Upcoming Tours of Green Homes & Businesses

Each October, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) coordinates nationwide tours of homes, commercial and municipal buildings that feature green technologies.  The purpose is to show others how cool green buildings can be.  The 9000 sites on the tours use sustainable strategies that increase energy efficiency, use solar energy, conserve water, use reclaimed or […]

Green Roofs: Open for Tours

Green roofs are built right into a roof system and composed of a “high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants,” according to GreenRoofs.org.  These planted roofs are beneficial in many ways, from stormwater management and reduction of a building’s energy usage to cleaning […]

Cool Pergolas Capture Solar Energy

Did you know that outdoor structures such as pergolas, awnings and even carports can do double duty?  Not only do they protect you, or your car, from the hot sun or drenching rain, but these structures can be topped with solar panels to generate clean electricity for your home, business or electric car.

Got Leaks? Metal Roofs to the Rescue!

Not only do metal roofs look great and last a lifetime, they reduce energy bills too.  They’re available in a wide variety of colors and styles and can be applied to residential, commercial or industrial buildings.  There are metal roofs that mimic the look of cedar shakes, slate and even curved clay tiles.  Metal roofing […]

LEDs Lighting the Way

Now that the nights are growing longer with each passing Autumn day, we’ll be turning on the lights more often to brighten our interior spaces.  That doesn’t mean our electricity bills have to skyrocket.  One solution, for residential and commercial spaces, is to replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, or light-emitting diodes.  LEDs use […]

Save the Date! Northeast Green Buildings Open House

Each year, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) organizes a FREE tour of homes and businesses that showcase innovative energy solutions.  Last October, over 500 sites were toured by 16,000+ people!  This is your opportunity to see first-hand the latest in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy systems. Learn about solar panels, geothermal systems, pellet stoves […]

Rooftop Gardens: A Growing Trend

Gardening for urban dwellers and businesses is often challenging, but utilizing unused space on the rooftop offers an innovative solution to bring fresh veggies to the table.  Products designed for such purposes, from hydroponic systems to recycled plastic bins, are now more easily accessible.   MSNBC has the full story here.

5 Energy-Saving Retrofits

Wondering how you can make your business or home more energy efficient?  Houston Neal’s article, on softwareadvice.com, explains how 5 “green” retrofits will reduce energy usage in commercial, industrial and residential markets.

Eco-friendly Interior Doors, Part II

As I’ve previously mentioned in Part I of this series of posts, there are many options for the environmentally-conscious shopper, even when it comes to buying interior doors.  I had focused on beautiful, reclaimed wood doors that add instant character and richness to any home.  Here, I’ll highlight residential and commercial doors made with recycled […]

Affordable Solar Tube Skylights Brighten Up Interior Spaces

Want to shed some light on that dark area of your home or commercial building without turning on the lights and driving up your electric bill?  A great solution is to install solar tubes, aka sun tunnels, which are easily retrofitted into existing buildings.  In fact, depending on the Energy Star rated system you choose, […]

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