Postretrofit News and Analysis

Our house was built in 1951, but Michele and I have been living there since 2007. I’ve met the two previous owners. One was careful about keeping the house comfortable and efficient—the other ...

With the completion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report in November 2007, our mandate is clear. First, we must halt the growth in worldwide green house gas emissions by 2015. Following that, we ... [continue reading]

Modeling Smart Homes

Author: Aaron Ewerdt

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March 09, 2008

When Solaris Home Systems was founded in Chicago in 2003, our main focus was home automation systems—lighting, HVAC, security, entertainment, and so on. We quickly realized that home automation systems could do more than ... [continue reading]

A Sustainable House for the Canadian Arctic

Author: Bill Semple

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March 01, 2008

Many housing models that have been introduced in the north do not adequately reflect the culture and lifestyle of northern peoples or communities. [continue reading]

The Shipping News

Author: Jim Gunshinan

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January 27, 2008

The West Coast Green conference was held September 19–22 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Home Energy is a media sponsor for the event, and our staff handed out well over 1,000 magazines; ... [continue reading]

Move Over, Jetsons

Author: Leslie Jackson

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January 27, 2008

Prefab, manufactured, modular homes. What do these words make you think of? Ultramodern Buckminster Fuller spaceship like dwelling solutions for ultramodern people, and shiny, hard surfaces—a far cry from living in cooperation with ... [continue reading]

Keeping Cool at the Third Solar Decathlon

Author: Tina Kaarsberg

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January 27, 2008

Anyone interested in the latest earth-friendly heating, cooling, appliance, and other home energy technologies should check out the Solar Decathlon, a biennial event sponsored by DOE that invites teams from colleges and universities around the ... [continue reading]

A Model Cold Climate House

Author: John Woodward

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January 04, 2008

Most houses built in Alaska today are the product of slight modifications to designs imported from milder climates. Such designs seldom perform well in Alaska. [continue reading]

SolarSmart Homes Sell Faster

Author: Mary James

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January 01, 2008

The housing industry may be in a slump in parts of the country, but in and around Sacramento, California, one type of housing is selling at twice the rate of its competitors—the SolarSmart ... [continue reading]