I was spending a month in Oregon (in an off-grid community of mud huts and organic food) when the fires began raging in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties. Driving home to the Bay…

I was spending a month in Oregon (in an off-grid community of mud huts and organic food) when the fires began raging in Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino Counties. Driving home to the Bay…

The Green Premium: A Meta-Analysis

A new…

Earth day is tomorrow, April 22nd. The American Business industry, and capitalism in general, has a long standing history of looking out for number one, with many businesses looking to stomp out competitors, disregarding their impact on the rest of the world. But you can be the exception! Not only will you be doing something good, but you’ll gain respect from potential customers for doing so. Here’s five ways to promote awareness…

One of the biggest praises that you see given to Millennials is that they are leading the charge in the green energy movement, that they are concerned with the environment and the state of the planet, and that they are determined to instigate changes that better the rest of the world. The…

The Value of Energy Data

“Got Data? The Value of Energy Data…

Rainwater harvesting is a system which requires a two-step process. The two major events in rainwater harvesting are catchment and storage. The first hurdle is developing an adequate method of collection. Once the rain is collected, a proper and large storage system is required. The complexity and size can vary dramatically. The simplest methods involve the rerouting of gutters into an above ground rain barrel up to a complex system of catchment dishes, filters, pumps, ponds and…

Coming to grips that the way you live is doing more harm to the environment than good is a fairly easy thing to recognize. Changing your lifestyle to accommodate that is a little bit different. It’s easy to do what’s more convenient and usually that means not changing anything. But if we care about the earth we live in and the generations that will come after us, going green is key in sustaining healthy lives!…

The holidays are here, which means house parties and guests galore, not to mention the aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, grandchildren, and hosts of cousins who flock across the country to visit their respective relatives. If you are lucky enough to have a houseful of guests then there are steps you should take to make sure your home is in tip-top shape aesthetically, functionally, and most of all, environmentally. With more companies…

As the demands for Green Buildings increase, so does the demand for comprehensive rating systems that define exactly what a Green Building is. While it may seem like having a rating system for Green Buildings would confine Green Building and discourage innovation, this is not the case. Many different Green Building rating systems that are currently in place encourage innovation and builders who incorporate particularly innovative aspects into their Green Building can earn extra points and…

Building Science is Worthless...

Thousands of hours went in this construction detail. When we factor all the time spent by building science engineers, from all over the world,…

As the world becomes increasingly industrialized it is important for companies to band together to help keep the environment as healthy as can be. Greenhouse gases, harmful chemicals, and environmental carelessness are posing as a threat to the well-being of our planet. Thankfully going green is becoming much…

As going green is becoming increasingly popular, there is a sea of energy efficient opportunities an individual can take to save energy while bettering the environment. One of the greatest opportunities in going green is its ability to save you an enormous amount of money…

A valuation premium for green homes and energy efficiency is a lot like Schrödinger’s cat, says a new study released by the Colorado Energy Office.  If…

Unlike what some people believe, going green doesn’t have to be a daunting and expensive task. There are simple things that people can do every day, such as unplugging electronics, or over a weekend such as fixing leaky faucets and changing air filters. These quick and easy ways to go green can help make a difference, no matter how small they are. Below is a short list of some of the things that you can easily do in order to go green without having to make major changes in your…

Cities grafting green-building certifications like LEED into commercial building codes is nothing new, and a number of places like Dallas, Atlanta, Boston and Scottsdale have had such requirements in place for a decade or more.

What’s happening now is that cities are doing likewise with…

Greetings:

This is my first post, so please forgive the lengthy background. Thanks for allowing my participation. 

I operate the Healthy House Institute (HHI) and the Healthy Facilities Institute but entered green, healthy home education through the "backdoor" of facility cleaning.

Having cleaned buildings (or supervised cleaning)…

The Appraisal Institute has developed a Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum. The Appraisal Institute Green Addendum is the first residential energy efficiency appraisal report addendum developed by appraisers, for use by appraisers when appropriate. This report evaluates items of high performance housing for consideration by appraisers.

Measuring the Value of Home Energy Efficiency

The Appraisal Institute Green Addendum will serve as a tool for…

Real estate investor Kassi Pelley had bought and sold a number of “fix-and-flip” homes in metro Denver when she fell down the rabbit hole of green building and certifications.  She’s gotten a price bump – the “green premium” – on every home she’s upgraded and certified since, and she hasn’t…