LEED Rated PrecisionCraft Log Home

For Mark and Crystal Ryan, building their dream mountain house was synonymous with building what is commonly referred to as a “green” home. This Oregon couple turned to award-winning Mountain Architects and PrecisionCraft Log Homes & Timber Frame to help them design and manufacture a log home that is now in the final certification process to be awarded the LEED Platinum rating. LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a... 

Napa Valley’s Historic Bardessono Farmstead Morphs Into America’s Greenest Luxury Hotel

Phil Sherburne, a pioneer in modern green development, will open his long-awaited Bardessono hotel, restaurant and spa in California’s famed Napa Valley during the first week of February. The 62-room luxury hotel with its 92-seat restaurant and bar is situated on the Bardessono family farmstead in the heart of historic Yountville. Sherburne, who was hand-picked by the Bardessonos to develop their six-acre property, promised an ecologically-friendly... 

Mountain Architects Releases Its Newest Addition to a Distinctive Collection of Log Cabins & Plans

Last month, Mountain Architects and PrecisionCraft announced the release of a new design series, Rustic Luxury™ Log Cabins & Plans, an exclusive collection featuring unique cabin designs complete with luxurious finishes. With a four-month endeavor ahead of them, Mountain Architects didn’t skip a beat after releasing its first design in this new, distinctive cabin series. Rather, they turned their collective attention to brainstorming and... 

Mountain Architects Releases Its Newest Addition to a Distinctive Collection of Log Cabins & Plans

Last month, Mountain Architects and PrecisionCraft announced the release of a new design series, Rustic Luxury™ Log Cabins & Plans, an exclusive collection featuring unique cabin designs complete with luxurious finishes. With a four-month endeavor ahead of them, Mountain Architects didn’t skip a beat after releasing its first design in this new, distinctive cabin series. Rather, they turned their collective attention to brainstorming and... 

Many Save on Utility Bills Indoors, but Not with Their Yard, Lawn, or Garden

While most (96 percent) of U.S. adults have personally adopted sustainable or energy efficient practices at home, comparatively fewer (58 percent) use energy or water saving techniques in their yard, lawn, or garden, according to a new national survey about sustainability. Conducted online by Harris Interactive® on behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the results were presented at the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Philadelphia. Of... 

Rex Plus® – The Electronic Watchdog That Never Sleeps

STI announces an effective way to help protect homes and businesses from burglars, thieves and intruders. Rex Plus (ED-50), the electronic watchdog, can “see” through thick doors, walls and glass with his electronic radar eyes and produces a barking alarm when a person approaches a protected area. Rex is versatile and provides an excellent form of protection, without the annoying problems of owning a real dog. He doesn’t require... 

D-Link Pioneers Green Home Wi-Fi

In light of rising energy bills combined with growing pressure to reduce carbon footprint, D-Link has introduced the first eco-friendly home Wi-Fi routers capable of reducing energy usage by up to 40%. The use of Wi-Fi networks in homes and offices is growing at a considerable rate. For home users that enjoy surfing the web, streaming movies from their PC to their TV or making internet phone calls, they can now do so knowing that they will not only...