Énóvo, the intelligent home

Inhabitat reports  “The Canada based Énóvo House features a sleek modular assembly that’s designed to evolve as the needs of its inhabitants change. Its elegant, angular structure makes excellent use of materials to maximize square footage, and its versatile design is able to adapt to any type of terrain and any climate condition.”

Énóvo’s highlights:

• The house was designed around a central courtyard that incorporates nature’s elements.

• It features a green roof consisting entirely of living plants
• Radiant flooring that stores calorific energy
• Vast windows that facilitate closeness to the environment while increasing energy performance through their large supply of natural light.
• Ready-to-assemble modular structures the house melts into its environment, adapts to the lifestyle, the needs and the evolution of those living in it.
• Choice of cathedral ceilings or low ceilings, open spaces or intimate spaces, small secret rooms or large open concept rooms, it’s all possible….
• Will adapt to any type of terrain and to any climate condition including blizzards, earthquakes and flooding.
• The home automation management system offers solutions for optimal use of the available resources.

146 mpg for Rocklin, CA residents

An entrepreneurial mother has bought a golf cart business and transformed it into an electric car dealership in Rocklin, California called Electric Car Living.

On May 30th and 31st she is introducing a new affordable electric car design called the ZAP Xebra. The event is Friday from 3pm to 7pm and Saturday from 11am to 3pm.

“ZAP says its Xebra electric city-car and truck cost from 1-3 cents per mile while gasoline costs 15-20 cents per mile. ZAP’s research into used gasoline cars shows that average late model used cars average between 15-22 MPG. On a pure energy consumption basis, the ZAP Xebra can get about 146 MPG.”

See CNN Money for this article

ZAP Electric Cars now in Central Valley

VISALIA, California

“A new kind of electric car and truck are taking gas prices head-on in California’s Central Valley. The gas-free vehicles are from California automaker ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) and are now available in Visalia.”

Three associations speak about the defeat of SB 1312

[also read comments]

CLCID’s News Release

SB 1312 Stalls in Senate

Sacramento, CA, May 29, 2008 – - In the face of growing opposition, Senate Bill 1312 was removed from consideration and not voted on by the State Senate. The bill cannot be considered again in the Senate this year.

SB 1312 is strongly opposed by the California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design (CLCID) who for the last twenty five years has served as the primary interior design coalition in the state of California. The membership consists of California Chapter Members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Interior Design Society and International Furnishing and Design Association, independent Interior Designers, Individual Members affiliated with the American Society of Interior Designers or International Interior Design Association, students, educators, and individuals in the interior design industry.

The legislation was also opposed by the Community College League of California who is concerned the bill would have a devastating impact on careers of current and future students who attend community colleges who would not be eligible to become registered interior designers.

The opponents successfully argued that SB 1312 is a restrictive practice act that would deny access to practice registered interior design to current interior designers who have professional experience, but who didn’t graduate from schools with specific qualifications.

The California Architects Board, who would have be called upon to administer the regulation opposed SB 1312 stating the cost to be approximately $1.5 million per year, adding unnecessary cost and administrative overhead to the interior design industry that must be passed on to the consumer.

CLCID wishes to thank the many individuals and organizations that opposed SB 1312. The organizations who lobbied to defeat SB 1312 include:

California Building Officials (CALBO), Community College League of California, National Kitchen and Bath Association – California Chapters (NKBA), American Institute of Architects – (AIA California Council), California Architects Board (CAB), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), California Legislative Coalition for Interior Design (CLCID), Los Rios Community College District, The Interior Design Society (IDS) – California, Western Home Furnishings Association, Lumber Association of California & Nevada, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) – Northern Calif. Chapter, The Home Depot, American Lighting Association (ALA), American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD) and the California Retailers Association.

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IDCC’s Home Page Statement

Latest developments regarding SB 1312

Our author, Senator Leland Yee, decided not to take up SB 1312 before the full Senate because of mounting opposition and concerns that were raised, some legitimate and many that were not grounded in fact. The Interior Design Coalition of California will continue to work diligently to listen to and address concerns by those opposed to the bill to bring this important issue back to the legislature.

On behalf of IDCC, we want to thank all of you for your hard work to help pass SB 1312, legislation that would provide a pathway for designers to become “registered.”

SB 1312 was written to provide the greatest amount of flexibility for the interior design community, creating a voluntary pathway to become a registered interior designer without impacting those that are currently practicing and who may not wish to register.

Equally important, we wanted to make sure that those who are studying to become a designer, either at a community college, or at a private or public college or university, have the broadest opportunities possible.

SB 1312 has received tremendous support from across California including educators, students, design professionals and a host of others. That support was necessary as we worked our way through the State Senate. Because of all of your hard work, SB 1312 was approved by two Senate committees ­ Business and Professions and Appropriations.

Along the way there were a number of issues raised and we worked very hard to make sure that each of those issues were addressed in a straightforward fashion to improve the bill, and it has been duly amended to reflect a solution for those issues.

Thank you once again for all of your hard work.

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Interior Design Protection Council

SB 1312 dies in Senate!

SB 1312, a practice act, was withdrawn from the the Senate agenda today, and given the status of “inactive” due to the tremendous outpouring of opposition. In spite of intense lobbying by ASID and IDCC, as well as support by several influential Senators, in the end, the majority of clear-thinking members of the Senate could not overlook the logical, statistical, and factual documentation presented in rebuttal to misleading and mendacious statements made by the proponents of SB 1312. Many Senators stated that they had received “stacks” of letters in opposition and confirmed that the phone calls in opposition greatly outnumbered those of the proponents. Allegedly, only 9 Senators were willing to vote “yes” to SB 1312, so the bill was removed rather than be voted down by such a large margin. One of the most important voices in opposition was that of the Community College Leage, advocating on behalf of many thousands of students who would have been negatively impacted by SB 1312. Many other groups joined IDPC in actively opposing this anti-competitive bill: CADAL, NKBA, AIA, IDD, AICAD, IFDA, IDS, DANA, CALBO, CBA, as well as many Allied ASID and independent designers. This joint collaboration produced the overwhelming amount of opposition which resulted in the bill’s demise. The question on everyone’s lips, “will they be back next year?” Probably. But strategies are being formed, right now, to ensure that another state-imposed regulatory monopoly scheme never sees the light of day in California. But for today, celebrate your victory in protecting your right to practice! Patti Morrow Executive Director INTERIOR DESIGN PROTECTION COUNCIL

Contact Us info@IDPCinfo.org