The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has unveiled its renovated E-House, an educational tool designed to showcase the latest and greatest in energy efficiency techniques and materials in new home building and existing home remodeling. The latest is a vastly upgraded version of the previous model thousands of SMUD customers have visited over the years.
Hanwha L&C USA, the surface manufacturing leader announces its product recycling initiative, a donation program developed to repurpose showcased products for use by area charities. The inaugural product donation of its HanStone, Hanex and new Miraton products that debuted at the recent Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBI/S) in Atlanta, are being donated to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore, benefiting area working families.
Vantage, a leading provider of home automation solutions for luxury homeowners, announced a new range of products that provide a complete Energy Management Solution when integrated with its InFusion Control System. The centerpiece of the solution is a touchscreen-based energy dashboard that quantifies specific energy usage and enables custom strategies for the homeowner to produce direct savings.
Intelligent Living Corp. announced that the Company is positioning its energy conservation and green building applications to support expanded markets and services.
Con Edison wants you to put your 'green' knowledge to the test and learn how to save money on your bill by playing the company's online Power of Green game. The game is a fun, interactive way to learn about all the things you can do to 'green' your house or apartment.
Microsoft Corp. announced Microsoft Hohm, a new online application that enables consumers to better understand their energy usage, get recommendations and start saving money. Microsoft Hohm uses advanced analytics licensed from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy to provide consumers with personalized energy-saving recommendations. Microsoft Hohm is an easy-to-use tool that helps consumers lower their energy bill and reduce their impact on the environment.
Clarum Homes’ new Danville, California community has been presented with a LEED Gold rating by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the builder’s ten zero energy homes at Hansen Lane community, designed with guidance from Davis Energy Group. These homes are outfitted with Sharp solar power systems between 3.8 – 5kWs.
Dow Building Solutions building envelope products have received the NAHB Research Center Green Approved mark, making Dow the first to have both its energy saving insulation and air sealing products eligible for meeting mandatory requirements or earning points under the National Green Building Standard.
Eco-Centric kitchen manufacturer, Bazzèo LLC, announced that it will showcase its award-winning GAIA in “Gunmetal” Grey Oak Eco-Veneer at DWELL ON DESIGN (DOD) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, June 26, 27 and 28, 2009.
Method Homes, a manufacturer of sustainably built prefab housing, and Balance Associates Architects, both out of Seattle, are announced the Balance S-M-L series. The series consists of three simple structures designed to arrive 95 percent complete within three months of purchase and priced from $98,000 to $148,000.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has released the 2008 Energy Efficiency and Consumption Trends data for home appliances. This data, based on 2008 shipments of major appliances, shows the continuing pattern of decreased energy consumption.
Whirlpool Corporation last week made a first-of-its-kind commitment while at EE Global Forum & Exhibition in Paris. Whirlpool Corporation was the founding sponsor of the first EE Global Forum in 2007, and again served as a founding sponsor in 2009, the second EE Global Forum.
Homeowners now can claim up to $1,500 in expanded energy-efficiency tax credits for remodeling their principal residence to reduce energy consumption. Available until the end of 2010, the revamped Existing Home Retrofit Tax Credit (25C) tax credit helps consumers save two ways: on their costs and on their ultilty bills.
Bullfrog Power, together with Enbridge Gas Distribution, EnerWorks, and the Government of Canada today announced the launch of a new Solar Water Heating Program. Solar water heating allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs and environmental impact by harnessing the sun’s energy through the installation of their own solar water heating systems.
Miles M. (Bud) Smart, Ph.D., president of Audubon Environmental has announced that Hidden Lake, one of the firm’s clients, was named 2008 Green Project of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders.
As demand for authentic, verifiable green home construction practices continues its ascent, the National Green Building Standard [tm] is back on the presses for a second printing.
The National Association of Home Builders called on Congress today to ensure that legislation intended to make homes more energy efficient focuses on measures that provide the greatest environmental benefit without putting housing affordability at risk.
Multi-regional homebuilder and developer Pardee Homes announces the company-wide expansion of its LivingSmart brand, a package of standard and optional measures that boost energy efficiency, save water, improve indoor air quality and encourage material conservation and the use of recycled or sustainable resources in new homes.
Washington, D.C. -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose five points in April to the highest level since October 2008, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released April 15.
Ron Monahan, a Boulder, Colo., developer and creator of Aiken, S.C.’s upscale housing development, The Ridge at Chukker Creek, announced that The Ridge at Chukker Creek will offer the opportunity to order a net-zero house powered by a combination of a hydrogen fuel cell and solar energy.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps consumers and organizations save money and protect the environment by promoting energy-efficient products. Products earning the commercial ENERGY STAR qualification must meet extended lifetime criteria, which is 40 percent longer than residential standards.
For the first time, a Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) product has earned a 1.75E grade from The Engineered Wood Association (APA) — LP SolidStart LSL from LP Building Products.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, introduced the National Home Energy Savings Revolving Fund Act, which will enable over one million households across the country to achieve significant, cost-effective energy savings.
The residence at 258 N. 21st Street, in the North of Broad neighborhood of the King Lincoln District of Columbus, Ohio was awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for achievement in green homebuilding. The home is the first Platinum-certified residential dwelling in the State of Ohio and the first in the State of Ohio.
A neo-traditional community in Northwest Indiana is the first in the country to earn land development certification under the National Green Building Standard, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) announced.
Foard Panel Inc. and KBS Building Systems, Inc. of South Paris, Maine are introducing the “R-Home” to the building market – the first home building system to marry modular home design and a structural insulated panel (SIP) frame.
Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood is now home to an environmentally-friendly affordable housing development aimed at strengthening non-traditional kinship families and supporting young adults aging out of the state’s foster care system.
Rinnai America Corporation recently launched a revamped website as part of a consumer education campaign designed to teach consumers about the benefits of tankless water heaters.
The Taliesin Mod.Fab, a sustainable residential prototype that employs modular fabrication techniques and is big on modern aesthetics and quality, modestly sized, and flexible enough to operate on or off the utilities grid, is the latest design and construction brainchild of students at the prestigious Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
Pardee Homes has announced that its new home neighborhoods in Los Angeles County have qualified for the California Green Builder (CGB) designation. These include two new neighborhoods in the builder’s Santa Clarita master-planned community of Fair Oaks Ranch.
For New Yorkers bracing against high home energy costs this heating season, relief is available through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program. The Program is implemented by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and aims to improve the energy efficiency, comfort, and safety of existing homes.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) applauds Congress on assembling a final stimulus bill which will provide $300 million to fund the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.
Green Life Smart Life proudly announces the addition of six new building partners that are committed to helping homeowners understand what is necessary to achieve LEED-H certification. Each company brings cutting-edge products and long histories in sustainable building to the project.
Demonstrating Kolbe’s continued commitment to the environment and to responsibly managed forests, the company has achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification. One of the first of its kind in the window and door industry, this certification recognizes that Kolbe meets strict tracking requirements for ensuring the FSC-certified products it provides come from well-managed forests.
The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s (KCMA) Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) recently earned approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certification organization, Architectural Testing, Inc.
Panasonic Home & Environment Company, has announced the availability of its new full line fan brochure. Panasonic is committed to providing energy efficient products and improving indoor air quality. This comprehensive 54-page brochure highlights the full line of Panasonic ventilation fans and includes all the information you need to understand the Panasonic brand for ventilation in your home.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) applauds Congress on assembling a final stimulus bill which will provide $300 million to fund the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), a nonprofit, public benefits corporation that promotes the manufacture and purchase of energy-efficient products and services, made a special announcement at the 2009 International Builders’ Show (IBS) and NEXTBUILD, held January 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
iLevel by Weyerhaeuser and Cadsoft Corporation are working together to deliver an integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution to the residential construction industry.
Efficiency First, the first and only trade association representing America’s home performance workforce, was launched at the Affordable Comfort Institute’s (ACI) Northwest conference in Portland, OR.
With energy saving measures winning support from over 60% of ICC members, the soon-to-be-published 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will be significantly more efficient than its 2006 counterpart, according to an analysis conducted by the respected research firm, ICF International.
LivingHomes is pleased to partner with BUILDER Magazine, the pre-eminent information resource for the home building industry, to unveil the BUILDER LivingHome at the 2009 International Builders’ Show from January 20-23, 2009.
At the new site, designer and ''GE Lighting Guy'' Brice Cooper describes four distinct lighting personalities, while offering tips and techniques that will help create a room to reflect different lighting styles.
More than 6,000 builders, remodelers, architects and other residential construction professionals toured The New American Home 2009 during the recent International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.