The COOLEST Green Home Guide Ever . . . in 3-D
Posted on: July 12, 2009No comments yet
This is a must read . . . and a must share with friends. Popular Science has created the coolest green home guide. It is completely interactive and in 3-D. Don’t miss this.
Did you know you can cut your water use by 10 gallons a day by switching toilets? That a new washer and dryer could save you almost $150 a year? These are just two of the dozens of tips, tricks, facts and projects packed into the free Green Home Guide, the second in our series of digital special issues called Genius Guides, designed to make you an expert on one of the core PopSci topics. You can click through our animated home to see the worst spots for wasting power, air and water. Or explore our interactive map to get energy cost and CO2 stats for each of the 50 states. We’ve also got stories of three ambitious homeowners who have taken energy savings to extremes, heating their house with a room full of sand or powering it with a waterfall. READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN 3-D HERE
FREE Federal Tax Incentive De-coder
Posted on: July 8, 20091 comment so far
Click here to download your FREE Federal Tax Incentive Decoder from GreenAndSave. Also, check out the simplified Greenovation Tax Credit Guide.
The GreenAndSave team of experts read and de-coded the 400 page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so that you wouldn’t have to. We made it simple for you to easily take advantage of these government incentives.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama in February of 2009 has created some tremendous opportunities for homeowners. This Green De-Coder will help you uncover information regarding whatever energy efficiency improvement tactics you want to pursue, including:
* Reducing utility costs…
* Producing power…
* Financing options…
* Buying your first home…
* Buying a new car…
* Resources for state incentives…
Click here to download your FREE copy.
Greenovation Evaluation: The Energy Detectives Part 1
Posted on: July 2, 2009No comments yet
Dr. Anna Marie does a “greenovation evaluation” of Terra Verde. She joins the Greenalysis team to find out what challenges she will face to make her home more energy efficient and have a healthy indoor environment.
She discovers more than just dirty lint in her dryer. She learns that she’s throwing money and energy out her 1970s windows and that her incandescent light bulbs are creating more heat than light.
Perhaps her biggest lesson is that moving her 19 year old washer out to the barn is a bad move. Retiring old appliances and replacing them with effiicient Energy Star models will save a ton of energy. Keeping that old washer could also waste over $145 each year.
FACTS:
Your home may lose 30% of its heating and cooling through its windows
Low-E glass keeps summer heat out and winter heat in where it belongs.
CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Keeping your furnance filter clean can make it run more efficiently.
Energy Star appliances are a must when buying new.
Dirty lint traps and vents make your dryer work harder and waste energy.
Replacing your existing faucet aerators with a new more efficient one can
Home Wind Turbines for Under $3,200 Installed?!
Posted on: June 29, 20095 comments so far (is that a lot?)
Our mantra has always been “reduce then produce.” So after you’ve gotten your house to be the ultra-efficient haven you’ve always wished for, what’s next?
Power the rest with renewable energy, of course.
Windtronics and Honeywell recently announced a wind turbine capable of producing 2,000 kWh/yr and the installed cost is only $4,500 . This makes it about 1/3 the per kWh cost of a typical turbine. The new 30% Federal rebate on the cost of any renewable energy systems brings the cost down further to only $3,150.
Some states offer even further incentives which may make these essentially free.
Better yet, they are small enough to install on your roof or chimney (6′ diameter), and they may be on sale at Ace Hardware stores beginning in October 2009.
Windtronics claims that its novel design, using magnets rather than a gearbox, allows the turbine to create electricity at speeds as low as 2 mph and as high as 45 mph.
I have not seen these up close and operational, but if they work as quietly and efficiently as claimed, you may soon start seeing these on roofs in your neighborhood.
RESOURCES:
To calculate your return on investment on wind turbines – check out www.greenandsave.com
Earthtronics website: http://www.earthtronics.com/honeywell.aspx
Summer Heat Can’t Compete with Solar Attic Fans
Posted on: May 27, 20093 comments so far (is that a lot?)
By Kerry Lansing / From Green Building Insider
As spring’s fluctuating temperatures give way to soaring summer digits and triple-digit energy prices, a solar attic fan can reduce the heat load in your home, business, barn, shed or other structure. Heat from the sun is absorbed into a roof and accumulates in a structure’s attic, reaching temperatures as high as 160 degrees during the summer. That heat then permeates into living spaces. Actively ventilating an attic or under roofing keeps temperatures down and reduces the amount of energy needed to cool the building. READ MORE
Learn more about solar attic fans at the following websites:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf
http://www.roofvents.com/solar-fan.html
The ULTIMATE Greenovation Tax Credit & Rebate Guide
Posted on: May 22, 200913 comments so far (is that a lot?)
Residential Renewable Energy 30% Tax Credits
Consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap no longer applies.
So, if you install a $28,000 solar system it would only cost you $19,600. Or a $21,000 geothermal system would cost only $14,700. Throw in some state and local tax incentives and you’d be a fool not to upgrade to one of these systems.
- Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:
Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements “placed in service” starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. See EnergyStar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to consumers.
So, $9,000 worth of windows would cost you $7,500 after the tax credit.
- Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) for:
About Tax Credits
A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.
In addition to federal tax incentives, some consumers will also be eligible for utility or state rebates, as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient homes, vehicles and equipment. Each state’s energy office web site may have more information on specific state tax information. Click here to check out tax incentives in your state.
Check out the ENERGY STAR® page on Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency for complete details.
Are Installation Costs Covered?
Installation costs ARE COVERED for:
* HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems
* Biomass Stoves
* Water Heaters (including solar)
* Solar Panels
* Geothermal Heat Pumps
* Wind Energy Systems
* Fuel Cells
The tax credit for HVAC, biomass stoves, and non-solar water heaters is 30% of the total cost (product + installation) up to $1,500. The law specifies installation costs include: “expenditures for labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property.”
The tax credit for solar water heaters, solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, wind energy systems, and fuel cells* is 30% of the total cost (product + installation), with no upper limit. The law specifies installation costs include: “labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property and for piping or wiring to interconnect such property to the home.” (*The tax credit for fuel cells is 30% of the cost, but limited to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity.)
Installation costs are NOT covered by the tax credit for:
* Windows
* Doors
* Insulation
* Roofs
Sources: ENERGYSTAR.gov and IRS.gov
Solar 101: How Home Solar Power Works
Posted on: May 22, 20094 comments so far (is that a lot?)
It’s getting more and more affordable to power your home with solar energy. Here’s a simple primer on how solar energy works for your home.
Learn more about solar powering your home:
Tax Credits & Rebates for Solar: Learn about 30% tax credits for installing solar.
Maine Solar House is a blog is written by a family that has eliminated the use of fossil fuels in their home. Now if this doesn’t inspire you to go solar, I don’t know what will: http://www.solarhouse.com/
Solar Home is a retailer of solar panels and has a ton of great information on their website: http://www.solarhome.org
Solar Buzz is for the real super geeks who want to learn everything possible about solar power: www.solarbuzz.com
Find a solar contractor near you: http://www.findsolar.com/
LOL for ROI: Dumb Blonde Gets FREE Energy Efficient Windows
Posted on: May 15, 2009No comments yet
Anyone who’s looking to greenovate has heard it before “if you do this it will pay for itself.” Greenovation can save you a lot of money and efficiency upgrades can pay for themselves in a short time. The accountants call this ROI (Return on Investment).
It goes like this: if you install a 1.5 gallon per minute high-efficiency showerhead you’ll save so much hot water that you’ll make back the cost of the product in just a few months. If the product costs $50, but it saves you $150 per year ($1,500 in 10 years!!) the showerhead “pays for itself” in just 4 months and your ROI is 3,000% over 10 years!! Holy Crap! It’s true. So, remind me . . . why don’t you have a 1.5 gpm showerhead yet?
Check out GREENandSAVE.com (fantastic site) to find your ROI on dozens of items like skylights, new furnace, weather sealing, geothermal, solar and much more.
Here’s the ROI for Energy Efficient Windows:
| Payback Time in Years |
Added Cost |
Annual SAVINGS |
10 Year SAVINGS |
Return on Investment (ROI): |
2.3 $700 $300 $3,000 42.9%
Here’s a little story I got from Dr. Anna Marie this morning. I couldn’t resist sharing:
“Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them.
He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them.
Hellloooo,…………just because I’m blonde doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!
Helllooooo? It’s been a year! I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up.
He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.”
I’d love to hear your ROI stories. Send them along by clicking here. Occasionally, contractors trying to capitalize on “going green” can puff the sales pitch a bit. This doesn’t help the cause to green every home in America. So, we need to be honest about our numbers. Green in your house can definitely save you green in your wallet. But saving resources to create an enriched and sustainable world may be an even better cause.
GREENOVATION TIPS & RESOURCES: [Matt's advice: Don't bother with any showerhead that uses more that 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm)]
High-efficiency showerheads:
Bricor: 1 gpm – 1.5 gpm showerheads – shop here
Kohler: Forte 1.75 gpm – buy here
Hansgrohe: Croma E 75 Green 1-Jet Showerhead 1.6 gpm – buy here
Shop for dozens of low-flow showerheads here: EcoVillageGreen.com
GREENandSAVE.com great site to find ROI on items to greenovate your home
How to Save Water and Not Have to Wait for it to Get Hot
Posted on: May 13, 20094 comments so far (is that a lot?)
From: Tim Carter / AskTheBuilder.com
Many people wait for hot water just as you do each morning. A similar thing happens when people operate other sinks, dishwashers and washing machines. Fortunately, this problem can be solved one of two ways depending upon how your plumbing system is designed. Keep in mind that the work to achieve your goal is not something the average do-it-yourselfer can tackle.
Clean water is a valuable natural resource and it should not be wasted. The trouble is, in many localities, water is a very cheap commodity. When prices are low, people tend to waste. For example, a cubic foot of water costs me just a little over 1.6 cents. There is a very good possibility that you waste less than a tenth of a cubic foot of water each morning. To prove this, assume that there is 25 linear feet of three quarter inch piping between your shower faucet and water heater. Do the math and you will find out that there is just .076 cubic feet of water inside the water pipe. To waste one dollar’s worth of water, one would have to take over 800 showers. READ MORE
NOTES & RESOURCES:
Hot Water Recirculating Pump With Timers will cost about $150 – $300
Home Depot – Recirculating Pump
Amazon.com – Recirculating Pump
Dr. Anna Marie’s Greenovation Begins: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Posted on: May 13, 20093 comments so far (is that a lot?)
Dr. Anna Marie begins the greenovation of her 1970s ranch house, which she calls “Terra Verde” (Green Acres). She begins by cleaning up the overgrown landscaping, digging up then recycling the toxic fuel tank from the yard, and donating any good material and appliances to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Show notes:
1. TURN YARD SCRAPS INTO LANDSCAPING MULCH. Don’t create a burn pile. Some cities outlaw burn piles because they contribute to smog and global warming. In the video, Dr. Anna Marie uses a Bobcat to spread her mulch. If possible, it’s best to order a pizza and get the neighbors to bring their wheel barrows over for a carbon-free mulch spreading party.
2. RECYCLE ALL METAL OR WOOD THAN CAN’T BE SALVAGED.
3. DONATE ALL USABLE MATERIAL TO A HABITAT RESTORE OR OTHER REUSE CENTER NEAR YOU. Reduce, reduce, reduce . . . then Reuse and Recycle!!
Click here to find a Habitat ReStore or to find other reuse centers in your area visit the resources page at www.Greenovation.TV.
Robot-in-a-box Makes Compost From Kitchen Waste
Posted on: May 6, 2009No comments yet
Landfill trash is one of the biggest contributors of polluting greenhouse gases. In cities, as much as 40% of the waste that we truck out the curb each week is food waste. Those kitchen scraps could be converted to nutrient-rich fertilizer for our gardens.
NatureMill makes a kitchen bin that composts your food scraps in as little as two weeks. It makes composting for dummies easy, convenient and odor-free.
It will compost up to 5lbs of scraps per day and uses very little energy.
You could save a couple of trips to the curb each month by composting your kitchen scraps. You’ll also save on expensive bags of fertilizer for your garden.
By following the rules below, our family has reduced our trash so much that we take the container to the curb only once every 2 months.
GREENOVATION TIPS to reduce your trash:
1. REDUCE: Purchase fewer packaged items when you shop.
2. REUSE: Use reusable glass containers rather than disposable. Use cloth napkins instead of paper (they’re nicer and will save you money).
3. RECYCLE: Recycle all glass, plastic containers, paper and metal.
4. BUY BULK FOODS: Bring your own containers to the store and buy items in the bulk food section. You can even bring your own containers to a restaurant when ordering take-out.
5. USE A 2 GALLON TRASH CAN (or smaller): Replacing your giant kitchen trash can with a small one will make you more conscious of how much you are throwing away.
Green Stuff We Recommend (or How We Greened Our 107 Year Old Home)
Posted on: May 5, 20098 comments so far (is that a lot?)
1. Energy Efficiency:
Geothermal heating, cooling and hot water – We used Envision by Waterfurnace is 30 SEER a/c; up to 500%. (5 COP). Read the article about our system in MetroMode Magazine. Learn more about geothermal.
Find a contractor anywhere in the U.S.
Geothermal Contractors in Ann Arbor:
Meadowlark Builders, (734) 332-1500
Michigan Energy Services, (888) 339-7700
Haley Mechanical, WaterFurnace vendor (800) 871-7993
Jetstream Heating & Cooling, Geocomfort System – Tom Fauser (734) 668-8010
Fact: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said geothermal heat pumps are, “the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today.”
Occupancy sensors Wattstopper on all light switches – turns off lights automatically in unoccupied rooms. California now requires these in all new home construction.
Installed by Dan Delzoppo Electric 734-930-1630 – Our favorite contractor!
Available at Gross Electric in 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 665-8676
Available online at EcoHaus
Cellulose Insulation: blown cellulose made from recycled newspaper. R-50 in attic / R-18 in walls. Attics can be easy DIY projects. But, for walls we strongly recommend a professional with the right equipment and experience to ensure proper fill. Learn more
Installed by:
Farmer’s Insulation in Ann Arbor – Guy Murphy (734) 769-0066
Note: Our infrared camera test showed excellent coverage. Great job Guy!!
Open-cell spray foam insulation in basement between foundation and floor framing. Provides an excellent air and thermal barrier. This is also an excellent choice for attics and walls.
Arbor Insulation
734.786.1664
Energy Star appliances – Helpful hint: For 50% – 75% off on energy efficient appliances look for a Sears Appliance Outlet Store near you (there’s one in Livonia and Taylor, MI)
Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you could save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.
Energy-saving light fixtures; compact fluorescent lights throughout
“A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings.” The End of the Light Bulb as We Know It. US News & World Report, 19 December 2007.
Easy Do-it-Yourself Items to eliminate air leaks and gaps in your house:
Great Stuff foam for sealing around window casings, basement gaps, chimneys, attics, etc. When you add up all the little gaps in your house, it can be the equivalent of leaving a window open all year long. Check out the Great Stuff website “Interactive House” for cool tips on sealing your home.
Rope Caulk to help seal those pesky gaps in your old windows. Available in brown or gray. You can purchase rope caulk online or at any local hardware or home improvement store. Cost: $5.25
Reel lawn mower – German made by Brill Luxus. Weighs only 17 lbs and easier to push than a gas mower. Zero Carbon and ultra-quiet.
Check out the Brill Luxus 38 and the all new Brill Razor Cut 38
We LOVE these mowers!! This ain’t your granddaddy’s push mower. You’ll wonder why anyone uses hard to push, noisy, smelly, polluting gas mowers.
Smart Strip – WE LOVE THIS!! Power strip designed to kill that Vampire Power that is sucking hundreds of watts . . . even when you’re not using your electronics. Click “shut down” on your computer or “off” on your TV remote and it will automatically turn off all the peripherals too – DVD, Wii, surround sound, printer, fax, hard drives, or whatever. It will pay for itself in a few short months. Available online at Amazon and other retailers.
2. Water Efficiency:
The Average U.S. Home Uses 300 – 700 gallons per day! Look for the new EPA Watersense label for outstanding water savings.
High efficiency 1.5 gpm Bricor showerheads and .5 gpm faucet aerators
A family of 3 will save around 11,000 gallons of HOT water every year. This is not only a water saver, but a huge energy saver as well. This brilliant technology will pay for itself in as little as 7 months!! Every shower should have one of these. No more excuses. Simply the best shower you can get.
Online Retailers $64.95: Black Energy and EFI
Caroma High Efficiency Toilets (HET) – dual flush allows for half flush (.8 gallons) or full flush (1.6 gallons). Caroma is beautifully designed. And, with a 4″ trap, they are nearly impossible to clog. Can save thousands of gallons of water per year. They’ll pay for themselves in a few years. Other Brands to Look For: Kohler, Sterling and Toto too!
Find a Caroma Retailer: http://www.caromausa.com/distributors/
Available online: BuyPlumbing for under $400
Rainwater capture used for irrigation – We got ours made from reused Michigan oak wine barrels from St. Julian Winery. There are plenty of places to buy rain barrels or you can make your own. Believe it or not, for every inch of rain that falls on a catchment area of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater. 5 inches of rain falling on a 2,000 square foot roof area will generate about 6,000 gallons of rainwater!
3. Materials:
Bioshield Floor Coatings. Antique heart pine floors sanded then refinished using natural penetrating Bioshield Hard Oil #9 for a durable, water resistant and non-toxic finish. You can often catch great closeout deals on the Bioshield website.
Shower & Bath Tiles made with Recycled Content – American Olean – Available at Lowes and other tile retailers. Find a retailer
Salvaged clawfoot tub from Craigslist.org – For refinishing the interior of the tub, we used (and highly recommend) Ron Benedict of Ann Arbor Perma-Glaze
New Hudson MI 48165 (US)
Phone: 248-437-1370
Bathroom floors made from second hand marble. Highly durable.
Medicine chest mirror made from antique picture frame.
Other Materials Considerations:
Reused salvaged trimwork wherever possible
Sustainably Harvested Wood: When buying new wood, insist on Forest Stewardship Council‘s FSC Certiciation or Rainforest Alliance Certification.
Donate excess materials for reuse – Habitat for Humanity Restore or Ann Arbor Reuse Center
Compost bins for yard and kitchen scraps
1 Gallon trash can in kitchen – prevents us from creating too much waste for landfill
Compost pail at kitchen sink to collect kitchen scraps for compost – not the disposal or trash.
Reclaimed brick walkways – reuses material and minimizes stormwater runoff.
4. Indoor Environmental Quality:
Fact: Indoor air is sometimes three times more polluted than outdoor air. According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes, furniture, flooring, wood & cabinet adhesives, mold and poor ventilation are among the leading causes.
Third Party Certification for Indoor Air Quality: Look for Green Seal or GreenGuard certification.
Zero-VOC Paints: These are the best small brands are superior paints for everyone, but particularly for the chemically sensitive: Safecoat, Yolo Colorhouse,
Major brands (sometimes cost a little less and are now widely available) FreshAire Choice from Home Depot, Olympic Premium Paint (Available at Lowes), Pittsburgh Paints, Sherwin Williams Harmony (NOTE: Harmony is NOT GreenSeal or GreenGuard Certified and is only a “low”-VOC rather than zero-VOC) and others. Just make sure you ask for Zero-VOC paint at the paint or hardware store.
Wood floor finish: For our antique heart pine we used Bioshield Hard Oil #9 (see above) Different coatings are suited for different woods. So, make sure you ask what is best for your wood floor. Also, check out the premium line of eco-friendly finishes from SafeCoat. Bioshield and SafeCoat are both available online at www.EcoHaus.com
Whispergreen Panasonic high-efficiency motion sensor bath fan – improves indoor air quality, reduces mold and uses minimal energy. This fan is virtually silent and uses very little energy. We love it!
Available at
Gross Electric – 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, 734-665-8676
Online at WestsideWholesale ($130 – $160) Plumber’s Surplus ,
Zero or Low-VOC Adhesives: Henkel Green Series zero-VOC adhesive for sub-floor in new bathroom. You will love the ways these clean up!! No more nasty chemicals to remove the other nasty chemicals that get stuck on your hands. Best of all . . . almost NO SMELL.
Furniture: antiques or reused are the best – Craigslist, Freecycle, or eBay – But, if you must buy new make sure it is durable and free from toxic brominated flame retardants (PBDEs / BFRs), PVC or formaldehyde and is made from FSC or Rainforest Alliance certified wood. Many major brands are going green. Check these out: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Lee, Bob Williams+Mitchell Gold. Also, look for products that are C2C (Cradle 2 Cradle) certified.
Rugs and Floor coverings made from natural materials – free from toxic flame retardants (PBDE) or vinyl
Our Wish List:
Energy Recovery Ventilator – ventilate fresh air and recover 80% of heat loss ($700 – $2,000 installed)
Solar and/or Wind Power to provide our remaining energy load ($30k-$50k)
Solatubes for natural daylighting in the closets and dark spaces. ($300 each)
More forward thinking political leaders
Tell us what is on your greenovation wish list . . .
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