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	A Slow Economy Doesn’t Change the Rules of Bidding May 2010. by John McLean, Architect, San Francisco. "Too many homeowners and architects are naive in their reliance on the bid process as the major tool to lower project cost, and that they ignore the negative impact this process can have on the quality of construction, the level of service provided, and the development of the trust needed among all the parties for a successful outcome." - Wow. Beautifully said. This is a fine, must-read article for any homeowner who wishes a successful outcome of their own construction project. And who doesn't?!?

	'Cash For Caulkers' Home Star Bill Gives Rebates to Homeowners 05.07.10. by Lina Berezovska. The 'Cash For Caulkers' Home Star bill passed on Thursday will offer home owners up to $8,000 in rebates for retrofitting and converting to qualified, energy-efficient and American-made, products. Sponsored by Rep. Peter Welch and run by the Department of Energy (DOE), the Home Star program budget is set for $6.6 billion. “The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act is a common sense bill that will create jobs, save consumers money, and strengthen our economy,” said the President. Read The Whole Bill

	New Lead Paint Laws Effective April 22, 2010 04.28.10. by Sylvain Côté. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a new L ead Paint Law effective April 22, 2010. Under the new rule, contractors - Or anyone - performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. This means that if your house was built before 1978, it must be tested first before any kind of work can be done. More details are provided in this EPA Brochure. Sylvain Côté of Absolute Green Homes is now an EPA Certified Renovator since April 28, 2010.

	Finance Your Weatherization Projects Through Your Utility Company 04.22.10. by Jon Campbell. ALBANY -- Senate Democrats introduced a measure Thursday that would allow homeowners and businesses to finance weatherization projects through their electric and gas companies, which would then bill back the customers for the cost of the projects. More

	Green Is So Yesterday 04.21.10. by Annabelle Gurwitch. Actress and writer Annabelle Gurwitch (Dinner and a Movie) is such a vibrant advocate for going green that she calls herself a "lime" activist. When she's not boldly shrinking the ecological footprints of American families as the host of Wa$ted!...

	EEM's Energy Efficient Mortgages Spring 2010. These mortgages allows you to roll in the costs of making specific energy saving improvements to the home you are building or purchasing. This will, of course, increase your monthly mortgage payment but since because these improvements will drastically lower your energy, gas and water consumption, your monthly utilities will decrease even more so than your mortgage. Saving you money every month. More Sources on Energy Mortgages

	No More Wet Basement Lifetime Guarantee 03.15.10. by Sylvain Côté. A rainy windstorm over the weekend ravaged Westchester County, leaving several thousands without power and killing over half of dozen people. Thousands of basements were also flooded, perhaps resulting in millions of dollars of damages, so I thought it was time to bring back an older article published just about three years ago. We can not control the weather, but we can control some of the damages with proper preparation. More

	"More Doctors Smoke Camels Than Any Other Cigarette" 03.15.10. by Brian Merchant. Climate Disinformation Campaign Like Tobacco Industry's Pro-Smoking Campaign. It's not exactly a new metaphor. But it is a good one, and one with enough parallels to make anyone queasy. Which is why Secretary of Energy, Nobel laureate Steven Chu, is fond of employing it. He likened the ongoing efforts to confuse the public about climate science in order preserve the status quo - the United States' reliance on fossil fuels - to the efforts the tobacco industry used to confuse the public into thinking the science proving that smoking causes cancer was 'unsettled. More

	Are Ground Source Heat Pumps (Geothermal Systems) a Good Choice? 02.24.10. by Lloyd Alter. They are rarely as efficient as promised. The rated efficiency may not include the energy required for the pump, suggesting that the electrical energy can be significant... The pump run on electricity, which for much of America comes from coal... If you care about your carbon footprint, it is actually worse than running on natural gas. They are really expensive and there are better places to spend your money, costing as much as $35,000. We need to invest in reducing our consumption, not in buying green gizmos. That is the path to energy independence and a lower carbon footprint. - Ouch! There. We absolutely agree.

	NY State Extends Appliance Rebate Program 02.23.10. by John Boccacino. If you couldn't get to an appliance store before Sunday and thought you missed out on a rebate for upgrading to an energy-efficient appliance, don't fret. The state extended its Great Appliance Swap Out, originally a two-week program scheduled to end Sunday. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which administers the state's $17 million share of the $300 million nationwide rebate program, said the swap-out will continue until the rest of the money is distributed. More

	10 Million Solar Roofs Bill In The U.S. In The Next 10 Years 02.04.10. by David Roberts. Cleverly titled the "10 Million Solar Roofs & 10 Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act" (PDF), it would provide rebates that cover up to half the cost of new systems, along the lines of incentive programs in California and New Jersey (not coincidentally, Nos. 1 and 2 in installed solar in the U.S.). It also includes measures to insure that those who receive assistance get information on how to make their buildings more energy efficient. More

	"Nation That Leads The Clean Energy Economy Will..." 01.27.10. by Brian Merchant. "I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy; and I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future - because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy." - Read the "Recovery Through Retrofit" Proposal

	It’s Not The Heat, It’s The H²O 01.25.10. by Sylvain Côté. High humidity will make a nice summer day feel much warmer than it is actually is. But the heat index, a term we hear only in the summer months, may perhaps be even more useful in the winter. To the surprise of many, including myself, a lack of humidity in our homes during the heating season is just as bad, if not worse. Your health, your comfort, and yes, your wallet - All are greatly affected, more than you know. More

	Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency Jan. 2010. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Updated every two months. More

	'Insulation Is Sexy' 01.01.10. by Jonathan Sweet. " 'Insulation is sexy' isn't what we expected President Obama to say last month in promoting new tax credits for energy efficiency, but it was nice to hear a little love for the remodeling industry. The program would provide billions in incentives for home weatherization projects; it would generate business for remodelers, creates jobs and makes homes more efficient. It would be funded out of uncommitted TARP funds, and I'd much rather see the money go to homeowners and remodelers than bankers." More - I agree, let's stop using the annoyingly and exceedingly inaccurate "Cash for Caulkers" name!

	Making Green Mainstream 12.30.09. by Carl Seville. "Sustainable building has suffered too long from slow acceptance. This is due, I believe, in large part to the drunken orgy of real estate speculation we were living through for much of the last 20 years. Why should anyone care about the efficiency, durability or health of their home if they were going to flip it for a big profit in a few years, or even months?"..."People spend more time investigating their cars, stereos and computers than they do their homes, mostly because they can objectively compare these products, but not the homes they are considering buying or renovating" More - An Absolute must read, really. Bravo Carl.

	Is Green a National Security Issue? Dec. 2009. by Patrick O'Toole. "Being a part of remodeling is important for no other reason than national security", "We have a huge legacy of homes that we are going to have to do something with because our energy consumption patterns are not sustainable. This goes beyond politics." and finally ". Relying less on foreign oil would potentially reduce our security commitments in other countries." More - Wow. Certainly a very interesting article with perhaps an unprecedented approach to remodeling to say the least.

	1,000,000 Energy Star Homeowners Can't Be Wrong 11.10.09. by Brian Merchant. The Energy Star program hit a milestone today--the one millionth efficient home that earned the blue label wrapped building. Since the program began labeling new homes in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds. More

	Big Green 11.03.09. by Kevin Chappell. What do you say to people who say that it’s too expensive to be green? -Jones answers: "We’ll walk past the healthy choice to get something that is not healthy, and a lot of times that healthy choice is cheaper." More - Great interview; The very last paragraph is an absolute must read. Thank you Van Jones!

	Top 10 Myths and Misconceptions About Green Building 11.02.09. by Lloyd Alter. "No, green building is not about hippies building hobbit houses out of straw. There is a lot more to it, it is a lot more widespread and it will soon be affecting everyone. But there are a lot of misconceptions out there." More - Lloyd Alter top 10 list here hits the nail home. Very brief and well done.

	How Brad Pitt Could Spark a Green Building Revolution 09.25.09. by Brian Merchant. Brad Pitt started the Make It Right foundation in 2007 to rebuild homes for residents in New Orleans who lost theirs to Hurricane Katrina. Which would have been plenty admirable if that was the extent of the mission. But the foundation figured, since all eyes are on the rebuilding of Katrina, wouldn't this be a fine chance to make an ironclad case for green building? More

	If We All Do Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, the Mercury Will Drop 09.22.09. by Graham Hill. At coal-fired plants (the biggest source currently of mercury emissions), 13.6 milligrams of mercury is emitted just to light up an incandescent bulb, while a CFL only would lead to (if incinerated, tossed out, or broken instead of recycled) 3.3 milligrams of mercury being emitted into the environment. The mercury in a CFL is approximately one-quarter the amount emitted if an incandescent was used in its place, and that's assuming the CFL isn't recycled. More - By far the best argument to still switch to CFL's, despite their tiny mercury content.

	Volkswagen to Make Electricity in Your Basement 09.15.09. by Susan Kraemer. We are used to the idea of powering our homes from our roofs, by now. But what if we could get our electricity from the basement? Everyone who uses gas to supply heat and to heat water, could be tapping into that heat to make their own electricity as well with a CHP unit. Unlike solar or wind power, this energy source could be supplying electric power both day and night, and whether it’s windy or not. More

	Billions In Energy Savings Predicted 09.01.09. National appliance standards for 26 common household and business products planned during the President current term could slash total U.S. electricity use by over 1,900 terawatt-hours (1.9 trillion kilowatt-hours) cumulatively by 2030 while saving consumers and businesses over $123 billion and eliminating 158 million tons per year by 2030. More

	Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream June 2009. by John F. Wasik. Why should you care about this book? It’s about our homes and communities and how we need to re-invent, re-envision and re-build the American Dream if we want to survive in this contentious century. Economics meets ecology in this radical new look at what we’ve taken for granted as a birthright. More

	World's Largest Solar Tower Now Powers 10,000 Homes 04.29.09. by Brian Merchant. The world's largest solar power tower just began operating outside Seville, Spain—and it marks a historic moment in the saga of renewable energy. It's been confirmed that the groundbreaking solar tower generates 20 megawatts of electricity: and it's now powering 10,000 homes with renewable energy. More

	Best of Green: Design & Architecture 04.07.09. by Lloyd Alter. "Oscar Wilde wrote 'all criticism is autobiography'; much the same can be said about choosing the best in green design and architecture, it may tell more about our preoccupations than anything else. Design is so subjective, and green design is even harder, given that it is so difficult to define. Is it green enough? Is it good enough? Where is the balance? Do we go safe or edgy? Old favorites or young up-and-comers? What kind of geographic diversity? We give it our best shot." More

	How to Identify Indoor Air Quality Problems 03.27.09. by Josh Peterson. People complain when smog lies thick over a city, when a factory or plant pumps curling, black smoke into our air. It is ironic then that the air quality of our homes often gets overlooked. The majority of our breathing is done inside. And our inside air can be just as polluted. How can you tell if your air is quality air? More - I think it's safe to say that we've all been inside homes where we just couldn't wait to get back outside!

	Economic Stimulus Package 03.22.09. by Sylvain Côté. Free federal money is finally trickling down to the common tax payers, us the homeowners. Energy Star has published comprehensive information on how the housing industry and consumers can take advantage of the federal tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the new economic stimulus package. $1500 is at the reach of your fingers for the taking. And there's even more than that for those of you wanting to reach the darkest shade of green... More

	The Geometry of Green 03.07.09. by Sylvain Côté. Keep it simple. That is the advice from most green building gurus, especially regarding a home's footprint. The fewer corners in a structure, the fewer materials and labor required to build it. Unfortunately, few green advocates actually stick to that logic, building complex designs and shapes that erode resource efficiency. But the funny thing is, according to simple physics (surface area to volume enclosed), a simple square or rectangle is actually not the most efficient shape after all. More

	Not So Big Remodeling Feb. 09. by Sarah Susanka. "Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live". Written with co-author Marc Vassallo, Sarah's latest addition to the Not So Big House series promises to become as powerful an influence on existing home remodeling as The Not So Big House has been on new home design over the past decade. More - Sarah did it again! Amazon.com named this book as one of the best books for 2009

	The Greenest Brick is the One That's Already in the Wall 12.19.08. by Lloyd Alter. "Originally, before the Thermostat Age, the places we built had no choice but to be green, otherwise people would freeze to death in the winter, die of heat strokes by summer, or other really bad things would happen to them". - Steve Mouzon. More - Steve Mouzon and Donovan Rypkema are among a growing movement of architects who are making the case that people have known for hundreds, maybe thousands of years how to build in ways that save energy and adapt to climate. Passionate men. And funny as well.

	Homes to Follow Cars 11.01.08. by Sylvain Côté. Many of us bought smaller and more efficient vehicles, while the SUV lovers simply settled for hybrids, still resulting in slight fuel savings. Doesn't matter. What does matter is the end result: greater energy savings and a positive effect on the environment. Today, green is a go. Wondering what the SUV swap has to do with building and remodeling? You can be absolutely certain the same thing will happen to our homes. More

	Slash Your Utility Bills 10.01.08. by Sylvain Côté. Photovoltaic solar panels and geothermal heat pump return on your investment can be as long as 10, 15 or even 30 years, with or without the government incentives. Not particularly appealing and certainly not the first steps I would recommend. The investments I do recommend are somewhere between medium to high, but the great news is that the return that can be as short as 2 or 3 years. More

	Invest in Your Nest 09.24.08. by Lawrence Lanahan. Okay, so the housing bubble burst, home values are plummeting, and the money mavens say it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. What to do? "Invest, of course, in the place you call home", says this writer Lawrence Lanahan. More - Right on the money!

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