Going Green with Universal Design
Aug 5, 2009
05:19 PM
Let the Building Begin—Again
By Julie and Tony Panaro
First, the disclaimer: We are new to blogging. We are not sophisticated at technology. That being said, we want to create a site that you want to visit regularly. We want to create a forum to ask questions and issue comments and be interactive. Please tell us if there is something on our site that is missing that you think is important as a reader to have. We’d be delighted to have you follow our story. We want to be a resource and a guide for our vision of Infusion Design.
For our first blog site update, we thought you’d like to know a bit about the site and see it in its current state. The property is a little under a half acre, and is on the south side of the C&D Canal just west of Chesapeake City, Maryland. We are bordered by lands owned by the Army Corp of Engineers to the north, with the Canal immediately thereafter. We purchased the property in 2005, and commenced construction in 2007, just in time for the housing market to collapse. More on that later.
I cannot say we are proud of it, but, there is a story behind why all that we have to date is a hole in the ground with a basement, first floor decking, and a tarp over the whole production. For almost two years, this has been our reality—fighting the elements and preserving the construction completed to date. The basement has a high-efficiency dehumidifier and fan running constantly to protect the decking, and, it has done a nice job of preserving the improvements. We also are constantly fighting growth, weeds (this picture was taken immediately before doing some yard maintenance), and watching the trees around us to make sure none suffer disease or damages from the construction. More on why our property sat like this for two years as the stories unfold on this blog. More importantly, you will be able to follow construction forward from today, which will be much more interesting since we are ready to re-commence construction this week.
What we know you will like is the view we have from the site of the canal. This is what drew us to the property in the first place. It is like having a maintenance-free water feature in our backyard. The C&D Canal was recently determined to be the second busiest commercial shipping canal in the world. It is not unusual to be walking through town and witness a barge you think will take out the Chesapeake City bridge quietly hum by on its way to another destination.
We look forward to our next update, which will cover the work we have done to date. Updates will be every few weeks and will follow construction going forward. We will also provide regular feature articles on the site. Get infused!
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Julie and Tony Panaro
Wilmington, DE
Julie Panaro is a real estate attorney in Wilmington. Tony Panaro is the owner of Panaro Construction. Together, they’re building a dream home that incorporates the latest green products and building technologies, as well as elements of universal design so they can age in place. They call it EverLife Design. Follow their progress here every month so you can learn about the home of the future.
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Reader Comments:
Very cool. Can't wait to read more. Keep the updates coming!!!
HI Tony and Julie!
I think it is great you are going green and building your dream home! I also encourage you to consider using universal design features when building so you can grow old in the home and not have to move! Most people totally forget or do not consider what they will need when they get older to stay in their home and have to move or spend "mucho" bucks retrofitting it! The width of the doorways for example, should be 36" not 32" and this will enable anyone with a powerwheelchair to enter and exit your home with ease. The Americans with Disabilities Act requirements are the barest minimum and often not adequate for accessibility. In fact, there is a group in DE working on changing the code to make all new construction include universal design. Good luck and I can't wait to see what the house looks like! Linda
Hi, Linda,
Check out our first posting (Infusion Design Home on the right of the screen). You will see that Infusion Design is, in fact, the marriage of green building and Universal Design. You can read more about our building philosphy at www.panaroconstruction.com, too. We agree that the ADA is helpful, but really does not accomodate most people that have a special need. I'd love to hear more about the organization that you are involved in. We think creating spaces that are green and accessible is the ultimate in sustainablity. Let me know.
Tony and Julie,
So glad you are on track with your home project and I really look forward to your updates. The view is fabulous. Keep us up to date with your progress.
Carol A.
So interesting. What kind of systems will the house have? What makes a house "Green"? Is Infusion Design aesthetically pleasing?
Can't wait to read more.
Laurie P.
Greenville, DE
Dear Laurie,
Thanks for your interest. The house will feature such things as a geothermal heating and cooling system, Energy Star appliances, and an on-demand hot water system, among other things.
Love your question about that makes the house "green". We will be seeking LEED certification for this project. LEED examines eight major categories in considering a project "green": (1) innovation and design, (2) location and linkages, (3) sustainable sites, (4) water efficency, (5) energy and atmosphere, (6) materials and resources, (7) indoor air quality, and (8) awareness and education. We will have a future article discussing these components each in more detail. There are, however, over 70 green building programs in this country (and counting), each with their own respective criteria, but many have overlapping features, such as concerns about energy conservation and indoor air quality.
In answer to your question about aesthetics, this is the part we love the most - an Infusion Design home looks like every other home, its just easier to live in. It can be imputed on existing space or used in new space. In coming months, we will post our current plans so you can see for yourself. Hope you keep following!
Morning Julie & Tony,
....aahsome location! So glad the Infinite nudged Tony back
to it. Your Infusion Design is about time. There r so many
people w needs now and will b more in the future. It's good
to b aware of an empathetic construction and design co.,
Panaro Construction.
Infusion Design is a win-win-win.
For the final user/People-for the Development Co-and for our Environment.
The ultimate goal is great! It'll b interesting to see how the
financial structure will bear out. In these times of financial
straits, those w disability, on disability income, may become
creative in acquiring this type of home.
Have you thought of community living? The benefits of
communal living, especially to those of us w physical limitations,
r endless for mind & body. It can help caregivers and 'givees'.
It's so necessary for us all to think 'outside the box', and it is
nice to see that more people r actually becoming more aware.
There r many 'things' that I experience now. I have MS since '98.
I have segued from a 55G wheeled garbage drum, to a cane, and
to a walker and wheelchair. Many times we -Mark & I- think ,
"Did I have to get MS to figger 'this' out?"
I agree, Infusion Design is so much more than ADA and
Universal Design. How exciting!
Glad You are Here-
Donna