by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jun 30, 2023 | Home Design, Sustainable Design
Concrete homes are growing in popularity due to multiple factors, such as their design aesthetic, sustainability concerns, and durability. One of the primary advantages of a concrete house is its superior performance against hazards. Are Concrete Houses Safe? A... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jan 10, 2021 | Sustainable Design
A ductless mini split is a heat pump system which can provide heating and cooling. It has an exterior condenser which is connected to interior cassettes through a series of lines. The interior cassettes are all controlled independently allowing you to set different... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jan 17, 2024 | Property Development, Sustainable Design
The Base Flood Elevation (BFE) is an elevation indicated on the Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map defining the elevation of a potential flood. The Design Flood Elevation (DFE) uses the BFE in order to determine the appropriate elevation for construction of new... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Feb 6, 2021 | New York City, NYC DOB, Sustainable Design
New York City has a law requiring a Sustainable Roofing Zone. This is an area on a roof dedicated to either Solar Power Generating Panels, a Green Roof, or a combination of the two. These Sustainable Roofing Zones are required for all new buildings, building... 
by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Jun 16, 2019 | Sustainable Design
A Passive House Architect can help you build a passive house by reducing energy usage and costs. Passive house has five key areas: high quality insulation, air tight construction, high quality windows, energy recovery, and solar heat management. Passive House Design... by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Apr 28, 2021 | New York City, Sustainable Design
In New York City, you can add a small wind turbine on the roof of a building as a renewable energy source. There are, however, some restrictions on wind turbine size, noise, safety, and even color. Adding Wind Power in NYC Only Small Wind Turbines are Allowed...