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Given enough research, and if you have enough experience with plumbing or wiring, you may very well be able to install your own renewable energy system. Chances are though that you will need at least a little help from a professional installer. In this chapter we offer you a basic primer on what to know [...] There has never been a better time to invest in renewable energy. One of the greatest forces behind the burgeoning popularity of green power is the availability of liberal financial incentives. Indeed, incentives now equal more than $3 billion for household sustainable energy systems. In many states, rebate programs refund more than half of the [...] Micro-hydro power is a form of renewable energy where the energy of falling water is harnessed to produce electricity. Micro-hydro is often the cheapest form of renewable energy available to the homeowner in terms of kilowatt-hour of electricity produced. All hydroelectric systems convert the energy of flowing water into electrical energy. Definitions vary by country, but [...] Humans have long been harnessing the power of the wind, but wind energy is now the fastest growing energy source on earth. A wind turbine is simply a device that converts the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical energy. If that energy is used directly by machinery, such as by a water pump or [...] Whether you plan to heat a single room or an entire house, solar space heating can trim your costs easily and efficiently. By heating your house with sunshine, these systems lower your consumption of traditional heating fuels by supplementing or even replacing your current heating method. Solar Space Heating Options The typical American home uses more than [...] LEED for Homes (LEED-H) awards points in eight categories for building practices and materials or product choices. All LEED program homes have to implement 18 obligatory procedures. Additionally, 16 points must be earned to meet the minimum prerequisites in four categories. Architects and builders can decide how to obtain additional points depending on factors such [...] Purchasing utility-traded renewable energy credits (RECs) is a wonderful alternative for households with limited options for using solar or other renewable energy sources but want to support green power. The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (www.nrel.gov) ranks the leading green pricing programs, which hundreds of utilities around the nation now offer. Additionally, the [...] Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) refers to the quality of the air and environment inside buildings, based on pollutant concentrations and conditions that can impact the health, comfort, and performance of occupants—including temperature, relative humidity, light, sound, and other factors. Good quality IEQ is an essential component of any building, especially a green building. [...] To earn the Energy Star, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20–30% more efficient than standard homes. Energy [...] There is a movement advocating a return to smaller homes that maintains that larger homes waste resources. However, the cost per square foot is often higher for a small home than that of a larger home. When building a larger home, the cost of the most costly items which every home much have (such as [...] |
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