Nest Thermostat

Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.

The new generation of thermostat is here.  There is wait list for the Nest thermostat.  It took about two weeks to receive an invitation to purchase.  Nest programs itself to help you save energy.  It even included a sensor to turn off when you leave your home and can be turned on through your smart phone.  Nest cost $250 and can easily be installed by a homeowner.

LED Lamp Review - PAR20

At Forrest Glover Design, we have become increasingly interested in the use of LED retrofit lamps.  They use a fraction of the energy of incandescent lamp, use current fixtures, and often better light quality.  Since we also love using original artwork in our designs, there is the added bonus that LEDs are UV free and will not fade the art.

Buying LEDs has put me in a more cautious mood when buying the lamps however.  PAR20 LEDs cost around $25 compared to $5-10 for their Halogen counterparts.  They also last around 20 years so you want lamps that you are happy with.  We have tried four different lamps in a dark hallway of our studio with vivid pieces of art. 


Good

Philips - R20 LED

The Philips R20 is everyone's least favorite.  It is very dim and has an unexpected blue tint for its 3000k color rating.  The lamp is also quite long and sticks out of the standard fixture for PAR20 lamps.

 Better

GE - PAR20 LED

We tried the GE PAR20 in two different color temperatures.  The 2700k has a warmer light than the 3000k which is bright white.  Of the two, most liked the 2700k light better.  That said, the light has as pink tint to it rather than yellow that is associated with incandescent lamps.  It very pleasant and was my favorite until we tried the Philips PAR20 LED.

NOTE:  Most people do not like the color of 4100k lamps.  If you are not lighting offices for increased worker productivity, stay away from them.

Best

Philips - PAR20 Led

There are a few reasons, this lamp is our favorite.  The main being its shape.  We were all very excited about the GEs but there are a lot of fixtures that they do not fit in.  The Philips PAR20 is so close to the shape of the halogen it is replacing, that is even fits into wire clip fixtures that used to be so popular with track lighting.  The color is also a beautiful yellow with a nice halo around the lighted surface.  Compared to MR16s, that are often used to light artwork, the LED PARs have such a smooth transition from light to dark that I think many people will prefer them.

Purchase LED replacements as your incandescent lamps burn out, and you will be making any easy start to greater energy efficiency and lower bills.  In our area of Northern California, the payback for switching to a LED PAR20 lamp is about one year when used 4 hours a day.  Over the lifetime of the lamp, you will save around $400 in lower energy usage and lamp replacement.  That's even if the price of energy does not increase within the next 20 years.

Sustainable Flooring

The floors in your home offer a few unique consideration when you are retrofitting your home.  As always, it is best to keep your existing flooring rather than ripping what you have out to put new floors in.  Even if you recycle the old flooring, there is some materials waste and financial expense to have the job completed.   Hard flooring is generally healthier than carpeting.  It is easier to keep clean and does not contribute as much chemical off gassing.   If you are interested in replacing your homes flooring, it is a great time to consider hydronic radiant heating.

Horizontal

That said, there are some exciting new flooring products on the market.  One of our favorites is Timber Millwork by Sustainable Flooring in Boulder, CO.  Timber Millwork is created from post-industrial byproduct sourced from furniture manufacturers and pulp industries.  It is FSC-recycle certified, contains no added Urea Formaldehyde, and twice as strong as oak.  It is available unstained or prefinished in four colors.  Buying flooring that is prefinished will likely provide of better indoor air quality since it will not need to be stained after installation.  Millwork is available in horizontal and vertical patterns.

Vertical

Sustainable Flooring also offers other products including bamboo and cork.

Wall Installation