We installed:

• Under-cabinet lighting, to light up the counters
• Toekick lighting, with makes it easier to clean but mosly it lightens up the space, making it feel fun and less heavy. I HIGHLY recommend getting this!
• Track lighting, ’cause you know you are going to want to move the lighting, over time and also be able to add color, change appliances.
• Recessed lighting, to lift up the ceiling and create a wide-open feel.

Kris, from Stafford home service is a freaking genius. Seriously, he has a great eye and comes up with creative ideas. He also is very careful about waste and wasted time. For instance, he would not install the countertop lighting until the counters were in place as he wanted to make sure the lighting was exact. I never would have thought of that.

Anyway, back to the mood: It’s important to think of how you are going to use the space, and how you like to live; then find a great electrician, like Stafford’s, and tell them what you have in mind, and have them discuss the options. You can do some research online, but I find I was a lot more successful having an electrician who has installed so many appliances he just knew how it would look and could explain it to me so I could make a decision that worked best for me.

Don;t take lighting for granted. It’s how we see and enjoy the world.

I also started using a Roomba. This has made a huge difference as well. A huge difference! I can;t say how awesome these little guys are! And my house is a lot less dusty! It’s also an incentive to keep the floor clear as I know Roomba will be doing the cleaning for me. Awesome!

I love how I can access the eco thermostat from my iPhone and iPad. It allows me to keep the heat low and then turn it up on my way home! Awesome! It also shows me realtime weather reports and has an algorithm that automatically automates my settings and helps me use less energy. The calendar is incredible as is the web portal (you can take a look from your office, or change your settings while on vacation).

Here’s a quick video we made (it’s a little rough, but we did it on a whim):

Features include:

The first thing I thought was, Kris is great! –a really committed and hard-working electrician. Then, as I watched him go over every detail with the cabinet installers; discussing recessed lighting, in-cabinet lighting pucks, under-cabinet lighting, GFCI outlets, kick-plate lighting, wall ovens, cook tops, dishwashers and a myriad other issues; it occurred to me that his commitment to excellence and accuracy was also an issue of wasted energy and materials. While many electricians would think: “It’s no big deal if I have to redo some work, drill out some wood, replace a wire here and there, etc…” this kind of thinking is what fills our dumps (8,000 lbs of waste are typically thrown into the landfill during the construction of a 2,000 square foot home), wastes energy (the electrician has to drive), and pushes back timelines (which has a knock-on effect).

When looking for a great electrician. Don’t just consider the budget and reliability, look at accuracy, completion dates and a commitment to reducing waste. Your home renovation or new construction will be that much greener and eco-friendly!

Some benefits of having a control and automation system installed in your home are:

• All equipment can be in an out-of-sight and central location and routed to many different rooms.
• The Prodigy system by Crestron allows you to have one, easy-to-use remote for audio and video controls (and others, as mentioned) in each room.
• You can check the status and adjust the settings of your HVAC, lighting and security systems, from any room or from your mobile device, if you’re away from home.
• Conserve energy and lower electricity bill by programming lights to dim or turn off when room is vacant.
• Affordability: systems are much more affordable than in the past, starting at $1000 and up.

For more information on whole house control and automation systems, audio, video, media room, security and any other low-voltage needs, please contact us.

Jesse Korsban
Stafford Home Service
Click here to contact Stafford Home Service

Letting Stafford Home Services choose the right furnace for you is not only easy, it’s green as well! –We’re talking environmentally conscious, 90-95% AFUE Bryant units that lower utility bills, and are so technologically advanced that they use computer generated algorithms to know how long to run and how much heat to produce. Many of us consider the environment when making renovation decisions, and choosing a furnace is no exception. According to bryant.com, one of the best ways to protect the environment is to purchase energy efficient products that require fewer energy resources to operate. Not only will you make a difference to the environment, you’ll also save on operating costs. Make sure your heating and cooling products have high energy efficiency ratings such as SEER and AFUE.

Another great way is by using Energy Star products.  Stafford Home Service use many Energy Star products in their work. “ENERGY STAR promotes energy efficiency among residential appliances, because household appliances have the potential to contribute a great deal to air pollution. ENERGY STAR promotes energy efficient furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners, and thermostats, among other products.” (source: www.bryant.com)

The 80% rating that used to be a great is now a thing of the past. Now units can be rated 90-95%. AFUE means Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Your furnace’s AFUE tells you how much energy is being converted to heat.  For example, AFUE of 90 means that 90% of the fuel is being used to warm your home, while the other 10% escapes as exhaust with the combustion gases.

We all want lower bills, right?  Having Stafford Home Service install a Bryant gas furnace in your home you could lower you utility bill by 50%?  By knowing when to turn on and how much heat to produce Bryant Brand furnaces can reduce the amount of heat and energy you use. Dan from Stafford Home Service will help chose the right model for you.

These Bryant brand furnaces are so advanced they use computer generated algorithms to know how long to run and how much heat to produce. Older model furnaces used to run for a set amount of time even if the house was warm enough. These energy efficient furnaces are also multi-stage and are able to tell how long they should run, in order to be most efficient.  Let’s say it’s a sunny day in December, your furnace might never reach its highest heat stage, it can tell that it only needs to stay in stage one, the lowest amount of heat. However, as the sun goes down it will also be able to tell if it is more efficient to jump to stage three, the highest amount heat, rather than going through all three stages.

Rain Water Cistern detail

Landscape Architecture, Inc. Residential Rainwater Collection Cistern Detail

This section drawing shown is from a project we designed in Edina, MN.  This project collects all the water from the downspouts of the roof and discharges them directly and via overland flow to the rain garden shown above the cistern.  Once 6 inches or more of storm water pools in the rain garden it then is captured by the inlet shown and enters the cistern where it is stored for another day.

Cistern Installation at Eco Builders Site

This project is currently enrolled in two green certification programs and is on track to achieve both (MN Greenstar and LEED for Homes accreditation).  In this project we were able to collect enough water from the roof of the house and landscape areas utilizing this 2,500 gallon cistern (which is locally manufactured) to irrigate the entire greenspace on the property and operate the water feature represented in section without the use of potable water.  As for this project and any other project where you are proposing to install a cistern on-site consult with your local building official during design and complete the permit process prior to installation if required.

With increased awareness in the both the residential and commercial markets we are finding that the use of both natural water impoundments and cisterns are becoming a norm on most of our projects as a way to conserve this valuable resource.  Also, as we all learn more about best management practices with stormwater it has been found that these practices will help prevent flooding down stream in spring snow melts and large stormwater events by storing this extra water on-site for a not-so-rainy day.

If you are considering this or any other type of rainwater storage technique, please contact us. –we would be excited to share our passion and experience to ensure success on your project!

Stephen Mastey, ASLA, CLARB, LEED AP

Landscape Architecture, Inc.
856 Raymond Avenue, Suite C
St. Paul, MN 55114
651.646.1020 office
651.246.1151 mobile

www.landarcinc.com

stephen@landarcinc.com

Three quick advantages with using dimmer switches:

• Reduced Energy Consumption, Dim your lights by quarter & save up to 20 percent Dim by half and save up to 40 percent.
• Increased Bulb Life, If you are dimming the light by just 10 percent it more than doubles the life of the bulb.
• Mood, A softer light is more comforting and sets a relaxing atmosphere.

We can install many different kinds of dimmer light switches. 3-way dimmable light switches are also available.

Call Stafford for more information on going green in your home.

Kris Thompson
Stafford Home Service
Office:   952.927.7194
Fax:      952.927.7192
Direct:   612.328.3989

1. If your home has a outdated circuit breaker panel or fuse box (usually located in your basement) –e.g. Federal Pacific circuit breaker panel.
   1. How does one identify an outdated panel? –Because there are so many brands/styles its probably best to contact us for a evaluation.
2. If your circuit breaker panel or fuse box does not have a main fused shut off switch.
3. If you are planning significant lifestyle changes in your home that will put added demand to your electrical system.
4. If you have a 60 amp service. Typically you can have only one 220 volt appliance on a 60 amp service. A demand load calculation should be used to determine this.
   1. How can someone easily identify their “amp service”? –Typically there is a listed label on the  panel
5. If your main fuses blow or main circuit breaker shuts off.
6. If you are planning on having your wires buried from your local power company you will need to change your meter socket and usually this is a good time to upgrade your circuit breaker panel or fuse box to a more modern and safer system.If you do not have adequate room for additional circuits, Such as adding air conditioning, electric water heaters, electric clothes dryers, electric heat, hot tubs, ect.

Kris Thompson
Stafford Home Service
Office:   952.927.7194
Fax:      952.927.7192
Direct:   612.328.3989

In looking for an HVAC contractor, I recommend finding one that will give you many options and thoroughly discuss the pros and cons. Since renovation projects require so much on the fly changes and so many compromises, you want to know that your HVAC contractor can think creatively as well as aggressively protect your interests. In the case of Stafford Home Service’s HVAC installation, they have went to the trouble of splitting ducts to get around a beam, tucking things in hard to reach areas and placed the returns in the attic to give more headroom in the basement. Now that’s some great HVAC service.

Add to all that, just the other day I come in late, just to check up on the place and Stafford is still there, working overtime to get the furnace in. Nice!