What makes a home Green? Standards vary. The soft definition is that a Green home, from how it is built, to how it is heated, cooled and maintained, should conserve energy and water and avoid or limit the use and generation of toxic materials. Zero Energy Building or Zero Net Energy Building (ZNE) has low-to-no […]
Santa Fe Homes
Santa Fe Architectural Elements: Wood
From floor to ceiling, interior to exterior, wood is a dominant architectural element in traditional and modern Santa Fe homes. Some components–such as vigas AKA beams–are common to architecture around the world; others are specific to the Southwest vernacular. For those unfamiliar with southwestern architectural styling, following is a mini-dictionary demystifying these terms. Vigas (Vee’ […]
Big Thinking for Small Spaces
Smart websites focusing on small space design help home owners downscale with little sacrifice in comfort or style. MochiHome.com provides ideas and inspiration “to help people visualize their spaces.” Starting with basic “before” shots of living rooms, kitchens, etc., the editors of Mochi Home digitally change wall color and add art and accessories to show […]
Santa Fe Green Scene: Hempcrete for Housing?
A home made of hempcrete –a mixture of lime, water and industrial hemp– is the most recent bit of brilliance I’ve found in my ongoing scan for creative housing ideas. Known by various trade names, including Hemcrete®, Isochanvreis, Canosmose, and Canobiote, the substance is durable, waterproof, fireproof, insect and rot resistant. Significantly, it is also […]