Q&A with the Homeowner
What did they wish they knew before they started? What’s the best piece of advice they have for others? Learn the answers to these questions and many more in our interview with the homeowners.
Read MoreWhat did they wish they knew before they started? What’s the best piece of advice they have for others? Learn the answers to these questions and many more in our interview with the homeowners.
Read MoreLots of people like the idea of building green, or a least a greener. But, although the term green building is often used, many of us are not quite sure exactly what green building is, or where to go to get easy to understand information about green building options. This week we have an interview that will help explain what green building is and why it’s important.
Read MoreA home is given a numerical score, called the HERS Index Score, which indicates the home’s energy efficiency. The Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) introduced the HERS Index many years ago.
A lower HERS Index score means a more energy efficient home. And the lower the HERS score, the lower your utility bills and the more comfortable the house will be. Like the miles per gallon tells how efficiently a CAR uses fuel, the HERS Index Score tells how efficiently a HOUSE uses fuel.
The Manual J calculation is the first step in designing a new heating and air conditioning system. The “J” in Manual J stands for Joule, which you might remember from your science classes. A “Joule” is a unit of energy. Manual J calculations determine how much cooling a house actually needs.
Read MoreToday we’ll learn about the energy efficiency of windows. A window’s energy efficiency is dependent upon all of its components—the window frame, the glazing and the coatings. We’ll talk specifically about each of those components, including the different materials for the frames, double and triple glazed windows and low-E windows.
Read MoreToday’s mini lesson will give you a good foundation for understanding heat pumps, including the commonly used air-source heat pumps, geothermal systems, and mini split systems. It’s a complex subject and you can get much more detailed information online or in books. But my goal today is to give you enough knowledge so you partner with your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) consultant to determine whether a heat pump is the right choice for you.
Read MoreSo, you’re about to do some home remodeling, but you’re on the fence about making the upgrades eco-friendly. Today, I’m here to help you off the fence and send you on the path to sustainability with absolute confidence in your choice. How? With a little myth-busting because people make a lot of erroneous assumptions about what it takes and what it means to have an eco-home. And you’ll probably be surprised once you see how completely wrong they are.
Read MoreStuart had the foresight to create a mission statement to guide the project and says whenever they veered from it, they regretted it. Read his and create your own.
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