Digital Fabrication Should Be Taken Less Seriously

Yestermorrow instructor Erik Hegre is currently a MArch student at the University of Oregon and put together this presentation on digital fabrication. Press the play button to zoom in and read the details.

Digital Fabrication Should Be Taken Less Seriously. on Prezi

Moving Forward with Semester Program

We’re thrilled to embark on the planning and design of Yestermorrow’s new semester program in sustainable design/build, scheduled to launch in Fall 2011. This innovative new program will bring college students to Yestermorrow for a semester-long immersion in the world of design/build, learning core concepts of ecological design along with hands-on building skills. With start-up funding from an anonymous foundation we have hired Jonathan Mingle to work with us over the next 8 months as a consultant and Semester Program Coordinator. Jon brings to Yestermorrow a broad range of experience in teaching, design/build, semester program development, writing and energy studies. For the past 5 years he has worked with Vermont Intercultural Semesters as a teacher and consultant for their semester and gap year programs in Ladakh, India. He is a freelance writer who has published in the Boston Globe, New York Times Magazine and Home Power magazine and he has built treehouses with Forever Young and worked on natural building projects at Rancho Mastatal in Costa Rica. He completed his MS in the Energy and Resources Group at Berkeley in 2009 and graduated from Dartmouth in 2001. Jon’s connections to Yestermorrow trace back to his internship here in the summer of 2004.

"Smart About Solar" FREE Seminar March 30th

If you are interested in stabilizing your electricity costs while taking tangible steps toward a cleaner planet, please join us next Tuesday, March 30th after work for cheese, crackers, cider and a candid discussion about the practical and financial aspects of implementing residential-scale solar photovoltaics in Vermont.

Who: Renewable energy experts with AllEarth Renewables (formerly Earth Turbines), a Williston-based company specializing in the design, manufacture and installation of grid-connected, residential-scale wind and solar electricity generation systems.
What: A free 'smart about solar' presentation titled "Surviving and Thriving in an Uncertain Energy Future."
When: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 30
Where: Main Studio, Yestermorrow Design/Build School, 189 Route 100, Warren, VT
How to attend: Please RSVP to events@allearthrenewables.com or call Meghan Dewald at 802-872-9600, ext. 111.

Students build new counter for the Savoy Theater

Yestermorrow's Woodworking Intensive students recently completed a new concessions counter for the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, VT. The theater, recently under new ownership, is undertaking a series of renovations which started with the installation of the new cabinets and countertop. The Woodworking Intensive students built the project during the one week Cabinets Unlimited portion of their 10-week curriculum, led by instructors Larry Jacquette and Peter Buley.

YM instructor's recent article in Home Power magazine

YM instructor Robert Riversong recently wrote an article on Passive Solar Slabs in the April/May issue of Home Power magazine.

Spotlight on: Masonry Design/Build in Italy- July 2010

We're excited about a new course this summer offered by longtime instructor Mac Rood. We'll be bringing a group of up to 15 students to the abandoned village of Ghesc in the northern mountains of Italy.

This three week course will offer students experience in preservation, restoration, and adaptive re-use of historic vernacular masonry buildings in the Piedmont region. The site is the abandoned village of Ghesc, near Domodossola. Students will analyze and document existing structures and devise strategies and designs for the re-use of selected buildings while maintaining their historic features. Studio design time will be supplemented with hands-on construction on projects within the village. Field trips off-site, guided by an architectural historian, will be scheduled to supplement the main work of the course.

This course, taught in English, is open to students of all ages with an interest in architecture, historic preservation and masonry construction. Our purpose is to promote an appreciation of building methods and designs particular to this region, and to imagine how these buildings can be put back into use for another 500 years. Preservation and adaptive re-use of buildings capable of lasting for centuries is the essence of sustainability. The construction project will give students exposure to masonry and timber construction techniques, working under the instruction of local masons and Yestermorrow instructors. Studio time will allow students to individually explore strategies for re-use of these buildings. Great food and exquisite views of the surrounding Alps are a bonus of the course. Food and lodging are included in the tuition price of $2995. Students are responsible for their own travel to the site.

For additional information click here.

Registration for this unique course is open through June 18th. REGISTER NOW!

New Yestermorrow Video

We're thrilled to announce that a new video featuring Yestermorrow is up on the msn.com site "A Guide to Healthier Living". Their film crew was here in February to capture some shots from the Woodworking Intensive and the certificate course Ecological Design in the Built Environment. Combined with some archive footage and shots from the 2009 Natural Building Intensive, it gives a great overview of what the school is all about.
Check it out at http://healthyliving.msn.com/default.aspx?section=video&contentType=video&contentId=98&source=MSNeditorial.

Shed Nation- Coming to a Bookstore Near You

Yestermorrow's own Dan Eckstein, Curriculum Director, has recently edited a book entitled "Shed Nation: Design, Build & Customize a Shed for Your Yard". The book includes plans and photos from past Popular Mechanics magazine articles as well as a couple of Yestermorrow projects, including a garden shed and the garden folly. We just saw the first copy but it should hit bookstores nationwide in May 2010, so keep an eye out for it. We'll also be selling it here at the Yestermorrow bookshop. Congratulations Dan!

Winter Wonderland

Wondering how to help in Haiti?

Many people have been how they can help in Haiti. Haiti will need a lot of help in the rebuilding process, and there are many organizations looking for skilled people to lend their expertise. Thanks to SEI for providing this list:

Natural Building Network is helping to coordinate skilled natural builders with relief organizations. NBN does not directly manage such efforts, but help coordinate skilled people with relief organizations such as Builders Without Borders, Engineers Without Borders , Groundswell International, Permaculture Haiti and the Permaculture Relief Corps. Interested in getting involved? Email NBN director of events Max V. Jensen at max@nbnetwork.org. If you have natural building or permaculture expertise and would like to donate phone or email consultation time to organizations supporting rebuilding efforts in Haiti and elsewhere please click here. If you have a high need project that could use this list please contact us at rebuild@nbnetwork.org.

Colorado Haiti Project is looking for structural engineers.

There is also a one-day workshop on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities in Haiti after the January 12 Earthquake being held on April 9, 2010 in Boston. Contact The Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters (CRSCAD.

Last Chance for Scooter Raffle Tickets

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR SCOOTER?
IT COULD BE YOURS!!

Purchase your raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2008 YAMAHA VINO 125 SPORT

The specs:
· Up to 96 miles per gallon (EPA rating)
· 124 cc 4 Stroke Engine, 1.2 gallon tank
· Great for commuters, students or professionals

Tickets are $10.00 each or 6 for $50.00
Purchase your raffle tickets online through our secure donation site. Be sure to specify "scooter raffle" in the memo line and include all of your contact information so we can get in touch if you are the WINNER! Winner will be drawn March 6, 2010.

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT YESTERMORROW'S SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Sign Design Competition

We need a new sign!

Yestermorrow is announcing a design competition for a new sign for our driveway entry. Our existing sign has seen many good years, but is starting to deteriorate and we are looking for a new look!

The winning design will be constructed in summer 2010.

What we’re looking for:

• Visibility and legibility – for cars driving by at 50 mph, visible day and night
• Beauty – exemplifying Yestermorrow’s unique design aesthetic
• Durability – low maintenance
• And a good first impression for the school

Winning designs must include the words "Yestermorrow Design/Build School", the e-911 address "7869", a plan for placement of our mailbox, and incorporate lighting.

The details for permitting by the town of Waitsfield:

• Total square footage not greater than 16 s.f.
• Supports cannot add more than 2’ to the width or height
• Not taller than 15’ high
• Not less than 15’ from the edge of the road (*unless existing foundation is used and sign is only being “replaced”)
• Must not obstruct the view of cars entering or exiting the driveway
• Lighting must be downlit, shielded and directed onto the surface of the sign with no glare. No neon or flashing lights. (Assumption is that lighting will be solar powered, so any associated components must be included in the design)

Budget: $1500 (including solar lighting, assuming some volunteer labor)

To submit a design for the competition:

Deadline: April 1, 2010
Submit documents via email to: kate@yestermorrow.org

Submittal must include dimensioned sketch of sign, site plan showing relationship to Rte 100 and driveway, materials list and rough budget estimate.

The winning design will be submitted for permitting by the Town of Waitsfield and constructed over the summer of 2010 to celebrate Yestermorrow’s 30th anniversary! The winner will receive a gift certificate for a 1-week Yestermorrow class valued at $750 AND the great feeling you’ll get every time you drive by and see that awesome new sign!

A view of our current sign:

Join us at NESEA's Building Energy 10 Conference

Free for all friends of Yestermorrow- a day pass to the trade show at the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's annual Building Energy conference coming up March 9-11, 2010 in Boston, MA. We'll be hanging out at Booth #1052 with our friends from Stone Soup Concrete. Hope to see you there!

To get your free pass, register online before March 5 at noon.
Here’s how:
Go to www.nesea.org/buildingenergy and click on “Conference Registration.”
When prompted, enter the promo code GUEST_PASS_TS
Finish the registration and receive an email confirmation. Print your confirmation and bring it to our registration lobby at the Seaport World Trade Center on Thursday, March 11. Enjoy the show!

February E-Newsletter

Our February e-newsletter is now online.
This month's features include:

• 30th Anniversary
• Yestermorrow Goes Solar
• Woodshop Improvements
• Thank You Forbo
• Featured Class: Renovation
• UVM Summer Courses
• Connect With Yestermorrow

Check it out!

Alumni Featured in Deep Energy Retrofit Case Study

This great case study features two Yestermorrow alumni in a Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources- RESIDENTIAL CASE STUDY
(online at Deep Energy Retrofit, Westborough, Mass. with photos)

The deep energy retrofit of a house in Westborough stands out as an example of how an owner’s individual motivation and the historic nature of a building can shape and challenge an extensive retrofit. Owner Caroline Fisher, a designer, did not pursue the home’s retrofit so she could benefit from the anticipated energy savings. Rather, she was motivated by her belief in the social value and marketability of an energy-efficient home. Fisher noticed that certain homes within the community frequently changed ownership. This led her to think about the features that make some homes more comfortable to live in than others, which led her to classes in super-insulation at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Vermont. There she learned that an energy-efficient home not only saves energy, but also creates a home that is comfortable, quiet, and healthy — a wonderful home to live in. Fisher’s Westborough house is an early 19th century Greek Revival antique. This made it a challenging project that required innovative and creative construction techniques. However, Jay Hartnett, the builder for the retrofit, did not have experience in energy retrofits and needed to be convinced of the value of super-insulation. On Fisher’s recommendation, Hartnett took a class at Yestermorrow, where he learned about the inefficiencies of standard insulation, as well as the money-saving benefits of closed-cell foam. Super-insulating the antique home was not an easy task due to the construction history of the house. Harnett installed two layers of rigid foam insulation to the back half of the house. On the front half, he added extra space to the wall cavity and blew in cellulose insulation. He then had to reframe the windows and doors to accommodate the additional insulation. Last, he attached the clapboard siding. Despite the complexity, Harnett has been eager to work on another super-insulation retrofit ever since he finished the project. The project was completed in the summer of 2009. Fisher has put the newly retro-fitted house on the market. She hopes a new owner will soon enjoy the comfort and benefits that this energy-efficient home offers.

ENERGY-EFFICIENCY SPECIFICATIONS

WALLS: R-40 rigid foam & blown-in cellulose insulation
ATTIC: R-60 insulation (28’’ R-100 in gables)
BASEMENT CEILING: Soy foam insulation
WINDOWS: Pella triple-pane, U-0.26
HEATING & COOLING:Heat-recovery ventilation system for forced hot-air distribution system
LIGHTING: Compact fluorescent
APPLIANCES: ENERGY STAR refrigerator & dishwasher

groSolar and Yestermorrow Partner to Provide Solar Seminars

Yestermorrow Design/Build School and groSolar are pleased to announce a new partnership to educate Vermont property owners about solar power systems. groSolar recently installed a solar hot water system (SHW) on the campus headquarters, as part of Yestermorrow’s campus master plan to implement and promote renewable energy systems and transition from fossil fuel use. The educational partnership is now part of Yestermorrow’s educational mission to demystify sustainable design and renewable energy.

Beginning in March 2010, Yestermorrow will host free “Solar Made Simple” educational seminars for the general public, to be held on the first Thursday of every month at the school’s Waitsfield campus on Route 100. The seminars, led by groSolar representatives, will provide an overview of solar power, including a review of Yestermorrow’s solar system and tips on how state grants and federal tax credits can help pay for a system. The seminars will also cover guidelines for assessing whether a home or business is right for solar, along with a preview of the long-term savings in utility costs property owners can expect from solar.

Upcoming seminars will be held from 6:00-7:00pm on March 4, April 8, May 6 and continuing throughout the year on the first Thursday of each month.

Interested homeowners are encouraged to bring a copy of recent utility bills as well as photographs of their properties if interested in discussing solar in more detail with groSolar representatives.

“groSolar treats most of our marketing outreach as education, so this is a great partnership,” said Gaelan Brown, Vice President of Marketing for groSolar. “groSolar is a big supporter of Yestermorrow’s mission, and we’re thrilled to help bring solar power to their operations and community outreach.”

groSolar recently completed the installation of a solar hot water system at the Yestermorrow Design/Build School’s campus. The system provides hot water for use in the kitchen, showers, and sinks for the School, which hosts over 1,000 students each year from around the country. The system is designed to provide an average of 150 gallons per day of hot water, with a storage capacity of 240 gallons. The panels are estimated to produce 100,000 BTUs per day, saving more than 400 gallons of propane per year and reducing Yestermorrow’s fossil fuel use by approximately ten percent.

”Yestermorrow is pleased to have this opportunity to partner with groSolar to help people understand their energy options in solar power. Solar systems are a clean, sustainable energy solution to reduce fossil fuel use, and an investment in solar is one of the wisest energy decisions people can make for the long term,” said Kate Stephenson, Yestermorrow’s Executive Director. “Domestic hot water is the second highest energy cost in a typical household. A solar hot water system can provide enough energy to meet 70% of a home’s annual hot water needs, even in cold climates.”

Yestermorrow’s solar hot water system was funded in part by a Vermont Community Climate Change grant.

The Yestermorrow campus is open to visitors seven days a week and free tours of the solar hot water system are available with advance reservation (call 802-496-5545).

Many Thanks to Forbo!

We'd like to offer our sincere thanks to Forbo for their donation of Marmoleum flooring for our new kitchen floor. We chose Marmoleum for our kitchen floor because it is one of the few flooring materials available today which is 100% all-natural, meaning that all its ingredients are derived from natural raw materials. Ingredients include: linseed oil, rosin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone, pigments, and jute.

Here are a few shots of the new floor (and our happy staff and interns!)

30th Anniversary Logo Competition Winner

Yestermorrow is excited to announce the winner of our 30th Anniversary logo competition. Peter M. James of Silver Spring, Maryland was the designer of the winning entry. Peter is a graduate of the 2008 Community Design/Build class and is an architecture student at the University of Maryland. Peter will receive a free one-week Yestermorrow class in recognition of his efforts. We received a dozen very creative entries and want to thank everyone who submitted a design. The winning design will be printed on our 2010 t-shirts and used in other 30th anniversary materials.

Concrete Decor features Fabric Forming Instructors

This month's issue of Concrete Decor magazine includes a feature article on the topic of Fabric Forming, with references to Yestermorrow instructors Sandy Lawton and Kyle Bergman. The story also includes images of the class project from the 2008 Dominican Republic Design/Build project which also featured the use of fabric forming. This innovative construction technique is taught in very few schools, and Yestermorrow is excited to be one of the locations of a week-long course and a demonstration project. Started in the summer of 2009 and scheduled to be completed by courses over the next two years, Yestermorrow's concrete cabin will provide housing for students as well as a demonstration of the technology and its diverse applications in walls, beams and roof panels.

Yestermorrow's 2010 class "Innovations in Fabric Forming with Concrete" will be held June 27 through July 2nd. Tuition for the course is $750.

You can read the whole article online at: http://www.fab-form.com/news/media/concrete_decor_jan_2010.html

YM alum featured in Yale Daily News

Yestermorrow Home Design/Build alum Elizabeth Turnbull's "tiny house" project was featured in this week's Yale Daily News: http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/scitech-news/2010/01/27/tiny-house/