Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

While most plumbing jobs require a licensed professional, there are ways savvy homeowners can save time and money by safeguarding, upgrading or repairing their own systems.

Theres quite a bit homeowners can do themselves, especially when it comes to maintenance, says Gale Bellows, a journeyman plumber and service manager with South West Plumbing. If you have basic tools and some inexpensive supplies, here are six things you can do to prevent costly plumbing disasters and increase the life of your existing pipes, valves and appliances.

Protect your exterior faucets from freezing and breakage. Install inexpensive padded or foam faucet covers (about $10 each). Properly sealed, these will prevent or delay pipe freezing. While youre at it, drain the garden hoses youve disconnected to protect them as well.

Remove and clean (or replace) sink faucet aerators to improve water flow. The tips of most faucets can easily be unscrewed and the mesh aerator screens rinsed to remove grit. If a screen looks torn or damaged, take the aerator to the hardware store to buy a matching replacement.

Replace a worn toilet seat. This is a cosmetic repair, but many homeowners want to upgrade seats to more attractive or durable models. Soft close seats, which close slowly rather than dropping down with a crash, are popular, Bellows says.

Remove and clean the P trap under your sink. P traps (which are actually U-shaped) are critical parts of your plumbing system. Water is supposed to stay in them, forming an important barrier that prevents gas from your sewer from coming up into your house. Problems occur when a P trap gets clogged with hair or soap and the sink starts to drain slowly. Rather than using harsh chemicals, you can remove and clean the trap in a few minutes. Put a bucket under the sink to catch water and gunk while you work. Then twist off the slip nuts that hold the P trap in place. Once youve cleaned the trap, reattach it and twist the slip nuts. No need to use plumbers tape or worry that it will leak, according to Bellows. When you tighten the nut, it seals automatically, he says.

Check your water pressure. While many of us complain about low water pressure, the real enemy, Bellows says, is pressure higher than 80 psi (pound-force per square inch). Excessive water pressure can damage valves on water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines and other appliances. You risk flooding your house if a stressed hose or valve ruptures. Fortunately checking water pressure is cheap and easy with a psi gauge ($5 to $10 at the hardware store). Attach it to an outside faucet, turn the faucet on all the way, to measure system pressure. (Bellows suggests measuring psi at night, when few people are taking a shower or running washers.) If water pressure exceeds 80 psi, its important to call in a professional plumber address the issue.

Know the location of all the water shut-off valves in your house. That way, if a leak occurs, you can quickly turn off the flow to the sink, toilet, water heater or washer. If you are uncertain about where a leak is coming from, use the main water shut off to control damage.

Do-it-yourself repairs can be quick and inexpensive, but Bellows cautions against tackling more complex plumbing repairs or installations on your own. One problem, he says, is that the system you are repairing, or adding to, may not have been built correctly in the first place. Often, especially in older houses, the plumbing is out of code or lacking in required safety features. A professional plumber can spot these existing problems and avoid adding to them.

When to call in the pros? If you notice dampness on ceilings, walls or floors near pipes, bring in a plumber to analyze the situation. The leak may be minor, but ignoring it can allow mold to grow in walls and flooring, creating a larger problem.

Remodeling a kitchen, laundry, or bath? Youll want to get a plumber involved to make sure your system can support the new fixtures it may need updates. Bellows advises scheduling plumbing work early in your project, right after rough carpentry and before any electrical, flooring or tilework gets underway.

There are certain plumbing problems that require immediate attention from the pros. These include a malfunctioning water heater or the smell of sewer gas in your home. You dont want to risk a flood or an explosion, Bellows says.

South West Plumbing has been serving King, Pierce and Snohomish counties for more than 35 years. All South West Plumbing plumbers are highly trained and arrive prepared with fully stocked trucks. We work evenings and weekends at no extra charge.

Go here to see the original:
Plumbing 101: When to DIY and when to call the pros - The Seattle Times

Two Architects Check the Pulse of Sustainable Building Practices | 2019-11-27 | Architectural Record This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

More here:
Two Architects Check the Pulse of Sustainable Building Practices - Architectural Record

A few years ago, according to architect Jeffrey Mandyck, the McKnight Foundation and AIA Minnesota decided to establish an award that would honor those who excel at producing design for developments that are regenerative (more about that later) and resilient for people, communities and for the environment.

That effort stemmed from a need to establish a clear definition and common language among developers, design professionals, general contractors, public agencies and the general public.

An AIA Minnesota task force that includes experts and researchers from the professional architecture community worked closely with Richard Graves and the team he leads at the University of Minnesotas Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) to develop a new model. That team also collaborated with the Us Minnesota Design Center and New Orleans-based Colloqate Design.

The result? The 21st Century Development (21CD) model and matrix. Mandyck explains more about this cutting-edge program.

Q: What does it mean to be regenerative community?

A: 21CD strives to provide a healthy environment for all people and living systems now and in a dynamic future. It is part of AIA Minnesotas broader effort to inspire agency and accelerate action toward a better built environment for all.

Q: Whats the overall goal of the 21CD model?

A: The model is primarily focused on guiding developers private, public and nonprofit but we crafted it with policymakers and community leaders in mind, as well. We need policy solutions that accelerate our progress along the path, and the public needs to be able to envision and advocate for a better built environment. Weve started to identify how much running room there actually is before major barriers impede progress along the path to regenerative development in each of the performance areas: Place, energy, water, health and happiness, materials, equity and beauty. Our advocacy efforts will work to address those barriers.

Q: Are the requirements just suggestions?

A: Lets call them prescriptive suggestions each cell in the matrix includes a description, as well as approaches needed, to achieve a specific outcome. The desire with 21CD is to make all of these approaches more commonplace in private, public and nonprofit development. In defining and measuring success, we have to start accounting for the whole of how a development project is initiated, designed and executed, and the broad array of near-term and long-term impacts of that development.

Q: Does compliance cost more?

A: That depends on what degree of performance one is striving to achieve, and on some external factors. The performance matrix does note where one might encounter financial limitations. Its often due to implementation of infrastructures and systems that extend well beyond a developments boundaries, and yet the benefits and outcomes of that approach have positive impacts that reach beyond the borders of the development as well. Approximately 75 to 80% of the approaches in the matrix are adaptable with little to no additional development cost.

Q: Is Fields of St. Croix the only local case study so far?

A: There are several exciting public and private developments underway in our region that are making progress in areas relevant to 21CD. In the past year, we have established research teams who have been working closely with private developments and public/government agencies leading the way in 21CD practices. These research partners include Towerside Innovation District and its Malcom Yards development, Rochester Destination Medical Center and the City of Minneapolis 2040 Plan.

Q: Most of the cases you cite are in Europe, why?

A: Europe is ahead of us. They have more than three times the density; a more equitably distributed per capita income and greater subsidies retaining agricultural lands surrounding cities.

Q: Are these case studies being tested?

A: Not at this time. Having said that, as design professionals, we always advocate for our clients to have their completed designs/systems tested to verify that they are performing as designed. 21CD is not intended to be another certification system that requires analysis; we have many of those in place already. It can be used in concert with those other certification systems and to enhance development projects from planning through execution. Richard Graves describes the potential impact of 21CD as radical incrementalism. Every project can be plotted on the matrix, and every project can find opportunities to move up the scale in resilient development. And every advancement helps us improve our built environment.

Q: How was the 21CD model developed?

A: After reviewing a wide array of frameworks and certifications, we chose the Living Community Challenge as our base. We worked to make the living level of the Living Community Challenge more actionable, showing that we can get there one step at a time. We worked with CSBR to add the regenerative level to the framework, because this is whats possible today its what we can all be working toward. And we collaborated with Colloqate Design to strengthen the equity performance area at all levels. It is intended to address regenerative potential across more than environmental performance to create welcoming, sustainable communities for all.

See the original post here:
Minnesota architect talks of the need to promote a better built environment for all - Minneapolis Star Tribune

in the dutch village of lijnden, arjen reas architects has realized house akerdijk for a single family. due to the site position on the akerdijk dyke, the project challenged the design team to create a building that embraces views out across the water and works with the level difference that is present because of the embankment.

early evening shot of the front faade

all images luc buthker

the form of the building has been designed by arjen reas architectsto reflect the context and conditions of the site. a steeply pitched roof mirrors the adjacent house but the new intervention also takes on a more contemporary expression by means of the black wooden ventilated faade and the black metal standing seam clad roof. the front elevation is punctured by two large protruding windows, which offer views over the water.

the entrance from the dyke

to the rear of the house, a large glazed faade opens out to a deep garden and the city of amsterdam in the distance. this expansive window works to emphasize the horizontality of the broad ground floor while also blurring the line between indoor and outdoor space, effectively making the interior of the house feel larger than it actually is.

back view of the terrace

the program of house akerdijk is split over two storys. due to the difference in ground elevation, the first floor is split in two levels, with an office and tv room on the dyke level and through a wide staircase you can reach the sitting area with the kitchen, where there is a view of the deep back garden and adjoining terrace. on the first floor, the family has two kids rooms, two bathrooms and a large master bedroom with a view out across the dyke.

room to read/watch tv or just to relax

height differences because of the dyke

main stairway with a direct entrance to the living

open connection from the bedroom to the bathroom

bedroom view

view from the dyke

early evening view from the dyke

view from the rear

view of the front elevation across the water

project info:

project name: house akerdijk

location: lijnden, netherlands

architect: arjen reas architects

client: private

phase: build

year: 2019

photographer: luc buthker

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readershere.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom

View original post here:
blackened timber clads arjen reas architects' dyke house in the netherlands - Designboom

anchor

Chinatown LA. Photo by flickr user Raymond Yu

A group of architects atNAC Architecture in Chinatown LA have come together to raise money for the students at Castelar Elementary School located just a few blocks from their office.

We are a community-focused practice, and we love the community were in. So a chance to help our neighbors and learn from each other is a valuable investment of our time, said Helena Jubany, FAIA, a Principal at NAC Architecture, There are lots of talented artists at design firms, so why not mobilize them for a cause?

After identifying a need for laptops at his kids' school, Edwin Fang, an architect at the firm, foundedBoundary/Threshold,an art show and silent auction that will be held at the Eastern Project Gallery in Chinatown. As its name suggests, the theme of Boundary/Threshold centers around an idea of transition.

The art for the event explores this notion by examining aspects such as geometry, rhythm, color, materiality, and more. In addition to NAC's staff, the exhibition will also feature the donated work of Taiwanese-American visual artist James Jean, Hong Kong native and LA local illustrator Victo Ngai, and international artist/painter/muralist Tommii Lim.

The exhibition and auction will be on December 11 @6pm.

See more here:
Los Angeles architects band together to raise funds for local elementary school - Archinect

TimeofWater: Water as a dimension of time.The theme of the third Pisa Biennale has really hit the nail on the head right now, with so many parts of Italy suffering from the consequences of so much rain with floods, mudslides and landslips.Alfonso Femia, guest director of the organisation LP - Laboratorio Permanente per la Citt - said, in fact, that the theme was defined on the basis of the full awareness of a critical situation that has a huge impact on the territory and on the environment, on buildings and on future - and present - prospects.This sets the scene for the contribution of the Rome-based studio,SET Architects, completed in collaboration with theMuseum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana, which had developed the Living with Water installation for the Slovenia pavilion at the 16th Architecture Biennale in Venice. For Pisa, SET Architects further developed its Floating Life project, conceived for Ljubljansko Barje, a former marshy area along the Ljubljanica river, in reference to the cyclical nature of water. They used high-end technology to transform these dried out wetlands into amphibious-hybrid buildings.The installation by SET Architects evolves the concepts of Floating Life intoThe Cyclical Time of Watertherefore focuses not so much on harnessing the forces of an increasingly unpredictable nature caused by the climate crisis, but on how we can tenaciously respond to a changing environment. So,we should be able to develop habitats based on synergy between man and nature ... that are capable of adapting to changing environmental conditions.On the one hand, these ideas have been transposed into the project for the Barje district in the southern part of thecity of Ljubljana, where the idea is to turn these existing dried-up wetlandsinto an active system of liveable and navigable bases thanks to innovative urban development. On the other, to reach a wider audience, SET Architects worked with multi-award winning director and Visual Designer,Miruna Dunuto create a really outstanding brief that addresses this cyclical time of water.Mirunu Dunu uses her creativity as a storytelling device for the idea of the cyclical nature of this element that brought life to our planet, and to get across the thoughts of the design team in less than 3 minutes:Water nourishes all things; it is a matrix, a mother, and the principle of genesis. Everything is born from water and returns to water, while it remains eternal, the source and end of all things.She didnt resort to harrowing images of disasters, which were all used to seeing in a world where photography is the order of the day. She works withthe apparent simplicity of the graphics created ad hocfor the video to get across the importance of water and its effect on our future.The viewer is mesmerised by the primordial charm of the water and this almost playful approach to one of the major issues that will decide the future of the human species: are we capable of adapting to the rhythms of the Timeofwater?Christiane Brklein

Biennale di Pisa Tempodacquafrom 21 November to 1 December 2019Arsenali Repubblicani, Pisa, ItalyImages: SET Architects, screenshots Miruna DunuContribution ofSET ArchitectswithMiruna DunuFind out more:https://www.biennaledipisa.com/

Continued here:
SET Architects with Miruna Dunu at the Pisa Biennale Tempodacqua | Livegreenblog - Floornature.com

Financial Architects Inc grew its stake in shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU) by 168.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 13,406 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 8,420 shares during the quarter. Financial Architects Incs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $189,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of IAU. First Allied Advisory Services Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 17.2% during the third quarter. First Allied Advisory Services Inc. now owns 106,183 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,499,000 after acquiring an additional 15,584 shares in the last quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 51.3% during the third quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. now owns 478,490 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $6,747,000 after acquiring an additional 162,290 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 29.1% during the third quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 235,017 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,319,000 after acquiring an additional 52,960 shares in the last quarter. Tiedemann Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 15,407.9% during the third quarter. Tiedemann Advisors LLC now owns 1,550,788 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $21,867,000 after acquiring an additional 1,540,788 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 35.0% during the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 124,578 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,757,000 after acquiring an additional 32,268 shares in the last quarter.

Shares of IAU stock opened at $13.98 on Friday. iShares Gold Trust has a 52-week low of $11.66 and a 52-week high of $14.90. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $13.78.

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

Featured Article: Stop Order Uses For Individual Investors

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

See the original post:
Financial Architects Inc Buys 8,420 Shares of iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU) - Mitchell Messenger

A new drilling technology that is expected to enable ground-source heat pumps to be installed faster than traditional equipment while cutting costs has been granted funding.

Dandelion Energy claims its Sonic Drill Suite technology reduces the time it takes to install geothermal systems from up to one week to one day, with its research and development aiming to reduce the cost of drilling by up to 50%.

Its smaller design also enables installations at homes where traditional, larger drilling equipment cannot be used, expanding access to 25% more locations throughout New York and can help reduce costs for homeowners by 20%.

Ground-source heat pumps, or geothermal systems, operate by harnessing the Earths ground temperature as a heating and cooling source.

During the winter, heat is extracted from the ground through an underground pipe system and distributed throughout the building via a compressor and circulation pumps. The process is reversed during the summer and the cooler ground temperatures are tapped into.

The new technology was developed and tested by Dandelion as part of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authoritys (NYSERDA) challenge, which supports clean energy companies looking to develop, commercialise and demonstrate new technologies for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

The heating and cooling of buildings are currently responsible for around one third of the greenhouse gas emissions in New York State.

Co-Founder and CTO James Quazi said: Dandelion Energys mission is to make geothermal available and affordable for everyone. Our new Sonic Drill Suite expands access to cleaner, more affordable home heating and cooling. Thats good for our planet and our economy.

Weve focused on developing technology that lowers cost, increases speed, and reduces the size and disperses the weight of the drilling equipment so more people can access this vital clean technology.

Alicia Barton, President and CEO, NYSERDA, added: This new technology is a game-changer for the clean heating and cooling industry and will significantly help scale up the number of homes using geothermal systems, which is critical to meeting Governor Cuomos nation-leading clean energy goals.

We applaud forward-thinking companies such as Dandelion for bringing their cost-effective and innovative solutions to the marketplace, expanding consumer options and helping us reduce harmful emissions and stewarding the environment for generations to come.

Continued here:
New York backs tech that cuts installation time for ground-source heat pumps - Energy Live News - Energy Made Easy

The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would allow utilities to buy geothermal energy instead of natural gas for heat and hot water. The Act for utility transition to using renewable energy (FUTURE) was proposed after a September 2018 explosion in the natural gas system in the Merrimack Valley in northeast Massachusetts.

At a Nov. 12 legislative committee meeting, proponents testified about a system that would use geothermal energy in neighborhood-scale district heating systems. A nonprofit organization is collaborating with utility companies to move ahead with whats being called the GeoMicroDistrict system.

Under a contract with Boston-based nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team, U.K.-based BuroHappold Engineering conducted a feasibility study for development of the GeoMicroDistrict system. The feasibility study concluded that the system re-purposes the existing public utility structure, financing, workforce and customer base to deliver safe, clean and affordable heating and cooling.

The GeoMicroDistrict system would be installed and operated using existing right-of-way, says Alexan Stulc, BuroHappold sustainability specialist. It would consist of vertical boreholes for the ground-source heat pump and an ambient water loop that would connect to a customers building. At the legislative hearing, gas utility Eversource described a geothermal network demonstration it has proposed to the state Dept. of Public Utilities to see whether the geothermal network loops could be used as an alternative or as an addition to the natural gas system, says Michael Goldman, director of regulatory, planning and evaluation for Eversource. It would run over the next three years.

The utility proposes to install the network loops in three distinct settings: multifamily buildings, dense urban or mixed-use, and purely residential. The system will use ground-source heat pump technology, which uses electricity to transfer heat from the ground to a network of hot water pipes, to provide heating, and potentially cooling, for the buildings within each district, BuroHappold officials say.

The rest is here:
Massachusetts Considers Replacing Gas With Geothermal | 2019-11-27 - Engineering News-Record

The town of Brookline, Massachusetts voted to ban gas and oil piping in future construction projects in hopes of reducing its carbon footprint, the Boston Globe reports. Brookline joins Berkeley, California and a handful of other cities in California as the first places in the U.S. to ban the use of fossil fuels to supply utilities like heat and cooking gas in new construction. Berkeleys ban only applies to new construction, while Brooklines also applies to substantial renovations closing a potential loophole.

Brookline and Berkeleys ordinances could signal a new trend in local climate action. To date, cities have mostly focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from generating electricity, but the votes in Berkeley and now Brookline show that the carbon footprints of heating and cooling buildings are receiving increased attention.

The numbers for the state of Massachusetts suggest this attention is warranted: commercial and residential buildings account for 24.5 percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions, while power plants are responsible for just 20 percent.

Tommy Vitolo, a Massachusetts state representative and Town Meeting member, told Boston.com that the decision that Brookline made...not only signals to our community that clean heating and cooling are possible and practical, but also shows residents and policymakers throughout the state, the nation, and the world that they can do it, too.

Despite local support for the new bylaw, it may prove a tough sell for the Northeastern U.S. more broadly. The regions cold winters and hot, humid summers, will make its transition away from natural gas and fuel oil more challenging than the comparatively temperate climes of California.

The electric heating pumps that would replace existing utilities are also costly to install and operate, especially compared to natural gas which is cheap, plentiful and can be easily installed even in old buildings. Natural gas industry groups offered up a federal estimate showing the cost of supplying the average Northeastern home with electric heating this winter would be $1,391 and just $712 for natural gas.

Steve Dodge, who leads the Massachusetts Petroleum Council, told E&E News, I understand their passion and the concern, but this is not the way to address it. This does nothing except cost Brookline property owners money and stifle new development. Dodge and others argue replacing dirty heating and fuel oils with biodiesels could offer another way of making the built environment less carbon intensive that doesnt upend existing infrastructure.

But supporters of the ban argue that natural gas short-term savings belie its true cost. Expanding and maintaining the regions gas distribution lines would cost billions, according to Greg Cunningham, who leads the energy and climate program at the Conservation Law Foundation. There are also safety considerations: a ruptured gas line exploded into flames in Massachusetts Merrimack Valley in 2018.

But undergirding this debate, and myriad others around the world, is the urgency of the climate crisis and the resistance to the systemic changes necessary to address it.

See the original post:
Natural gas bans spread to East Coast - The Hill