Announcing the launch of Second Showroom

The idea started out with an epiphany.

Let us explain.

As an operator of an online store, we have our fair share of both pleasure and pain. The pleasure part is going to trade shows and buying all these wonderful things. The painful part is sometime we buy too much or when we have returns. What do we do with all these beautiful items that are brand new and absolutely too beautiful to sit in the warehouse?

So we are so excited to announce the launch of SecondShowroom.com.

This is the site where you can get overstock, showroom samples and excess inventory directly from the manufacturers, retailers and showrooms throughout the country at amazing prices, and we mean AMAZING prices. More often than not you can get new items at savings of up to 75% off. What's more, by buying directly from the retailers and the manufacturers, you'll get the added assurance of buying from a reputable source; and that the merchandise will be in good condition when you receive it.

Now, the site is fairly new and we only have a limited number of items up so far, but keep checking back as we add more dealers and more merchandise.

It'll be a great hunt! We guarantee it.

NOTE: RETAILERS, DESIGNERS, STORES AND MANUFACTURERS-WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US. THE SITE IS ABSOLUTELY FREE. GO TO WWW.SECONDSHOWROOM.COM TO REGISTER.

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NH Architect Jeremy Bonin's Interviewed by Timber Home Magazine

The September 2008 Special Green Building Issue features an interview with NH Architect Jeremy Bonin on energy efficient home design, sustainability, and timber framing.

Writer Peter Lobred asks Jeremy Bonin, a LEED accredited architect and the author of the timber frame book, TIMBER FRAMES: Designing Your Custom Home, pointed questions about building a timber frame home and incorporating sustainable design. After explaining some of the catch phrases in the green building industry, Jeremy answers questions such as “What are some basic considerations – or the most crucial elements – that consumers / architects can incorporate into their plans for sustainable design?” and “Does there seem to be a natural fit between timber frame homes and green considerations?”

Asked about the cost versus benefits of energy efficient home design and sustainable options, Jeremy reminds homeowners that the simplest solutions are not only the most cost effective and usually provide the largest return on investment. For example, designing the home for passive solar heating and daylighting adds no cost to the home and offers huge savings; using an energy-efficient insulation system such as Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) to keep heat in and cold air out and only designing as much house as you need means lower energy bills for years to come.

If you’re building a green home, whether it’s timber frame, post and beam, structural insulated panels, or another energy efficient building system, energy efficient home design starts with the site selection and site design. Jeremy suggests consulting with an architect in the earliest possible stage, even prior to purchasing your land, and discussing your ideas and green materials you want to incorporate.

Read the full article, Simply Green.

Jackie Lampiasi, Bonin Architects & Associates

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Choosing Green Building Materials

There are certainly an abundance of green building materials on the market today. How do you determine which one is better than the other? One way is by considering its life cycle: where its raw materials come from, how it is manufactured and what happens during the manufacturing process, and where the product ends up. These are some things to consider when comparing green products:

Do the raw materials come from:

• The earth;
  
• A forest;
  
• Chemicals mixed together

How are they harvested, and do they create waste or harmful material?

After being manufactured, how far does the product travel to get to distribution centers and you, the consumer?

Does the material require sealants, urethane finishes, or adhesives for installation (these usually involve using chemicals)?

Is the material durable and can it be easily repaired if necessary?

Fifty years from now, will the material be:

• In the landfill in exactly the same form it was manufactured in;
  
• Recycled into another product or material;
  
• Biodegraded, having been broken down by microorganisms and bacteria

In the future, green building materials will come with labels listing the raw materials, contribution toward global warming, impact on carbon footprint, ozone depletion, health concerns, habitat impact, and other influences on our global environment. In the meantime, you can rely on your green architect to help you choose the building materials that are right for your project, the environment, and your immediate [and future] budget.

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