According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), electricity production generates the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions (roughly 30%) because nearly 70% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. A concerted effort is underway to quickly ramp up renewable energy at both the utility level and distributed across residential and commercial properties. We also know we can reduce energy use through simple behavior changes like turning off lights and electronics when not in use. When you are looking for
In addition to monthly utility savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions, energy-efficient products and projects qualify for a variety of tax incentives and rebates at the local, state, and federal levels. You can search the DSIRE website for what incentives you may qualify for to help your renewable journey along.
According to HomeAdvisor, the typical new home built in the United States in 2023 was $121,099 to $502,765. And because buyers continue to outnumber sellers, that figure is rising. For buyers seeking a more affordable and sustainable new home, check out these alternatives.
Enercept has been building homes with customizable SIP construction longer than almost anyone else. They embrace creative, sustainable design.
Solar Roof shingles are both green and gorgeous. With an integrated Powerwall battery you’ll effectively turn your home into a personal utility! Plus, they’re so durable they’re warrantied for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first.
Your values guide you. But with a clear home electrification plan, you can budget for upgrades, replace appliances before they fail, and maximize incentives.
Architects and builders continue to innovate with structural insulated panels (SIPs), proving the benefits of affordable, healthier, and more resilient homes.
Pearl Certification uses an app to carry homeowners through certification, renovations, and then recertification—prioritizing efficiency features along the way.
There are many ways to achieve more space without adding square footage. Sheri Koones shares 14 tips for living well while living small.
Deep dive into sustainable home design with our top-rated podcasts—green tech, consultants, real estate, resilience, and more. Your eco-inspiration starts here!
In the wake of tragic wildfires, we have an imperative to rebuild more resilient, decarbonized buildings made from materials that are abundant, renewable, and healthy. We can’t bring back lives that were lost in these past events, but it’s critical we rebuild homes which will save lives in the future.
SIP-built may cost more up front than conventional stick-built, but thrifty construction and long-term cost savings offer all kinds of comfort and value.
Selecting sustainable materials is just as important as green design. So look at the entire lifecycle of products, and prioritize on the goals of your project.
Focusing on craftsmanship, salvaged materials, and biophilia, CarbonShack’s first branded home achieved LEED Platinum with a West Coast–shingle mashup style.
We’ve put together a guide to today’s top prefab ADU manufacturers to help you find an option that fits your style and budget.
Sure there’s ratings and certifications… But a green real estate agent on your side provides expertise, invaluable guidance, and a commitment to a better future
A modest, Arts and Crafts–style home was lovingly renovated to the highest green standards. Today it’s healthy, beautiful, and budget-friendly.
The benefits of solar aren’t just limited to those who install solar themselves. Community solar allows almost anyone to reap the rewards with no upfront costs.
This resilient community thrives on 1500MW of solar power, its own water-treatment plant, and surrounding wetlands for natural beauty and stormwater management.
With gender equality listed as one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we’re highlighting women leaders in sustainability who are ushering in a new era of green. Meet the women who are blazing a trail toward a healthier future through recycling paint, ecological planning and building, and helping businesses contain their environmental footprint.
Allied with multiple, sustainable manufacturers, CleverHomes is designing modular homes with high-end, contemporary lines and quality finishes and furnishings.
ADUs give homeowners the chance to invest in their existing home and age in place sustainably—opening up options for living arrangements and income streams.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals can help inform your building choices for a more efficient use of resources and a healthier, happier life. Transform your home and support economic growth and a sustainable future.
As our skilled trades workforce “grays out” and retires, recruiting more women could help diversify the workforce and reduce labor shortages.
![2 Reasons to Certify an Existing Home for Sale [Podcast]](https://elemental.green/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Sustainble-real-estate-transaction-c-400x250.jpg)
Brett Vredevoogd and Pamela Brookstein join host Marla Esser Cloos to talk about IRA money and how certifications can impact real estate and appraisals.
Even in cities and suburbs, well-placed trees absorb carbon, and make your home and neighborhood more comfortable, healthier, and less-expensive to live in.
New, green concrete options are emerging to help lower the embodied carbon of homes and buildings and achieve global climate goals.
Abandoning gas for all-electric appliances? The electrical panel is the unsung hero of any home electrification project.
Home EV charging setups can be tricky. So we’ve developed a primer: from model options and safe installation, to pricing and solar storage.
Recent advances in sustainable modular home construction can achieve the eco home of your dreams, with quality, tight construction always top of mind.
It’s not as simple as sustainable vs not sustainable. When comparing sustainable siding, we’re looking at material life cycle, certifications, and performance.
Heat pump dryers are an exciting, relatively new electrification technology. One can cut perhaps 10% of your household energy use.
Energy storage and controls can reshape your home’s electricity demand to harmonize with a clean, decarbonized electricity supply.
With the climate crisis accelerating, we must minimize the carbon load of our buildings. This means reducing the embodied carbon that is used to create the materials that go into our buildings as well as the emissions of the buildings in operation.
Embodied carbon accounts for creating and installing the materials in your home—and could exceed the total carbon footprint of operating your home for decades.
Carbon positive homes set a new standard by producing more energy on-site than the building requires to operate.
Consider the harm of rampant outdoor lighting. Then look to LED low-voltage landscape lighting for maximum lighting effects and minimal environmental impacts.
Built on a foundation of innovative technology and forward-thinking manufacturing, surface giant Cosentino has been considering the planet since its inception.
Proper framing, installation, glazing, and styling come together – extending the lifetime of your windows, saving energy, and reducing your carbon footprint
Investments in green upgrades not only make your home a wonderful place to live now, but a great value when it comes time to sell.
Energy Innovation encourages you take advantage of home electrification, and then share your story with your community and, most important, local policymakers.
Do you know how to unlock the true value of your green home upgrades? Green home realtor Christopher Matos-Rogers shows us around the appraisal Green Addendum.
We can limit climate change to 1.5 ℃! The IPCC calls us to reduce our home’s eco impact, use renewable energy, and deploy energy efficient solutions. Now!
Solar panels will increase your home’s value in several ways. These lend confidence in your solar investment and may motivate prospective buyers and lenders.
The future may be uncertain, but the value of a home doesn’t have to be. In fact, building, renovation, and design can be done with adaptability in mind. Preparing for changes can lead to even greater lasting quality, renewability, higher resale value, and often, overall savings in price.
The Sonnen ecoLinx solar battery storage system is so customizable that it adapts to your lifestyle and fully manages energy usage in your home.
By eliminating natural gas appliances from our homes, and replacing them with efficient electric options, we contribute to better health for us all.
“Eco-friendly” is getting a chic makeover. From innovation in materials to major curb appeal to biophilia and bringing the outdoors in, these sustainable trends are leading the charge when home buyers are hunting for their next home.
This new generation of solar battery systems is a game-changer! Arm yourself with the tough questions to ask to make sure the system works best for you.
Interested in making your home a net zero energy home? Sometimes it’s nice to use a good book (or two) as your guide. Here are some of our favorites.
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