Susan Marocco Interiors

May 2012

Greetings!

This month we will address perhaps a subject that doesn’t appear to be related to Interior Design - at least not the “pretty creative” part, but the bones of your home. As we all know, if the bones are weak, the rest of your body will not function properly. Why settle for less than peak performance from your home? We all want our homes to provide year-round comfort, and cleaner air. Please read on for some ideas on improving your home and reducing energy costs.

Is Your Home Leaking?

As heating prices continue to rise, you may want to consider some pro-active ways you can reduce your cost of energy. I admit, not a “ sexy, fun” project, but the payback can be considerable. Did you know air leakage accounts for between 25% and 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling a typical residence?

Air will leak through a home that is not well sealed. This allows moisture, cold drafts and unwanted noise to enter and may lower indoor air quality by allowing in dust and airborne pollutants.

How do you start? A certified home energy consulting and contracting company will schedule a no-obligation, on-site home assessment to identify opportunities for energy-efficiency upgrades. The goal is to minimize energy consumption, particularly as it relates to cooling and heating of your home. If done well, weatherizing lowers your energy bills, provides year-round comfort, and is good for the environment.

A “blower door” test is conducted to identify air leakage paths.

Your Energy Advisor will assess your home and help you prioritize the weatherization measures that best meet your needs and budget. Some small solutions might include basic weatherizing using materials such as caulks, foams, weather stripping and door sweeps to seal baseboards, electrical/plumbing gaps, & outside doors.

Attic - can be insulated by blowing in high cellulose insulation-a major upgrade in performance and safety from the fiberglass of yesteryear.

Basement - insulate crawl space, wrap pipes and ducts, weatherize doors.

Exterior wall insulation - fill empty wall cavities.

Garage - insulate ceiling to prevent air flow into the inside of the home.

Pursuing some of these options will improve the durability of your home by solving problems arising from moisture, mold, insects, and drafts that degrade the home’s cleaner indoor air quality and building materials. Typical savings reduce consumption of energy by 20% annually.

For more detailed information, please contact Jean Hamerman, President of NeighborGreen, www.neighborgreen.com, phone: 914.368.9150 or Chris Puleo of Green Star, phone: 646.299.4529.

Ask the Designer

Q: Can I install a chandelier over my tub?

A: Only if you have a very tall ceiling. According to code, a hanging ceiling fixture or fan can’t be located within 3 feet of a bathtub, unless there is at least 8 feet of vertical clearance from the top of the tub to the bottom of the fixture. Flush-mounted ceiling light fixtures that are designed for damp locations and have a protective cover over the bulb can be mounted over a tub.

Design News

Kips Bay 40th Annual Decorator Show House

A fundraisor for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club. Open May 16-June 14, 2012. Hours: Monday through Saturday: 11 am - 5 pm Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8 pm Sunday: noon - 5 pm. The Aldyn Residences, 60 Riverside Boulevard, NYC.
http://www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org

 

 

Monet’s Garden

The New York Botanical Garden. Highlights from Claude Monet’s passion for gardening at his home in Giverny and his inspiration for so many masterpieces. Open May 19-October 21, 2012.
http://www.nybg.org

 

 

 

The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

May 10-August 19, 2012. “On Fashion” showcases the works of Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada and their approaches to design.
www.metmuseum.org

Blog Updates

See the latest on my blog about Concrete, Copper and Zinc in the Kitchen OH MY!, here.

To receive Blog updates via email, please enter your email here:

About Us

Susan Marocco Interiors is a full service interior design firm, staffed with professional American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) who have the training and expertise to plan, schedule, execute and manage your project from concept to completion. Our firm creates interiors that are elegant, distinctive and comfortable. Our inspiration comes first from listening. We then meld our skills and experiences to our clients' wants and needs. We develop design solutions that reflect their taste and lifestyles. Our website has a variety of pictures of the work we have done for many of our clients and you are more than welcome to view them.

To find out how Susan Marocco Interiors can help you with all your design needs, please contact Susan at 1-914-234-7066 or via email.

 

Thank you for your readership, input and questions. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on how to make it better, we are always eager to listen. If you would like to speak to us about your Interior Design needs, we would be pleased to be of service.

Susan Marocco

www.SusanMaroccoInteriors.com
Tel: (914) 234-7066
Fax: (914) 234-0003

View our profile on LinkedIn   Find us on Facebook   Visit our blog