FineHome Source

Whether you are looking for a custom screened door or a top notch conservatory, you can find it all at this years FineHome Source home show. Last year we all had a great time meeting people and learning even more about the craftspeople we use and admire. This show has become an opportunity for our clients to meet the people who supply and produce

the high quality products that go into their homes. At the same time architects, contractors, and people who are dreaming of building get a chance to kick the tires on products they may use, all in one place that would take days to see otherwise.

We hope to see you September 26th, 10am to 5pm in Millbrook, right in the middle of town next to the Thorne building-3327 Franklin Avenue. Bring the family, this year like last, there will be bird house painting with non- toxic Mythic Paints.

Geothermal heating and cooling

One of my favorite jobs is visiting construction sites. On those visits I enjoy studying our homes from the most minor details we have designed to the overall execution of the project.

Earth moving is always interesting but is especially dramatic when it involves the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system. Almost all of our designs include energy saving elements but few have the impact of an energy efficient mechanical system.

Conceptually a geothermal heat pump exchanges the earths natural thermal energy to heat or cool a house(or other structure) In practice although the initial cost of installation substantially exceeds a conventional system, the cost of operation is a fraction of that conventional system. With fuel prices at record levels, the payback period shrinks every day.

In this case the piping run to extract the earths' energy is buried 8 and 4 feet below the surface of the property and is placed in a giant loop. In winter, heat is captured from the soil at approximately 50 degrees while the air temperature can fall below zero. In summer the relatively cool ground temperature can be used to cool the indoor air. Extremely quiet condensers are located in the basement of the home.