Austin Design Inc

PinkCloud.DK Plans to Transform Oil Refineries into Giant Energy Positive Communities

2012-02-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

Interested in a future home that is energy-efficient, airtight, waterproof, and structurally bulletproof? PinkCloud.DK thinks so. To read more about this design, follow the link below:

http://inhabitat.com/pinkcloud-dk-transforms-oil-refineries-into-giant-energy-positive-communities/

A Tale of Two Realities

2012-02-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

In his essay, A Tale of Two Realities, Bill relates his, and wife Joan Rockwell's, experiences as they traveled to Nova Scotia and Haiti, in June and November 2011, respectively.

Briefly, Bill and Joan ventured to Nova Scotia for a rewarding conference with peers in architecture and landscape architecture. Five months later, they were off to Haiti with Marky Jean-Pierre of the Honor for Haiti Foundation (FONHOH) to visit the country and the site of a proposed educational complex in the rural region of Lagoun. This experience was eye-opening and soul-moving, and has further inspired and motivated Bill and Joan to work toward the creation of positive change in the U.S. and abroad.

Enjoy reading.

Photos of the two trips follow below, along with conceptual drawings for the Lagoun-based education center:

Haiti - Bird's eye view of the Lagoun site

Haiti - Site view key plan

Haiti - Eye-level view from roof deck

Haiti - A neighbor's farmhouse

Nova Scotia - Historic Lunenberg

Haiti - Local chairmaker's house

Haiti - Neighbors and future students

Nova Scotia - One of the many Brian MacKay-Lyons houses visible around Shobac. They have been compared to vernacular barns, bobbing shipping containers or breaching whales.

Nova Scotia - One of two observatory towers built at Shobac during a previous Ghost Lab

Haiti - Roadside vendors

Haiti - Rural village streetlife

Nova Scotia - Shobac is available to rent for conferences. Below are the barn, cottages and conference building.

Nova Scotia - Stutchbury, Murcott, Frampton & Pallasmaa. Photo by Marcus Gleysteen.

Haiti - The founders of FONHOH and Joan

Nova Scotia - The octagonal barn where the lectures were held. A previous Ghost Lab deconstructed it and reassembled it at Shobac.

Haiti - The old school on the site

Nova Scotia - The octagonal dining tents plated well against the barn

Haiti - View from the school site

Lego-style apartment transforms into infinite spaces

2012-02-07T09:57:00.001-08:00

More examples of good work for a good cause

2012-01-31T13:42:00.001-08:00

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18850

This is a nice tie into the work that ADi is doing with FONHOH.

Mission Zero House: A Net-Zero Retrofit

2012-01-31T07:37:00.000-08:00

A rehab project in Ann Arbor turns a house in a historic district into America's oldest net-zero residence

Tropical Trailer

2012-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Modular, Off-Grid 'House Arc' Comes As Flat Pack - It's Also Disaster-Resistant

Clyfford Still Museum

2012-01-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

Clyfford Still Museum is a Light-Filled Dedication to the Work of One Denver Artist

Urban Depavers Return Parking Lots to Paradise

2012-01-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/urban-depavers-return-parking-lot-land-nature.html

Promoting Passivhaus in Bulgaria

2012-01-23T09:31:00.000-08:00

Massachusetts architect Guergana Barbonkova has launched a design competition for a single-family Passivhaus project in Sofia, Bulgaria

True Zero Net Energy Vermont House

2012-01-12T12:23:00.000-08:00

This home is an inspiring example of zero net energy design -- it was designed and built with the health of our planet in mind! Not only is it a net zero user of energy, it is an energy producer.

http://www.jetsongreen.com/2009/05/passive-solar-zero-net-energy-charlotte-vermont-house.html

The Stretch Code and HERS Ratings

2012-01-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

The above map shows only 46 Massachusetts municipalities that had adopted the Stretch Code as of September 8, 2010, but that's old news.

Now over 100 Massachusetts municipalities have adopted the Stretch Code, and that means that any new construction project built in such a municipality will need to have a HERS rating. For more information on the HERS Index and what a HERS rating is, please see our post below.

The Center for Eco Technology, a local certified Home Energy Rating organization, pointed out in their recent newsletter that many building inspectors will require the builder to submit the preliminary HERS rating at the time of permitting.

Generally speaking, this is a step in the right direction for homes to be designed and constructed in a more energy-efficient way. With the homes using less energy, they will be more environmentally-friendly and this will also ultimately save homeowners money on their utility bills.

HERS (Home Energy Rating System) Index

2012-01-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

The above scale is called the HERS Index. This Home Energy Rating Systems Index is a useful tool for comparing the energy efficiency of different homes, although it is not without its shortcomings.

What is the HERS Index?

The HERS Index was created by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). As RESNET's website explains, the HERS Index is a scoring system in which a home built to the specifications of the HERS Reference Home (based on the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code) scores a HERS Index of 100, while a zero net energy home scores a HERS Index of 0. The lower a home's score, the more energy efficient it is in comparison to the HERS Reference Home.

Each 1-point decrease in the HERS Index corresponds to a 1% reduction in the energy consumption compared to the HERS Reference Home. Thus a home with a HERS Index of 85 is 15% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home and a home with a HERS Index of 80 is 20% more energy efficient.

At Austin Design, in recent years we have designed and built homes ranging from a HERS Index of 53 to a HERS Index of 8. In other words, these homes are 47% - 92% more energy efficient than the HERS Reference Home (or, a standard home built to code, which is the same thing).

Why is the HERS Index controversial?

The link below offers an interesting forum discussion on the pro's and con's of the HERS Index:

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/community/forum/energy-efficiency-and-durability/14558/problems-hers-rating-system

Among the chief complaints of those pointing out the weaknesses of the HERS Index are that it does not take occupant behavior into account (which can dramatically affect the energy usage of a home).

Another issue arises with the accuracy of the software used to generate the HERS Index of a home. At least one of the two accredited software tools used to generate a HERS Index lacks data input to account for differences in the geometric shapes of two homes being compared. As folks know, a simply-designed home with fewer corners and less exterior surface area will perform better energy-wise than a home of relatively equal size and square footage that has a more complicated design with a greater number of corners and greater exterior surface area.

We enjoyed reading the above discussion and hope you will find it interesting too.

Stretch Code Town Map

2012-01-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

The Patrick-Murray Administration Announces over 100 Massachusetts Municipalities have Adopted Nation-Leading Energy-Efficient Building Code Requirements.

Click the link below to check out the map of the communities that have adopted the "Stretch Code":

http://www.mass.gov/eea/pr-2011/communities-adopted-ee-building-code-requirements.html

Massachusetts Ranked First in the Nation for Energy Efficiency

2012-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

Massachusetts has been named number one in the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) annual state-by-state energy efficiency scorecard.

http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2011/111020-energy-efficiency.html

Highly Accessible

2012-01-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

This Seattle project inspires us as we prepare to market our own strengths in Universal Design, ADA/Section 504 compliance, and accessibility planning for individual residences, commercial spaces, and public town spaces.

http://www.dwell.com/articles/Highly-Accessible.html

Striving for Passivhaus Affordability in Maine

2011-12-28T12:46:00.000-08:00

GreenBuildingAdvisor.com features an interesting article in which EcoCor Design/Build is focusing on high performance and cost control on a two-bedroom Passivhaus project in Knox, Maine:

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-news/striving-passivhaus-affordability

Metropol Parasol: The World's Largest Wooden Structure Opens in Seville

2011-12-27T14:03:00.000-08:00

http://inhabitat.com/metropol-parasol-the-worlds-largest-wooden-structure-opens-in-seville/

Andrew Gellar, Architect of Happiness, 1924-2011

2011-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Andrew Geller's Pearlroth House in Westhampton Beach
a.k.a. the "square brassiere" or "double box kite"

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/andrew-geller-architect-happiness-1924-2011.html

Test Your Knowledge: Energy Basics

2011-12-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

Which of the following contains the most BTU's?

A) 1 lb. of wood pellets - 8,000 BTU/lb.

B) 1 kWh of electricity - 3,413 BTU/kWh

C) 1 gallon of #2 heating oil - 138,700 BTU/gallon

D) 1 gallon of propane - 92,000 BTU/gallon

New Certification Will Help Bring Passive House to Mainstream

2011-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/news/2011/12-december/new-certification-will-help-bring-passive-house-to-the-mainstream.aspx

Wisdom Way Solar Village featured in EcoHome

2011-12-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

Wisdom Way Solar Village, designed by Austin Design, Inc. in 2007 and built by Rural Development Inc. from 2008-2010, is a highly energy-efficient community composed of 10 affordable duplexes in Greenfield, Massachusetts.

To learn more about Wisdom Way and several additional green affordable housing communities across the United States, please click on the link below:

http://www.ecohomemagazine.com/news/2011/12-december/five-green-affordable-housing-projects-wisdom-way.aspx

Top 5 Tiniest Prefab Homes

2011-12-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

http://inhabitat.com/top-5-tiniest-tiny-houses/

Learning Center in Peace Garden

2011-12-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

A pavilion constructed, in part, of discarded objects found on-site:

http://inhabitat.com/burton-street-peace-gardens-learning-pavilion-was-built-from-recycled-materials-for-3900/

Sunken Pedestrian Bridge

2011-12-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

A neat bridge in the Netherlands at the Fort de Roovere:

http://inhabitat.com/sunken-pedestrian-bridge-in-the-netherlands-parts-moat-waters-like-moses/

Hurricane Irene - North River Riverbank Rebuilding

2011-12-07T07:17:00.000-08:00

This morning across the street from our office, efforts are on-going to reinforce the eroded and washed out riverbanks of the North River, here in Colrain.

This past August, Hurricane Irene slowly swirled her way from Puerto Rico and other islands in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea up the coast of the United States - making landfall in Virginia, New Jersey and New York.

The storm made its third landfall in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, NY around 9 am on August 28. Though downgraded to a tropical storm by that point, the massive system continued to create severe flooding and extensive property damage.

Below is footage a neighbor took during the aftermath of the destructive storm. It shows the speed and height of the North River, just across the street from our office. Though the driveway to our building as well as most of the front lawn were submerged at the peak of the river's flooding, our office building remained unharmed.

Name This Historic Landmark

2011-12-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

Do you recognize this Historic Landmark in upstate New York? If you know its name, you can submit your answer to this blog entry using the "Comments" link below.

Hint: The Iron Building was built in 1859 and is "an outstanding example" of pre-fabricated cast iron construction. It also has a strong degree of Italianate styling.

U.N. Climate Change Conference

2011-12-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

What's going on in our world today? For one, serious talks in Durban, South Africa where the United Nations Climate Summit is taking place. World leaders coming together to shape our future, hopefully for the better!

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/story/2011-12-05/climate-change-conference-durban-negotiations/51653746/1

Haiti Housing Collaborative

2011-12-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

The Haiti Housing Collaborative (HHC) organization was formed by the AIA NY Global Dialogues Committee. Members of the HHC undertook the task of designing four different types of affordable housing in response to the January 2010 earthquake. Each of the designs is featured on their website:

http://www.haitihousingcollaborative.org/index.html

We are excited about the HHC's work since we hold rebuilding efforts in Haiti very close to our own hearts. The Honor for Haiti Foundation (FONHOH) is an organization that is focused on educational improvement in Haiti. We have been working with Marky Jean-Pierre, a founding FONHOH board member, to design a rural educational campus in Lagoun.

Housing, healthcare, and education are all extremely critical topics in Haiti right now, and we are committed to aiding the efforts to improve these areas. It is uplifting to see action being taken by others in the same vein and it is with much enthusiasm that we help spread the word about the important work of the HHC.

Topping Out Ceremony

2011-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

Excellent news for Holyoke, MA! Yesterday, Deval Patrick and other important local leaders visited the Paper City for the capping beam ceremony at the new Massachusetts Green High Performance Computer Center.

WWLP 22: Last beam laid at Holyoke computing ctr 11.29.2011

Holyoke Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center completes first stage of construction

Massachusetts hopes to transform old landfills into solar, wind projects

2011-11-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.enterprisenews.com/topstories/x2042555761/Massachusetts-hopes-to-transform-old-landfills-into-solar-wind-projects

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

All of us at Austin Design wish you and your loved ones a happy and relaxing Thanksgiving!

Are You Green Car Savvy?

2011-11-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

Test your knowledge here to find out!

Behold: The 20 Dirtiest, Most Polluted Cities in America

2011-11-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/behold-forbess-20-dirtiest-cities-america.html

Birds vs. Glass

2011-11-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

Image from http://simple-article10.blogspot.com/2011/07/glass-spells-danger-for-birds.html

Each year millions, if not billions, of birds are stunned, injured or killed by flying into glass.

Recently, on a more chirpful - ahem, cheerful - note, the U.S. Green Building Council has began offering credits to builders for bird-friendly designs: A New LEED Credit for Bird-Friendly Buildings.

Additional articles of interest:
Glass Spells Danger for Birds
How to Keep Birds from Crashing into Windows
Bird-Friendly Glass Designed with Help from Spiders

Indigo bunting

Installation of bird-friendly glass at 100-year-old enclosed

swimming pool in Plauen, Germany

Murphy Residence - Small House Design

2011-11-21T07:50:00.000-08:00

Conceptual design - West facade

When we met with the homeowners of this waterfront property, they were excited to make improvements that would allow for greater comfort and enjoyment of their seasonal Vermont home and its beautiful views of Lake Champlain and the surrounding mountains.

This project is a work-in-progress and includes plans to:

Add a dormered second story with a master bedroom and bathroom (on the north side), a guest bedroom and bathroom, a sitting area and balcony
Expand the first floor kitchen, entry, and stairway to second floor
Raise the house above flood level
Minimize the expansion of the footprint as much as possible

Below are two additional views of the conceptual plan for the lakeside cottage, as well as "before" and "under construction" photography:

Conceptual design - North & west facades

Conceptual design - South & east facades

"Before" - North & west facades

"Before" - South facade

"Before" - East facade

"Under construction" - Raised and getting additional foundational piers

"Under construction" - Expanded interior stairway leading to second floor

"Under construction" - West facade, the house is beginning to take on its new look

View of Lake Champlain from the home's second floor

Lake Champlain

Stay tuned! We will continue to post updates and progress on the Murphy project as developments occur.

Earth's Natural Beauty in Time Lapse

2011-11-17T09:39:00.000-08:00

Earth's Natural Beauty in Time Lapse

HGBC Haiti Construction Team

2011-11-17T09:02:00.001-08:00

New tools, same slouch

2011-11-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

Reconstructing Schools in Haiti

2011-11-17T08:21:00.000-08:00

Image from http://en.kindernothilfe.org/

Kindernothilfe (KNH), a Christian organization founded in Duisburg, Germany that is dedicated to children's aid, commissioned Chilean architecture firm, HABITERRA, to rebuild a rural school in Coupeau.

The school was destroyed in the January 12, 2010 earthquake that ravaged Haiti. Local community members, children, and their parents assisted in the rebuilding of the school.

To read more about this amazing project, please click on the links below:

Reconstructing Schools in Haiti

Report Execution Works - school in Coupeau

Construction plan 01

Construction plan 02

Construction plan 03

The Avant/Garde Diaries

2011-11-16T12:50:00.001-08:00

Balestra Berlin's Kubik installation in Lausanne, Switzerland

Dwell brings to our attention The Avant/Garde Diaries - short videos of the lives and goings-on in the design world overseas. The video below features a group of professionals' and artists' lifestyles and projects in Berlin.

Interesting footage of a double-decker bus turned convenience store in a Berlin neighborhood, and an introduction to Balestra Berlin, appear in the video above. Balestra Berlin is a German firm consisting of architects and artists in the fields of music, sound, lighting, animation, illustration, exhibition, event planning, photography and more.

Haiti's New Hospital

2011-11-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

Rebuilding for Resilience

2011-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

Image from http://www.worldbulletin.net/

In the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, many organizations pulled together to discuss how to rebuild the country in a safe and stronger way.

Rebuilding for Resilience: How Science and Engineering Can Inform Haiti's Reconstruction

The Pro's of Renovation

2011-11-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

Carol M. Highsmith, November 2008 (Library of Congress)/Public Domain

This article by Lloyd Alter explores the pro's of renovations and remodels: Renovation and Repair Creates Way More Jobs, Uses Far Less Material Than New Construction

IEEE / Sirona Haiti Rural Electricity Project

2011-11-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

Image from http://sironacares.typepad.com/

The SunBlazer solar charger project in Haiti brings electricity to rural areas of the country to support local entrepreneurs in their business efforts and to provide homeowners will dependable electricity.

Check out the links below to read more about the pilot program:

IEEE / Sirona Haiti Rural Electricity Project
Sirona Cares

Image from http://sironacares.typepad.com/

"...one of the most energy-efficient office buildings in the world..."

2011-11-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=17996

Internet Education in Haiti

2011-11-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Image from http://buildingaschool.wordpress.com/

The Research and Education Network (REN) Haiti report, below, authored by a consortia of organizations from across the Western Hemisphere and France, explains the importance of improving healthcare and education in Haiti. The authors propose, among other things, a country-wide Internet network connecting schools, universities and clinics, to promote and support K-20 education and health services and medical resources throughout the nation.

Please click the link below to read the report:

Research and Education Network (REN) Haiti: A Collaborative Proposal to the Inter-American Development Bank 7 November 2011

Authoring organizations:

CLARA-Cooperation for Latin American Research and Education
CKLN-Caribbean Knowledge Learning Network
The Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania
MAGPI -Mid-Atlantic Gigapop in Philadelphia for Internet2
CyberBridges at the Center for Internet Augmented Research and Assessment (CIARA)
AMPATH-Americas Pathway Research and Education Exchange
University of Miami TeleHealth

Image from http://www.the-private-eye.com/

Spotty Horses

2011-11-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Pech Merle cave art depicting spotted horses

In Art History class, you may remember studying the captivating cave art of prehistoric painters. Their artwork appeared on the walls and ceilings of caves throughout the world, including the Lascaux, Chauvet, and Pech Merle caves located in modern day France.

Recently, scientists found that the spotted horses painted in Pech Merle were based on real-life versions, and were not simply creative twists of the artists' imaginations.

Read more on the exciting evidence in the two articles below:
Spotted Horses in Cave Art Weren't Just a Figment, DNA Shows
Ancient Cave Painters Were Realists, DNA Reveals

Occupy the Classroom

2011-11-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

The messages of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and similar demonstrations now occuring in cities and towns worldwide are critically important: People want economic equality. We also want corporate greed and injustices to stop.

In a similar vein, Nicholas Kristof of the The New York Times writes an article about Occupy the Classroom.

Like our friend and colleague Marky Jean-Pierre, President of the Honor for Haiti Foundation (FONHOH) with whom we're working to design an educational center in rural Haiti, Kristof believes it is of utmost importance to improve early childhood education.

Education in Haiti: The Way Forward

2011-11-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

The Partnership For Educational Revitalization in the Americas (and the Caribbean) issued a report by Laurence Wolff on the subject of educational system improvements in Haiti, entitled Education in Haiti: The Way Forward.

Haiti Here We Come!

2011-11-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

From top left to right: Joan Rockwell, Bill Austin, Chris Farley,

Marky Jean-Pierre, and Anne Perkins

Husband-and-wife team Bill Austin, Architect, and Joan Rockwell, Landscape Architect, will be traveling this month with Marky Jean-Pierre, President of the Honor for Haiti Foundation (FONHOH), to the Caribbean island nation of Hispaniola. They will visit land that has been donated to FONHOH to build an educational center in rural Haiti.

Originally from Haiti, Marky Jean-Pierre is dedicated to the improvement in the country's educational system and is a founder of FONHOH, a not-for-profit organization based in both Amherst, Massachusetts and Bon-Repos, Haiti. The organization focuses on adult learning and literacy, language education, teacher education and K-12 school improvement in Haiti.

Austin Design and Joan Rockwell & Associates have been working on site analysis and schematic designs for the educational center. The trip will be an exciting mission to delve deeper and improve our understanding of this important project.

UMass Grad Aids His Native Haiti By Improving Educational Access

Take Me Home, Country Roads

2011-11-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

This newly renovated home is an urban family's countryside retreat and will eventually become the primary residence upon the husband's and wife's retirement.

Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in Western Massachusetts, the homeowners wished to integrate their more relaxed, rural lifestyle and surroundings into the design of their new home. By adding new living spaces, including a three-season porch, library, and additional second floor bedrooms, the family can soak in the spectacular views and serenity of the surrounding landscape.

From the diamond patterning in the exterior cedar shake detailing to the Stickley furniture interiors, the husband-and-wife team showcase their passion for Arts-and-Crafts-style architecture and interior decorating.

To view more photography of this project, please view our Flickr photostream.

Tadao Ando at the Clark - Tonight!

2011-10-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Tadao Ando at the Clark

http://www.clarkart.edu/visit/event-detail.cfm?ID=16223&CID=29

Take a Quiz!

2011-10-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Would You Fall for an Eco-Myth? Take the eco-myth quiz to find out:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/games-quizzes/eco-myth-quiz/

An Unsual Abode

2011-10-04T08:50:00.000-07:00

A House Built in a Sand Dune, check out the article here:
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/a-house-built-in-a-sand-dune.html

Solar Decathlon 2011

2011-10-03T10:14:00.000-07:00

The winner of this year's Architecture contest at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is WaterShed, an energy-efficient home (shown above), designed by students at the University of Maryland.

Second runner-up (above): Purdue University team's INhome

Third runner-up (above): Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) team's Meridian First Light House

Links for additional photographs and information:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/09/pictures/110927-solar-decathlon-2011-pictures/

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-2011-solar-decathlon-photos,0,5421450.photogallery

http://2011.solarteam.org/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/10/university-of-maryland-wins-solar-decathlon.php?campaign=th_rss_design?campaign=TH_sbr_design

http://www.solardecathlon.gov/

NESEA Green Buildings Open House Tour

2011-10-01T07:36:00.001-07:00

http://www.nesea.org/greenbuildings/

Rainy Day - Check it out....

2011-10-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.nesea.org/Scripts/googleMaps/detail.php?id=3621

General Information: Visit us at Austin Design Inc., an architecture firm situated in beautiful Colrain, MA. Our office is located near several green/sustainable projects on the NESEA tour, including Katywil Eco Village in Colrain and Wisdom Way Solar Village in Greenfield, both of which we designed. We welcome and invite you to peruse our gallery of green and sustainable projects, learn more about energy efficiency and renewable energy, and take away packets of information on our green projects as well as energy tax incentives. While our 100 year-old renovated schoolhouse does not highlight specific green building/sustainable design features, we specialize in zero net energy design, energy efficiency, sustainability, green building, code and accessibility issues, and the integration of renewable energy. We'd love to show you our work. Refreshments available. We look forward to meeting you!

Directions: From Rt. 91 North or South take Exit #26. Go around the Greenfield rotary and get onto Rt. 2 West. After going 3.6 miles on Rt. 2 West, there will be a yellow Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters on the left and Strawberry Fields, an antique store, on the right. Just after Strawberry Fields, take a right onto Colrain/Shelburne Road and go 5.1 miles. Toward the end of the 5.1 miles you will descend a very long, steep hill. At the intersection with a white-steepled brick church on your right, go left on Rt. 112 South. Once on Rt. 112 South, keep traveling on this road for 2.3 miles. (Landmarks: you will see Mike & Tony's Pizzeria on your left as soon as you turn onto Rt. 112 S. You will eventually pass a SuperGas station on your right and, sometime after, you will see two large blue factory buildings on your right. Slow down as the blue factory comes into view.) Take a left onto Call Road, which is just past the blue factory. Once on Call Road, we are #16, a small schoolhouse set back off the road. Ours is the second drive, just after Griswoldville Street, on the left.

Spomeniks: Archisculptural remnant

2011-08-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

Came accross this image on an Unknown Mortal Orchestra album cover. Apparently, these massive and mysterious monuments were commissioned by the Yugoslavian goverment to memorialize important World War II sites. Almost makes me want to take a trip to eastern Europe.

[another blog entry about Spomeniks...]

Ghost Lab 13: Promoting Locavore Architectural Design

2011-08-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Attendees of Ghost Lab 13 Conference
June 14th - 17th, 2011
Shobac Farm
Halifax, Nova Scotia

This summer Bill traveled to Canada to attend an annual conference hosted by Brian MacKay-Lyons, of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, on his nearly 60-acre farm, Shobac. Discussions included "commitment to place" in response to globalization, and the dedication to architectural design focusing on local building materials and the skills of local tradespeople everywhere.

Architectural Record featured an online article about the conference, in February this year, before the event took place: Ghost Lab 13: Plotting a New Course for Architecture.

Honor for Haiti

2011-07-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

With land already secured and numerous avenues for development in the works, FONHOH (the Honor for Haiti Foundation) led by Marky Jean-Pierre is making great strides in the ongoing effort to rebuild a stronger Haiti.

Austin Design inc and Joan Rockwell & Associates offered a pro-bono conceptual design which was presented yesterday to an excited team of local professionals and Haitian representatives.

Memorial Future

2011-06-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall, home of Pothole Pictures and Metropolitan Opera simulcasts, is in the beginning planning stages of a major renovation including; energy upgrades, new seating, theatrical upgrades and other improvements.

Austin Design provided some pro bono visualization and planning help in order to get the project off the ground and we look forward to helping make this project a reality.

Town of Worthington

2011-06-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

Chris Palames, Accessibility Specialist, and Austin Design have teamed up together to assist the Town of Worthington with its ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.

On Friday, June 10th, we met with Evan Johnson and Peggy O'Neal at the Worthington Town Hall to discuss the approach and processes involved with bringing a town's public spaces up to code in all matters of accessibility.

Chris Palames explained that in the town's current state there would be structural barriers and non-structural barriers to those with disabilities, along with structural and non-structural solutions. For example, a structural solution is to build a ramp that leads into a public space where only stairs existed previously. A non-structural solution, on the other hand, is to move an activity to an accessible location in town if the first location chosen was not an accessible one.

Throughout the morning we moved around the Town of Worthington's public spaces documenting, noting, and measuring entrance ways, walkways, thresholds, types of door handles, wall protrusions (especially dangerous to the blind, in particular if the protrusion protrudes away from the wall more than 4" and is above the height where a cane can detect it), slopes of ramps, handrails, bathrooms, designated handicap parking spaces, turnaround room for wheelchair accessibility, sink/mirror/counter heights, quality of the materials of flooring, walkways, ramps, and more.

Northampton Deep Energy Retrofit

2011-06-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Sketchup rendering of proposed home

Great progress is being made on a client’s home near downtown Northampton, MA. Implementing architect Bill Austin’s designs for this custom Arts-and-Crafts home, are builder Joe Kayan and his crew. The homeowner, Bill, and Joe are working closely together to ensure the new house is extraordinarily energy efficient. The craftsman-style house is slowly taking shape as the former ranch home sheds its old skin and comes nicely into its new look. The new energy-efficient house will feature:

R-60 attic ceiling
R-36 exterior walls
R-38 basement ceiling
U-0.30 Marvin windows
Ground-source heat pump for forced hot air and DHW
Natural daylighting throughout

Then: Front Facade (South)

Now: Front Facade (South)

Then: South-East Corner

Now: South-East Corner

Then: East Facade

Now: East Facade

Then: North Facade

Now: North Facade

Then: North-West Corner

Now: North-West Facade

Then: Partial West Facade

Now: Partial West Facade

Solar Charging Stations

2011-06-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Duo-Gard is a leading company in the development of solar-powered charging stations for cars, bikes, scooters, carts, and motorcycles. For more information on these net zero energy charging stations: Duo-Gard Net Zero Energy Solar Charging Stations.

The U.S. Department of Energy has good information on Electric Vehicles (EV's) and locations of EV charging stations across the United States. To read more on this, please click here: Electric Vehicles and Charging Station Locations.

Currently, out of the three EV charging stations in the state of Massachusetts, one is located at the Courtyard Marriott Hadley hotel in Hadley, Mass. This station is at the 240V level and includes these other EV charger standards.

XPS & EPS Insulation Poses Global Warming Threat

2011-05-27T13:47:00.000-07:00

The article, Calculating the Global Warming Impact of Insulation, by Martin Holladay of Green Building Advisor, discusses the pitfalls of some types of insulation that actually contribute to the global warming of our planet.

New Drive-Through Delivers

2011-04-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

Greenfield's Beautiful New Drive-Through, an article in the Valley Advocate by Mark Roessler, celebrates Greenfield Savings Bank and Austin Design's commitment to architectural integrity, energy efficiency, site improvements, and the Greenfield community.

Universal Design

2011-04-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

"...Austin Design Inc. of Colrain has been awarded the bid to create an architectural barrier removal design including the installation of an elevator at Hitchcock Free Academy..."

full description @ http://www.hitchcockacademy.org/content/elevatorbarrier-removal-project

Highlights from the NESEA BE11 Conference

2011-03-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), hosted its annual Building Energy conference at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts on March 8-9-10.

Bill Austin, Chris Farley, and Jacqui McCreanor of Austin Design attended the NESEA conference on Wednesday, March 9th for a full day of conference sessions and taking in the trade show.

Bill and Chris spent the day attending all three sessions of Track 8, titled “Regional Sustainable Models in Germany and Upper Austria”. The presentations and discussions were led by Andrew Shapiro, Chris Benedict, Paul Eldrenkamp, and Tom Hartman. The material was very fresh and the clarity of the material was even more impressive given the fact that these four had arrived back home just days before the conference.

We were struck by several things that were made clear over and over again as we looked at a wide array of building types and system approaches.

Firstly, there appeared to be a culture in these countries somewhat different than what exists here in the US. The government, financial institutions, and citizenry appeared to support the design industry and innovation in a strong way. It was clear that clients were willing to accept experimental ideas, approaches, and construction methods in their buildings. They were willing to be a part of the learning curve when it came to energy efficiency and new technologies.

Secondly, the number of new, energy-saving or energy efficient building materials, systems, and technologies far outnumbered those available in the US. The Europeans have clearly put more emphasis on energy efficiency than we have here in the US. The presenters described an enormous trade show at a Wels, Austria convention hall that highlighted hundreds and hundreds of companies manufacturing building products geared toward energy efficiency.

Thirdly, the energy retrofit industry is much more advanced than here in the US. Several large apartment building projects were highlighted where the envelope and mechanical systems were completely replaced while the inhabitants continued to occupy the building.

All in all, the 15 or so projects that were presented were inspiring for their overall design, their willingness to break new ground, and for their high degree of energy efficiency.

To view two of the three presentations in this track, please click on these links:

What's Happening in Saxony & Upper Austria: Presentation 1

What's Happening in Saxony & Upper Austria: Presentation 2

Jacqui attended three sessions in three different tracks, overlapping once with Bill and Chris in the first Germany/Upper Austria session. The other two she attended, "There's No Place Like Home" and "High Design & High Performance" were part of the "Whole Systems in Action" and "Residential Buildings -- Retrofit & New" tracks, respectively.

John Abrams, of South Mountain Company, led "There's No Place Like Home," discussing his arrival on Martha's Vineyard in the early 1970's and his personal and professional journey in developing and enhancing his sense of community on the Massachusetts island. After speaking for a while, John invited the audience to share their stories. One conference goer from the state of New York currently faces the prospect of hydrofracking in his community, a possibility which makes him nervous and frustrated due to the likely and irreversible contamination of the area’s aquifer. Additional audience members participated, sharing their personal stories of either struggling or succeeding in improving the quality of life in their communities -- oftentimes a combination of both.

“High Design & High Performance” was led by Jesse Thompson of Kaplan Thompson Architects, and Jordan Goldman and Stephanie Horowitz both of ZeroEnergy Design.

The presenters discussed several projects, mostly residential, that incorporated whimsical, quality design and high performance. Stephanie spoke first and talked about many of her firm’s high performing projects that were designed to a given standard – Energy Star, Passive House, or zero net energy – in varying climatic conditions. The next presenter, Jesse, was a very dynamic, energetic speaker and discussed, among many things, different window details in a home that was constructed of double walls. He designed some of this home’s windows flush with the exterior wall, others flush with the interior wall, and others located mid-wall. Lastly, when Jordan took the podium he came from an energy modeling and engineering perspective. He showed with thermal imaging how heat loss occurs through thermal bridging due to absences of thermal breaks in a building envelope.

Jordan took to task Jesse’s windows set flush with the exterior wall within the double wall system and showed how there were gaps in the insulation continuum, explaining how this condition contributes to heat loss. He also spoke of 66% heat loss in foundation details where there are 2” insulation underneath the slab but zero insulation between the slab and inside of the foundation wall, as well as zero insulation on the exterior of the foundation walls. (This 66% heat loss describes the difference between Passive House performance and actual performance.) A typical “fix” for this situation is to add 2” insulation to the outside of the foundation wall; however, this only reduces the heat loss to 31% -- substantial thermal bridging is still occurring.

The final solution, which creates a thermal bridge-free detail, is to disconnect the slab from the inside of the foundation wall and wrap the corner between with 2” insulation, keeping the 2" insulation underneath the slab. Next, extend the 2” insulation on the outside of the foundation wall upward just beyond the sill plate to protect against thermal bridging through this piece of wood. The result is zero thermal bridging and therefore zero heat loss.

At the NESEA conference, there was an overriding sense of commitment to best building practices and the environment. And though there are dismal facts to face, the conference imbued a sense of optimism. We saw momentum and inspiration in the alternative energy crowd.

Spring Fox

2011-03-31T09:05:00.000-07:00

Spring is springing in New England and here in Colrain a friendly, if not a somewhat mischevious, face has reappeared after the melting of the winter snow.

A red fox, that was possibly one of the kits born last spring in the den behind the Grange, has decided to make this 'hood his residence, at least for the time being. (Ok, admittedly the fox's gender is undetermined, but let's make him a guy for convenience's sake.)

He's oft spotted grooming himself, basking in the afternoon sun, trotting proudly up the road with a bird in his mouth, teasing Otto (our office dog), or curled up at the base of a nearby towering pine tree.

Thriving on Low Carbon - A Blog by Marc Rosenbaum

2011-03-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

Marc Rosenbaum, P.E.

Thriving on Low Carbon is a blog written by Marc Rosenbaum, noted engineer in sustainable design and green building. We at Austin Design intend to keep up with Marc's postings, and follow the adventures of this certified Passive House consultant.

Marc cofounded Energysmiths with Daniel Ingold in 1979 and now works alongside long-time friend John Abrams at South Mountain Company on Martha's Vineyard where Marc and Jill DeLaHunt recently moved in June 2010.

Here's an e-mail from Marc, introducing his blog:

Hello All

Don't worry, I still don't have a cell phone, and I'm not on Facebook!

As I begin working on our new (to us) house here on Martha's Vineyard, I thought that I will be facing many of the same decisions countless others will face in times to come, and I thought to write it down so it might help others. I've called it Thriving on Low Carbon. Please take a look, and feel free to comment. And please pass it on to others who might be interested.

Thanks!

Marc

2011 Energy Tax Incentives

2011-03-30T12:13:00.001-07:00

Kids hugging denim insulation

To learn about 2011 energy tax incentives, please take a look at the following links for savings:

2011 Residential Energy Financial Incentives
2011 Commercial Energy Financial Incentives

For example, adding adequate insulation is one of the most cost-effective home improvements that you can do. The current tax credit amount is 10% of the cost, up to $500.

Helpful web sites include:

http://www.dsireusa.org/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index
http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/70010.html
http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/
http://energytaxincentives.org/

With catastrophic energy-related crises such as last April's oil spill in the Gulf and this March's Japanese Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdown we might want to consider ways to generate clean power.

And perhaps even more importantly, as Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Eric W. Orts was quoted today in Knowledge(@)Wharton, "'really the best solution to [the nation's energy] problems is energy efficiency.' And that, he adds, causes no risk at all."

Local Project Nears Completion

2010-10-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Autumn blows into New England and construction enters its final stages at a Colrain, MA residence to allow the family to move in before the winter holidays arrive.

The pictures below reflect the homeowners' magical property and the attention to detail given to the site and the structure itself.

Fall foliage abounds on the lush, rolling landscape

Masons handcraft a beautiful stone retaining wall

Notice the gentle curve of the kitchen roof and bow window

The warm cedar shingles are aglow in the afternoon sunshine

The diamond cut patterning is decorative and eye-catching

Does anyone recognize this kitchen skylight in its finished form?

(It appeared in a previous blog entry surrounded only by polyurethane

spray foam and dense pack cellulose insulation!)

The beautiful detailing of the three season porch ceiling

This newly renovated home has gorgeous vistas and is filled with natural light

Passive House Design

2010-09-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

This New York Times article documents one family's dedication to long-term energy conservation as the husband and wife homeowners meticulously design and construct their new home to Passive House Institute-U.S. standards.

Green Cartoons

2010-09-16T10:14:00.000-07:00

Check out these cartoons from the 1980's -- they are a peek into our "green" cartoon history!

Breaking News of Summer 2010

2010-08-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

We are celebrating the energy efficiency successes of the homes at the Wisdom Way Solar Village located in Greenfield, MA. The first 6 homes in the Wisdom Way Solar Village have been awarded LEED Platinum, the highest designation, by the U.S. Green Building Council. To read more, please visit Rural Development Inc. and read on about the positive news!

Major Renovations & Additions Pilot Program

2010-08-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

The Center for Ecological Technology paid a visit to one of our residential projects to inspect the insulation installed in the home's floors, walls, and ceilings. The owners are on track for receiving financial incentives through a program sponsored by a local utility company due to the undertaking of extensive energy efficiency measures.

Matt Turcotte of CET confirms actual window
dimensions with those stated on the building plans

Spray foam insulation (orange) and dense

pack cellulose insulation (gray) installed

in the kitchen ceiling around the collar ties

and skylight

2010-08-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

SolarFest 2010

2010-07-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Check out this weekend's SolarFest -- a local alternative energy event.

SolarFest, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is hosting its annual renewable energy and arts fesitival at Forget-Me-Not Farm in Tinmouth, VT on July 16-17-18.

SolarFest 2010 promises a little something for everyone. There is family fun for all including felting, crafting ornaments from clay, and parachute games, as well as an extensive offering of workshops covering everything from photovoltaics 101 to Advanced Solar Thermal.

Solar Thermal or PV?

2010-07-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

This Forbes article discusses the future of solar thermal power versus photovoltaics as key players in the energy production industry.

Green Financial Incentives 2010

2010-06-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

To keep abreast of current financial incentives for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology, peruse the sites Energy Star, Mother Nature Network, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Deepwater Horizon Explosion

2010-06-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

We are all familiar with the heartbreaking story of the Gulf oil spill, the largest in U.S. history. The far-reaching impacts of this event are as yet unknown, but The Daily Green has suggestions for how

we can help!

Make yours like mine

2010-04-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

Part of the reward of our job is seeing our drawings come to life. A recent example is a remodel project here in Franklin County.

Our Drawings:

The house under construction:

Best of the Valley

2010-04-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Northampton Brewery for winning the Valley Advocate's "Best of the Valley" award for best Outdoor Dining!

(We'll take a bit of reflected glory.)

Spring Time

2010-04-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

Spring is well underway in Colrain. Behind the Grange we frequently see foxes in the brush on the hillside. Today Bill spotted some other small movements accompanying a fox. If you look closely you can see four very well camouflaged kits playing on the hillside under the watchful eye of their mother. And as any mother of four would be, she seems a bit harried. We look forward to some entertaining distractions out the window as we watch these little guys grow.

Hot Numbers for Heat Loss

2010-03-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Reducing energy consumption is a key interest of ours and our clients. Our latest exciting heat loss calculation, for a local 2800 SF residence, shows that the home will be using less than 600 gallons of propane gas per year translating roughly into annual heating bills of less than $1,600 per year!

With homes currently consuming approximately 20% of the energy consumed in the U.S. and generating about 20% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S., we are very interested in designing energy-efficient houses. The benefits of a high-performing home are clear: the more airtight, better sealed, and well-insulated it is, and the lower the u-values of its fenestration, the less energy and fewer greenbacks it consumes.

In the northeast, about 60% of a home's energy consumption is due to heating, so we are focused on heat loss calculations which tell us a lot of information, but in particular what the yearly heat loss is for a home. Once we've have a baseline for annual heat loss, we can then determine which measures can be taken to further reduce heat loss and energy consumption in the home, while preserving and enhancing the client's design goals.

As the aforementioned residential project is still in progress, there may be additional opportunities to further reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of the home. We will be sure to post updated results!

Bridge of Flowers Kiosk

2010-03-05T13:40:00.000-08:00

The first signs of Spring are beginning to show in Colrain; ladybugs at the windows and smoke from the sugar houses. And with dreams of Spring it seems like a good time to post some pictures of the new kiosk at the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls which ADI alum Grey Marchese and Bill completed last Spring. The project was a collaboration of many local artists, craftspeople and the freshmen/sopomore carpentry class at Franklin County Technical School, all pitching in to make the kiosk a reality. Bob Compton of Rising Sun Forge created the "rails" of the canopy meant to echo the trolley tracks which once ran down the bridge. Jay Heilman and Josh Hoffman of Heilman Building put in some work along with Rob Mitchell Excavating, Dawn Kazokas, Graves Concrete and Erna C. Herzig all pitched in as well.

Check out the article in Design New England which featured the project here.

Soon enough we'll be sitting by the Bridge enjoying some warm weather and all the flowers.

Photo credit: Grey Marchese

Greening the Valley Exhibit Opening tonight

2010-02-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

The "Greening The Valley: Sustainable Architecture in the Pioneer Valley" exhibit opens this evening at the University Gallery at Umass. A couple of ADI projects will be in the exhibit as well as other projects from around the area.
We'll see you there!

Wisdom Way Documentary

2010-02-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

Catherine Stryker of Cat's Eye Productions has posted excepts from her documentary film about Wisdom Way Solar Village on Youtube for all to enjoy. There are four clips, to watch the whole thing click over to Amherst Community Television.

Wisdom Way on the blogs

2010-02-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Susan Kraemer has written up a nice piece on Wisdom Way over on Home Design Find using some of Doug Mason's photos from our Flickr account. The article does an excellent job of summarizing the project and the remarkable prospect of a $300 annual energy bill.

(A side note: those last 2 photos in the piece are from Katywil, I'll have to make my Flickr tags a bit more explicit. Also remarkable is getting the Google alerts and seeing this article re-blogged on other sites, one of them a luxury real estate blog. The internet is a remarkable, and strange, thing.)

Wisdom Way Data

2010-01-14T07:45:00.000-08:00

Some great reading from Robb Aldrich of Steven Winter Associates on the performance of the units at Wisdom Way.

SWA Report on WWSV Heating Systems height="500" width="350" > value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=25216795&access_key=key-9qca306szx470bjpfmq&page=1&version=1&viewMode=list">

Unbuilt Projects - Leverett house

2010-01-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

For whatever reason, sometimes a project or a particular design is never realized. From time to time we'll revisit some of these and share them.

This particular home was designed for a local entrepreneur for a hilltop in Leverett, MA. There were two distinct designs presented, both with special considerations of views and solar orientation.

Builders Zero In on New Goal of Energy-Neutral Housing - WSJ

2009-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Wisdom Way seems to be a hot topic these days. In todays Wall Street Journal there's an article by Jim Carlton on "Energy Neutral" projects which uses the Solar Village as an example. The article focuses on electricity use and zero-energy so it makes no mention of the super-insulation necessary to achieve this goal. The difference in home prices that Anne Perkins of RDI gives is largely due to the PV panels, but the savings realized by her contractors in the insulating of these units will reap huge savings with relatively little cost.

I also think the differences in the projects in the article, the price of a unit at Wisdom Way is about half the price of a 600 square foot addition in LA. And *ahem* "offset(ing) the cost of the panels by not having to buy a big furnace"?!?! Even without any special insulation they would not have to buy a big furnace in LA! Tomorrows high temperature in Hermosa Beach is 67, which is where many of us here in New England set our thermostats! I know it gets nippy by the beach there, but put on a sweater folks!

Real Time Energy Data

2009-12-23T06:27:00.000-08:00

Another piece of making our live's more efficient is real time monitoring of our homes usage of electricity . It is another emerging field that already seems crowded with solutions, yet there are few options on the market right now.

This week in Copenhagen a call to action was issued by a number of large companies to make real time monitoring become more widespread. There is a nice piece by Martin LaMonica over on cnet about the announcement. There is also a gallery accompanying the piece which includes links to hardware and software solutions. We are anxious to get some of our clients started with real time monitoring of their electricity usage and hope that all this data will also in turn help us make our designs more efficient.

As the article mentions, until there is real time variable pricing to accompany the monitoring, there won't be a financial incentive for users to run their appliances at off peak time, thereby eliminating the need for new power plants and reducing peak demand which is the most polluting and expensive.

Real time monitoring will become essential in zero-net energy building and help the occupants manage their usage so as to achieve that balance.

Changes That Pay

2009-12-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

A recent article in the Boston Globe Magazine outlines some ways to save energy and lists some resources for audits, building materials, and an upcoming rebate program for appliances. On the last page the article makes mention of RDI's Wisdom Way project which ADI designed.

EERE: Energy Savers Home Page

2009-12-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

EERE: Energy Savers Home Page

We stumbled upon this excellent resource just now. The Federal governments clearing house website for all things regarding energy efficiency. Energy Star, grants, refunds, rebates, and even their own blog.

Results Are In

2009-12-01T08:12:00.000-08:00

An electrical audit was performed at our office this autumn as part of our ongoing deep energy retrofit. Striving to save energy and dollars where possible, we are pleased to learn of several opportunities to further reduce our energy consumption and utility expenditures.

According to Paquette Electric’s report, by investing in occupancy sensors, new compact fluorescent bulbs, and T8 lamp ballasts we can save roughly 785 kWh annually which translates into savings of about $155 per year.

We’ll keep you posted on our decisions to implement these measures. In the meantime, through optimizing daylight, turning off peripherals at night (printers, faxes, etc.), and installing CFLs and T5 fluorescent bulbs, we have managed to drastically lower our electrical load, kilowatt hours, and electric bill!

The Ay's Have It - Clean Energy A Must

2009-11-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Clean Energy Connections, hosted at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA on Tuesday, November 10th, was well-attended and optimistic in nature, with over five hundred clean energy organizations, business owners, and job seekers listening attentively to keynote addresses and plenary sessions. More than 60 universities, colleges, businesses, and organizations exhibited at the conference, providing ample opportunities to exchange ideas and information, to learn about the ever-evolving renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, and to prospect for jobs and new employees.

According to keynote speakers, Dr. Robert Pollin and Mr. Truman Semans, approximately $120 billion in government spending will boost the U.S. “green” economy over the span of several years. Seventy percent will fund energy efficiency projects with 30% funding renewable energy technology. Additionally, Massachusetts’ total share of the funds is $2.3 billion, which will result in roughly 42,530 “green” jobs with renewable energy “poised to become” the tenth largest job cluster in the state. Though success in the green economy is predicted to skyrocket and greatly contribute to the nation’s financial recovery , it alone will not revive the U.S. economy. Moreover, it will take persistent policy overhauls to improve the flow of money from government to private organizations.

Anne Perkins of Rural Development Inc. (RDI) and Bill Austin and Jacqui McCreanor of Austin Design Inc. (ADi) manned our integrated display. As folks stopped at our table to chat, we shared with them RDI’s affordable housing enterprises and our ecological designs for single family homes, communities, and remodels. And in turn, we learned about an increasing interest, on the parts of both individuals and private organizations, in retrofitting existing buildings, adding renewable energy technology to new and existing buildings, and investing in strong local community centers dedicated to the health and robustness of its citizens and economies.

Great contacts were made and a good time was had by all. On the whole, it was a great and educational day.

Cool Photography

2009-11-23T11:40:00.000-08:00

Doug Mason, local professional photographer, captured inciting frames of nearby Austin Design projects, including Katywil Eco-Village, Wisdom Way Solar Village, and a private client's renovated home and newly constructed poolhouse! Check out additional Austin Design photographs on Flickr.

Austin Design in Green Business Quarterly

2009-11-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

A nice article on Austin Design appears in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue of Green Building Quarterly. There is even a picture of all of us! You'll have to buy a physical copy of the magazine if you want to get a better idea of what we actually look like, but you get the gist. The magazine is free to those in the industry so check it out.

Re-Design of Greenfield Savings Bank Drive-Up Building

2009-11-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to be working with the great folks at Greenfield Savings Bank to re-design their drive-up building and surrounding areas to faciliate pedestrian access and improve traffic flow.

Read the story as published in The Recorder.