Less Is More—a Lot More Savings, that is. In 2008, consumers who installed WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, faucet accessories helped save more than 9.3 billion gallons of water realized $55 billion in savings on water sewer utility bills. These savings resulted from the sale of 1.38 million WaterSense labeled toilets 4.4 million WaterSense labeled bathroom […]
While we may not realize it, we are all aging every single day. If you don’t feel it, don’t worry, its a good thing. You want to stay young at heart, young in the mind, physically active. Recent surveys have shown that 95% of Americans prefer to age at home, rather than move into a […]
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water natural resources, creates less waste, is healthier more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; less exposure to mold, mildew other indoor […]
LEED certification has been coming up a lot in building conversations lately, but if you are not in the construction trades, you may not be familiar with it. The acronym sts for Leadership in Energy Environmental Design. Here is an introduction to LEED from the U.S. Green Building Council’s website: LEED is an internationally recognized […]
While 96% of homes have smoke alarms according to the National Fire Protection Association, many of the fire alarms in these homes don’t work. Almost half of the fire related deaths in the U.S. could have been avoided if only the smoke detectors had been working. Make sure that your smoke alarms are working: Test […]
It’s the height of summertime, 4th of July, those towels we use every day in the bath now get to do double duty as pool beach towels. If you’re in the market for some nifty ‘green’ towels for gifts family, I came across an article by Luanne Bradley, an editor at TREND in SF. She […]
How often do you think about your hot water heater? Can you remember the last time that you checked it? Typically, water heaters last 10 to 15 years, but with a little care maintenance they can last even longer. Some things to consider about your tank: Check the exterior. Leaks rust on the outside could […]
The second half of this story takes place closer to our home, on the San Mateo Coastside in Moss Beach. Our client had a big mishmash of closets, hidey-holes, a small room with a toilet a shower, a sink sitting in the middle of her bedroom. She is only 72 years young, is a nurse, so […]
This is the first of a two part story. We begin in San Franicisco, the home of many first time buyers, living in tiny little cottages, or small two story attached houses in the Sunset the Richmond District. Cute, quaint, each full of rich, historical detail, may I add, kitchens baths as old as the […]
We enter the kitchen with new eyes when we think about Aging in Style. The first thing we looked at was cabinetry, even the height of our clients can influence the best height for the cabinetry. Should we add a section with a lower countertop? Multiple heights are not only comfortable for people in wheelchairs or […]