house + home a green My neighbors Chaim and Nate Potter decided, after the birth of their second son, that it was time to expand their living quarters. Chaim, owner of Studio-P Design, works from home as a graphic designer. With two young boys running around, for the sake of sanity and work, she was determined to have a place of her own. Utilizing the spacious yard behind their home, they mapped out an area for a studio. What amazed me was how quickly it all came together. One day I noticed a group of muscular men carrying panels into the Potters’ backyard. It turned out they were all firemen, co-workers of Nate’s who showed up to give their fellow firefighter a lending hand. Three days after the foundation was laid, a structure with four walls and a ceiling emerged. The key to quick construction was the SIP (structurally insulated panels) used in place of wood frame construction. By utilizing SIP panels, 50% less wood was used on this project. These modular panels, built nearby in Dixon, are made of styrofoam encased in chipboard. Chipboard is made from a mixture of scrap wood and glue. SIP panels are energy-efficient, waterproof and mothproof. They are also lightweight, making them easy to transport, which cuts down on shipping costs. SIP insulates so well that an air conditioner unit was not required for the studio. The studio floor is made of poured concrete. Concrete absorbs the heat of the sun during the day and releases this warmth back into the room in the evening. This type of flooring consumes less energy than any other flooring material, plus there are no VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) and concrete is recyclable. Passive heating and cooling are achieved by the studio’s three doors and three transom windows, which bathe the space in natural light. For evening illumination, LED lights are used. LEDs are lit solely by the movement of electrons; unlike incandescent lights they will not burn Article and photos by indra fortney Exterior of new studio building Sustainably built artist's studio adds private space and peace-of-mind 42 www.nAPAVA L L E Y L I F Emagaz ine. c om
NVLife_MayJune_2013
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