Radiant Heating Systems

Many energy efficient home designs include radiant floor heat. More efficient than forced-air heating or baseboard heat, radiant heat delivers several benefits to homeowners: less allergens (circulated through the home via the heat systems ductwork) meaning better air quality, reduced electricity usage and fossil fuel usage, and evenly distributed heat at floor levels with...

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Types of Radiant Heat Floor Installations

Radiant floor heating systems are one of the most energy efficient methods of radiant heat available. Each of the three types of radiant floor heat (electric, air, and water) can be installed using either a “wet” or “dry” installation method. “Wet” installation methods include embedding the cables or tubing with a solid floor, such as a concrete foundation slab or a thin layer...

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Geothermal Heating Systems

Thinking of incorporating a geothermal energy system into your green home? Geothermal Heat Pumps, the most common use of geothermal energy systems in green homes, use stable ground or water temperatures near the earth’s surface to provide heating, air conditioning, and in most cases, hot water. Because they use the earth's constant temperatures, they are among the most efficient...

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Small Home Design

One of our clients is building a lakefront cottage on their property in southern New Hampshire for their visiting children and grandchildren to use during the summer months. Some of their requirements included:Large porch for entertaining and to capture lake views Plenty of bedrooms for extended family A first-floor bedroom to address any future accessibility issues Plenty...

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Architect Fees

Architects use various methods to establish their fees, depending on the type of services they provide, the location of the firm, and their personal preference. In some instances, more than one method may be used to calculate their fees, based on the type of the services provided. Some methods to calculate architect fees include: A percentage of construction cost An hourly...

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Residential Solar Energy is HOT!

Solar is the hottest thing in green homes today – and with good reason.According to The Clear Mountain Solar Store, our local solar experts, “all the potential energy of the earth’s known oil, coal and natural gas reserves is equaled by just three weeks of solar energy. It is estimated that the solar energy that reaches the earth on a typical day could supply all the power...

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Bonin Architects Hires Intern Architect

I'm very happy to announce a new hire for Bonin Architects: Christopher Timberlake has joined our firm as an Intern Architect.Chris obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Studies and his Masters degree in Architecture from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont. Timberlake was an architectural designer for a national manufacturer of timber frame homes for...

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AIA is Walking the Walk in Green

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is changing the way we think about buildings, specifically with regard to energy usage. Buildings currently account for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions, a fact we simply cannot ignore. AIA architects are leading the way by integrating sustainable design practices in all of their projects, thereby being able to reduce energy...

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