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Green Interiors: Getting Ready for an Electric Vehicle

Green Interiors: Getting Ready for an Electric Vehicle In the not too distant future, electric vehicles (EV) will become the norm and garages outfitted with charging equipment will become standard. Embracing new technology is exciting but it is also full of unknowns. Fortunately, we’ve reached the stage where electric cars are not only for the “first adapters” and a lot of the unknowns have become standardized. Here are a few tips, facts, and figures to get you ready for the future! You might think going to fill-up a car with gas is easier than installing a charging station at your …

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Builder Trends in 5 New Neighborhoods

From energy efficiency to open concept floor plans, built-in home offices, luxury mudrooms, outdoor living spaces, and spa-like bathrooms, the top builder trends for 2017 are reflected in The Jones Company’s newest communities. Homeowners touring any of Jones model homes throughout Nashville will find the trends recently identified at the 2017 National Association of Home Builders show are being incorporated to satisfy the needs of today’s families and tempt new home buyers. From cottage homes to executive homes, The Jones Company’s solid construction and thoughtful design cater to everyone—first-time homebuyers, busy families, high net worth, C-suite bons vivants and the …

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Energy Efficiency for the Summer

Energy Efficiency for the Summer As interior designers, we know the importance of laying a good, efficient foundation for your home. After all, beauty isn’t skin deep, it comes from the inside. Why bother making a house pretty if there are underlying problems that will stick-out like a sore thumb till corrected? Here are tips to keep you cool this summer! Top ways we’ve found to increase efficiency are insulation, windows, and doors. For insulation, think of your crawl space, basement, attic, fireplace, and even your walls. Are they drafty? It might sound silly, but do you feel “sheltered” from …

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Eliminating Indoor VOCs

Eliminating Indoor VOCs Indoor air quality is one of the holy grails of sustainable design. Creating good indoor air quality is not the same as protecting good indoor air quality and what separates the two is VOCS. When a job is under construction, whether it be new construction or a remodel, the builders, architects, and engineers design systems that create good air flow, proper ventilation, and so forth. It can be simple elements like operable windows, central AC, or it can be more complex like solar powered skylights, curtain walls, louvers, and vents. This is one piece of the story. …

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The Great Light Bulb Debate

The Great Light Bulb Debate Are you overwhelmed when selecting something as simple as a light bulb? In the past, selecting a light bulb was only a matter of knowing that wattage you needed. With the new energy efficiency laws, the latest terminology, and the battle of LEDs vs CFL vs incandescents, selecting the best lighting for your home can be a challenge. What exactly do you need to know when you’re in the bulb aisle at your hardware store?  Here are some light bulb basics to get you started. Halogen Incandescents: These bulbs look like traditional incandescent bulbs, are …

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Green Interiors: Walking on Clean Air

Green Interiors: Walking on Clean Air It is estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all pollutants are brought into our homes on shoes, clothing, and pets. That’s a lot of trash! Some things door mats just cannot catch. But what about the items we don’t bring in? What about the materials we choose to place permanently in our homes? Flooring is a leading cause of indoor pollutants. Below are a few sustainable flooring options that can help keep your home clean!  Nothing is more important than your home’s indoor air quality, especially when considering we spend approximately 90 percent …

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Before You Build: Part 1

Before You Build: Part 1 Q. My husband gave me the best anniversary present ever! He finally agreed to custom build and showed me the nest egg he has been building for 10 years to surprise me! I am determined this will be a happy project to reward the entire family. I have heard some horror stories, though, and want to make sure I get off on the right foot.

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Green Design: What’s in your crawlspace?

green interiors Green Design: What’s in your crawl space? How much time do you spend thinking about your crawlspace? If you are like me, not very much. Just the thought of crawlspaces makes me shudder as visions of what could be in the depths below run through my head. It’s also so confusing concerning what to do with vents: are they open in the fall, closed in the summer? And the radon we have to deal with here in Middle Tennessee, what is that about? Well, we recently spent some time in Beth Haley Design’s crawlspace and we ended up …

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top green building trends

    Urban Density. Filling in the spaces is the name of the game as homeowners and builders opt to create more living space with infill building and similar techniques. Energy upgrades drive home remodels. Builders and remodelers have been able to capitalize on energy upgrade work. Deployment and testing of new materials. National labs and university research departments are partnering with builders to create test beds and sensor-filled buildings that log the energy performance of new materials and equipment. Consumer friendly home energy tracking devices. The introduction of the Apple-like Nest Learning Thermostat, and Belkin’s Conserve Insight energy use …

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Green Exploration-Raises the Roof on Energy Savings

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Green Exploration—Raising the Roof on Energy Savings As the summer temperatures inevitably climb, so do our energy bills. I’ve talked before about the importance of having an in-home energy audit to assess the energy efficiency of your home. According to the Nashville Electric Service (NES), to date, almost 5000 Nashvillians have participated in their energy audit program, which is very exciting news! These audits are available in most counties and/or communities and can provide sufficient savings for your home, but they are not the only way to do so.