Combined Heat And Power Systems To Save Energy In The Home

Combined Heat and Power (CHP), or co-generation, systems are now available for residential applications. The energy contained in a home’s heating fuel is recycled to do double duty– to meet both heating and power needs. The system significantly reduces electric bills and emission pollutants, while increasing thermal comfort in the home.
The system called [...]

The Big Bad Wolf Can’t Blow Down A Straw-Bale House

Straw-bale houses are indeed comprised of straw and are actually very dense and strong, even in earthquake territory. They can be built just about anywhere, as long as they are constructed properly to ward off high levels of humidity, in areas where that condition exists. Benefits of straw-bale construction are: built of [...]

Is Lake Mead Half Full or Half Empty?

With dwindling water supplies, you might think efforts would be underway to dissuade rampant building growth, or to at least cut way back on water usage in Western cities like Las Vegas, Nevada.  There’s now 1.9 million people living in the Vegas area, some of whom still insist on defying the natural desert landscape with [...]

Stylish Green Cabinetry Hardware

Seattle-based Spectra Decor designs and manufactures beautiful cabinetry hardware that uses recycled glass and aluminum, cork, eco-resin, fused glass, lead-free pewter, and stainless steel. Stock and custom pieces are available in sleek, contemporary and distinctive designs. I especially like the beach pebble collection pictured here.

Great Ideas Abound in “More Small Houses”

Fine Homebuilding Magazine put together a wonderful collection highlighting some big ideas for building small houses. Many different architectural styles are included with a common thread of outstanding craftsmanship and sustainable construction methods. The 160 page book is now $23.75 on Oikos.com.

Sustainable Office Furnishings

I came across an innovative company, Ecowork, in the Pacific Northwest that focuses on designing and building durable, green furnishings for commercial interiors around the globe.  They incorporate 95% recycled and rapidly renewable materials, a low energy manufacturing process and low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) coatings, suitable for LEED-CI ratings.

LEDs: A Bright Idea

Light-emitting diodes, LEDs, are increasing in popularity due to the fact that they are long-lasting; produce a clean, bright white light; use much less electricity; and don’t contain mercury like compact fluorescents.  Ideal for task and display lighting, current uses include under-cabinet lighting, downlighting, refrigerated display case lighting, and in traffic signals.  Decreased costs and [...]

Efforts to Save The World’s Endangered Birds

BirdLife International is raising money to conserve the world’s most endangered birds. 189 bird species, including 17 in the United States, are facing extinction due to poaching, habitat loss and development. Mark Gately, of Wildlife Conservation Society, expressed: “Through conserving them, many sites and habitats important for other species (including humans) will [...]

Conventional Skylights vs. Tubular Skylights

What the heck is a tubular skylight? It’s an energy efficient, high performance tube whose reflective dome lens top rises just above the roofline. It captures pure sunlight and evenly disperses it throughout a room at the ceiling end. Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of advertising for tubular skylights that have [...]

Pourous Concrete, An Answer to Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater that runs off impervious paved surfaces, like driveways, roads and parking lots, carries a lot of pollutants with it. Oil, fertilizers, pesticides, dirt, antifreeze and other contaminants end up polluting our rivers, streams, ponds and lakes.
One solution is porous concrete, that can be used as a substitute for some conventionally paved surfaces. [...]

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