Wobuilteco Is Our Eco Green Building Blog

Screenshot: Eco Green Building Blog
Wo-Built Inc's commitment on Being Green, Designing
and Building Green and Sharing our Knowledge
2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

"This forum will showcase designs, innovative ideas, opinions, green construction and eco-friendly information.

Enjoy!"

Announcing Wo-Built's Eco Blog,
by Martina Ernst, CEO - Wo-Built Inc

Our mission statement did not specifically mention "Green Construction" however we want to be known for our innovative design and construction. This includes of course looking at sustainability of buildings, their environmental footprints and their energy effectiveness. Green design can take many forms and there is no fixed template. Every situation is different, but we look in our designs for green possibilities.

We at Wo-Built are dedicated to being environmentally conscious and have embraced "Green Construction" in all our projects. As such, we have decided to start a blog devoted to all environmental issues. We will explore topics that have to do with conservation, energy efficiency, green products, green building and much more. We are also interested in how design can impact on "green living".

So tune in and view our blog at wobuilteco.blogspot.com to get up on the latest in green living!

Happy green reading!

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #4 Condo

Image: Design Competition 2010

Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#4 ... Maybe Simplifying Your Living Space, Like a Condo ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

New idea from the Wo-Built staff, this time a dreamhouse concept of simplifying living space, like an apartment in a condo .

The Condo

My dream house is a low-rise, 2-bedroom condominium with a walk-in closet that nestles on a quiet tree-lined street in the middle of the city. It would have to have a balcony preferably overlooking a park and be close to shopping and transportation. I’ve come to this conclusion over my lifetime.

At different stages of my life, I’ve lived in a variety of dwellings in different locations, so I’ve had a bit of time to realize what my “dream house” would truly be. I’ve lived in houses as well as apartments. I’ve learned that houses, although they have their perks, require a lot of upkeep. The time, maintenance and expense can be considerable and that this can impact on lifestyle as well.

An apartment is more compact, requires less upkeep as well as cleaning. And there are always neighbors close by. A condominium offers the opportunity of home ownership with all the perks of apartment living.

In short the "C"s have it for me: a Condo that’s

• Compact (easy on maintenance, in that someone else does it and smaller to keep clean),
• Close (to my neighbors) and
• Convenient (to all the amenities).
  

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Next design idea: The Houseboat

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna, Our Animated Tradeswoman & Friends Have Their Own Blog

Collage: Screenshot Wobinna & Friends Blog
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

We would like Wobinna, our animated tradeswoman, to connect with younger women to encourage them to enter the building trades. We want to create story lines that through humour and information will persuade young women to consider the trades as a career or at least will provide food for thought and discussions....
Announcing Wobinna's Own Blog,
by Martina Ernst, CEO - Wo-Built Inc

Exciting news!!

Wobinna & Friends is branching out and will be moving to her own blog!!

http//wobinna.blogspot.com

Wobinna and Friends was created to encourage more women to consider the trades as a career option. We are hoping through her adventures and light-hearted style that a young generation of women searching for a career path will be able to relate, and they will realize that there are more career alternatives open to them than just the traditional ones. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry and will reflect this in the storylines.

So please, tune in to our Wobinna blog and follow the exciting adventures of Wobinna & Friends every week.

Wobinna deserves her own blog.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

That's Women's Work Inc. Toronto: Guest Blogging on Social Values

Collage: A Screenshot of Martina Ernst's post "Social Values a Basis for Our Company"
on That's Women's Work Inc. Toronto blog.
Credit: Women's Art Gallery & Meeting Space at That's Women's Work Inc. Toronto

Martina was one of the guest bloggers on That's Women's Work Inc. Toronto blog and she posted an article Social values a basis for our company:

I felt really inspired by having read the previous blog entries and I applaud the journey some of my fellow August bloggers had taken. So, I would like to talk about our journey and share some of our philosophies with you. ...

We were happy to contribute to this great blog. Please read the many inspiring stories.

Wobinna’s Dream Home Contest: Submission #3 Grand Staircase

Image: Design Competition 2010

Wobinna Wants to Know: What's Your Dream House? Is It ...
#3 ... Maybe More Elegant Surroundings, Like a Staircase ...
Illustration by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

New idea from the Wo-Built staff, this time about more elegant surroundings of a dreamhouse with big sweeping staircase .

The Grand Staircase

I'm quite eclectic when it comes to style. I like a lot of different design types and often mix them together.

The crisp, clean look of a modern room or the feel of rich, dark wooden floors, ceilings and furniture, along with the old world charm of some antiquey pieces - they are all eye catching to me, but a grand staircase is what I would love most.

I grew up with and still enjoy the glitz and glamour of days gone by when movie stars were still movie stars and lived in homes with big sweeping staircases that gave them an air of elegance. I think creating a home with a staircase such as this one as the focal point would be amazing.

It should be open to the floor below and be designed in such a way that the underside could work as another functioning room. The home itself should surround this unique structure and be visible by most places in it.

My Dream Home is very open in concept and would be filled with large colourful pieces throughout to keep that homey feel.

Dawn Palfreyman is the artist, design creator, site worker for Wo-Built Inc.
Connect with Dawn on Facebook

Next design idea: The Condo

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment

Comic Strip: Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

Panel 1

Mikki & Wobinna are having a sleepover at Wobinna’s house. Already in their pajamas, they lounge around in Wobinna’s room chatting about another class assignment in Shop Class. This time the assignment is a solo project.

Mikki (asking with great curiosity): How are you going to top that project from Shop Class now!

Wobinna (hugging her pillow trying to think of a suitable project): I know!! The next assignment is a solo thing so I gotta get my thinking cap on!!!


Panel 2

The next morning Wobinna and Mikki are sitting in the kitchen at the breakfast table still talking about Wobinna’s solo class assignment over their cereal. Mikki has a suggestion for Wobinna.

Mikki (helpfully): Maybe an architectural model of a development for your final project could work?

Wobinna (liking the idea): I could make it out of wood!! Very cool!!!

Panel 3

Wobinna is in her basement working over her model development. As she puts the finishing touches on her project, she is quite pleased with the finished model. She then decides to have a little bit of fun and starts to clown around with a story about the town.

Wobinna (with a slightly wicked grin): The sleepy town never saw it coming ... the attack of the 50 ft. woman, BWHA HA! HA!.....

Hope you enjoyed this strip.
Look for a new Wobinna adventure next week.

Wo-Built Inc. is dedicated to women in the trades. We created Wobinna & Friends to encourage women to look at the construction industry as an alternative career choice with a multitude of options. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry. We would like to see more women explore the many opportunities open to them and become successful.

Wobinna & Friends and any associated characters, storylines and/or merchandise are the sole property and copyright of Wo-Built Inc. This includes all media.

links:
Wobinna Is Born
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna
Wobinna Built a Fabulous Doll House
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna1
Wobinna and Friends Built a Fabulous Lemonade Stand
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna2
Wobinna and Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna3
Wobinna and Friends: A Solo Class Assignment
http://tinyurl.com/wobinna8

Comment about Aging: Adapting Your Home for Comfortable Living

Photo Collage: Adapting Your Home for Comfortable Living
2010 @ wobuilt.com

The other day somehow the conversation got to the topic of aging, especially about aging eyes and light. When I was in my 20s I heard of people in their 40s and 50s that they needed more light to read and of course being young I thought “what are they talking about? I can read a newspaper underneath a street lamp.” Now being in my 40s I can’t even recognize a newspaper underneath a street light.

This of course makes me increasingly more sensitive towards the needs of adapting the design for homes to their age suitability. On the market there are many products that help the aging body to cope – from non slip surfaces to automation to lifts and ramps.

But I believe we need to go further to allow a comfortable living of the elderly in their own homes. We have to push technology further towards automation and new materials, provide ease of access, maybe new space planning and of course affordability.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

links:
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI)
The Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence (HASI) program offers financial assistance for minor home adaptations that will help low-income seniors to perform daily activities in their home independently and safely.
Science Daily:Adapt Your Home Today For Tomorrow's Age-Related Disabilities, Cornell Housing Expert Advises
... Evaluating how suitable our homes are for growing old in should be just as routine as financial planning for retirement, says a Cornell University housing expert ...
ezinearticles.com: HOME: Home-and-Family: Home Lighting Design For Aging Eyes - Part 2 - The Math
By Ralph Pressel
twitter's realtime results for "aging + home"
Wo-Built Inc: The Development of an Addition Project: Part 1
... In a space like this there are two main challenges: integrating a large visual element such as a kitchen and lighting the space that accentuates positively in a comfortable way ...
Wo-Built Inc: Lighting with LEDs – The Benefits
Light emitting diodes (LED) seem to be the way of the future and the benefits are endless!
Wo-Built Inc: Kitchen Lighting Trends
Wo-Built Inc: Home Maintenance Service Geared to Senior Citizens
We’ve launched an innovative idea with our "Home Maintenance Service". For a yearly fee, this particular service features regular home maintenance (like a "tune-up" for your house) for seniors who find it too difficult to do the work themselves, or clients who just don’t have the time or talent in home maintenance.
Wo-Built Inc: Help For Independent Living For Seniors
We at Wo-built can help you with assessing your needs and doing the necessary renovations to make your golden years more comfortable in your own home.