Gottfried Green

Image via New Scientist (via BLDBLOG)I had just cancelled my subscription to New Scientist because it is a weekly magazine and it costs $45 bucks a year. That's a lot of paper and a lot of cash even for some interesting reading. So I found on BLDBLOG a post with a "cities under water in a 100 years maps" from New Scientist. Since the actual article is subscription only, read the BLDGBLOG post at the Link, it is a fresh perspective on how these predictions fulfill some twisted fantasy of actually living to see cities like, Miami, New York, London and Shanghai underwater someday. These "future" satellite images bring to mind all sorts of scenarios especially if you're one of the ones underwater.

Labels: global warming, water, weather

The NY Times, offers some info on how to reduce insurance premiums.

"FLORIDA

Vacation homeowners qualify for discounts if they add hurricane protections to their homes, said Teri Johnston, the president of Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe, a consumer advocacy group based in the Florida Keys.

Hurricane shutters and improvements that help strengthen roofs are on the checklist of “hurricane mitigation additions,” or improvements that can shore up a home and trim insurance costs. By taking those measures, Ms. Johnston said, “you can lower premiums by 45 percent” off the highest rates."

They also provide a website, The Institute for Business and Home Safety www.ibhs.org which offers some guidance as to how you can protect your home from all sorts of natural disasters in general. Since our house will be built to the updated building codes and we'll have impact glass a lot of this is already covered for us. We'll be raised and reinforced although nothing is ever hurricane proof of course.

Important to point out about the roof is that it will slope. It will be 8ft high along the kitchen and bathroom side and it will be 10ft where it ends on the other side at the end of the lanai. This should further help the indoor/outdoor feeling as one large space.

Labels: design, floorplan, insurance, weather

Floss Silk Tree (Chorisia speciosa)

We should be getting our initial design on the table soon to finalize the drawings and get ready for their submission to the buildings dept. The summer rainstorms have finally arrived and seem to occur daily- fingers crossed. This is a good time to start landscaping areas that are not going to be affected by construction. It is a full year of growth we could get underway before the house is built. I've been looking into some unique tropical plants and trees. Many I like are available around the corner but there are a few that could thrive here but would need to be sourced. I hope to incorporate giant ferns, colorful vines etc to create layers. This will give certain areas the look of a rainforest. The beauty of it all is that it will further reduce the lawn. Also, I am going to try to pick species that will not require special irrigation. I picked up the "layer" concept from Ben Appel in Sarasota who created his own oasis by seeing what thrived and what didn't. He is starting his own business landscaping tropical gardens for others. His website is now under construction. The photo above is a Floss Silk Tree with blunt like thorns and in the Fall it produces a giant orchid-like flower.

Labels: weather

The predictions for a busy hurricane season are out. I've also heard we've been in a hurricane era since 1995 and it is expected to last another 30 to 40 years. Great time to move to FL! But alas what are you going to do. Wildfires in CA, floods in New England, tornadoes tearing through the center. In some sort of tired rationalization for living down here in hurricane central, at least when there isn't a hurricane it's really a beautiful place to live. OK, that said I found the man we'll turn to for our hurricane updates. I am not sure why he is so virtual but I guess if it's really bad news it won't be held against him for showing no emotion. After he does his thing he sits on the screen and responds to the movement of your mouse. At least we know he's paying attention. Give it a try for yourself here.

Labels: weather

Illustration by Nancy Doniger

It's getting to be that time of year. June 1st starts hurricane season and it is predicted to be a busy one. The NYTimes highlights The Latest in Shutters for Strom Protection.Basically you have the option of covering your windows with aluminum or a fabric type material to attempt to shield the house from the winds. We'd like to be able to afford impact glass which works similar to that of a car windshield. "Impact-resistant windows have double-paned glass with an inner core that serves as a buffer. The glass, however, can crack and may have to be replaced after a storm, said Dave Olmstead, a code compliance specialist at PGT Industries in Venice, Fla., which manufactures a line of impact-resistant windows called WinGuard. Atrium Companies estimates that outfitting a 15-window house with impact-resistant windows would cost $7,500 to $22,500, depending on the style and material." We are changing gears often as we navigate our way through this and this is one of the decisions that will ultimately depend on cost.

Labels: weather

Labels: weather

Mr. Gottfried really stepped up to put the family hurricane plan together. It appears now that we won't be evacuating (he had 3 La Quinta's lined up) but we will prepare for riding out some wind and lots of rain... of course that's if Ernesto cuts through FL as they are now predicting. I tried to play things cool because I didn't want to seem like too much of a newbie here in hurricane country. Where Port Charlotte is on the map is basically where we are.

Labels: weather

The NY Times covers the hurricane proof building boom going on in the gulf region- TX, LA and FL. Some of the resources listed in the article are going to point us in the right direction as far as the hurricane-proof factors but what about the sustainable, green issues? We also want to enjoy some aesthetic value in what is built. The fundamental systems, water, solar etc., are a good starting point as they are designed green to begin with but the selection of materials and design are still far out of reach.

Labels: weather

Funny, just as I finally got this blog started and became a little focused on the upcoming Gottfried Green project, here comes Alberto. Englewood is said to have only a tropical storm warning so I am sure things will be fine. Afterall we have no house yet to be destroyed by the wind. I only worry about the banyan tree. I did have dreams last week of every hurricane that came through the gulf cutting straight through Englewood. I know that's part of the reality of living in FL but I can't believe the first one of the season mentions Englewood.

Labels: weather