#1. No $10 downtown parking or fights to the death for the last street spots.

#2. Bikes are cheaper than cars…most of the time.

#3. Biking burns tons of calories (about 300 per hour!).

#4. Bikers get to wear awesome spandex outfits.

#5. It reduces your carbon footprint.

#6. Overall increase in health.  Studies show biking reduces blood pressure and stress while increasing energy and endorphins.

#7. You’ll get major street cred in East Austin (Bonus points for fixed gear bicycles)

#8. Austin is the 11^th best biking city in the Country according to Bicycling Magazine’s 2011 list.  More cyclists and biking advocates will only help that!

#9. Biking reduces traffic and congestion… and everyone knows how great Austin traffic is.

#10. Bikers get super cool tan lines.  That’s not a farmer’s tan… it’s a biker’s tan.

What do you love about biking? Let us know on The WHOLE Place Facebook page, or in the comments section!

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Lantana (pictured right) comes in several different colors and is a hardy plant that can take a drought.  It only needs water when it gets dry and can grow several feet in height.

Other dry weather plants that like Texas include the Ruellia, also sometimes called a Mexican Petunia.  It is good plant for filling empty spots in the garden, and is a tough drought tolerant perrenial.

Salvia is another staple in any Central Texas flower garden worth its salt. They come in a huge variety, and a wide range of colors, leaf-sizes and bloom types, so you can take your pick! However, some varieties are hardier than others. For a Central Texan climate, choose a Gregii variety; they’re drought-tolerant and relatively low-maintenance.

And of course, we come to roses (it’s called the “Yellow Rose of Texas” for a reason, right?). Actually, these flowers, though beautiful, don’t generally do very well in the dry heat, but if you absolutely must have roses, opt for an ‘Old-Fashioned’ variety rather than a Tea Rose. They are high maintenance, but hardier and bear up better under dry, harsh conditions.

Well, what are you waiting for? Get planting!

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• Paint the walls of your home a light color. Dark colors tend to absorb light, requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect.

• 75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed while “off”. By using a power strip and switching off when not in use, you lessen CO2 emissions and reduce your energy bill.

• When choosing your next washing machine, pick one with a front-loader. Front-loader models use 25% less energy than a standard model. Your dish washers uses less water than washing your dishes by hand!

• Having lots of food in your fridge keeps it from warming up too fast when the door is open. So your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard to stay cool. 

• Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away. Using ceiling or room fans allows you to set the thermostat higher because the air movement will cool the room. Always take into account health considerations and be sure to drink plenty of fluids in warm weather. (Save: 1 – 3 percent per degree, for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees) 

• Save 4% on power by using warm or cold water settings for your laundry.

• Line dry your clothes whenever you can to save 5%.

• Replace dirty air filters to save 1-2%

• A whole house fan is permanently installed in your attic and draws cool air into your home through the windows while forcing hot air out through your attic vents. Use after sundown when the outside temperature drops below 80 degrees, and in the early morning to cool your house and help reduce your air conditioning use. (Save: up to 5 percent) 

• Install patio covers, awnings, and solar window screens to shade your home from the sun. For additional future savings, use strategically planted trees, shrubs and vines to shade your home. (Save: 5 percent) 

• Leaking duct work accounts for 25 percent of cooling costs in an average home, so have your ducts tested and have any leaks or restrictions repaired by a qualified contractor. Note: duct cleaning is not the same as duct sealing. As of October 1, 2005, if you install a new central air conditioner or furnace, your ducts will have to be inspected. (Save: 10 -20 percent) 

So there you have it! Do you have any special tricks for staying cool during the long Texas summer? Let us know on our Facebook page, or in the comments section!

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The 1st Quarter or Waxing moon is a good time of the lunar cycle to start planting new projects. Plants that flower above ground can be sown during this time, and the new moon is also a good time to fertilize your garden for a greater effect.

The moon is brightest in the sky during the 2nd  Quarter, which is the best time to harvest leaves, stems or seeds of any plants you plan to dry. Also, this is a great time to plant for flower and herb root growth.

In the third phase as the moon wanes and grows dark, any gardening done during this phase helps slow growth and underground development. Bulbs and biennials/perennials do well when planted during this phase. It is also a great time for pruning roses, shrubs and trees.

During the 4th  Quarter when the moon is dark, the best work for your garden is general maintenance including weeding and treating for bugs and other pests.

Now that you know these key activities to complete during the different phases, remember just one more rule of thumb: Don’t plant on the actual day the moon changes to/from any one of these four quarters. Click here for a handy daily visual chart to help identify what current phase the moon is in. Referencing the phases of the moon can help your garden flourish!

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Working professionally since 2001, Eric’s materials consist of concrete, wood, steel and glass – but it’s obvious from looking at his work that a whole lot more than just the crude materials goes into these functional pieces of art.  You’ll no longer think a concrete bench is just a concrete bench after looking at Eric’s Tufted Bench where the seat is made from fabric formed concrete (and yes  – it’s comfortable!).

It’s hard to sum up the creative world with a bunch of words, and Eric Billig Works is no exception.  Before I leave you with a gallery of unique pieces that you will want to immediately start re-designing your home around, I’ll point out that Eric is a key resource when remodeling your home for an extra special touch.  Why go with a granite counter top when you can have beautiful custom poured concrete?  We’re not sure, but you can look over this images and visit his site, Eric Billig Works and see for yourself.

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There are obvious practical advantages to installing custom cabinetry, not the least of which is having complete control over the use of storage space in your home. A custom design plan means the most effective use of every inch of that space, whether you live in a mansion or in the tiniest of apartments. Pre-made shelving often doesn’t fit the particular proportions or shape of any given room, but a skillful home designer can work with you to find myriad creative solutions to any problem. Custom cabinets are a great way to maximize ease-of-use, and are a particularly good fit (again, no pun intended) for small, compact living areas- why clutter up precious floorspace with clunky shelves? (For more small-space living tips, check out this post)

You might be surprised to learn that custom cabinets can actually save you money- but how? It’s simple: tailor-made cabinets and shelves are built out of much higher-quality materials, and so are sturdier, longer-lasting, and ultimately, more valuable investment than pre-fab alternatives. Think of it as “cabinet couture”. True, the initial cost may be higher, but in addition to easily outlasting store-bought shelving by years or decades, custom cabinets are a simple way to add real-estate value to your home.

In the end, custom cabinets are a good option because they are made to fit you and your lifestyle perfectly. There is a design plan for everyone- the foodie, the collector, the neat freak, the chef, the growing family. Complete flexibility in design, style, materials and finish means that personal taste and individual needs are taken totally into account. You can go traditional or modern, ornate or clean lines, hidden, collapsible, or floating: the options are endless.

Whether you need to re-vamp your kitchen, linen-closet, living room or pantry, we here at The WHOLE Place feel strongly that custom cabinets are the way to go. Space-saving, stylish and a great investment- what’s not to like?

To learn more, just visit our Custom Cabinetry services page!

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Let’s talk water savings:

With water use restrictions in effect at the moment it seems like a good time to go over water saving techniques. Here are three ways to save, conserve and use water more effectively.

Water harvesting – Sometimes they go by the name of pregnant downspouts. The system can be as simple as a plastic or metal 50 gal drum under a downspout. And it’s not just all for the fun of it. Austin water utility offers rebates up to $5,000. A more complex system can involve a large above ground or buried water tank with pumps and other gadgets. In addition to providing free water to nourish plants, systems can be used to flush toilets, wash clothes or dishes and when filtered is cleaner than city water. Water storage is ubiquitous in drought ridden Australia where metal and plastic tanks are a fixture of the rural landscape. I think we can learn a lot from other similar conservation regions. Along with PVs (photovoltaic panels), higher efficiency appliances and lighting, higher insulation and water harvesting, every house can become close to net zero and grid independent. Power and water utilities are needed but reduced costs and use will benefit everyone.

Composting toilets – Quite simply, they don’t use water. Some use foam instead. As a comparison an average flush toilet uses 34,000 gal a year. Flush toilets have not been widely upgraded since its initial design and use in the late 1800s. Composting toilets on the other hand have improved ventilation and are self-contained systems. General price ranges are between $1600 – $2800. Compared to $238 for a dual flush Toto or a free low flow toilet from the City of Austin. But considered as a whole system composting toilets are comparable to septic or conventional toilet plumbing because of piping, maintenance and peripheral costs. At $23 a month for a standard flush toilet for water and waste water charges in five years a composting pays for itself and you start saving money. Composting toilets produce clean, odorless and biologically safe organic material that can be used as fertilizer. The composting process reduces human biomass by 90% through simple evaporation. Most models have an electric exhaust fan that is plumbed out the roof or exterior wall which operates when in use and to increase evaporation. Some models are certified with the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), which is an international organization that supports legislators and regulator in areas of public health and safety. Contact the City of Austin for specific local sanitation requirements.

Green roofs – Have been around since the idea of a shelter but were replaced by industrial products like metal, clay tiles and asphalt until waterproofing materials advanced. There has been a resurgence in the installation with the environmental movement. Rough costs are between $8-$20 per square foot. Compared to $5-7 per square foot for asphalt shingles. Green roofs offer a significant number of benefits over conventional roofs. Plant growth on a green roof guards the lower waterproof surface against sun damage. The waterproof surface is strong enough to stand up to root growth. With one of the oldest green roofs still in use since 1914 in the Netherlands they have a much better lifespan than asphalt shingles or metal. They also act as a water retention surface which guards against flooding water treatment facilities in the city. Conventional roofs mostly deteriorate due to sun damage, rust or weather breakdown and plant growth. All three of these issues are mitigated in a green roof through proper layering and plant growth is supported rather than battled. Besides the obvious benefit of plants, green roofs counter the heat island effect. We are all familiar with this heat difference in a huge asphalt parking lot compared to a grassy field. Flat roofs become a lovely space to relax and pitched roofs become vertical gardens. The water harvesting and landscape incentive could be considered for city rebates, which could provide additional offset of any added initial costs.

Links:

1. UK green roof overview

2. Austin green roof network

3. Austin City Hall green roof

4. City of Austin water rebates

Composting and incinerator toilets:

1. Sun-Mar Compact Model – Cost: $1625 Capacity: 1-2 people

2. Mulltoa Mulltoa 60 Model – Cost: $2790 Capacity: 4-6 people

3. Biolet TR Model – Cost: $1899 Capacity: 3-4 people

4. Incinolet Model 1 – Cost: $1799 Capacity: 8 people

References:

Green roof costs – http://www.lid-stormwater.net/greenroofs_cost.htm

Water rebates – http://fifthwallroofing.com/rainwater-harvesting-rebates/ ,

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/conservation/rebates.htm

Roofing calculator – http://www.newenglandmetalroof.com/roofing-calculator.html

Image Credits:

1. Green Roof – Sookie @  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MEC%27s_green_roof_among_others.jpg

2. Rainwater barrel - Mark Stosberg @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/markstos/4687122540/

3. Composting toilet - http://www.homecompostingsolutions.com/product/CSEM-01400 & http://www.biolet.com/

4. Green Roof 2 – thingermejig @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Construction_sample_of_a_green_roof_system.jpg

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Summer solar shading study animation

Let’s talk windows:

The University of Minnesota developed a simple site for comparing the savings of different windows. The link below is for San Antonio, TX. They tabulate $450 annually for energy costs for a double glazed window. $850 is the annual cost for a house with single pane metal-framed windows. So an upgrade from single pane to double pane saves $400 a year. Window upgrades alone can save 35% on energy costs in hot climates and 26% savings in cold climates. Why the difference in percentages? Probably due to the temperature difference of outside environment vs. the interior conditioned space. In a warm climate zone the major energy need is in the summer with 100˚ outside to 75˚ inside with a difference of 25˚. In a cold climate zone the major energy draw is in the winter with 20˚ outside and 75˚ inside for a difference of 55˚.

Now let’s talk walls:

For those new to R-value, it represents a unit of thermal resistance. Cotton insulation is roughly R-4 per inch. Iso (Polyisocyanurate) foam is R-7.2. The thicker the insulation the more resistance to heat and cold transfer. Around R-45 is the point at which the energy savings top out compared to the cost of the upgrade. Energy savings between R-3 and R-45 is $500 annually for average electrical costs. Annual energy savings for upgrading from R-45 to R-90 is $20. This simple analysis demonstrates peak efficiency. The current building code minimum is R-13 for walls. When renovating a house, asking “how much do I want to pay for energy bills?” can be good start rather than going with the minimum insulation.

A combined upgrade with 3” added to the wall thickness and upgraded windows could save nearly $1000 annually. Windows alone can improve efficiency by roughly 30% every year. Additional energy savings can be achieved with upgraded appliances, hot water heaters, lighting fixtures, etc. A whole house analysis and renovation can cut energy costs down to between 20-90% depending on the scale of the home improvement. The Passive House Institute system is the highest energy standard in the country with reductions up to 90%.

Additional links for R-value upgrades and energy savings calculations:

1. Home Energy Saver™ (HES) developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for the DOE (Department of Energy)

2. Passive house Institute

3. Efficientwindows.org was developed by The Center for Sustainable Building Research, Alliance to Save Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

4. Efficientwindows.org – Window Products tied to energy costs

5. Cost Savings with R-Value Upgrades

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Mongolian nomads first used wool insulation in felted pads to insulate the floors and walls of their yurt dwellings. Today it is becoming a more popular choice for non-yurt housing in Europe, Australia and Canada with more manufacturers popping up in the US. Wool insulation is sustainable, natural and flame resistent, but is sometimes susceptible to insect damage.

Structural insulated panels or SIPS are a composite building material consisting of a layer of polymer foam sandwiched between two layers of structural board made out of sheet metal, plywood, cement or oriented stand board. This insulation choice is extremely air-tight, but SIPS are usually designed for new construction projects and do not allow for much post-build remodeling.

Next time you have an old pair of jeans, think about their potential with insulation before you turn them into sketchy cut-off shorts! Denim is used today in insulation as a replacement for fiberglass, and is made from the remnants of fabric left over after making blue jeans. Using denim for insulation is safe and easy to install, but can be expensive and is not completely fire resistant.

When The WHOLE Place takes on a building project, we turn to a local product for our insulation needs. Demilec USA, based out of Arlington, Texas, provides spray foam insulation for energy efficient buildings. This cellulose based insulation is healthier for installers and home owners than traditional fiberglass materials. In our latest renovation we used the Demilec SEALECTION® 500 for our insulation. This non-toxic plant based foam expands to 120 times its volume to fill every bit of an area for air tight performance. We love this local, affordable product to provide our clients with a safe insulation product for an energy efficient home!

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Pennybacker Bridge by Miles Bintz

Texas State Capitol by Dave Wilson

The Cup Cake Airstream of Austin by Trey Ratcliff

Musician Loading and Unloading at SXSW by Trey Ratcliff

Sunset by Trey Ratcliff

Pulling into the Austin Motel after dark by Trey Ratcliff

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