|
|
 |
The Diamond Update
A Schneider Development Newsletter |
|
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season. Here's to a prosperous 2010, may it bring you good health and happiness!
- Jim Schneider |
The Schneider Snapshot
 We love details. As a custom builder, details are what keep each new project unique and interesting. Clients who share this interest give us the opportunity to build very special buildings. One recent project illustrates this collaborative relationship that turns vision into plans then into reality.
This month our "Schneider Snapshot" is a colonial home, much like one you would see in historic Williamsburg, but with surprising hidden innovations and technologies. Tommy and Francie Rayfield wanted to create an environment where the entire family could enjoy weekend retreats and special events on an old family farm, complete with a family graveyard. They worked with architect Robert Burton to develop a design based on their love for colonial architecture and the Eastern Shore vernacular.
The Rayfields incorporated many of the latest green building technologies into their project. As an alternative to the traditional stick frame structure, they chose an ICF construction (Integrated Concrete Forms) which will greatly increase energy efficiency, provide better storm protection, and improve interior sounds and comfort. Tommy and Francie also chose to install a geo-thermal heating/cooling system to maximize the home's energy efficiency. This system uses the constant temperature of the earth underground as a source for heat. These decisions support their commitment to preserving the environment of the Shore.
Visually, the project has many unique features that enhance the authentic colonial feel. The wooden shingled roof cannot be missed as you approach the home from the long driveway. The brass lighting adds a period feel, including the lanterns on each side of the entryway, as does the heavy brass door hardware. The trim work and panels of the great room, particularly around the fireplace and hearth, create a perfect setting for George Washington himself. Perhaps the most unique room is the basement family room. This spacious room lacks any hint of "basement", but remains a cozy retreat with a large "Rumson" fireplace and beautiful handmade brick tile floor.
When asked to name their favorite part of the project, Tommy and Francie both agreed that they were grateful for the help of Kate Brown, our project advisor, who helped them along the way with finding and sorting through material selections and installation details. "We are thrilled to share a home that carries the traits of colonial times without loss of present day convenience - a fun and satisfying experience."
Welcome to the Schneider Development family!
|
|
Christmas Cookie Recipe
"Bachelor Buttons"
From Kate Brown in 2009, through her grandmother Juanita Latham in 1995, from friend Bonnie Pasco in 1940 3/4 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 egg, unbeaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. coconut
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 c. candied cherries, diced (during the holidays, use red and green candied fruit)
Mix all ingredients as you would a typical chocolate chip cookie recipe, adding coconut, almonds, and cherries at the end. Drop small balls of dough on an unbuttered baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes @ 350 to 375 degrees. These cookies are chewy, not crisp. |
Geo-Thermal Heating Systems 101
You've heard the term bounced around by neighbors... but what exactly is a geothermal system? In response to many questions and puzzled looks, here are the basics about using "geothermal" to heat or cool your home.
Basics first-a geothermal system or GeoExchange is the mechanical system in your home used to heat and cool the air. It replaces the more typical options such as: air-source heat pump, furnace, or radiant heaters. Descriptions about various choices are often centered around how efficient they are, in other words, how much fuel or electricity will it take to produce the amount of heating or cooling needed inside the house?
So how does it work? Dig into the earth in the summer and the dirt feels cool to the touch. Even dogs know this trick for cooling off, often to the detriment of the landscaping. A few feet beneath the surface, the earth's temperature remains fairly constant year-round, ranging from 45ºF or so in northern latitudes to about 70ºF in the deep south. To install GeoExchange, a well or series of wells are installed that pump water through a closed loop of pipes running through the constant-temperature earth and back to the house and thus very efficiently transfer heat to or from your home.
In winter, the fluid circulating through pipes buried in the ground absorbs heat from the earth and carries it into the home. The GeoExchange system inside the home uses a heat pump to concentrate the earth's thermal energy and then to transfer it, with an air handler, to the interior space for warmth.
In the summer, the process is reversed: heat is extracted from the air in the house and transferred through the heat pump to the ground loop piping. The fluid in the ground loop then carries the heat back to the earth. The only external energy needed for GeoExchange is the small amount of electricity needed to operate the heat pump, ground loop pump and distribution fan or pump. Using GeoExchange, you can attain the same inside temperatures using 40% to 70% less energy than more conventional systems.
Common questions:
Q- Will I still need HVAC ductwork in my house?
A- Yes. Think of GeoExchange as the heat source and the heat pump and duct work as the distribution system.
Q- Is it expensive?
A- GeoExchange is typically more expensive, but the exact amount depends on your house. Don't forget though that a GeoExhange will be less expensive to operate and less expensive to maintain. Also, the federal government is currently offering a significant tax credit (30% of the full system cost, including installation) to encourage this more energy efficient option.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
