Category: Energy Efficiency

    • Water Issues – part II

      Water remains my favorite and most important issue when addressing green building concerns. It is certainly not the most important topic when looking at the various certification checklists, like the USGBC LEED rating system. It finally received a prerequisite in the last update, but is dwarfed in the overall point scale by considerations for energy…

    • A primer on doors, windows and weatherproofing in South Florida

      Doors and windows do more than just bring natural light into our homes. They offer a wonderful opportunity to clean out the inside air and enjoy the lovely weather, especially in times like these, when the South Florida winter actually allows for us to do so. Often I hear in conversation when the temperatures drop…

    • 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…