Renew My Home Blog

Fibrex Goes Solar

At Andersen Corporation, we’ve been creating industry-leading products in America for over 100 years. An Energy Star® Partner of the Year (2011, Product Manufacturer- Windows category), we’re a proud pioneer in developing energy-efficient, highly sustainable, environmentally responsible products and packaging. One of our most innovative products, Fibrex®, is a composite material we’ve been using in window frames for almost two decades. Now Fibrex® will be put to even greater use in an exclusive partnership we’ve forged with SOLON Corporation. SOLON produces large commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in North America, and they’re now bringing Fibrex® into the photovoltaic market.

Photovoltaics are a method of utilizing solar energy to generate electric power. Solar panels have become increasingly popular, and the opportunity to use the durable yet low-maintenance product, Fibrex®, in their production affords SOLON the ability to make their panels lighter and more sustainable while also reducing heating and cooling constraints and negating the need for grounding. Fibrex® is made from 40% reclaimed wood fiber, making it an environmentally conscious product, which is again ideal for the PV market.

Because Fibrex® is designed to be exposed to the elements without the weight, bulk, or maintenance needs of its conventional predecessors, it is an excellent option for SOLON’s revolutionary commercial rooftop PV systems. This month, SOLON is debuting a groundbreaking new rooftop PV system in Dallas, Texas, utilizing Fibrex® for the first time. This installation will pave the way for PV products using Fibrex®, which SOLON is using successfully in PV racking due to its stiffness, water resistance, compact design, and durability. In the future, SOLON plans to utilize the versatile composite to create lighter, more environmentally responsible panels in their commercial, utility-scale, and even residential markets.

For more information about the partnership between Andersen Corporation and SOLON Corporation, review the press release. You may also read more about Fibrex®, Andersen, and SOLON by following the links provided.

Renewal by Andersen of RI & Cape Cod is Currently Closed

Due to Hurricane Irene, Renewal by Andersen of RI, Cape Cod & Northern CT is currently closed.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  We hope to have power restored soon.  Thank you for your patience.

Update:

Renewal by Andersen of RI, Cape Cod & Northern CT is now fully operational and will resume normal business hours on August 31st!

Bamboo: Beautiful for Bedrooms, Basements, and Everywhere in Between

Considering floor replacement for your next home improvement project? When choosing your new floors, be sure to check out bamboo. Bamboo flooring is an environmentally and budget-friendly product with a variety of options and benefits.

Bamboo and Budget
Bamboo flooring prices vary. Be wary of retailers who tell you bamboo is 50% cheaper than traditional hardwoods. In actuality, quality bamboo flooring is comparable in price with most hardwoods, averaging $2 to $4 per square foot. If you’re choosing not to install the flooring yourself, it’s good to know that bamboo installation requires no special tools or training, so it should cost the same as installing any hardwood floor.

Bamboo Basics
Provided you have the right tools and some willing helpers, laying bamboo flooring can be a fast home improvement project with dramatic, beautiful results. Aside from being attractive, it is available in several shades, easy to maintain, and ideal for people with allergies. It is also an incredibly durable floor replacement option, with most brands offering 25-year warranties. Plus, bamboo flooring can be installed over many existing types of flooring, dramatically reducing the time and expense of a floor replacement project.

What’s So Green About Bamboo?
Bamboo has become a common flooring choice in recent years, and one of the reasons for this surge in popularity is that bamboo is a sustainable, renewable natural resource. This aspect of bamboo flooring gives homeowners the option of a high-quality, beautiful end product while also meeting their desire to reduce their environmental impact.

Because bamboo is a grass, not a tree, it reaches maturity in five years compared with the 50 years it takes to grow an oak suitable for flooring use. As well, bamboo is cut without killing the plant’s root, which actually begins to regrow immediately with very little human intervention (such as fertilization, herbicides, or pesticides). This makes bamboo a truly sustainable natural resource and, ultimately, an environmentally conscientious choice for floor replacement.

Photo Credit: subindie

Blog Feature: Katy Elliott's Historic Home in MA

What’s better than a home improvement blog? A local home improvement blog! Sure it is fun to look at the large national blogs, but nothing beats the feeling of closeness with a blog that is being written in your backyard. From time to time we like to feature other local home improvement blogs and today’s selection is Katy Elliot and her blog on Home, Art, and Food. As a former editor for Home & Garden magazine, Katy is no stranger to home improvement or writing. One of her most recent projects has been purchasing a historic home (250+ years old) in Marblehead, Massachusetts and attempting to fully restore it.


One of our favorite posts from her blog is Newspaper Insulation.  The article includes a picture of a Newspaper dated October 28th, 1942 that was stuffed in the walls as insulation. This piece is a unique look back at a time period that wasn’t so distant. Some great headlines include: Beat Back New JAP Drive In Solomons, Rationing Of Butter Is Certain, 40,000 Register For Oil Rations. Other great headlines and the full story can be read here. 


If you are more interested in the food pieces of her blog, follow this link. Some great recipes include: Grapefruit and Meyer Lemon Marmalade, Lobster Rolls, and Popovers (some of you may remember these from The Cocke n’ Kettle in Uxbridge, MA).

If you are interested in restoring older homes and in food with a local flavor, Katy’s Blog will not disappoint. It is written with an authentic voice and tells a great story that plays out with each passing day. Be sure to check out the links below to learn how you can connect with Katy Elliott and her writing:

• House Tour
• Twitter
• Facebook

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Photo Credit: katyelliott

Turn Your Backyard into a Zen Escape

Given our difficult economy, it is harder than ever to afford luxuries like vacations, weekly yoga lessons, and expensive day trips. Instead of spending money on this short-term entertainment, you should turn your backyard into your own private escape. Below are some great ideas to turn your backyard into a place of relaxation and escape from the real world. 

Pondless Waterfalls
Running water always seems to calm us. It may be that deep down connection to nature or just the fact that white noise has been known to have calming effects. While there are several water setups available for your backyard escape, some are more labor intensive than others. A full koi pond requires a lot of up keep and maintenance. Between feeding the fish, checking the water temperature, and winterizing the pond with every season, where are you going to fit in the time to enjoy the pond and relax?

A pondless waterfall gives you the benefits of running water for your backyard escape with none of the headaches of maintaining a full pond. They are relatively easy to construct, can be turned on and off with the flip of a switch, and will fit in any size yard.

 

Shaded Areas
Now that you have your pondless waterfall setup, you need an area to relax. No one wants to lie down in the beating sun. Now you need to create a shaded area. If your yard doesn’t already have a shaded area, you may want to consider planting a tree or two or setting up a tasteful canopy.

Plush Outside Furniture
Got Shade? Got Waterfall? Now you need some furniture! We would suggest splurging on some appealing and comfortable outside furniture. Often you can find plush cushions that can also stand up to the elements. Another great solution is the classic hammock. Can you think of a better way to spend a Sunday morning than lying on your hammock under your newly planted tress listening to the sound of your backyard waterfall? Enjoy your Sunday Zen!

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Photo Credit: Winston Furniture

Philip Johnson's Glass House

We all know choosing new windows for our home is a big decision. Now imagine picking windows for a home made entirely of glass. That is what Phillip Johnson did when he built this glass house in CT. 

When people come into my house, I say "Just shut up and look around."
--Philip Johnson

Well it doesn’t get more direct than that, does it? The house is made of quarter-inch thick glass supported by black steel pillars. It also features rich walnut cabinetry and brick floors that are polished with a purple hue. The house sits on a 47 acre site and is often referred to as Johnson’s “viewing platform.” For a time, Phillip Johnson used the house as his private residence even after he donated the house to the Natural Trust. The house is now open to the general public and tour reservations can be made here: philipjohnsonglasshouse.org Be sure to check out the amazing pictures of this house below.



Photo Credit: The Glass House

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Protect Your Home from Snowpocalypse

MA, RI, and CT have been getting hammered with winter weather lately. These conditions are putting both our patience and our homes to the test. It is important to protect our homes from this brutal weather and be safe while doing so. Below are some tips to help you through these trying and freezing times.

Shoveling Tips:
It is very important to do some light stretching before you begin shoveling. You will want to bring water with you outside to ensure you are staying hydrated. (Don’t eat snow as a substitute.)Lift with your legs, not your back; this will help you avoid injuries. Also, you should know your limits, if you are tired, take a break! These tips can help you stay safe when shoveling the heavy white stuff.

Roof Rakes:
Once you are done dealing with the snow on the ground, you now have to look at the snow on your roof. This is especially true if you have a flat roof on a porch or another part of your home. It is not advised to stand on your roof and shovel the snow off. You could end up hurting yourself by falling off the roof or the roof could collapse under the additional weight. The best solution is to secure a roof rake. A roof rake is simple tool with an aluminum head and long pole used to sweep the snow of the roof of your home. Roof rakes are the perfect solution to remove snow, while keeping your feet firmly planted on the ground.
 

Furnace Inspection:
Be sure to have your furnace inspected and cleaned at least once per year to ensure your family is safe and furnace is operating correctly.

Prepare an Emergency Kit:
It is always a good idea to have an emergency kit ready during any season. You never know when extreme weather will hit and you are left without basic amenities. Some items to include in your kit include:

• Non-perishable food – canned goods, Ramen, Pop-Tarts
• Jugs of water
• Blankets and first aid kit
• Battery operated radio
• Flashlight, matches, and candles

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Photo Credit: half_cat3

Interview with Live Green Mom

We recently had the pleasure of interviewing LiveGreenMom on our sister blog on the Moonworks website. Check out an excerpt below as well as the full interview here: LiveGreenMom Interview.

 

Moonworks (MW): Why did you decide to begin blogging and what did you hope to accomplish?

LiveGreenMom (LGM): I decided to start blogging in December 2009. I was a couple of years into being “green” and I realized that quite a bit goes into it, but because I had taken on the steps gradually, it didn’t seem like that much effort. I had a light bulb moment when I realized that there are probably so many other mothers just like me, overwhelmed with motherhood & the lack of sleep or personal time, that didn’t need something else to do – like being green. I thought ‘I can share this insight, and what baby steps I took to get to a point where I felt like I was not only making a difference in our family but also teaching my children so it becomes a part of their routine.

 

Be sure to subscribe to Live Green Mom’s blog and check her out on twitter @LiveGreenMom.

Five Easy & Cheap Winter Home Improvement Projects

Between the freezing temperatures, wind, ice and snow winter is not the ideal to do many home improvement projects.  Here are 5 home improvement projects that are quick, easy and cheap and can be done during the winter season.

Painting

Painting during the winter is great because the cooler temperatures allow the paint to dry quicker and more evenly than in the humid summer months.  In addition to being an easy project, it can also really freshen up the look of your home.  Try using a bolder color to combat the winter blues.

De-Clutter your Home 

Organizing and de-cluttering your home not only makes it look cleaner and less cluttered, it also gives your mental state a little boost when you know that everything is in its place.  Although, it is ok to have that household staple- the junk drawer- just try to have 1 instead of a whole cabinet.  With all of the baskets, bins & boxes available today, organizing never looked so good.

Spruce up your décor

The easiest (and cheapest) way to update your living room is with new pillows, curtains and rugs.  Changing out the color combinations of the rooms can really give your home a boost.  While curtain shopping can be a real pain, they really make your home's windows shine.  Also, try looking in other rooms of your home for items that can be swapped around.  I took the green rug from our dining room and put it in the living room for a burst of color and now it looks great. 

If you are craving something different in your bedrooms, try switching out the duvet cover or comforter.  By changing the color combinations in your rooms slightly, it can give it a whole different look.  New lamps and shades with softer lights can also create a sense of calm, which is great for the bedroom.  Dining rooms and eat in kitchens can be given new life with colorful tablecloths, runners or chair covers.     

Refinish a piece of furniture

Have an old cabinet or hutch that you love but needs a little updating.  Give it a new look by refinishing it.  Great ways to really make the piece shine are deciding whether to restore it to its natural beauty, distress it for that antique look, or paint it a bold color to make a statement piece.  All are beautiful if done correctly and appropriately.  Most can be done by stripping paint, sanding and repainting.  You can buy a specific paint kit at the hardware store that makes the piece looked distressed.  Try doing this in the basement or garage to keep the fumes down.

Change out light fixtures

Mismatched or old lighting fixtures can make your home look dated.  Try to stay consistent in finishes and color throughout the room.  If you have an open floor plan, I would stay consistent throughout the floor in finishes.

Hopefully these projects inspire you to use your home improvement creativity to get you through the long, cold winter months.

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Recession Resmession: Million Dollar Contemporary LEED Homes Going Fast

Recently in San Francisco’ Mission District, a Platinum LEED Certified housing project was completed. The project’s name, NOVE, is Italian for nine (the number of units). NOVE is unique for both its design and green building materials utilized during construction. Some energy efficient materials include: Alumatherm thermally broken windows, blown-in insulation, permeable landscaping, prefabricated panelized wall systems, and solar hot water collectors. The architects shied away from a solar electric system given its relatively high cost ($171,000) when compared to the solar hot water system.

The buildings are located on three adjoining lots. The residences are oriented back-to-back eliminating dark alleyways. This increases safety and maximizes the outdoor living space. It allows for creation of a private courtyard between the buildings (pictured below) and permits each unit to take advantage of two outdoor living spaces (front and back). Sound like your ideal home? Well 8 of the 9 units have already been sold and the price tag isn’t cheap. Units range from $975,000 to $1.6 million. Like I said, what recession? It just goes to show that greening up your home commands a premium value on the market. Homeowners should to keep this in mind when they select their next home improvement project. Take a look at some of the amazing pictures of NOVE below.





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