Category: Hot Topic

    • A few notes on Sustainable Gardening

      The term sustainable can be defined as “requiring no outside inputs.” A sustainable garden, although needing to be pruned and groomed as to not become a forest, has many benefits over the tradition flower garden. Sustainable gardens require no fertilizer, less watering, are low maintenance and they improve soil quality tremendously. Due to a concern…

    • Waste Reduction – a few simple steps…

      Waste reduction can be classified as simply as diverting waste from a landfill: remember reduce, reuse, and recycle. As children, we are all taught the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) as a way to keep us conscious of our impact on the environment but we never really kept it up as we grew up.…

    • A look at Biofuel

      Biofuel can be broken down into fuel made from plants. There are many forms; however, there are a few to focus on. Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Biomass have come to the forefront over the past 10 years, and have even caught the attention of the government. With increasing environmental concern, the government has shifted some focus…

    • New Residential Client Survey – Architectural Services

      Jane Decker, my co-host of ArchiTalk Radio (www.ArchiTalkRadio.com) recently sent this questionnaire for feedback about new residential clients. It is a great tool to help anyone getting started on a residential renovation or new project to be aware of and consider: INSTRUCTIONS: Please read these questions in their entirety before answering. Then, consult with your…

    • A Green “Home Away From Home”

      Becoming environmentally conscious has emerged as a main concern of homeowners, business owners, and the government over the past decade. Green homes, with lower potable water consumption, less energy use, and better building materials are sprouting up all over the world and commercial businesses are following their lead. All of the basics of sustainability easily…

    • The scent of building, or what is that construction smell…?

      Construction sites are not the most pleasant places for both the workers and those around them. They create lots of noise [machinery], smells [ah, roof tar!] and debris [smoke, ash, fumes, etc.]. But fear not. There are many ways for a construction site to be managed that can decrease all of these effects on the…