Category: Energy Efficiency

    • COOPER HOME SOLAR PANELS A FIRST FOR THE VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BAY

      I was blessed to contribute to the success of the PV retrofit installation, believed to be the first non self adhesive installation in Miami Dade County. The project is a huge success and serves as a wonderful example of what one day each and every home could look and function like. This is the resource page…

    • South Florida Roofs – a green roof choice and opportunity

      The next barrier is insulation. Often this can be found dropped on the ceiling, which is the wrong location for roof insulation. The building code again provides for minimum levels to ensure a degree of energy efficiency, but simple changes can substantially improve the efficiency of insulation.

    • Geothermal Heat Pumps – Guest Contribution by Lorie Wampler

      Heat pumps function as a refrigerator in reverse, they use electric power to move heat from one place to one other instead of making heat directly. Therefore, they can be 2 to 3 times more power efficient than conventional electric heaters. A geothermal heat pump is a central home heating and/or cooling system that pumps…

    • Weatherization Package from SEA.

      A concise Weatherization package should include at a minimum the analysis of the windows and doors, insulating in the walls and especially in the roof and attack. These simple primary starting points can lead to substantial savings in a very short time by controlling your building envelope. Energy savings do not end with the way…

    • How to green your South Florida home – Part III

      Roof / Shell: you already looked at your windows and doors and have sealed all leakage. The next step is to invest in the buildings shell. The big collector in South Florida is the roof. Over 80% of heat gain to the house will come from above with our year round sunshine.

    • How to green your South Florida home – Part II

      Air Conditioning. The general rule is to look at a unit when it is 10 years or older. Typically systems have advanced in efficiency and the payback to upgrade can be realized in 4-6 years. Look for the SEER value.