting in Booth #75 in the Lake Winnipesaukee Tent.  Be sure to stop by to say hello! 

Lakeside Living Expo
Gunstock Mountain Resort, Gilford, NH
July 16-18, 2010
Friday 11-7; Saturday 10-6; Sunday 10-4
Seminars: 1:00 PM each day

While you're there, be sure to sit in on a Seminar on Green Home Design Considerations by NH Architect Jeremy Bonin.  Seminars will be presented all three days at 1:00 PM in the Seminar Room.

The Lakeside Living Expo celebrates lake homes, adirondack furniture & decor, boats and outdoor water sports adventure.  There is something for everyone at this show!






If you are planning to build a new lakefront home or cottage, remodel your existing home on the lake, or add living space with a home addition, one of your first stops should be Bonin Architects' booth!  Kimberly and Jeremy Bonin will answer your questions regarding the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act, building costs, renewable energy (solar and geothermal), and more!

See you there!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Lake Sunapee Open House with Q&A July 10th

It's not too late to register to attend our Free Open House Tour at a custom home near Sunapee Harbor on Lake Sunapee, NH!  Here are the particulars:

Saturday, July 10, 2010
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Custom Home near Lake Sunapee



Whether you're a local or are visiting and thinking of owning a summer home on the Lake, if you are building a new home, adding square footage with an addition, or remodeling a lakefront home or cottage, get answers to your specific questions at this unique Open House! 

Q&A with Green Building Experts
Ask your questions to a local green architect, builder, and realtor!

NH Architect Jeremy Bonin, Custom Homebuilder Everett Pollard, and Local Realtor Dan O'Halloran answer your questions about the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act guidelines (CSPA) and how they may impact your anticipated home design, green building products and cost, reasonable time frames for designing and building a custom home, and more!  Your questions direct the discussion.



Directions to the Custom Home are given to registrants only!
To register, call 603-504-6009

The heat wave will take a break just in time for the weekend!  Sunapee weather for Saturday predicts a high of 79* and a 50% chance of a scattered thunderstorm or two - the perfect weather for being inside enjoying a home tour!  You'll have plenty of time to catch the fireworks in Newbury at the town's Old Home Day after the Open House!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Sustainable Roofing

Sustainable roofing products have come a long way. EcoStar is a leading manufacturer of eco-friendly roofing products, including synthetic slate and synthetic wood shakes. EcoStar’s products fit virtually any steep-slope roofing application, and provide protection against fire, hail, wind and rain.


EcoStar manufactures roofing tiles that are composed of up to 80% recycled post-industrial rubber and plastic. These post-industrial materials consist of waste that includes car bumpers and baby diaper production remnants, preventing these materials from ending up in landfills. Their recycled content creates incredible strength and flexibility, as well as provide long-lasting performance.


EcoStar products come in a variety of colors such as some pictured here, and are also available with extended warranty protection, including a 100 mph warranty and a 50-year transferable Gold Star warranty.


Because of their eco-friendly efficiency, EcoStar products can also significantly contribute toward LEED® credit requirements for your new home.

Photos courtesy of EcoStar.