Builders turning to SIPs for better home performance
As homebuilders are challenged to meet increasingly stringent energy codes imposed by cities and counties, they're turning to an alternative to conventional stick-built construction.
Net Zero test home ends the year with energy to spare
After one of the toughest winters in recent years, the net-zero energy test house in suburban Washington, D.C., not only absorbed winter's best shot, it came out on top, reaching its one-year anniversary on July 1 with enough surplus energy to power an electric car for about 1,440 miles.
Low-cost solar panels will make it easier to generate electricity at home
New methods of manufacturing could lead to lower prices for solar panels, making it cheaper than ever for homeowners to generate their own electricity. Siva Power has developed new manufacturing processes that could lead to the cost to make thin-film...
DOE Zero Energy Ready Home: The Proud Green Home at Serenbe
Home builder Luis Imery has built a home any homeowner would be proud of, the first U.S. Department of Energy-certified DOE Zero Energy Ready Home in the state of Georgia. The Proud Green Home was constructed in...
Now clothes dryers can earn the Energy Star label
Clothes dryers have been the lone hold out among major appliances that weren’t available with the Energy Star label. Dryers are the most energy-intensive residential appliance not yet covered by the Energy Star program, using 6 percent of residential electricity in the U.S. But now the U.S.
How to select high performance windows for your home
Take control of high heating costs by using high-performance, energy-efficient windows in your home.
Better Buildings Challenge winner sees 20 percent energy savings on homes
A Better Buildings Challenge participant is seeing success in reducing energy uses across its entire building portfolio, helping meet the goal of reducing energy consumption by U.S. homes. Lend Lease (US) Public Partnerships (Lend Lease) was recently recognized by the...
DOE Challenge Home becomes DOE Zero Energy Ready Home
The Department of Energy is changing the name of the home certification program to DOE Zero Energy Ready Home. The name change reflects input from ten leading homebuilding companies, representing over 50 percent of the 8,000 homes committed to Challenge...
BPI launches Home Rating Program using DOE's Home Energy Score
Homeowners and energy contractors can get an energy efficiency rating for their home, similar to a car's miles-per-gallon estimate through home energy audits through the Building Performance Institute. The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) launched a national rating program to...
3 ways to save water at home (video)
Low-flow toilets, hot water pumps and DIY tips to help conserve water at home.
The future of water heating
New Efficiency Standards Bring Change Going back as far as 1990, manufacturers of residential water heaters have complied with the U.S. Department of Energy’s energy conservation standards.
Energy-efficient doors and windows gaining in green home design (video)
Windows play a key role in a high-performance building envelope.
GSA recommends LEED and Green Globes for federal buildings
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has issued its recommendation on the federal government’s use of third party green building certification systems. GSA is required by law to issue a recommendation to the Department of Energy (DOE) on how the...
Interview: Karin Stieldorf, Coach of Solar Decathlon Winners Team Austria
Team Austria coach Karin Stieldord explains how her team won the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon.
West Virginia scores first LEED Platinum home (photos)
Sutainable design created to allow future generations to be able to meet their energy and resource needs.
Team Austria wins 2013 Solar Decathlon with LISI House
Living Inspired by Sustainable Innovation House showcases affordability, flexibility and curb appeal.
Switching to LEDs saves energy and utility costs
As advanced lighting options become more affordable, older lighting technologies still dominate the US market. Incandescent bulbs and technologies that have gone unchanged for decades and these outdated lights waste incredible amounts of energy. In 2012, the US Department of...
US funds development of next-generation technology to help homes save energy
Hi-tech heating and cooling could be coming to your home soon, based on 12 projects that have received backing to develop the next generation of energy-efficient technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy has supported 12 projects to develop innovative heating,...
Zero Home designed to virtually eliminate homeowners energy bills
Production home is first Passive House in Climate Zone 5.