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LEED Green Building Certification
To help the construction industry define green building, the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) devised a scoring method to rate how green buildings are. That rating system, called Leadership in Energy [more…]
How to Choose Green Building Materials
Typical wood-frame building methods are wasteful, inefficient, and far from eco-friendly. Several natural construction methods offer greener alternatives to using wood and may be the best choice for your [more…]
Types of Eco-Friendly Insulation and Their Benefits
Insulation helps your home maintain temperature and lower your heating and cooling bills, and it’s the best thing you can do in your home to save energy and boost your green profile. In a new house, add [more…]
Banishing Molds and Mildew from Your Environment
Mold and mildew may seem like minor players on the stage of hazardous environmental threats, but some molds can cause major health problems. If you want a green, clean home, you need to prevent or get [more…]
Keeping Forests Green: Sustainably Harvested Wood
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not-for-profit, non-government international agency that promotes the use of sustainably harvested wood, [more…]
Green Flooring Options
The floor beneath your feet can help you promote your green lifestyle and give you chance to support sustainable practices. Materials for green flooring include: [more…]
Detecting Radon in Your Home
Radon gas is a natural product, but it’s not one you want in your green, eco-friendly home. Radon is colorless, odorless, and radioactive; that last one can cause health problems, such as lung cancer, [more…]
Preserving and Restoring Historic Buildings and Sites
Rebuilding, restoring, or upgrading sites and buildings of importance to an area’s history is an effective way to contribute to your local environment. You can join in one of thousands of projects going [more…]
Moving toward Energy-Efficient Appliances
Upgrading your major appliances to those with a high Energy Star rating improves your carbon footprint, reduces your utility bills, and gets you to a greener lifestyle. The federal government rates appliances [more…]
Recycling to Create Composite Building Materials
Combining recycled materials into a new product is a good green goal. Made from recycled plastic and sawdust, composite lumbers are much healthier and more environmentally friendly than wood. They don’t [more…]
Reducing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
That “new” scent that comes with many new home improvement materials is the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — hazardous chemicals that cause illness and contain known and suspected [more…]
Staying Safe when Installing a Photovoltaic System
Installing a photovoltaic (PV) system often means you're working on a roof or other high place and definitely means electricity is involved. PV systems convert solar energy into electricity —and electricity [more…]
Major Components in a Photovoltaic System Design
New to photovoltaic (PV) systems (solar panels)? Haven't a clue what their major components are? Here's your chance to discover what goes into both grid-direct and battery-based PV system designs. [more…]
Designing Photovoltaic Systems: Site-Survey Tips
The best way to prepare to design a photovoltaic (PV) system is to conduct a site survey. This survey helps you get familiar with the client's property so you can better evaluate which location is best [more…]
Photovoltaic Design & Installation For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Sunlight allows photovoltaic (PV) modules (also called solar panels) to produce electricity and perform useful work, such as running electrical loads or putting energy back into the utility grid. To get [more…]
Eight Easy Green Remodeling Projects
Green living starts at home, and in the home. Decreasing your home's carbon footprint doesn't require hiring professionals. If you’re an eco-friendly do-it-yourselfer, projects to improve your home’s carbon [more…]
Tips for Building a Solar Room or Greenhouse
A do-it-yourselfer can design and build a solar room for a relatively low cost, with relatively low risk. You don't need electrical wiring or plumbing, and you don't need to obey all the building code [more…]
Mounting Equipment for Solar Panels
When you switch to solar power for your home, mounting your photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is of critical importance. First, you need to mount the panels where they'll get maximum sunshine over the course [more…]
Installing a Solar Power System for Your Home
Installing a solar system to power your home is an involved process. Even though you'll be hiring a professional, it helps to understand what's going on. Expect the entire process of installing a full-scale [more…]
