David Wright, AIASolar Environmental Architecture Group

One of the easiest and best things you can do to an existing home is to make a hole in the roof. A lot of people think of a skylight as a potential leak and a problem; it doesn’t need to be and more likely it could be the best thing you can do to brighten and freshen up your home.
Skylights, when strategically located and properly installed, create a dramatic improvement that can save energy and improve the natural comfort of any environment. Locating a skylight in an interior hallway or other darker space within a home will bring welcome daylight and eliminate the need to turn on lights much of the time.
A skylight in the kitchen or the bathroom will provide full spectrum, color enhancing and evenly distributed light. This improved lighting can make it easier to prepare foods, select colors and shave or apply cosmetics. Openable skylights provide a dynamic flow of fresh air up and out introducing natural ventilation to any room.
Modern operable skylights have manual or remote electric operators. Rain sensor controls and timers can be used to automatically close, open, shade or otherwise operate individual skylights to adapt to any conditions. A wide range of solar control, insulating and structural glazing options can be specified for any climate zone or weather conditions.
Skylights can brighten and freshen your home or work space. Round skylights (a.k.a. solar tubes), another type of daylighting device, can direct intense natural lighting to the interior of most any building. New technologies like solar optic fibers, which can in effect bend light, are being used to direct light around corners and down several stories to provide natural lighting in remote locations. There are a multitude of types of skylights and daylighting devices that provide free interior lighting when natural light is available. These provide natural full spectrum light to ceilings making your home or workspace more comfortable, attractive and energy efficient. David Wright Associates, AIA would like to show you how to plan for, and invest in a skylight; it’s more than a hole in the roof.

Remodeling involves more than new windows, more insulation and better weather-stripping. An “energy audit” involves monitoring, testing and reviewing all of the energy consuming elements of your home. When you have a checkup by your doctor, the vital signs are monitored, tested and actions diagnosed for your long term health; an energy audit should do the same for your house.

How much electricity, gas, or water are consumed to properly operate your place is an ongoing expense; each can cost you far more than you expect or want to pay. Over time these utility costs may amount to a significant cost that you can avoid. After an audit, analyzing how each is consumed and making corrections is the name of the game.

If your electrical consumption is too high, investing in ENERGY STAR rated appliances, high efficiency light bulbs and installing smart controls will save you many dollars over time. Investing in solar photovoltaic solar electric cells and “time of day” use controls can result in “net zero” metering, almost eliminating future electric bills.

Gas is primarily used for space heating, water heating and cooking. Adding insulation to the outside surfaces of your house, new windows and weather stripping will reduce your heating and air conditioning bills. Adding a solar water heater can almost eliminate hot water cost. The amount of gas consumed can be greatly reduced in most cases by these simple measures.

Household water consumption is normally estimated to be about 50 gallons per day per person in the United States. Water is becoming more costly, whether delivered by pipe to your home, or pumped from a well. By installing flow control devices and water conserving devises, water flow can be monitored to fit specific uses efficiently. Grey water systems are now legal in California and many other States, and they should be used for watering lawns, landscaping and most non potable uses. With a comprehensive water use program, perhaps even collecting and using rain water from your roof, it is reasonable to reduce your individual water consumption to less than 15 gallons per day.

Today there are many good incentives for remodeling an existing home. With the recent real estate implosion it is cheaper to buy a existing house rather than building a new one, by as much as half. Many existing houses are located in desirable locations with mature landscaping, good services, established neighborhoods, schools or even views that a new home location can’t match. Upgrading can produce a highly efficient modern building by recycling an older one; this is the “Green” way to go. The current national focus on energy efficiency has created a wide range of financial incentives for weatherproofing, insulating, installing solar hot water or solar electric, replacing out of date or inefficient appliances, lights and air conditioning systems. Taking advantage of these incentives will save you the initial costs as well as reduce ongoing utility expenses from now on. Utility rates are sure to rise faster than monetary inflation over the long run. Now is a good time to remodel your house, and David Wright Associates, AIA are experienced experts at integrating efficiency, function and aesthetics into home and business remodels.