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The Net-Zero Energy Coalition convened the second Net-Zero North American Leadership Summit from March 3–5 as part of NESEA’s blockbuster BuildingEnergy15 conference. Summit participants gathered to share experience and collaborate on strategies to accelerate the development of net-zero energy buildings and communities across the continent. Kicked off with an inspirational address from Massachusetts State Senator Jamie Eldridge, the Summit created dialogue among federal, state, and city officials, major utilities, non-profits, education institutions, and ... [continue reading]
You’ve sold your customer a great energy solution in the form of a small wind turbine, which will give them years of clean power from a vast and plentiful renewable resource. Now you just need to install it. [continue reading]
In the hierarchy of dreaded activities, reviewing the monthly electricity bill ranks alongside stepping on the bathroom scale. As with most bills, the primary focus is typically on the amount due. The number of kilowatt-hours consumed receives only a secondary glance. However, understanding the details behind the monthly usage may yield opportunities for reducing your energy bill. [continue reading]
Everyone was seated waiting for the train to depart when vendor #1 stood at the front of the car and held up a familiar brand of chocolate candy bars announcing their price. Then he walked through the car and offered a candy bar to each of the passengers. I watched as he sold two candy bars in that group. [continue reading]
I have been involved in home automation heavily over the last few years. At my home in Utah, I started by using a Mi Casa Verde and slowly moved over to SmartThings. The path has been long and hard, and littered with various devices, some of which are still in use. Belkin Wemo, Phillips Hue, Revolv, TCP bulbs, and Nest, along with several others make up the pack. Along the way, I’ve come ... [continue reading]
So there's lots of excellent work and capacity building going on, and net zero energy, low energy, and high performance houses are being designed and built throughout North America. Innovation and forward thinking abound. It's all very exciting. But there's a place past which most builders, designers, and homeowners will not go: beyond low-flow plumbing fixtures, specifically toilets. Massive infrastructure has made it pretty convenient to not think about the consequences of flush toilets. Sure, ... [continue reading]
The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) recently introduced www.bpi.org for consumers, a new interactive website designed to educate homeowners on the value of home performance energy upgrades and the quality of contractors who have earned the BPI GoldStar credential. [continue reading]
The Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) recently announced that Executive Director Katrin Klingenberg will formally launch the new PHIUS+ 2015 passive building standard on March 25 at Seattle’s Bullitt Center. [continue reading]
Smart building design and construction professionals know that a building is more than a sum of its parts—it’s a complex system. For example, a poorly designed HVAC system can turn an otherwise efficient home into an energy hog. The understanding that a home is a complex system is reflected in today’s building codes, and proper compliance ensures that we’re building better energy performance into the process from ... [continue reading]
I've had a decades-long love affair with dumb, passive houses. Passive. As in do-nothing. I love the design challenge of making do with the site and the microclimates that a house can be tucked into, the available solar gain, the building envelope. The minimal interjection of technology to maintain comfort has always been appealing to me, mainly because I'm selectively cheap and lazy. I don't want to do anything that costs me money over and ... [continue reading]
