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Entries from September 1, 2006 - October 1, 2006
Recycling Rewards
The designers of ecopod set out to make recycling simple and rewarding. The result is a home appliance for those serious about getting their recycling game-on. And just in time for Christmas you can save 10% (courtesy of Grist Magazine) when you purchase the 'pod. Just enter GOGRIST in the "Promotion Code" box during checkout and -- booyah -- $32.80 off.
Burke Sisco
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PrintHelping heal earth one home at a time
Homes use more energy and cause more climate-changing greenhouse gasses than cars.
Half the homes standing in 2030 will have been built since the year 2000.
This presents us with a critical window of opportunity -- one of supreme magnitude. By incorporating best practices in green-building and energy-efficiency into as many new homes as possible, we can mitigate the burning of fossil fuels required to power our homes and buildings.
Green homes aren't just better for the planet. They're better for people, too. Owners of green homes enjoy:
- Greater energy efficiency, and thus, lower utility bills
- Quieter, more comfortable homes
- Lower home maintenance and greater dwelling durability
- Healthier indoor air
- Less utility air pollution
- Improved resale
- Satisfaction in being part of the solution to the climate-change crisis
Join the green revolution! As one of Georgia's first certified EcoBrokers, I can help you on your journey towards greener, cleaner, healthier, more sustainable living.
Bamboo Bedroom
Pictured is a bamboo (Guadua angustifolia) pole structure built on a pre-existing cement block septic tank. It serves as the master bedroom for the owner's house in Rincon, Puerto Rico. It was built two years ago, and last year it survived a category three hurricane. Photovoltaic collectors on the roof run a 12 volt fan and reading light.
I really love bamboo for it's beauty, utility and potential as a renewable resource. Bamboo flooring is becoming increasingly popular and is just as beautiful and durable as wood. It's also growing in popularity for fencing and privacy screening. Look for more uses of bamboo inside and outside the home in the coming years. Ode to Bamboo begins to enumerate the possibilities. Visit 1000 things made from bamboo for a photo gallery of more of bamboo's seemingly endless uses.
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Home Energy Ratings evaluate your home's energy performance
Home energy ratings are performed on new and existing homes to evaluate each home's energy performance. Benefits include:
- Qualifying homes for energy-efficient mortgages provided by many financial institutions.
- Potential savings to homeowners of hundreds of dollars per year in cost-effective improvements.
- Marketing potential for Seller's of homes with high energy ratings.
Energy ratings are performed by Certified Home Energy Raters. Find a list of qualified Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) Raters online by clicking on the link under "Resources" in the right sidebar.
Eco-Lofts get their watts from the wind
It'd be hard for a new development with the name "Eco-Lofts" to escape my radar. But there's more here than just a trendy name. Eco-Lofts are Atlanta's first condominiums to be powered 100 % by clean, renewable, wind energy. All the energy for Eco-Lofts comes from windmill farms like those popping up in Minnesota.
I really like this project for three reasons:
- Their energy source is clean and sustainable
- They are being built to EarthCraft standards
- They are location-efficient, adjacent to MARTA
One additional reason you'll like them if you're in the market for an ecohome is that, because of their proximity to MARTA, they qualify for the Rail Estate Rebate.
All-in-all, a compelling list of reasons to consider Eco-Lofts for those seeking an Intown EcoHome.
Solar Tour comes to suburban Atlanta
The Georgia Solar Energy Association (GSEA) has organized a tour of a private residence in Sandy Springs as part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour (www.ases.org/tour/).
This tour allows Atlantans to experience a solar energy application in "Real Places for Real People" and learn energy efficiency strategies and methods, speak with the homeowners and experts and learn how the technology works, what it costs, and why it makes sense.
The featured residence combines solar PV electricity generation with grid-tied net metering, solar pool heating and heat pump high efficiency heating. Key energy features of the property include:
- Extensive use of compact fluorescent lighting
- Solar heat gain reduction through installation of plantation blinds on the east, south and west facing windows
- Insulation of exposed hot water pipes in the basement
- Two solar arrays generating a total of 2.2kW of electricity which is sold to Georgia Power via their net metering agreement
- High efficiency heat pump installation
- Residential Time of Use Tariff from Georgia Power
- Passive solar heated swimming pool
Tours will take place on Saturday, October 7th at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 noon.
If you are interested in this tour, please email solartour@gasolar.org as soon as possible. Full directions will be given to registered attendees.
