Smarter Designs
 FROM THE DESIGNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Dramatic Design, Inside & Out
Some house designs just seem to flow from pencil to paper without any hindrance. That’s what happened with this plan. Both the exterior and the interior are equally dramatic. The floor plan complements the appealing nature of the exterior. When you walk into the foyer you immediately notice the vaulted ceiling and the half wall of the study above. The study is open to both  the foyer and kitchen below. It also provides natural light and a nice view to the outside as its two windows penetrate the main roof. Drama continues on the main floor as you walk under a catwalk into the vaulted great room. The stairway with a unique, curved handrail continues to the second floor (see illustration). We like to include skylights whenever possible to make our plans feel open and airy. The skylights in the great room accomplish this goal beautifully. Looking at the illustration, you notice the views into kitchen/breakfast area beyond. The open arrangement between the kitchen/breakfast areas and the great room makes any gathering more enjoyable.
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Backyard Project Plans
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06016
Cape Cod Apartment Garage |
90042
Two-Level Deck with Angle Cornerss |
90021
Shed Roof Sun Room Addition for Two-Story Homese |
We offer a wide selection of today's best-selling do-it-yourself project plans. All plans come with complete materials list and step-by-step instructions designed for the do-it-yourself customer.
SEE ALL OF OUR PROJECT PLANS
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Design Styles
SOUTHERN
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The grand, pre-Civil War home styles of the South still inspire us today. From the Federal and Greek Revival style homes of the past, to the Neoclassical home designs of today, we are drawn to the regal elements, such as balconies, columns, grand staircases, deep porches, and elaborate cornices that make a house plan quintessentially Southern. This collection of Southern home designs features majestic, symmetrical exteriors outfitted in classical style replete with modern amenities and open floor plans. There are several styles of southern house plans in this collection but the southern colonial home plans exemplify true southern living. |
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TRADITIONAL
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This group of Traditional house plans mingles what’s familiar with what’s fresh. Sometimes called Neoeclectic home plans, these designs combine architectural details from a variety of house style eras from Colonial to Victorian. The result is a group of Traditional home plans that delivers familiar architectural style in an updated and modern way. You’ll find an assortment of Traditional style house designs in this compilation, from one-story starter home plans to large luxury estates, all with floor plans that suit your modern way of life. |
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Smarter Homebuilding Technologies
BUYING ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
How to Read the EnergyGuide Label
What is big, square, yellow and informative? No, it's not SpongeBob SquarePants, it's the EnergyGuide label found on most appliances.
This label tells you how much energy an appliance uses, and compares it to other models. You'll find EnergyGuide labels on all new refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces and boilers. Note: The EnergyGuide label should not be confused with the ENERGY STAR label. Although the label looks quite simple, there are some tricks to make sure you get the most energy-efficient appliance.
The EnergyGuide label gives you two important pieces of information you can use to compare different models when shopping for a new appliance:
- In the white box: estimated yearly energy consumption at the top, sitting on a scale showing the range of energy use for all other similar models.
- At the bottom: estimated yearly operating cost based on the national average cost of electricity.
Tricks for Finding the Most Energy-Efficient Product
Don't just use the scale in the white box. The range of energy usage (uses least energy to uses most energy) in the white box is only for models with similar features. In the example above, the refrigerator is compared with other 22.5 to 24 cubic feet models with automatic defrost, a side-mounted freezer, and without through-the-door ice service. You can see the features just under the large EnergyGuide title at top left of the label.
Because you might be considering other models with different features, compare the total energy used number (776 kWh) or the annual operating cost ($68) with the total from other models that you are considering.
Take it one step further...
Calculate an accurate yearly operating cost. Just below the annual operating cost ($68) is fine print that tells you what electricity rate (or natural gas rate for some other appliances) was used to determine the figure. This is the national average, which may be significantly different than the rates that you pay. On this label, it is 8.4 cents per kWh. Before you shop, look at your energy bill and determine what your actual rate is, and then calculate what your annual operating cost will be. For argument's sake, say it's 10 cents per kWh. Multiply 10 cents by the energy use (776) and you get $0.10 x 776 = $77.60. Now you will be able to more accurately compare different models with different efficiencies.
And one more step...
Calculate lifetime cost. One way to determine overall cost is to multiply the annual energy cost by how many years you expect to keep the product, and then add the purchase price. For example, if you expect to keep the refrigerator above for 15 years, multiply $77.60 x 15 = $1164 and then add the purchase price (we'll assume $800). The total is $1164 + $800 = $1964. Now compare this price with other models that you have done a similar calculation with, and you'll have a better idea as to what the best deal is.
The simplest thing is to look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR qualified products are more energy-efficient than conventional models.
Courtesy of Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology (PATH)
www.pathnet.org/homeowners
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