Building on our earlier Passivhaus 101 and Insulation R-Value articles, I’m now going to provide an overview here of the Passive Solar House Design — with the intent being to explain the basic principles and design elements.
When someone is talking about the “R-value” of an insulation material, what are they talking about exactly? What does the term refer to specifically? And how does one determine what it is?
You’ve probably heard the phrase Passivhaus (which is German for “passive house”), and you have perhaps wondered what it meant exactly. So, what does the phrase actually refer to?
I’ll close the series by offering two small informational gifts to my patient readers. One is my thoughts on how the Florida Public Service Commission might provide the right signals to help us to make better progress in the Sunshine State. After all, the utilities are simply doing what they can to maximize their profits within the rules of being a regulated monopoly. The rules are the problem.
A recent press release from the EPA (the US Environmental Protection Agency) announced the start of the Energy Star Home Advisor. Americans can use this an online tool to improve energy efficiency of their homes — saving money and energy at the same time. The tool recommends, customizes, and prioritizes home-improvement … [continued]
For Earth Day this year, Jeff Flowers of Living Direct introduced a detailed infographic showing a few things homeowners can do to cut energy use around their homes, save money, and help re-green the earth. Earth Day is essentially every day for us, so we’re just getting around to sharing … [continued]
Originally published on Shrink That Footprint by Lindsay Wilson The better insulated and air tight your home is, the more comfort you get from each unit of heat. In fact, homes can even be so well insulated and air tight that they only need the sun, bodies, appliances, and some … [continued]
Making sure your home has adequate insulation in walls and attics, as well as being air-sealed, is a great way to reduce energy use and save money in the long run. What is air sealing? Air sealing is filling holes, cracks, and gaps in the air barrier between the interior … [continued]
Did you know that one third of the heat your house produces through your central heating system is rapidly lost? There are five main areas that heat is lost and these include the roof, walls, floors, windows and ceilings. But you can save your pennies and preserve the heat … [continued]
This is why you should care about energy efficiency: a lot of us look at our utility bills every month with a sense of trepidation (or I do, anyway), but the price we pay for having all the resources we want piped right through our walls is, well […]
