There are many different ways to accomplish energy efficiency lighting for interiors and exteriors for a home or a business. Creating energy efficient lighting in a home or business is something almost everyone can do to save both money and energy. Here we consider the two most commonly used methods to effectively establish energy efficiency [...]
Renewable energy resources will be of increasing importance as we transition from finite fossil fuels to more sustainable alternatives. Although pre-dating solar and wind energy, geothermal has largely been overlooked as a technology for reducing carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence. But rising fossil fuel prices and a growing interest in energy efficiency have increased [...]
We hear so much about energy efficiency nowadays. Energy efficiency is about saving our environment and saving our money. How we got about practicing energy efficiency isnt always as clear, though. Here, there, are the most frequently asked questions about energy efficiency, and their answers.
The question most often asked is if buying products such as [...]
Dennis and I began building energy efficient homes in the 1980’s. We understand construction math and profitability. It costs 5-10% more to build an energy efficient home than “standard†homes.
Many people pay deluxe home prices for fancy looking features but they get only paltry energy saving benefits.
When we first started building energy efficient homes [...]
WYOMING: Scientists say a new bacteria species, discovered in Yellowstones thermal pools, could improve the use of bacteria to produce ethanol.
Researchers found the bacteria in Octopus and Mushroom springs as well as in Green Finger Pool. The bacteria thrive in hot water, growing best between 120 and 150 degrees.
The discovery is rare because [...]
BioOil is an alternative fuel made using Dynamotive’s pyrolysis process of biomass. It is a dark brown, free flowing liquid fuel with a smoky odour reminiscent of the plant from which it was derived. BioOil is formed in a process called pyrolysis wherein plant material (biomass), such as sawdust or bagasse from sugar [...]
A Total Spectrum Solar Concentrator is a device used to optimise the efficiency of solar power. The suns rays are first concentrated using parabolic mirrors or a fresnel lens, and then spread out into a light spectrum via a prism. Each different part of the spectrum is aimed at a solar cell manufactured to operate [...]
The definition of biofuel is liquid or gas transportation fuel derived from biomass.
Plants use photosynthesis to grow and produce biomass. Also known as biomatter, biomass can be used directly as fuel or to produce liquid biofuel. Agriculturally produced biomass fuels, such as biodiesel, ethanol and bagasse (often a by-product of sugar cane cultivation) can [...]
Final Thoughts on Choosing Radiant Heat
It’s hard to express doubts about something that’s really popular. Like ground-source heat pumps, radiant-floor heating has a loyal and zealous following of builders, designers, and homeowners who consider it to be the best heating option around—and appropriate in almost any situation.
One of the reasons radiant-floor heating is so popular [...]
So What’s Wrong with Radiant-Floor Heating?
In the right application, radiant-floor heating is a superb heat-delivery system—in fact, perhaps the very best. You usually pay more for it, but the enhanced comfort, potential energy savings, and other benefits can easily justify the extra cost. That said, however, super-energy-efficient green buildings may not be as well-suited to [...]
During judging of the Northeast Green Building Design Competition last spring, I was struck by the number of residential entries with really stellar passive solar design and super-high-performance building envelopes. Clearly, I thought as I began reviewing the features, we’ve come a long way in high-performance residential green building since my first experience with passive [...]
The modern human community is depended greatly on the use of focil fuel like coal oil, gas and Nuclear fission. as sources of energy. But these sources of energy firstly polluting our the environment very fast secondly they are getting extinct and ultimately our existance in this universe is shortened.
Energy is the ability to do [...]
Work-arounds. While the Home Energy Saver is the most comprehensive home energy model available on the web, there are inevitably specific systems or features that we have not yet explicitly incorporated. In some cases, there are reasonable work-arounds that the user can use to approximate the energy use of such features or systems.
Upgrade Me! We [...]
When you are building, renovating, or choosing interior finishes and materials for your home, consider some of the following actions and measures you can take to incorporate these principles for more healthy, efficient, and sustainable living.
1. Optimizing Use of the Sun:
Most of us rely on oil, coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels to heat [...]
Heliodon—or ‘Sun Machine’— In Green House
The Green House includes several interactive features – including its very own heliodon. Heliodons or “sun machines” are devices used to simulate the sun’s movement in relation to a structure. A heliodon can be configured to observe sunlight and shading patterns for clear sky conditions anywhere in the [...]
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Biomass Program works with industry, academia and our national laboratory partners on a balanced portfolio of research in biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies. Through research, development, and demonstration efforts geared at the development of integrated biorefineries, the Biomass Program is helping transform the nation’s renewable and abundant [...]
A “passive” solar house provides cooling and heating to keep the home comfortable without the use of mechanical equipment. This style of construction results in homes that respond to the environment.
For passive heating and cooling, the plan of the house, careful site selection and planning, construction materials, building features and other aspects of the home [...]
Water covers about 75 percent of our planet, so on the surface level (pun intended) there seems to be an abundance of this natural resource. So why bother to conserve it? Because less than 1 percent of the water we have is available freshwater.
Add to that the way we use water: Only 10 percent [...]
Local Resource for Eco-Friendly Living
What is green housing? A green house is a home that uses sustainable building materials and energy efficient design. The concept of SUSTAINABILITY involves RENEWABLE ENERGY and CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES.
It should a goal to educate each other on the benefits of using these earth friendly materials, products and services [...]
An Atmospheric water generator (AWG), or atmospheric condenser, is a developing piece of technology with the intent of producing pure drinking water from the humidity of the surrounding air. An AWG operates in a manner very similar to that of a refrigerated dehumidifier: air is passed through a cooled coil, causing water to condense. The [...]
Use energy-saving settings on refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.
Survey your standard (incandescent) light bulbs for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs. The best targets are 60-100 watt bulbs used several hours a day. Measure the [...]
One way to save money on cooling costs is to not operate an air conditioner when you can get by with outside air. If your home is well insulated, that will help keep unwanted heat out. Keep windows shaded and curtains closed during times of the day when the sun would pour into unprotected windows. [...]
Even on the hottest days, your parked car is kept cooler and the air fresher thanks to this solar-powered car fan. It maintains a safe, comfortable temperature level for your return. Place vent on top of window, then close window and lock up. Its solar panel uses sunlight - not the car’s electrical wiring or [...]
Energy is being consumed at an ever growing rate—worldwide consumption is projected to increase 54% by 2025 from 2001 levels—while the serious environmental implications of fossil fuel consumption have become increasingly obvious.
Most people don’t but heating buildings consumes more energy than that used for electricity or transportation so increasing the use of solar thermal [...]
Introduction:
Wind energy is one kind of green energies which is never exhaust
ed to use. Wind energy is available free of cost.
A windmill is an engine powered by the energy of wind. It often refers to an engine contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, [...]
Conservation represents an investment and operational decision to use less energy in our daily lifestyles. While not advocating “freezing in the dark,” we all need to be mindful of how our behavior and purchase decisions influence our energy use. Our home purchase and utilization are the most significant ways we can each make our mark [...]
Most people make energy investment decisions based on installed cost and expected savings. Unfortunately, these are not as simple to predict as they might first appear. Cost estimates depend on the quality of materials, quality of the contractor selected, and many design details. Savings for a combination of energy efficiency usually measures less than [...]