30 Energy-efficient Houses ... You Can Build

30 Energy-efficient Houses ... You Can Build PDF Author: Alex Wade
Publisher: Rodale Books
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
This book is about how to build tomorrow's house -- today. How to build a house that is energy efficient, solar heated, uses every inch of space well, is designed for the people who plan to live there, is elegantly simple, and yet doesn't cost a small fortune.

30 Energy-efficient Houses ... You Can Build

30 Energy-efficient Houses ... You Can Build PDF Author: Alex Wade
Publisher: Rodale Books
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is about how to build tomorrow's house -- today. How to build a house that is energy efficient, solar heated, uses every inch of space well, is designed for the people who plan to live there, is elegantly simple, and yet doesn't cost a small fortune.

Thirty Energy-Efficient Houses ...

Thirty Energy-Efficient Houses ... PDF Author: Alex Wade
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


A Design and Construction Handbook for Energy-saving Houses

A Design and Construction Handbook for Energy-saving Houses PDF Author: Alex Wade
Publisher: Rodale Books
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 440

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Book Description
Provides instruction in all aspects of building a house, presents plans for eleven different houses, and includes lists of recommended sources, tools, materials, architects, contractors, and builder's schools.

Home Sweet Zero Energy Home

Home Sweet Zero Energy Home PDF Author: Barry Rehfeld
Publisher: New Society Publishers
ISBN: 0865716986
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
This practical guidebook to zero energy homes focuses on real costs and savings, exploring such topics as site selection and passive design, heating and cooling, and financial resources and incentives. Original.

Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid

Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid PDF Author: Sheri Koones
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1613123965
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 1183

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Book Description
A beautiful, user-friendly overview to building more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly homes using prefabrication. Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid explores the many ways of using prefabrication to build beautiful homes that are not only environmentally friendly, but also incredibly energy efficient. Profiling more than thirty of the most energy-efficient homes in the United States, this user-friendly guide reveals how homebuilders can achieve similar results—whether they want to earn an advanced green certification or just incorporate a few energy-saving measures—with the help of floor plans, detailed resource lists, explanations of the latest technologies, and brilliant photographs. Author Sheri Koones shows that building green doesn’t have to be more expensive, and in fact, can lead to dramatic savings. Koones’s almost-off-the-grid homes, which take energy from the grid when necessary and return any excess energy produced, are healthier, quieter inside, and far cheaper to operate. As energy costs continue to rise, energy independence is becoming increasingly essential, and as this guide shows, the almost-off-the-grid home is a solution that is achievable for everyone. Recipient of the 2013 Robert Bruss Gold Book Award from the National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) Praise for Prefabulous + Almost Off the Grid “The time has come to throw out the old stereotypes and to embrace prefab building techniques as the way of the future?and the best approach for today. For anyone wanting to create a house that’s sustainable in every sense of the word, this book is an excellent place to start.” —Sarah Susanka, architect and author of The Not So Big House series “You can build a high quality, environmentally friendly and efficient home at a reasonable price with a look and feel of a traditional home. Advancements like those used in our house and the other houses in this book will transform the homebuilding industry.” —Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency “This is an easy-on-the-eyes guide that includes floor plans and multiple images of the exterior and interior of each home. It is not a manual for green construction, but a general overview of aspects of prefab and green construction. And it does that well.” —Natural Life magazine

Thirty Energy-efficienct Houses...you Can Build

Thirty Energy-efficienct Houses...you Can Build PDF Author: Alex Wade
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Architecture and energy conservation
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description


Live in a Home that Pays You Back

Live in a Home that Pays You Back PDF Author: Anna DeSimone
Publisher: FriesenPress
ISBN: 1039123503
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 231

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Book Description
Featuring programs and resources for the U.S. and Canada “An authoritative and comprehensive overview of the benefits of energy-efficient homes.” –Kirkus Reviews Whether you are planning to build, buy, or retrofit a home, this illuminating book takes you on a virtual tour of the home of the future. Award-winning author and respected housing expert Anna DeSimone lights the way for enjoying a home that is healthier, more comfortable, saves money, and reduces your carbon footprint. A practical reference guide that can be used for years to come, this book uncovers every part and parcel of the sustainable home, with clear explanations, helpful infographics, and hundreds of follow-up resources. An eye-opening look at the health benefits of energy-efficient homes, trends in household energy use, and its effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Explains a home’s true cost of homeownership after factoring lowered utility costs, enhanced property value, mortgage discounts, and other financial incentives. The “whole-house efficiency blueprint,” chapter describes how things work, along with eco-friendly options for roofs, siding, insulation, doors, windows, lighting, appliances, water conservation, heating, cooling, ventilation, heat pumps, air- and heat-exchange systems, indoor air quality, and more. Renewable energy options covered include solar photovoltaic systems, wind energy, geothermal, hydro-electric power, and biomass. You’ll learn the infrastructure for grid-connected systems, billing credits, net metering, solar power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificates, and how positive energy can bring cash rewards. Learn about the popular “zero energy ready” program, a high-performance home that is pre-wired with a renewable energy component. National green-building certification programs covered, such as Net Zero, Passive Home, Zero Carbon, etc. for the U.S. and Canada. Everything you need to know about home energy scores and ratings. Explains evaluations for programs by the U.S. Department of Energy, RESNET HERS, and Canada EnerGuide. The home building opportunities will inspire you to roll up your sleeves and be the general contractor. Explains construction for modular, manufactured, log and timber, and prefab home kits, along with photos of model homes. Learn how smart home technology helps monitor the health and safety of your family and pets. Important guidance about environmental toxins, biological pollutants, and non-toxic solutions. Mortgage financing covers down payment assistance, nationwide energy-efficient mortgage programs, PACE financing, mortgage qualification guides, and how to roll the retrofit costs into the mortgage. Features programs for U.S. and Canada. Comprehensive directory of rebates and incentives for all U.S. states and Canada provinces. Find out about cash rebates and financial incentives from utility companies and local municipalities, along with key local government policies such as solar and wind access rights, and net metering laws.

Our Home

Our Home PDF Author: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Architectural design
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description


Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies

Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies PDF Author: Rik DeGunther
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470477113
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
Hands-on, practical solutions to save money by making smart energy changes One of the best and most affordable strategies people can employ to combat global warming is to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes. Energy Efficient Homes For Dummies provides homeowners with advice, tips, and projects to reduce costs, increase energy efficiency, and cut down on waste and pollution. After performing a do-it-yourself home energy audit, readers create an action plan based on their personal goals. Readers are presented with a wide range of potential solutions, from making better use of blinds and awnings to exploring geothermal options in order to reduce household costs and their impact on the planet. Rik DeGunther (Rescue, CA) is the founder of Efficient Homes, an energy consulting firm that focuses on home energy audits and the design of efficient heating and cooling systems.

An Economic Comparison of Super-energy-efficient Houses to Standard Built Houses

An Economic Comparison of Super-energy-efficient Houses to Standard Built Houses PDF Author: Mitchell J. Kellermeyer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 26

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Book Description
Abstract: The U.S. Green Building Council stated buildings are responsible for 36 percent of total energy use and 65% of electricity consumption, 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, 30 percent of raw material use, 30 percent of waste output and 12 percent of potable water use (ULI- the Urban Land Institute 2008). According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, residential buildings (homes) alone account for 22% of national energy use and 21% of carbon dioxide emissions. With the high amount of energy used by buildings including homes, there will be a greater need for coal. By 2030 an estimated 80 percent more coal will be needed, shifting the U.S. to have to import more coal from other countries (Heinberg). Emissions from buildings are also considered a contributing factor that is changing our climate. (Problems: Global Change and Global Warming). For the past few decades, various energy efficient building technologies have been developed. However, energy efficient homes are still limited nationwide. In 2006, only 200,000 out of 1,801,000 new houses built earned the Energy Star for their energy efficiency (EPA 2007). To be qualified for Energy Star the house must be 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code (EPA 2007). Based on an article titled, "Energy Consumption," energy efficiency can be increased for buildings by reducing air infiltration with weather-stripping and caulking, providing good insulation in walls and attic spaces, controlling temperature in the house with programmable thermostats, and properly maintaining heating and cooling systems (Secondary Energy Infobook). An example of an energy efficient home would be Allen Zimmerman's home. The home had an average total annual electric energy consumption of 5.5 kWh per square foot. Similar homes in central and northern Ohio that are powered solely by electricity have an annual consumption of 9.3 to 11.7 kWh per square foot. Energy efficient building methods implemented in this case included using 2 by 6 stud walls spaced 24 inches on center, placing the specific rooms facing directions to avoid excessive solar gain, determining appropriate window sizes and locations, installing raised-heel trusses to allow more insulation in the attic and a larger overhang to provide maximum shading in the summer, installing an automatic ventilation system, and using energy-efficient fluorescent lamps (Zimmerman 2007). Super-energy-efficient (SEE) homes are based on system design and precision construction to improve the efficiency of homes by around 50 percent. With 56 percent of annual energy bills coming from heating and cooling, finding ways to improve the energy efficiency of the home by reducing the heating and cooling loads is important (Global Green USA 2007). This could be achieved through 2 by 6 walls spaced 24 inches on center to allow better wall insulation, extra interior and exterior finishes, modified framing for added insulation in the attic, and better air barriers around doors and windows. SEE Homes are known in the residential construction industry, but they are not practiced often. Potential increase in construction costs is prohibitive to both homebuilders and buyers. Some people assume that the home will be weaker if the studs are spaced out 24 inches on center instead of 16 inches on center. This is a myth and has not been proved to cause weaknesses in the house. Some also think that making the house too air tight will cause stuffiness to the occupants. But if a proper ventilation system is installed the house can be made more air tight without causing any indoor air quality problems. Another reason SEE homes are less common is because of the lack of knowledge and experience on the contractor's side to build them. The wide acceptance and implementation of SEE home building technologies could take a little extra time and the positive changes would significantly reduce energy consumption in the U.S. This research aims to tackle several major impediments that prevent SEE homes from being widely built in America.