Love that new car smell?

That smell actually comes from the upholstery and plastics in your brand new car. Many new materials and everyday products contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which enter the atmosphere and can affect our health and the environment.

So what exactly are VOCs, where can they be found and what can we do to avoid them? VOCs stands for volatile organic compounds and are typically human-made chemicals. According to the USGS, the word organic, though typically associated with healthy and natural products, actually means that the compound contains carbon.

Continue Reading »

Ditching your commute for a home office may seem like a great way to save money, but working from home isn’t entirely free. Running computers, office equipment, heating/cooling equipment, and lighting all day as opposed to just the few morning and evening hours in a day will increase your utility bills.

Continue Reading »

Changing out your old water fixtures for low-flow ones is easy and fairly inexpensive. But if you have been avoiding this task because you are afraid of losing precious water pressure, don’t worry, low-flow fixtures have come a long way.

How Much Can I Possibly Save?

Taking a quick 5 minute shower can use up to 40 gallons of water, according to FlexYourPower.org . Replacing your showerhead with a low-flow fixture can save up to 80% of that water per shower!

So the answer seems easy: replace your water-wasting fixtures with low-flow fixtures. But most of us are still reluctant to do so because a low-flow shower suggests low pressure, which doesn’t sound too attractive in the morning. However, manufacturers have recognized this and have developed low-flow showerheads that feel just like their less-efficient, conventional counterparts.

Continue Reading »

Almost 20 million people in America suffer from asthma according to the Environmental Protection Agency . Indoor air pollutants are a large part of the problem for asthma sufferers. What does building a green home have to do with the fight against asthma?

The amount of time we spend indoors might have something to do with it: most of us spend as much as 90% of our time indoors. With various indoor-air pollutants lingering in our homes, indoor-air quality can become a major factor for people with asthma. The impact can be reduced by taking a few simple steps, many of which are practiced in healthy green homes already.

Continue Reading »

Is Radiant Floor Heating For You?

Radiant Floor Heating seems all the rage lately, but how does it work? Why is it used in green and energy efficient homes? And is it a better choice than a Forced Hot Air system?

Radiant Floor Heating can be installed under any type of floor but slab, tile, and masonry floors are the best because they store heat most efficiently. Hardwood floors also work well with a Radiant Floor Heating System, but carpet should be avoided because it essentially insulates the floor, reducing the heat that enters the room.

Continue Reading »

Windows are important to the overall design of a home. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles in order to give our home the look we want. Windows also provide us with sunlight and beautiful views. But if you are planning on building a green or energy efficient home windows are also essential to the efficiency of the design. Is it possible to have the both of best worlds?

Continue Reading »

A room used exclusively for taking off shoes and throwing down belongings is great during inclement weather or for a home with kids, but a mudroom is more than just practical. Mudrooms have also proven to be part of a healthy, green home. What is it about this entry room that makes our homes healthier and more efficient?

Continue Reading »

Planning to build a green home can be confusing.What makes a green home green?What factors are most important and why? 

Factors such as, building envelope, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, renewable energy, local conditions and green materials have significant effects on the health and efficiency of our homes. Deciding what matters the most to you and your family is up to you.

Protecting your home from the elements is one of the most important considerations. The building envelope is the separation between the interior and exterior of a home (essentially, it is the outer shell). This separation is usually made up of walls, a roof, and a foundation and is an important factor in the home’s efficiency.

Continue Reading »

When shopping for an energy efficient washer and dryer, you might find that most washers are front loading (also know as vertical-axis washers).

So, what is it that makes a front loading washer more efficient than a top loading (horizontal-axis) washer?

According to Energy Star, front loading washers are up to 40% more efficient than top loaders.

Top loading washers fill the tub with about 40 gallons of water in order to soak the entire load of laundry.

The tub of a front loading washer rotates so that laundry tumbles into a smaller amount of water (18-25 gallons) at the bottom of the washer, therefore, the tub does not need to be filled completely.

Continue Reading »

Air infiltration is a top source of energy loss in a typical house. Building a tight house is a great, economical way to prevent that energy loss. But doesn’t a tight house trap air inside of your home?

A common misconception of a “tight” house is that it does not have ample air circulation resulting in a build up of moisture and stale air.

For these reasons a properly built “tight” home requires the knowledge of building science and mechanical air exchange.

Continue Reading »