Myths of Green Building

Here's a Top 10 list.

How to Change the Global Energy Conversation

"Energy that is cheap, clean and available to all should be understood as a fundamental public good and should be the central objective of climate policy."

Historic Preservation: Home Rx

Ask a question.

Like their Weatherization guide in their green issue.

Homestar in NPR

May the Senate pass this program once in session again!

Green & Affordable Developments

Casa Feliz in San Jose, CA

Housing Trends Are A-Changin'

by Gen Y (me) and Baby Boomers

The U.S. Military and Renewable Energy

This article demonstrates one benefit of the military. Even with the power to change markets, I still do not believe in any kind of war. Switching to renewable energy faster will prevent wars over oil though...

The Living Building Challenge

is possible and very interesting!

Passive House in the U.S.

Watch this video about the year of building one.

Earth Bag Home in Ghana

Check out the house.

Self-Renewing Solar Cells

Solar cells that mimic living things.

America's First Hemp House

Check out the house in Asheville, NC.

Saving Energy is Saving Water

The two go hand in hand.

Energy Auditors of the Future

Starting young thanks to a Fed EE and Conservation Block Grant.

Changing Habits

Why energy auditors are truly helpful.

Habitat's Microbuild Fund

Absolutely LOVE this idea!!!

Sustainable Home Designs

Here are some options. I'm a fan of many of these ideas.

Spray Solar for Windows

The technology is developing.

Austin Green Building

What it means to build green in Austin, TX.

Possibilities of Geothermal

"Geothermal Energy Could Provide All the Energy the World Will Ever Need"

Home Electrical Wiring as Sensor Device

Check out the growing technology of electrical wiring also monitoring energy usage, air quality and other measures.

Concentrating Solar Power

X Prize Winners

They have been announced. Cars who get over 100 miles per gallon!

China & Solar Incentives

Fascinating article

$26K Bone Home

Example of using "waste" materials and turning them into a house. Love the idea of recycled and reclaimed material homes using unskilled labor - pure genius.

EE App

Looking forward to playing around with apps like this one.

First Grid Positive College

Butte College produces more energy than it uses.

Spray Foam

Here's an article all about the popular insulation.

The 100K House

Philadelphia project and case study.

Tile Vaulting

There is a pdf at the bottom that has photos and more details of tile vaulting as a sustainable construction method.

Polli-brick

Recycled bottles made into bricks.

"Stick-On" Solar Panels

Love solar technology, especially the ability of installation made easier.

Habitat for Humanity Mississippi & Green Building

Read this case study and see what an affiliate is up to these days.

Electronic Flexible Newspaper

"Harry Potter's" newspapers are coming true soon.

Electricity from Air

Research is getting closer for electricity to be generated from air!

The Beauty of Straw Bale Homes

Love homes made with straw bales!

DOE Energy Basics

Start your research about renewable energy.

Financing Renewable Energy and EE

"Experience shows that the cost of renewable energy technologies falls approximately 20% every time accumulated production doubles."

Financing Sources and Mechanisms for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (pdf)

The Energy Efficiency Pyramid

"The Understanding" is an excellent place to begin.

The Power of Solar in Rural Africa

Read this and think about all the little we take for granted every single day because of abundant, "cheap" electricity (from non-renewable resources of course).

Energy Harvesting Film for Clothes

Research that may one day make our clothes generate electricity.

Habitat is Pushing the Envelope

Examples of how some affiliates are building.

Published in the Gambit Weekly

Yours truly is now in an article of local New Orleans free weekly. Does this officially make me an energy efficiency geek yet?!

Cardboard House

Auburn University's "Corucon" is made from unrecyclable cardboard.

Turning a Bike into an Electric Hybrid

Check out the Copenhagen Wheel Project. I really like this and think it's very cool, but part of the beauty of riding a bike is the exercise. Maybe this will help people drive less cars though...

Desalination Life Raft

This not just an extraordinary idea, but an excellent way to survive.

House Produces More Energy Than It Uses

"Home for Life" is the future of homes. Let's take that extra energy and power the car!

Japanese Tiny Houses

"The boom in quirky small homes was fueled by new design and materials technology, which have slashed the price of a custom-built home by as much as two-thirds, making these homes affordable for singles and middle-class couples."

Fossil Fuel Subsidies 10 Times Higher

“This analysis shows that the global direct subsidy for fossil fuels is around ten times the subsidy for renewables.”

Solar Charging Stations

Can't wait for these to become popular.

Cold Comfort

"When you look at the technologies that have changed our world over 50 years, like cars, and computers, and TV, we have debated their costs and benefits. But air conditioning has been humming in the background the whole time."

"Proximity Charging" for Electric Vehicles

Wireless charging will debut soon.

Kid Powered Energy

These designs are marvelous and exactly what the world needs.

Nissan Leaf: On the Road

Watch this video: on the road driving the Nissan Leaf.

Study: Solar Cheaper Than Nuclear

This alone explains why nuclear plants should never be built again.

NOLA Design Competition for Haiti

New Orleans can help Haiti with kit-built homes.

What Happened to Climate Legislation?

Here's an article that breaks it down.

"Eco Index" for Rating Clothes

This development is very good! Can't wait until it's popular.

DisasterSafety.org

Check out this building program. Very important for Louisiana!

Read about it in this cool FL case study.

5 Reasons Green Tech is Tough in America

These are good points. All we must conquer of course.

Moral Licensing

The persistent problem with lifestyle choices and "going green."

Study Finds "Smart Meters" Not Enough

"To realize potential feedback-induced savings, advanced meters must be used in conjunction with in-home (or on-line) displays and well-designed programs that successfully inform, engage, empower, and motivate people."

Southern Passive House is the First

Look forward to seeing Passive House become popular in America!

Electric Car Chargers

Check out this charger that does it in 4-8 instead of 12-18. GE's WattStation.

Adjustable Eyeglasses for the Developing World

This post is a little-off-the-usual topics, but greatly influences the lives of people. It's the power of design. Now that a few more people can see soon, maybe they'll increase the world's renewable energy some day!

Small Steps Do Matter!

"as a person begins to feel good about one set of small actions to help the planet, he or she is likely to start considering larger and bolder steps"

America: Nation of Oiloholics

Essential article to read - then take action!

Green Cell Phone Chargers

Some options.

"Growing" Clothes with Bacteria

See samples of the wardrobe.

24 Solar Airplane Flight

Check out this "milestone."

Nevada Solar Energy Demonstration Project

"The Nevada Test Site is about to play a new role in securing America's future—but instead of testing nuclear weapons, we will test new solar technologies that will help put America on a sustainable energy path," said Secretary Chu.

Waterpebble

Very cool product to help reduce shower water waste.

Sugar as Electricity

Read about Florida Crystals in this article.

Swimming Pools

"The typical backyard swimming pool holds 16,000 to 20,000 gallons of water. Pool evaporation amounts to 3 to 7 feet of water per year. For a 15 by 30 foot pool, the range is 10,000 to 23,000 gallons per year for evaporation, plus about 25% to account for splashing. If the pool is filled once a year, it requires about 38,000 gallons of water every year."

Natural Gas vs Solar & Wind

Article on natural gas versus solar and wind:

"In researching how best to make the transition to the green energy future, one of the first calculations I made was to find out how long the natural gas in each of the four categories would last if we obtained it independently — that is, only from U.S. territory. I was shocked by the result: Just using our 2006 rates of use of natural gas consumption — not including any major transition to fueling our cars and trucks — the “readily available” gas within the United States would be exhausted in just one year. That, plus what is called “technically recoverable” gas, would be gone in less than a decade. What is termed “unknown but probable” would last about a century"

On "unknown but probable" natural gas:
"Most of this gas is so deep underground or otherwise not very accessible that nobody is really sure that we can get at a lot of it, or of how high an environmental price we must pay to retrieve it."

DIY "Tiny House"

I enjoy reading about building workshops for small homes. One of these days, I'd like to participate!

The First Solar Cell Phone

Samsung India

I've been waiting for it!

5 Middle East Environmental Discoveries

From taken-for-granted to cutting edge!

Solar Decathalon in Europe 2010

Check out the cool photos!

Oil Primer: Where It Comes From

Offshore Drilling = 30%

The Future of Biking

"prediction: 2010 will be recorded in history as the year our love affair with the automobile came to an end."

Haiti & Architecture for Humanity

If you have not heard of Architecture for Humanity, this video shows what they are doing to help Haiti rebuild.

90% More Efficient HVAC

Check out how the system works.

Modular Homes with Interchangeable Parts

+ solar design.

How to Buy an Electric Car

Read all about it at Solar Today magazine.

Wind Out West

35% by 2017 possible

"The study finds that this target is technically feasible and does not necessitate extensive additional infrastructure, but does require key changes to current operational practice."

Giant Inflatiable Airship Powered by Algae

Check it out!

"Liquid-Applied" Weather Resistant Barriers

Super interesting to say the least.

Chinese Homes

Their boom is going on, talk about drastic amount of resources!

Cool Bikes!

excellent

The Future of Cell Phone Chargers

Can't wait until all electronics are this way!

2010 = The Year for Solar?

from Pike Research

Regional HVAC Energy Efficiency Standards (?)

This article in Home Energy Mag starts the discussion.

Real Estate Listing Services

and Green homes

Electric Airplanes

that recharge in a solar hangar.

Community Toilets in India

The Plans

Renewable "Dance Floor" Energy

Potential: Biofuel at Home

Interesting to say the least

Chinese Drywall

Lawsuit finally

"it off-gasses foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide, which corrodes metal fixtures and makes home interiors virtually uninhabitable"

"experts say the cost of replacing the drywall and corroded wiring, fixtures, and appliances probably will average $100,000 per home"

The World Needs to See

what oil addiction looks like

EPA & Energy Star 2011

Here's an overview

Inspecting Issues

Lack of ethics

Solar & Wind Powered Bike Helmet!

Super cool!

Nanosolar

Developing science and production. Love it!

Green Neighborhoods

"America's 10 Best" from Natural Home Magazine

Emerging City Innovation

Airplane that Uses 70% Less Fuel

Can't wait for airplanes to use renewable fuel(s)!

Vegas Home Sales Rebounding?

Always remember: energy efficiency first, even if it isn't mentioned in this article!

"Survey: Energy Savings is Number One Reason for Building Green"

Check out the survey.

Urine Powered Batteries

YEAH!

Attic Yoga

Absolutely hilarious!

When you know that truly, you are the Energy Efficiency Geek!

Home Star Passes the House

quirky reasoning:

"net neutrality" on a rebate?! This isn't about making money, it's about encouraging market demand. Why not mention the cost savings long term or challenging the position of decreasing our dependence on oil imports?

VW's "bik.e"

VW's "bik.e" (not a typo)

This bike is cool and all, but what about actually peddling?

Organic PV

The Future?

Tent-like Solar Fabric

Check it out here.

Hair and Mushrooms = Clean Up Oil!

Let's hope this finally becomes popular.

Louisiana Oil Spill 2010 Photos

Unbelievable and devastating

Once again, a man-made disaster has hit the Gulf Coast.

The Oil Spill Hits Louisiana

The oil addiction's consequences

Tiny Apartment Transforms into 24 Rooms

The First Solar Airplane Flight

Super exciting! Can't wait for this to be ordinary.

"Extreme Makeover" Needs an EE Makeover

They might be getting it finally. How about "Extreme Energy Efficiency Makeover" (?!)

Night Vision Discovery

The face of night vision will never be the same. Can't wait for my pair!

"It could be very useful in detecting heat loss from homes to reduce energy consumption, and for military applications as well."

Socially Responsible Remodeling

Check out all the videos at Ecohome Magazine.

Earth Aid

Reward network for saving energy!

SF Launching Large Green Loan Program

Read about the model here.

Recycle: Cigarette Butts (?!)

Yes, really.

Building a Green Economy - NYT

"policy makers should give the same weight to future generations’ welfare as we give to those now living" - big bang view

Building a Green Economy

The South and Energy Efficiency

"for every dollar the South invests in energy efficiency, it will receive an average of $2.25 in benefits over the next 20 years in jobs, economic growth, and lower bills"

"the energy companies that dominate it are not participants in a competitive market"

Mobile Homeless Shelter

design photos are here

Labeling of Homes

"the Energy Performance Score coincides with the U.S. Department of Energy’s upcoming deadline for establishing a voluntary national rating standard that may allow lenders to provide preferred financing options for energy-efficient homes"

New Solar Plants in 4 States

Who are the lucky states?

Retrofit: Dual-Flush Conversion

Installed this on a toilet at the Global Green USA office this afternoon. Just a little work and immediately start saving water.

Geoengineering

6 Ways We're Already Geoengineering Earth

Vehicles that Give Energy Back to the Grid

Super cool!!! Can't wait to own one.

Free Green House Plans

freegreen.com

Always build for your climate and your house plan should reflect this.

Report Cards

OPOWER is one company out to make a difference - getting people detailed info about their energy usage.

Aquatic Dead Zones

Agriculture run-off + the Gulf = dead zones

Spain's Cautionary Tale

Solar in Spain

Tiny Solar Power System

"A tiny solar power system that contains a processor, battery, and solar cells all in 9 cubic millimeters!"

Wave Power

Example: "installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, Scotland, produces power with a hinged flap connected to the seabed. When a wave passes, the device pumps high pressure water to its onshore hydroelectric turbine."

Wind Power Outstrips Capacity in West TX

"After the wind generation soared Sunday, ERCOT curtailed it, because the supply of electricity outstripped the capacity of lines to move the power to urban areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth."

Building Codes Save Lives

Example: Chile

Personalize Energy Consumption

The future of energy efficiency is this type of technology that I would absolutely love in my house! PassivSystems that allow personalized energy consumption. Read about it in this article.

RESNET Conference 2010

You should definitely check out the presentations from this year's conference. Find the link attached to each presenter's name.

LEED Plat Habitat Home in Mass

Neat home that's well-designed.

Work Out and Make Electricity

ReRev is all about retrofitting gym equipment to generate electricity.

Up and Away

What's hot in the market right now? Yup, energy efficiency. Finally!

SIPS

Structurally Insulated Panels (SIPS) [first lunch 'n learn today]

Clothes as Homes

Wearable Architecture - this concept is amazing and completely open to the creative imagination!

Playing Soccer Can Generate Electricity

"the device weighs little more than a standard soccer ball, and 15 minutes of play produces enough energy to illuminate a small LED for three hours."

Home Star Program

Read all about this exciting, proposed program that might be coming to you soon!

Tesla Motors = Getting Closer

DOE investment release to bring electric vehicles to the masses (well, once the price comes down a lot).

Older vs Newer Homes

Interesting topic that has amazing potentials of research!

Rural India is Revolutionizing Solar

I've been in love with thought of rural India changing the solar industry for a long time now, it's so nice to see another sign.

My Kinda Builders!

Cha-check 'em out! Go TX.

Future of America is Now

What's happening in China and how is America going to play a role? Are we going to let China mass produce us out of innovation?

Start the conversation by reading this article by Thomas Friedman.