RECYCLING HISTORYWood from America’s old barns—120 years or older—is finding a home in north Phoenix at K.P. Holt Enterprises. Here, in a yard chock-full of vintage lumber, owner Kevin Holt sells beams and timbers just as they looked when long-ago artisans first worked them with old-school adzes, axes and chisels.
“I search the Midwest and East farm country for these barns,” Holt says. “We carefully disassemble the structures and ship the beams, planks and siding to Arizona.” The wood, complete with ax grooves and other reminders of history, can be bought raw or with an oil-and-wax hand-rubbed finish.
Custom pieces, such as mantels, corbels, furniture, doors and columns, also are available. Pictured are entry columns made from 130-year-old hardwood barn beams.
To check out Holt’s reclaimed wood items in person—down at the yard—call (602) 861-2577; or log on to
yesterdaystimber.com.
WORDS OF WISDOMIf you have ever thought that living green means living uncomfortably, think again.
Jennifer Roberts explains how following sustainable practices can make a house more comfortable and also less expensive to run, in
Good Green Homes: Creating Better Homes for a Healthier Planet (Gibbs Smith, Publisher).
Roberts outlines ways to achieve a healthier, more energy-efficient residence, which she says can save homeowners money while helping the environment.
Installing a “cool roof” in a hot climate is one way to lessen the use of air-conditioning and reduce energy bills, the author notes. Cool roofs are made of light-color reflective material, such as white metal, and are said to reduce the temperature in an attic by 25 to 30 degrees. The book also offers tips on how to buy a green house.
“What we do at home may not change the world, but it can change a lot,” writes the author.
—Laura Gold