Comments on: Europe Shows the Way to Energy-Efficient Design

By: alan

alan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:13:01 +0000

I’m a contractor in sun city,az. do you know where I can purchase solar panels and accessories at wholesale. the cost of solar is still high and I would like to do install it myself.

thank you,

Alan Deobler

WoodyAlans Home Repair

ROC 174444

By: alan

alan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:13:00 +0000

I’m a contractor in sun city,az. do you know where I can purchase solar panels and accessories at wholesale. the cost of solar is still high and I would like to do install it myself.

thank you,

Alan Deobler

WoodyAlans Home Repair

ROC 174444

By: steve baker

steve baker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:59:44 +0000

MD, I used to live in Austria, there is not even crap in the crapper. My view is that Anglo Saxon Europe is so last century. England is much more like America or Canada than the rest.

By: steve baker

steve baker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:59:00 +0000

MD, I used to live in Austria, there is not even crap in the crapper. My view is that Anglo Saxon Europe is so last century. England is much more like America or Canada than the rest.

By: Brian N

Brian N — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:05:00 +0000

The EcoRock / ThermaRock aerogel based drywall also looks interesting claiming R4.1 v 0.5 for gypsum.

The windows from Serious Materials claim a R6 value which is very good. Windows typically lose 1/3 of a homes heat assuming normal ratios of typical R20 walls & attic to R2 window areas. R6 windows really justify improving the whole building envelope to the point of needing heat recovery mechanical ventilation.

High R windows are really comfortable with no cold zones.

Home owners not looking to upgrade windows do have two other window thermal re-mediation options to almost double or treble the R value from the typical 1 – 2.5 range.

They either can buy custom sized ‘Windotherm’ panels from AEP at about $10 per sq ft or make their own ‘winserts’ for about $1 per sq ft. Both use custom sized frames with heat shrink plastic stretched over both sides with a 1/2″ thick open cell poly foam tape to make a snug fit. Both are easily googled.

By: Brian N

Brian N — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:05:00 +0000

The EcoRock / ThermaRock aerogel based drywall also looks interesting claiming R4.1 v 0.5 for gypsum.

High R windows are really comfortable with no cold zones.

Home owners not looking to upgrade windows do have two other window thermal re-mediation options to almost double or treble the R value from the typical 1 – 2.5 range.

By: MD

MD — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:56:26 +0000

“Europeans now have half the carbon footprint of Americans, so we can learn how it’s done from them. It won’t kill us to get our energy from renewables and efficiency. It might even be quite pleasant.”

You know, we can take the existing generators out of our existing dams and refit them with newer more efficient units that produce more power, but that’s not hip or cool like throwing up windmills…

Europeans also have crappy little houses and most have no or very few children, “Here for a good time, not a long time”…

Oh and before you freak out.. yes I’m a European… I’m a British Citizen…

By: MD

MD — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Europeans also have crappy little houses and most have no or very few children, “Here for a good time, not a long time”…

Oh and before you freak out.. yes I’m a European… I’m a British Citizen…

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:21:36 +0000

Improving technology and implementing it is a key, though crucial for Americans and in fact all Westerners (me, myself and i including) is wanting less, consuming and using less, living more ordinary: keep it simple. Do you need that extra car, or do you need one at all? Do you need to live big? Etcetera. Try to find joy in small things. The smile on the face of your girl for example.

By: Erik

Erik — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:21:00 +0000