Building Energy Efficient Homes
A builders challenge program, launched in 2008 by the U. S. Department of Energy, is a voluntary energy-savings program with a goal to build homes that achieve 70 or better on the EnergySmart Home Scale. The scale allows homebuyers to determine how the energy efficiency of a particular home compares to the DOE energy efficiency goal and other homes.
The DOE Builders Challenge encourages homebuilders in the US to construct 220,000 high-performance energy-efficient homes by 2012. The 1.3 million homes to be built to the challenge standard between now and 2030 are anticipated to cut carbon emissions equivalent to removing 606,000 cars off the road each year. [U.S. DOE EnergySmart Home Scale]
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The Home Buyer’s Guide to Green Homes
Jerry Yudelson, a widely known expert on green building and green development, recently announced the publication of his new book, “Choosing Green: The Home Buyer’s Guide to Good Green Homes.” The 224-page trade paperback book was published by New Society Publishers which is a well-known mainstream publisher of green building and sustainability books.
According to Yudelson, “‘Choosing Green’ is the first book aimed at the new home buyers, showing them how to buy a green home, who’s building them, what the rating systems mean, and what questions to ask at the model home. My hope is that by arming the home buyers with more information about green homes that they will show up demanding that builders produce them. An informed and active consumer is the fastest and best way to energize market transformation.” Read the rest of this entry »
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Get Free Solar Power for Your New Home
Increasing energy costs, as well as state and federal rebates and incentives, make solar electric systems an increasingly popular choice for homeowners who want to reduce their energy bills. Solar energy is also one of the best ways to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.
Trilogy(TM) by Shea Homes, the first builder to roll out a national solar offering, has chosen to work with BP Solar, a global leader in solar energy. Trilogy will offer free solar power systems on new homes as part of its ongoing commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of homes in all of its Shea Homes Active Lifestyle(TM) Communities across four states in the US. Read the rest of this entry »
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