Solar water heating systems use solar panels and water storage to collect and store heat from the sun for home hot water use or space heating. Solar water heating systems are typically used to deliver preheated water to a standard water heater. Solar water heating is more cost effective than ever as a result of newer technology, reliable products to choose from, and rising energy prices.

Homeowners should choose only those solar water heaters that are SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporated) certified. Before selecting equipment, ensure that there is a sufficient south-facing roof surface on which to place the solar collector panels, that the roof will accomodate the system's weight, and that tehre is enough area near the water heater for for any additional equipment needed (storage tanks, pumps, pipes, and controllers).

There are Federal tax credits available for installing solar hot water systems. Your tax advisor should have information on available programs, as should your contractor ,or the solar energy equipment installer you work with.  You can also visit the California Energy Commission's website:

www.consumerenergycenter.org.

Sanitary sewer systems handle 3 kinds of waste: used water, human waste, and toilet paper.  To prevent back-ups and keep these sytems working properrly, here are a few do's and dont's to keep in mind. They may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people "do" the "dont's" !!

Don't pour grease, fat, or oil down your drain.
Instead, collect grease, fat, or oil in a container and dispose of it in the garbage.

Don't use the sewer to dispose of food scraps.
Instead, put food scraps in the garbage or start a compost pile.

Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket for garbage or chemicals. These items can kill "good" bacteria used for sewage treatment, and can enter the bay with harmful affects.
Instead, place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste items. This includes disposable diapers and personal hygiene products.

Also, avoid planting trees with shallow, spreading root systems new your home's sewer lateral. Tree roots seek water sources such as cracked sewer lines. Once tree roots have penetrated the sewer lines through cracks, they can create a dense web and trap materials causing costly, messy back-ups.

Maintaining Proper Water Pressure

Water pressure is controlled by the internal diameter of the pipes. The smaller the diameter, the lower the water pressure, and the greater the velocity of water moving through it. 

In order to ensure proper function, there is a standaardized system of building codes that control many aspects of plumbing including:  

• Internal pipe diameter that must be used for a particular function
• Amount of slope or downward drop that drain pipes need to function properly

Water Supply

In most homes, water comes from one of two places; a private well (not so common in our area), or a service pipe that connects to the city's water main.

For homes with private wells, a pump pushes water up into a pressure tank where it is stored for use. Homes with city water have a water supply line that is connected to the city's water main. Water passes through a water meter that measures the volume of water used in the house. In case of repairs or emergency, both systems usually have a shut-off valve located near the start of the incoming line that enables the water supply to be temporarily cut off.

Water supply lines are generally made of copper, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride plastic, (CPVC), or galvanized steel. Pipes that carry cold water branch out from the main pipe. Some water is directed to the hot water heater for heating, and hot water pipes originate from there.

Where Does Wastewater Go?  

When wastewater goes down the drain, it forst passes through a trap; a U-shaped curve in the pipe that retains a small amount of water so that sewer gas cannot come up through the pipes and enter your home. It then passes into the main waste drain pipes.

The main component of the waste drain is the soil stack, a vertical stack of pipes taht is connected to the outbound sewer line. The stack has a vent which extends vertically through the roof, allowing gases to escape and promote drain flow by drawing air inward. It's very important to keep this vent clear. Plugged vents can trap dangerous gases and inhibit drainage.

Anytime your air conditioner or furnace is running, it's using valuable energy and costing you money.You can cut down on the energy and cost of these appliances by doing the following:

1) Install a programmable thermostsat. This will allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day so you are only heating and cooling your home as needed. Keep the thermostat turned down when you are away and when you are sleeping.

2) Change your filters. replacing them every 3 months will keep your furnace and air conditioner running efficiently.

3) Install a high efficiency furnace. New furnaces are 90%+ efficient, and can pay for themselves in reduced energy bills.

4) Shade your interior compressor. It will stay cooler and not have to work as hard.

5) Install a Radiant Hydronic Heating system, the most efficient and healthy way to heat a home.  Hot water runs through plastic tubing in your floor which radiates heat into a room instead of having warm air blow, which uses more electricity and spreads allergens.

Have a question? Need some more tips? Feel free to contact us: info@cwwrightconst.com

C.W. Wright Construction hosted the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce June business mixer. We had a great time; great food & drink and enjoyed the company of over 75 members of the local business and political community. It was a wonderful evening in our beautiful office courtyard.  Guest included San Carlos Assistant City Manager Brian Moura, Architect Dave Kastrop, and  members of local media. We were grateful to be be able to host such an active and professional group of people in our community.  


                                                   

                                                   

For homeowners considering a remodel, it is first essential to prepare a preliminary budget. The purpose of creating a budget is to both understand and control costs. There are many resources available to help you with creating a budget, however, it's important to understand the nature of the beast; the hard and soft costs associated with your project and some examples:

Hard costs include the fundamental materials and labor involved in building. The  nuts and bolts structural work as well as work needed to improve the site per City or County codes. Below are some examples of the hard costs you will need to budget.

1) Building costs: Cost of construction as it relates to the structure

2) Site improvements: on site costs such as grading, sidewalks, drainage, etc.

3) Landscaping: most local juridictions require a landscape plan

4) Contingenies: This is an amount budgeted in a construction loan to pay unanticipated costs incurred during construction. The amount typically ranges from 5-10% of total cost for new construction and 10-20% for remodel work.

5) Change Orders: When changes to the scope of work are implemented upon agreement by the architect, homeowner and contractor or subcontractors. Change orders are common to most projects, and very common with large projects.A Change Order is work that is added to or deleted from the original scope of work of a contract, which alters the original contract amount or completion date.

 Common causes for change orders to be created are:

- The project's work was incorrectly estimated
- The customer or project team discovers obstacles or possible efficiencies that require them to deviate from the original plan
- The customer or project team are inefficient or incapable of completing their required deliverables within budget, and additional money, time, or resources must be added to the project
- During the course of the project, additional features or options are perceived and requested.


Soft Costs are slightly more flexible items including the costs associated with your design work, the finishes chosen, appliances,  and the like. These costs also include permits and fees, which can change, off-site improvements such as sidewalks & traffic lights, and equipment such as security systems, sound systems, etc.

 There is always a cost range which correlates with the  products and materials chose to work with. For exapmle, choosing Green building products or high end appliances will add to the cost of your project. Here on the Peninsula, a good cost range rule of thumb is anywhere from $200/square foot and up.

Knowing the hard costs and then budgeting for soft costs will help you understand the feasibilty of your ideas as well as allow you to identify your project's priorities, recognize trad-offs, and revise your estimates.

Incandescents are the light bulbs we have always known, and with all due respect to the old stand-by, they are very  wasteful. Incandescents bulbs use most of the electricity they draw to emit heat. They also don't last very long, requiring constant replacement, as well as generating trash. For a long time, one could argue that energy efficient bulbs cost too much, and continued buying incandescents to save money. But that is quickly changing. Energy efficient light bulbs are less costly than ever, they provide superior light quality, and pay for themselves in energy savings and reduced need for replacement.

Options:

You will be glad to know that moving to efficient bulbs has never been easier. LED lights (Light Emitting Diodes), are increasingly affordable and flexible. These efficient and technologically superior lights will likely be the choice of the future. In the meantime, CFL's (compact florescent lights), are meeting the immediate need for energy efficiency. CFL's are designed to fit into the same light sockets as incandescent bulbs, and they have come a long way from the CFL's of the past. Many emit the warm light we prefer in our homes. In fact, some experts compare the soft warm light opf CFL's to morning sunlight.  Again, they can be used anywhere to replace a traditional incandescent. They last a long time, and they are a very  easy way to save money on your untility bill. In addition to indoor spiral bulbs, CFL's are available in the tradtional bulb shape, as well as reflectors.

CFL Bulbs:

The base of a CFL bulb is a ballast that generates an electric charge which flows through the gas-filled tube. Those gases emit UV, which activiates a phosphor coating inside the tube, resulting in visible light. This chemical process creates a lot of light but very little heat. When buying CFL's, make sure to always look for the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) symbol to ensure the ballasts of the bulbs have been properly fireproofed.

LED Bulbs:

As mentioned above, LED stands for "light emitting diode". LED lights don't have a filament to burn out and don't create much heat, which accounts for their long life spans. They also use a fraction of the elctricity used by incandescents. LED's may definitley be the future of energy efficient lighting. Already they are the most efficient on the market. While still expensive, pricing has been dropping over the past decade. The demand for high efficiency lighting has also spurred development of newer, cheaper materials in their manufacturing process.

How your house relates to the sun

Ideally situated homes use very little energy to heat or cool. Take advantage of natural solar movement and use natural ventilation to either insulate or cool your home. How is your house situated?

South Facing: This is the preferable orientation for windows with a roof eave or awning. The low winter sun naturally heats your home, while the high summer sun can be blocked by roof overhangs or deciduous (leaf dropping) trees.

West Facing: This side of your house needs lots of attention. In the summertime, the long days can literally bake you exterior finish, which can result in peeling or cracking paint. Your home can also overheat if your windows are not protected with shades, awnings, or plants. In the winter, most of the rain from winter storms come from the west. It's importatnt to maintain this side of your home as water can lead to mold, mildew, dry rot, and insects, which can become costly if left unaddressed.

North Facing: This is the cool side of your home. Windows on this side provide great reflected light which reduces glare in the eyes, or on your computer and TV screens.

East Facing: This is the morning side of your house. It doesn't overheat like the west side can, but it does get low-angled sunlight, which can cause glare.

Conventional paint contains many harmful chemicals that emit gases into the air, which can have health consequences for people as well as the planet! The gases emitted are called Volitile Organic Compounds, or VOC's, which arte a class of carbon-based chemicals that have the capacity to evaporate readily at room temperature. VOC's are responsible for the smells associated with new paint and can cause headaches and other symptoms in many people.

"Green" paints are those that contain less of these chemicals and heavy metals (petrochemicals, solvents, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, biocides, and cadmium), while still providing high performance. You can choose paints that are low-VOC, zero-VOC, recycled, or natural, which can be made of plant-based materials. 

"Green" paints are comparable in cost to conventional mid-to-high quality paint.Recycled paint can be much less expensive, costing about $10 or less per gallon. It's durabilty, however, can be a little lacking. With paint, as with many things, you get what you pay for. Look for formulas with a high solids content, and remember that a more durable paint can cost a bit more at first, but the longer wear will save you maintenance costs in the long run.

There are several manufacturers of "Green" paints, including some of the traditional, national brands like Benjamin Moore's Natura line, or e-coat, a recycled paint by Kelly Moore. An online search  or a call to your painter will provide you many resources. Or give us a call!

Have a question? email us at: laura@cwwrightconst.com

 

According to a study conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the energy lost through inefficient, aging,  residential windows accounts for 2% of total U.S energy consumption, and 9% of total U.S. residential energy consumption. Because energy efficiency is a crucial part of sustainable design, energy efficient windows can greatly impact the environmental  performance of a home or building. 

High performance windows can be a bit more expensive up front, but long term operating costs related to heating and cooling your home will be reduced. You will also experience greater comfort during  hot summer or cold winter months. In addition, high performance windows cut noise and UV light. This results in less fading of window treatments, furniture, and the like. 

High performance windows ar those that combine multiple glazings, Krypton glass interior, low E-coatings, as well as tight seals and insulated frames.