Last Minute Tax Credits!

All of the great tax credits that we have been hearing about are going to expire at the end of the year which is why it is a great time to take advantage of these projects now and not later.  All of these changes will pay for themselves over time, you will literally be paying less for energy with these changes and the govt. will most likely cover almost 30% of the costs!!! 

1. Get an energy audit - this can target problem areas and sometimes are required in order to take advantage of certain energy audits.
2. Re-Insulate - help keep cool air in and hot air out.....or vice versa depending on the time of year.  If you use insulation approved by the Energy Conservation Code the you can have 30% or up to $1,500 off 2010 taxes.
3. Replace old windows & doors - same as insulation, keep what you want in and what you don't wan out. This is a more expensive project but think of it as adding to your home's aesthetics as well as your pocket book.
4. Replace old appliances - Cash for clunkers isn't just for your old cars, check for these deals and always buy Energy Star Rated Appliances.  New energy saving appliances can qualify for a tax credit that is equal to 30% of the cost up to $1,500.
5. Re-Roof - a new roof is one of the best investments you can make for your home. In addition to appliances, there are also Energy Star rated metal roofs.  These roofs have "cooling granules" that help reflect the sun's heat rather than absorb it. 
6. Plan to install a solar water heater - Solar credits were extended to 2016, so if you can't afford it now, don't worry but don't put it off either! 
7. Install a smart meter - By showing you data in real time, you can monitor your usage more effectively.  This will also tell you when it is the best time to run certain appliances when the cost of electricity is low. 

Read a more comprehensive summary on The Daily Green.

Lunada's Favorites

I just found my new favorite Green design blog! The Daily Green is a website dedicated to the latest green news, products and trends that I just spent the last hour on and could have stayed on for another!  I just read this great article about Natural Swimming Pools, here is an excerpt from their article:

"Chlorine's damaging effects on hair are well known, but few people realize that a number of studies have linked inhalation of the chemical by swimmers to increased asthma rates (in fact a new Irish study published this April reported a significant link between the number of years a boy had been swimming and the likelihood of the child being wheezy in the past year.) A Norwegian study also documented an increased risk of wheezing among children who swim in pools before 6 months of age. Further, in an unpleasant reaction, pee and sweat in water can react with chlorine to form toxic breakdown products known as chloramines.

For health, environmental and aesthetic reasons, a lot of people have expressed interest in alternatives to chlorine pools, and luckily there are more and more options to get wet without smelling like cleaning products. A company called TechnoPure offers alternative pool systems that treat water by pumping it through a chamber containing coated titanium plates and copper and zinc ions. The units cost a relatively affordable $5,500. DEL Ozone makes ozone injectors that can reduce the need for chlorine up to 90% -- there's been one installed at the White House for years! Some systems rely on a combination of ozone and copper and silver ions, while others are saline, though saltwater pools result in the formation of chlorine in the water.

Managed properly, natural swimming pools have crystal clear water and require no chemicals to maintain, as they are self-cleaning mini-ecosystems. "You can drink the water if you want to, and you don't necessarily have to take a shower," says Morgan Brown of Idaho-based Whole Water Systems, LLC. The natural pools designer says the systems also have lower maintenance costs than conventional pools, and their installation costs are not much more than standard designs.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/natural-swimming-pools-460908#ixzz0w9AU9oXz

I'm a total city girl and yes, these look just like huge ponds but I would jump into any of them in a heartbeat. Look at these photos!! Beautiful!

For more ideas on green alternatives in your home, schedule a consultation with Lunada or call our offices 310.544.1895!

Lunada's Favorites!

LED lighting has come a long way over the past few years.  What people first recognized as a solution for commercial signage has been slowly finding its way into people's homes as energy efficient alternative to fluorescent and incandescent lighting.  LED lighting is great for coves, under cabinet lighting, accent and display lighting, even as decorative task lighting in the home.  Looking to the future, lighting companies recognized the need for low profile lighting to suite the needs of homeowners and designers. Many companies have now created LED light tape.  It is exactly what it sounds like, LED lighting as thin as tape and applied just so.  This new product can effortlessly hug the curves of any design and stay completely out of sight.  It can easily be cut and attached with industrial strength tape that will keep the lights in place without bulky brackets increasing the light's depth.

Recently Lunada installed the Jesco DL-Flex light tape as under cabinet lighting for a client of ours.  The tape is just 1/8" thin, 3/8" wide, has a very clean and smooth light distribution and the perfect solution for an area that needs ample light without compromising aesthetics with bulky products. 

For ideas on integrating LED lighting into your home, schedule a consultation with Lunada or give us a call 310.544.1895.

Lunada's Favorites

This week, Lunada has chosen BR-111 flooring as our favorite pick.  These solid and engineered floors come in a variety of colors, tones, and patterns that are sure to become one of your favorite things in your home or office.  We are even going to use them in our Lunada Office!!!  And if any of you have picked up the latest Architectural Digest, they were featured in the spread of celebrity Jennifer Aniston's home.  Just gorgeous!

To check out some of Lunada's projects or schedule a consultation visit: www.lunadaconsulting.com

Lunada's Favorites

Ikea. Ikea, Ikea, Ikea. You have reached the masses with your flat packed, allen wrench required "Swedish" furniture and basically the only reason why college students don't live in total squalor anymore. Over the past few years you have managed to refine your designs and improve your quality thus allowing real adults to not feel so guilty when they purchase your products. And now you've really done it...........you are now offering solar lighting. Ta da!! SOLIG: the new line of solar lighting offered by Ikea includes outdoor lighting with a few table lamps that would probably work if placed next to a sunny windows. Although they are only offered in 4 colors: red, blue, white and black, and the designs are nothing special, they are affordable (gasp!). So, thanks Ikea, I appreciate what you are doing and keep offering those delicious $1 ice cream cones that always seem to get me on the way out.

Lunada's Favorites

This week, Lunada's Favorite Pick is the Phila Chair by Kaleo Kala, a furniture designer who was born in Hawaii, educated in Tasmania, established in New York and now based in D.C. The chair was inspired by the designer's stay in the historically rich and eclectic city of Philadelphia. The design was meant to reflect the city through the mix of the old and new, warehouses and townhouses, business districts and open spaces.Every custom piece created by Kala Studios is sustainable and thus limited in production. The company utilizes reclaimed woods recognized by the Forestry Stewardship Council [FSC] , bamboo plywood and sustainable glues and finishes.

The shots of the chair alone reflect the juxtaposition of it's concept by using graffiti art and warehouse spaces as backdrops. When something is so beautiful, it is hard to write when all you want to do is admire.

Green Textiles

[Before I knew what was good for me.....] When I thought about sustainable/green textiles the first thing that would pop into my head was stiff and not comfortable. Now that technology and green development has come leaps and bounds in the area of textiles and now you can easily find attractive, soft and comforting organic and green textiles. Check out these websites and others to see for yourself:
Amenity Home
Inhabit
Kush Tush

Here are just some examples of the products offered by those 3 websites


The real test is when you go out and try these products yourself. You may be surprised!