Posts Tagged ‘upholstered furniture nc’

An armoire James Bond would appreciate

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Furniture Traditions is one of those companies I enjoy visiting when I’m at the Tupelo Furniture Market. It is pretty unique to our industry.

It has three sales representatives that cover the entire U.S. They introduce one or two new pieces of furniture each year. The pieces are interesting, innovative and always well thought out.

Furniture Traditions has three collections, works mostly in oak or alder and sells its furniture as heirloom quality. The furniture is solid and well built in the U.S.A.

They won’t have the biggest line, but their line has all the pieces and all the bells and whistles you would find in any other media or bedroom pieces, if not more.

When I visited the showroom this year, I heard the same pitch I heard the last time I visited.

“If you make the same bedroom for 20 years you’re going to get good at what you do,” said Tim Price, a sales representative for the company.

This year Furniture Traditions added a great piece to the entertainment furniture canon. Its new Flat Screen TV Armoire has flat-back raised panel doors, a jewelry drawer lined with velvet, a power strip, three-way touch lighting and two giant full-extension, cedar-lined drawers.

Those are great features in themselves, but in the cabinet, behind a locking flat panel television swing-arm that the company is seeking a patent for, is the real meat.

When you swing out the television, you’ll find a fingerprint activated safe, storage for six rifles and a locking cable to secure them, multiple secret storage areas and false cabinet bottoms.

I think if you were a burglar you’d have to steal the whole piece to get anything. Aside from smashing it, you’d have a tough time getting into its contents. It’s like a big safe.

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Elements of an Energy Efficient House

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

 

Designing and building an energy-efficient home that conforms to the many considerations faced by home builders can be a challenge. However, any house style can be made to require relatively minimal amounts of energy to heat and cool, and be comfortable and healthy. It’s easier now to get your architect and builder to use improved designs and construction methods. Even though there are many different design options available, they all have several things in common: a high R-value, tightly sealed thermal envelope; controlled ventilation; and lower than usual heating and cooling bills.

Some designs are more expensive to build than others, but none of them need to be extremely expensive to construct. Recent technological improvements in building elements and construction techniques, and heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, allow most modern energy saving ideas to be seamlessly integrated into any type of house design without sacrificing comfort, health, or aesthetics. The following is a discussion of the major elements of energy-efficient home design and construction systems. The EREC has other, more specific information on these topics available.

The Thermal Envelope

A “thermal envelope” is everything about the house that serves to shield the living space from the outdoors. It includes the wall and roof assemblies, insulation, windows, doors, finishes, weather-stripping, and air/vapor retarders. Specific items to consider in these areas are described below.

Wall and Roof Assemblies

There are several alternatives to the conventional “stick” (wood stud) framed wall and roof construction now available and growing in popularity. They include:

Optimum Value Engineering (OVE.) This is a method of using wood only where it does the most work, thus reducing costly wood use and saving space for insulation. However, workmanship must be of the highest order since there is very little room for construction errors.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIP.) These are generally plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheets laminated to a core of foamboard. The foam may be 4 to 8 inches thick. Since the SIP acts as both the framing and the insulation, construction is much faster than OVE or it’s older counterpart “stick-framing.” The quality of construction is often superior too since there are fewer places for workers to make mistakes.

Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF.) These often consist of two layers of extruded foamboard (one inside the house and one outside the house) that act as the form for a steel reinforced concrete center. This is the fastest and least likely technique to have construction mistakes. Such buildings are also very strong and easily exceed code requirements for tornado or hurricane prone areas.

Insulation

An energy-efficient house has much higher insulation R-values than required by most local building codes. For example, a typical house in New York State might have haphazardly installed R-11 fiberglass insulation in the exterior walls and R-19 in the ceiling, and the floors and foundation walls may not be insulated. A similar, but well-designed and constructed house’s insulation levels would be in the range of R-20 to R-30 in the walls (including the foundation) and R-50 and R-70 in the ceilings. Carefully applied fiberglass batt or roll, wet-spray cellulose, or foam insulations will fill wall cavities completely.

Air/Vapor Retarders

These are two things that sometimes can do the same job. How to design and install them depends a great deal on the climate and what method of construction is chosen. No matter where you are building, water vapor condensation is a major threat to the structure of a house. In cold climates, pressure differences can drive warm, moist indoor air into exterior walls and attics. It condenses as it cools. The same can be said for very Southern climates, just in reverse. As the humid outdoor air enters the walls to find cooler wall cavities it condenses into liquid water. This is the main reason why some of the old buildings in the South that have been retrofitted with air conditioners now have mold and rotten wood problems.

Regardless of your climate, it is important to minimize water vapor migration by using a carefully designed thermal envelope and sound construction practices. Any water vapor that does manage to get into the walls or attics must be allowed to get out again. Some construction methods and climates lend themselves to allowing the vapor to flow towards the outdoors. Others are better suited to letting it flow towards the interior so that the house ventilation system (see below) can deal with it.

The Airtight Drywall Approach and the Simple CS system are other methods to control air and water vapor movement in a residential building. These systems rely on the nearly airtight installation of sheet materials such as drywall or gypsum board on the interior as the main barrier, and carefully sealed foamboard and/or plywood on the exterior.

Foundations and Slabs

Foundation walls and slabs should be at least as well insulated as the living space walls. Uninsulated foundations have a negative impact on home energy use and comfort, especially if the family uses the lower parts of the house as a living space. Also, appliances that supply heat as a by-product, such as domestic hot water heaters, washers, dryers, and freezers, are often located in basements. By carefully insulating the foundation walls and floor of the basement, these appliances can assist in the heating of the house.

Windows

The typical home loses over 25% of its heat through windows. Since even modern windows insulate less than a wall, in general an energy-efficient home in heating dominated climates should have few windows on the north, east, and west exposures. A rule-of-thumb is that window area should not exceed 8-9% of the floor area, unless your designer is experienced in passive solar techniques. If this is the case, then increasing window area on the southern side of the house to about 12% of the floor area is recommended. In cooling dominated climates, its important to select east, west, and south facing windows with low solar heat gain coefficients (these block solar heat gain). A properly designed roof overhang for south-facing windows is important to avoid overheating in the summer in most areas of the continental United States. At the very least, Energy Star rated windows or their equivalents, should be specified according to the Energy Star regional climatic guidelines.

In general, the best sealing windows are awning and casement styles since these often close tighter than sliding types. Metal window frames should be avoided, especially in cold climates. Always seal the wall air/vapor diffusion retarder tightly around the edges of the window frame to prevent air and water vapor from entering the wall cavities.

Air-Sealing

A well-constructed thermal envelope requires that insulating and sealing be precise and thorough. Sealing air leaks everywhere in the thermal envelope reduces energy loss significantly. Good air-sealing alone may reduce utility costs by as much as 50% when compared to other houses of the same type and age. Homes built in this way are so energy-efficient that specifying the correct sizing heating/ cooling system can be tricky. Rules-of-thumb system sizing is often inaccurate, resulting in oversizing and wasteful operation.

Controlled Ventilation

Since an energy-efficient home is tightly sealed, it’s also important and fairly simple to deliberately ventilate the building in a controlled way. Controlled, mechanical ventilation of the building reduces air moisture infiltration and thus the health risks from indoor air pollutants, promotes a more comfortable atmosphere, and reduces the likelihood of structural damage from excessive moisture accumulation.

A carefully engineered ventilation system is important for other reasons too. Since devices such as furnaces, water heaters, clothes dryers, and bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans exhaust air from the house, it’s easier to depressurize a tight house if all else is ignored. Natural draft appliances, such as water heaters, woodstoves, and furnaces may be “back drafted” by exhaust fans and lead to a lethal build-up of toxic gases in the house. For this reason it’s a good idea to only use “sealed combustion” heating appliances wherever possible and provide make-up air for all other appliances that can pull air out of the building.

Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) or energy recovery ventilators (ERV) are growing in use for controlled ventilation in tight homes. These devices salvage about 80% of the energy from the stale exhaust air and then deliver that energy to the fresh entering air by way of a heat exchanger inside the device. They are generally attached to the central forced air system, but they may have their own duct system. Other ventilation devices such as through-the-wall and/or “trickle” vents may be used in conjunction with an exhaust fan. They are, however, more expensive to operate and possibly more uncomfortable to use since they have no energy recovery features to pre-condition the incoming air. Uncomfortable incoming air can be a serious problem if the house is in a northern climate, and they can create moisture problems in humid climates. This sort of ventilation strategy is recommended only for very mild to low humidity climates.

Heating and Cooling Requirements

Houses incorporating the above elements should require relatively small heating systems (typically less than 50,000 Btu/hour even for very cold climates). Some have nothing more than sunshine as the primary source of heat energy. Common choices for auxiliary heating include radiant in-floor heating from a standard gas-fired water heater, a small boiler, furnace, or electric heat pump. Also, any common appliance that gives off “waste” heat can contribute significantly to the heating requirements for such houses. Masonry, pellet, or wood stoves are also options, but they must be operated carefully to avoid “back drafting.”

If an air conditioner is required, a small (6,000 Btu/ hour) unit can be sufficient. Some designs, like the ACT2 houses in arid Davis, CA use only a large fan and the cooler evening air to cool down the house. In the morning the house is closed up and it stays comfortable until the next evening.

Beginning a Project

Houses incorporating the above features have many advantages. They feel more comfortable since the additional insulation keeps the interior wall temperatures more stable. The indoor humidity is better controlled, and drafts are reduced. A tightly sealed air/vapor retarder reduces the likelihood of moisture and air seeping through the walls. They are also very quiet because of the extra insulation and tight construction. There are some potential drawbacks. They may cost more and take longer to build than a conventional home, especially if your builder and the contractors are not familiar with them. Even though their structure may differ only slightly from conventional homes, your builder and the contractors may be unwilling to deviate from what they’ve always done before. They may need education or training if they have no experience with these systems. Because some systems have thicker walls than a “typical” home, they may require a larger foundation to provide the same floor space.

Before beginning a home-building project, carefully evaluate the site and its climate to determine the optimum design and orientation. You may want to take the time to learn how to use some of the energy related software programs that are available to assist you. Prepare a design that accommodates appropriate insulation levels, moisture dynamics, and aesthetics. Decisions regarding appropriate windows, doors, and heating, cooling and ventilating appliances are central to an efficient design. Also evaluate the cost, ease of construction, the builder’s limitations, and building code compliance. Some schemes are simple to construct, while others can be extremely complex and thus expensive.

An increasing number of builders are participating in the federal government’s Building America and Energy Star Homes programs, which promote energy-efficient houses. Many builders participate so that they can differentiate themselves from their competitors. Construction costs can vary significantly depending on the materials, construction techniques, contractor profit margin, experience, and the type of heating, cooling and ventilation system chosen. However, the biggest benefits from designing and building an energy-efficient home are its superior comfort level and lower operating costs. This relates directly to an increase in its real-estate market value.  

furnituretoday.com

UPDATE: Researchers say Consumers don’t know what ‘green’ means

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

New findings presented at AHFA’s Sustainability Summit
Heath E. Combs — Furniture Today,

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Green and sustainable product still faces an uphill battle when it comes to reaching a wide audience of consumers, according to new market research.

In fact, they’re still pretty confused about what exactly “green” means and aren’t dying to rush out and be green, said Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, a specialist in researching environmental issues.

Shelton presented some of her recent findings at the American Home Furnishings Alliance’s second annual Sustainability Summit, held recently at the Proximity Hotel here.

The AHFA commissioned the research to measure the importance of environmental attributes in home furnishings purchases. Shelton also reported on related research her firm has done.

She said the AHFA study sought to learn what mainstream consumers care about and respond to in green purchases. The findings are aimed at aiding green marketing messages.

Shelton said that green is a mainstream concept and there is a broad desire – by 60% of the population – for greener product. However, consumers still know very little about what green claims mean and what to believe, she added.

The average consumer knows only enough about green to get through a cocktail party conversation, Shelton said.

“They can cough up a few things just enough to make you think, ‘Oh they know what they’re talking about.’ Yeah, not so much.”

She said that when mainstream consumers were asked to name a feature of a green home, only 53% could. That low percentage was surprising considering that low-wattage light bulbs, flooring from sustainable woods, and solar panels are mainstream examples of green features, she said.

“We’ve thrown a lot out at them today, particularly as it relates to certifications. There’s a whole alphabet soup of stuff out that that means absolutely nothing to consumers. So know that and know that it’s your job to educate them,” said Shelton.

Of the plethora of certifications, she added, the only one with high brand recognition is Energy Star, recognized by 75% of consumers.

For furniture items, 24% of consumers recognize Rainforest Alliance labels, followed by Sustainable Forestry Initiative and GreenGuard certifications, Shelton said. But 60% didn’t know any of the labels shown to them.

“Labels are important. Certifications are important. But we’ve got to have one right at the top again that is supported by a lot of marketing dollars,” Shelton said.

For the majority of consumers, companies that recycle get nearly the same credit for being eco-friendly as if they use renewable energy, produce zero waste and make green products, Shelton said. Consumers understand throwing bottles and newspapers in recycling bins because they’ve probably done it themselves.

“For the vast majority of consumers green equals recycled,” Shelton said.

There are also widespread misperceptions about product claims, she said, citing the terms “natural” and “organic.” Consumers would rather see a product that is “natural” rather than “organic,” but they don’t really the difference between the two, the survey found. Lower middle class income earners believe organic is a fancy marketing term that allows companies to charge more money

“What we hear over and over in focus groups is two things: One, a giant misperception that ‘natural’ is actually the regulated term, and ‘organic’ is not regulated. Which is exactly the opposite of how it is,” Shelton said.

She said companies hoping to market green claims need to understand their audience, and must realize that it will take significant marketing dollars to inform their consumers.

Green features, however, can serve as a tiebreaker in mature industries, she said. For example, she said that in facial moisturizers, if consumers are faced with two equal brands at the same price, sustainability features would likely help influence a purchasing decision.

In sofas, fiber typically is one of the top categories that consumers consider in judging a product, she said. That is good news for organic fiber, which at higher price points – say $1,599 and up – would likely help sway a consumer, Shelton said.

“Green features from furniture are important. It’s not most important thing, but it’s important in a tiebreaker,” she said. “And it commands a higher price point. So that’s great news as a marketer. It’s mainstream and people will pay more money for it.”

Shelton said many consumers also are confused about what’s bad for them. Shelton said 67% of consumers said they were concerned about chemicals in skin care products, but when the identified what they were concerned about, 48% identified formaldehyde, 22% said phthalates, 11% said lanolin, 15% said paraffin and 13% said glycerin.

Also, she said, 97% of consumers didn’t know that the biggest cause of global warming is coal-fired power plants and that most believed cars and trucks were the biggest contributors.

While green is important to consumers, companies have to “connect the dots,” for them, Shelton said. A trick is finding what advertising consumers will respond to and understanding that they won’t respond to guilt.

“Some of this environmental advertising is so holier-than-thou and preachy and so specific on the negative and what’s bad…. Most consumers don’t respond to that,” she said. “They want to see something a little more positive, a little more light, something that doesn’t seem like the entire future of the free world depends on them.”

Some of the most effective green marketing messages appeal to what consumers aspire to, messages such as comfort, control and beauty.

She presented examples, including a billboard for insulation showing a house wrapped in a scarf, which appeals to the desire for comfort; rain barrels mixed with flowers as appealing to a desire not to be wasteful; and LED lighting that beautifies a dark room.

Consumers don’t want to be pushed as much as gently led to green purchases, she said.

A misconception is that consumers go green to save the planet or to save money. Consumers make rational decisions and companies selling green features must tap into the reasons why consumers want those products, she said.

Appealing to consumers’ humanity or sense of what’s best for the planet and themselves might not win sales because people do bad things to themselves and know they are bad, she said. So consumers might voice concern on many eco-fronts, but don’t necessarily reflect that attitude in their actions.

For example, Shelton said when consumers were asked to name an item they would give up if it was hurting the environment, 42% said an iPod, 38% the dishwasher, 28% the microwave, and just 7% their car. Consumers don’t want to sacrifice convenience or comfort, she said.

“This speaks to just how important comfort means to our life. ‘I’ll save the plant, as long as I don’t have to give up my stuff.’ That’s how it reads,” she said. “If we had to choose between our comfort, our convenience or the environment, we would pretty much throw polar bears under the bus.”

Shelton said there are also multiple audiences for green product, so targeting consumers with just one message won’t reach everyone. The two major groups of green consumers, she said, are “engaged” and “mainstream” greens.

Engaged greens see themselves as optimistic leaders, up-to-date on current events, extroverted and secure in their feelings, she said. The group is likely to be purchasing green products right now.

“They’re going to experience things. They just want to want to get in the middle of something, to try it,” Shelton said.

Mainstream green consumers are less likely to be extroverts, more likely to go along with the crowd, like what they use, are brand loyal, don’t necessarily follow current events and think about decisions for a while before making them.

“They’re going to wait and see what happens,” Shelton said.

Messages with themes like community, idealism and altruism appeal to engaged greens, she said, while mainstream greens are drawn to messages focusing on duty, piety, reliability, proven success and logic.

When consumers have made an effort to purchase green products, like Clorox GreenWorks, it’s because the product is a low-risk trial from a well known brand in the same aisle as other cleaning products. Shoppers don’t have to “schlep across the store to the special, you know, weirdo green section to buy it,” Shelton said.

When asked why companies “go green,” findings showed that consumers don’t really trust manufacturers’ motives. She reported that most consumers believe it’s an act, while other believe it’s to make money or because of government regulations.

However, she said that a third of customers trust manufacturers’ label claims on why their product is green.

“So, I’m going to read your label and hope you’re telling me the truth,” she said.