Climate Change and the Resilient Response
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.
The Top 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Saving Energy at Home
Did you know that on average, households lose about 20 percent of their heated and cooled air through the duct system to the outside? Click through to learn what to do about it and 10 other important facts about saving energy at home.
What is a Home Energy Score?
Like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score is an easy way for homeowners, buyers, and renters to get directly comparable and credible information about a home’s energy use across the housing market. Shown in a simple 1-10 scale (10 being the most efficient), a Home Energy Score report can be used to estimate a home’s energy use, the associated costs, and provide affordable suggestions to improve its efficiency.
How Much Can You REALLY Save with Energy Efficient Improvements?
By Allison Casey, U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory Colorful leaves, cooler weather, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everywhere—it's definitely fall! While you're snuggling in and sipping a warm drink, we hope you'll join us this October and...
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Expert Tips for a High Performance, Energy Efficient Home [Podcast]
Listen in as Kellye Markowski from Energy Smart Homes offers advice for homeowners/residents to reduce their energy and costs and know the best course of action for their house. She says people take a stab at doing the right thing for their home or property, yet they typically do the wrong thing or do the steps out of order.
6 Top Renovations to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
by Nikki Fotheringham, author specializing in environmentally-friendly building technologies, renewable energy and all things green Not everyone thinks to remodel their home for efficiency purposes, as well as aesthetics. However, there are several ways your...
Energy Efficiency – Designing, Inspecting, and Testing For it, Part 1
A 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.
Energy Efficiency – Designing, Inspecting, and Testing For it, Part Two
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.
Top 5 Ways to Insulate Your Green Home
Not all insulation is created equal. Some insulation might get an A for fire prevention, but receive Fs in health and safety thanks to its chemical components. Others may be easy on your energy bill but hard on the environment. Here are the top 5 eco-friendly options that also protect your indoor air quality.
How to Make Your Home Net Positive on a Budget
John Livermore remodeled his home to make it produce more energy than it used. In addition to the dramatic energy savings, he zeroed out his home’s carbon footprint, stopped paying energy bills, increased comfort, improved his family’s health, and became the first renovated home in Massachusetts to produce more energy than it uses. Best of all – you can do it, too!
18 Easy Energy-Saving Tips
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 40 percent of energy in the U.S. is used by homes and residential buildings. What’s more, the U.S. alone is responsible for 18 percent of the entire planet’s energy demands. Reduce your use by following these 18 easy steps.
The Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly Insulation
Insulation is designed to reduce energy costs, so in that sense, any insulation could technically be considered green. But the manufacturing process, materials, and toxicity are other highly important factors to consider.
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Create An Energy-Efficient Home With a Deep Energy Retrofit [Infographic]
A deep energy retrofit is a whole-building analysis and construction process that achieves much larger energy cost savings than those of simpler energy retrofits, sometimes as much as a 50% reduction.
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5 Home Energy Myths [Infographic]
People have a lot of questions about relatively new trends, and eco-friendly building is no exception. What’s the difference between energy conservation and energy efficiency? Isn’t an energy efficiency makeover always expensive?
Insulation 101: A Net-Zero Builder’s Formula for Insulating a Super Energy-Efficient Home
In this video, David Dodge & Dylan Thompson of Green Energy Futures share some secrets for a super energy-efficient home. “The era of net-zero homes is upon us.
Energy Efficiency: What’s the Difference Between Thermal Mass and Insulation R-Value?
One of the hallmarks of a home’s energy efficiency is its thermal performance. So it’s important to understand the distinction between the concepts of thermal mass and insulation. Thermal Mass “Thermal mass” refers to a structure’s ability to slowly absorb ambient...
What Makes Windows and Doors Energy Efficient?
What makes it ENERGY STAR? ENERGY STAR qualified, windows, doors, and skylights: Are manufactured by an ENERGY STAR partner, Are independently tested, certified, and verified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), and Have NFRC ratings that meet strict...
EXPLORE AMAZING PRODUCTS, NEW TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGIES, AND DISCOVER A WEALTH OF INFORMATION YOU NEED FOR YOUR SUSTAINABLE HOME BUILD OR RENOVATION.
19 Non-Toxic, Eco-Friendly Mattresses for Every Budget
How many hours do you spend in bed? A mattress that is non-toxic is imperative. We’ve scoped out the best brands of eco-friendly mattresses at every price point.
Everything You Need to Know About Low-Flow Toilets, And Which Ones To Choose
Did you know toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption? According to the EPA, “Over the course of your lifetime, you will likely flush the toilet nearly 140,000 times. If you replace older, existing toilets with WaterSense labeled models, you can save nearly 13,000 gallons per year with this simpler, greener choice.”
10 Eco Building Materials Revolutionizing Home Construction
Want to hear some good news? According to the World Green Building Trends 2018 report from Dodge Data and Analytics, green building is officially a “global trend” and energy conservation is a top priority for people all over the planet. There are many choices of new (and old) materials which are being used in revolutionary ways.
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