A CASE FOR HISTORIC NASSAU
Fifty years ago, the world of the Bahamas passed through Downtown Nassau. It was as though Downtown Nassau was the Downtown for the whole country. Every sloop and mailboat arrived at New Providence through the Downtown, bringing people, produce, fish, conch and animals, and taking back supplies, tools and people. The people of the City of Nassau filled Bay Street, on bicycles, drays, cars and trucks, but most of them on foot. Fishing supplies from the Ironmongery. School supplies from the Stop’n’shop. Dress patterns, buttons and thread from the Melita’s. Xmas cards and toys from City Pharmacy. Read more...
THE NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD HEADQUARTERS
Many people have visited or done business at the NIB Headquarters Building over the past two decades, and completed their business in the open area on the Ground Floor. Most have noticed the comfort in the area, without realizing that the area is made comfortable by three natural design tools: the building is designed to allow the prevailing breezes to flow across the space constantly; while being open to the sky, the area is constantly in shade, including the atrium over which there is a “Sails in Space” shade device. The result is a Lobby for which no airconditioning is needed, saving energy and therefore money.
3 TIPS FOR REDUCING YOUR POWER BILL
Let’s be upfront. Everybody wants to have lower power bills. But how to make that happen without a lot of upfront cash or a radical change in lifestyle is a mystery for most homeowners. There are salesmen peddling gadgets that reduce the consumption of certain pieces of equipment, or alternative technologies that replace the need for grid power. And there are design “tricks” that reduce the amount of power needed to produce comfort conditions. So how does the homeowner decide which initiative will give the best “bang for the buck” immediately and which should be thought of as long-term projects? Here are three simple tips that will help get that process started.
TIP 1: KEEP THE SUN OUT
In the sub-tropical zone, where this article is being written, direct penetration of the sun into the building’s interior is the second most important reason for needing air conditioning ( the most important is bad building layout), and therefore for the use of a lot of electric power. The installation of exterior shade devices, appropriate landscaping with shade trees, ground cover that stop the reflection of the sun into openings, and consideration for the orientation of the building generally will reduce the demand for power substantially. Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that interior window dressings are effective for this purpose. READ MORE.......