Home and Building - General

Home energy ratings

Home energy ratings are performed on new and existing homes to evaluate each home's energy performance. Home energy ratings are performed on new homes to verify energy performance for programs such as Energy Start Qualified homes. Existing homes may benefit from energy ratings by identifying cost-effective energy-efficiency improvements for the home. learn more ...

House as a System

When building new energy-efficient houses or making existing houses more efficient significant energy gains can be realized, just by treating the House as a System. You cannot make changes to one part of a house without affecting the many other parts that make up the house system. The house system is made up of the building envelope (foundation, walls, ceiling), the heating and cooling system, the water heating system, the lighting system, the appliances, and a fireplace if present. learn more ...

Landscaping - Shade Trees and Windbreaks

Perhaps the most pleasant economic savings can be derived from judicious and mindful planting of trees and shrubs. The value of traditional plantings serving as windbreaks is well known. Additionally, well-placed deciduous trees can shade a building during hot summer months yet allow warming sunshine to enter a building when warmth is needed in the winter. learn more ...

Landscaping - Xeriscaping for Resource Efficiency

Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping, designed to conserve water, with slow-growing drought-tolerant plants. Xeriscape generally requires less fertilization and use of pesticides as compared to more traditional landscaping. The slower growing plants used in xeriscape require less maintenance, saving time and energy and producing less waste in the form of clippings. learn more ...

Low-Flow Toilets

Low-flow toilets are specifically designed to use less water during each flush. This is an important feature in an increasing number of areas throughout the country where water is limited. In all parts of the country, low-flow toilets make simple sense by conserving a natural resource used for routine and mundane tasks. learn more ...

Sealing the Existing Home

Most people aren't aware that air leakage amounts to 30-40% of a home's heating and cooling bills. Stopping air leakage is important not only for energy savings, but also for protecting your home from the damaging effects of moisture. learn more ...

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