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The year 1993 was a big one for the Building Performance Institute, better known to all of us as simply BPI. It was the year they started, and the year that 35 building performance professionals gathered to develop a set of principles for the industry. [continue reading]
With the passage of the Energy Act of 2011, the United Kingdom created a unique Green Deal program to encourage owners of residential and non-residential properties in England to upgrade their buildings to the latest in green technologies to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. [continue reading]
What if the future of lighting is one where wireless technology can help contribute towards greater energy efficiency in the home? The amount of light might be driven by the application, focused on using energy and light when and where it is needed rather than expending energy in less common areas around the home. [continue reading]
Beginning this month, developers and home builders have a new opportunity to highlight green building achievements applied toward their projects. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the EPA WaterSense New Home Specification. This Specification establishes criteria for new homes and multifamily occupancies to be labeled under the WaterSense label, which is similar to existing EPA programs EnergyStar and Indoor AirPlus. To earn the WaterSense label on residential occupancies, applicants will be required to meet ... [continue reading]
In a dose of bad news yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed to settle a lawsuit brought by the American Public Gas Association (APGA) that seeks to roll back gas furnace efficiency standards. As a result, the new standards, completed in 2011 and slated to take effect this May, would be eliminated in favor of yet another round of DOE hearings and studies. The losers: consumers and the environment. The bill: more than $10 ... [continue reading]
A building is not sacred. A church or a temple, no matter how old, or big, or beautiful, by itself is not sacred. It’s the attitude of the people and the things that people do in a building that make it sacred or not. I have met many people in the home performance field who quietly go about the work of making homes sacred places; places that serve a higher purpose than just ... [continue reading]
As a home performance professional, you're probably always looking for new products and services to offer your clients. If you're working with solar, chances are that you've been hearing a lot about micro inverters. If you are located in Australia, however, you should know that micro inverters have many significant downsides that may make them unsuitable for harsh Australian climates. [continue reading]
The Appraisal Institute’s An Introduction to Green Homes is yet another valuable tool from the Institute, paving the way for appraisers to handle green home assignments. The book, authored by long-time appraiser, REALTOR, and educator Alan Simmons in 2010 helps appraisers new to this work “know what they don’t know.” The book equips appraisers to identify green building certifications, techniques, and products and guides them to great resources for more ... [continue reading]
As we ring in the New Year, the U.S. Department of Energy is pleased to announce the posting of its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) Program Report. The report presents our action plan for evolving HPwES and is based on more than 650 stakeholder comments received during an open comment period in 2012. The proposed changes are collectively known as HPwES v2.0. [continue reading]
The House of the Immediate Future in Seattle, Washington, is one of six super energy-efficient homes being highlighted this year by Northwest Energy Star Homes—in collaboration with builders, utilities, and homeowners—to increase awareness and adoption of advanced building practices and products that can improve quality, comfort, and energy efficiency in new homes. [continue reading]
