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Design in Energy Efficiency

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Design in Energy Efficiency

In the world of home building, blending Form and Function isthe tell tale sign of a craftsman and, well, not a craftsman I suppose. We feel that connecting the world of efficiency and comfortable living is our greatest strength.

That is one of the reasons we are so attracted to the business of green building. While green building can go off on the odd tangent and produce some bizarre things – it forces us to reevaluate our relationship with the things in our homes.

One of the most beautiful examples of this that I’ve seen are innovations in thermostats. I may be betraying some nerdiness here, but thermostats are a critical part of every home. They are the interface to the mechanical system you think of the least and depend on the most.  Two thermostats in particular caught my eye recently – the Nest and the EcoBee. Both take a utilitarian tool and rethink it.

Having a thermostat that is programmable can save you serious money on your monthly utility bills but so many require an engineering degree to operate. These two manufacturers have addressed the function as well as the form to deliver efficiency and user friendly interfaces.

It is what we strive to do everyday, and it is clear that weare not alone in our quest.