According to the study, construction industry professionals report an even steeper increase in green home remodeling; 34% of remodelers expect to be doing mostly green work by 2016, a 150% increase over 2011 activity levels. Many home builders have shifted to the remodeling market due to the drastic drop in new home construction. In fact, 62% of the builders who do both new and remodeling work verified that the economy has increased their renovation work.

“The housing market is critical to the U.S. economy,” said Harvey M. Bernstein, VP of Industry Insights and Alliances, McGraw-Hill Construction, “and the results of our study show that despite the drastic downturn in housing starts since 2008, green has grown significantly as a share of activity— indicating that the green market is becoming an important part of our overall economic landscape.”

The green home building study, produced by McGraw-Hill Construction in conjunction with the NAHB and Waste Management, is designed to provide key insights into market opportunities, backed by proprietary research surveys and the power of the Dodge database. The study reveals business benefits afforded by green building, such as a competitive marketing advantage: 46% of builders and remodelers find that “building green” makes it easier to market themselves in a down economy, and an overwhelming 71% of firms that are dedicated to green home building report the same.

“This study demonstrates phenomenal growth in green building and indicates that we can expect even larger increases in the coming years,” said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg, a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “In a sample of NAHB builder and remodeler members, nearly 90% reported building green at some level. This is a powerful testament to the importance of green home building—and transforms the way we think of homes overall.”

By 2016, many more builders anticipate that they will be dedicated to green building work on over 90% of projects— 33% expect to be dedicated to green work in 2016, up from 17% in 2011. Remodeling will grow even more dramatically— 22% of remodelers report that they anticipate they will be dedicated to green work in 2016, nearly triple the 8% who report being dedicated to green work in 2011. These builders are clued into the revenue opportunity afforded by green building and know that home buyers will pay more for green homes, according to 61% of builders and 66% of remodelers.

“Home buyers and builders increasingly want to do what’s right for the environment,” said Jim Halter, VP for Construction Solutions, Waste Management. “This trend has been taking off within our business as customers look to recycle and divert more materials from landfills. We’re excited to see the results of the study; they validate the services we offer.”

Many factors are driving the green homes market, with “higher quality” and “increases in energy costs” topping the list, indicating that today’s green homebuyer is not just a green consumer. Buyers recognize that green homes have lower bills due to higher building performance. The reported costs of building a green home have also gone down significantly. Builders report that the cost to go green is now 7%, as compared to 10% in 2008 and 11% in 2006.

While green is growing across the U.S., three regions are seeing higher than average growth. The West Coast has seen the highest green growth; the Midwest’s northern region, west of the Mississippi, is second highest; and New England ranks third.

McGraw-Hill Construction will continue analyzing the results of the Green Home Builders and Remodelers Study and release a printed report in April during the NAHB’s National Green Building Conference and Expo in Nashville. Further findings, including remodeling details, green technologies, and green product adoption in green homes, will be included in that report.

Thanks to NAHB.org

A new report has found that consumers who previously purchased green products have decreased their green purchasing as a result of the recession.

In the study by Massachusetts-based Grail Research, 43% of “light green” consumers—those who buy some green products—said they have reduced their usage of green products or switched to conventional ones. At the same time, the percentage of non-green consumers rose from 15% to 22%.

“Although it’s clear that the market for green products is here to stay, the number of green consumers declined over the past two years,” notes Annica Blake, global head of research services at Grail Research.

Conversely, Blake says, the number of “dark green” consumers—those who select earth-friendly products for most of their purchases—increased by 1% and now make up 9% of the consumer market. Other key findings of the “Green Revolution” report include:

·         Sixty-five percent of respondents changed their purchasing behavior as a result of the recession, with most turning to less expensive green products.

·         Nine percent of consumers said they never consider buying green products, an increase of 4 percentage points since the previous report.

·         Only 11% of consumers reported that they seek information on green companies and their products.

·         Packaging still remains the most important source of information for green products, with more than half of consumers saying it impacts their purchasing decision.

·         Consumers are more likely to find green claims compelling if they provide quantitative information in an easy-to-visualize description that communicates the impact on the environment.

To improve consumer awareness, manufacturers should work to effectively articulate their products’ green attributes, says Blake, adding that the success of the green market will be determined by how well marketing messages resonate with buyers.

“It’s no longer enough to just say you’re green,” she says. “Consumers now expect comparable value and performance.”

Thanks to Jennifer Goodman, Senior Editor for EcoHome.

The key: “You have to listen to them,” advises Streett, owner of Rolling Ridge Deck in Evergreen, Colo., and winner of multiple awards from the North American Deck and Railing Association. “They’re going to tell you what they want, but they don’t always know what they want. Listen in general terms, and then specifically think about how you can deliver it.”

Even then, notes Justus Lambros, owner of Signature Deck in Maumee, Ohio, not every fabulous deck delivers a prize. “Some amazing decks have won those awards,” says Lambros, another NADRA winner. “You couldn’t just put those decks on the back of a subdivision home. You have to have the right site, the right view. I’ve done only two in my career that would qualify for that type of award.”

Those award-winning decks feature attention to the minutest details—from curves and angles that drop the judges’ jaws to hidden fasteners and above-code framing that add an unseen something to the finished product.

“It’s really easy to build a square deck,” admits Dave Kramer, sales manager for D.G. Liu Contractor in Dickerson, Md., a Chrysalis award winner. “But if you can add a little personality to it, that raises you above the pack. There are a bazillion deck builders out there who can put up a deck fast, but they don’t pay attention to finish details so they can charge less.”

Here are 10 best practice tips from award-winning deck builders:

1. Show off your curves. The hottest trend in deck design is curves, says Mel Karlson, senior marketing manager for composite decking manufacturer Trex. “They add drama to a deck,” says Karlson, who observes that most award-winners incorporate curves on edges and accessories.

Tim Stephens, winner of multiple National Association of the Remodeling Industry Contractor of the Year awards, says a rounded deck is a natural extension of a landscape that features curved planting beds and curved sidewalks. Stephens, owner of Archadeck of West Central and Southwest Ohio, curves the boards’ edges to transition from one level to another, and favors curved deck-top planters and wet bars.

“What we’re going for is the deck not to look like an attachment to the house, but to blend in with the back yard,” he explains.

2. Don’t block the view. Most building codes require railings only on decks that sit three feet or more off the ground. So Stephens skips them when they’ll obstruct an especially spectacular view. To define the deck’s edges, he suggests crafting benches from the same material as the decking. He made one award-winner pop with faux stone bench legs.

Lambros agrees: “Whatever features the landscape has to offer, the deck should be an avenue to enjoy the star attraction, which is the landscape. The deck might be an award-winner, but it shouldn’t steal the show.”

3. Design an outdoor room. More homeowners are building decks to expand their living space—and to bring their lifestyles outdoors. Stephens notes that his clients want an outdoor setup that mimics the indoors: kitchen, living room, dining area. Some designs simply accommodate a grill, a table with chairs, and a few pieces of patio furniture, while larger decks have room for separate, wall-less rooms on multiple levels.

Even in chilly Colorado, homeowners want to use their decks nine months a year, notes Streett, who incorporates infrared heaters, gas heaters, and fireplaces into his designs. “Everybody here has that mindset,” he says.

4. Light up the night. Low-voltage lighting—atop rail posts, along edges, on stairs and between levels—is more than a safety feature required by some local codes. “Lighting is cool,” says Lambros. “It adds a whole other level of enjoyment for your customer.” Plus, he notes: “Most people can afford to do it,” because low-voltage lighting doesn’t require an electrician.

5. Toss in some texture. Incorporate stone, brick, stucco, or another contrasting texture into fireplaces, columns, and architectural details on a wood or composite deck. For a homeowner with contemporary taste, Kramer’s company crafted rails from stainless steel pipe and positioned them horizontally between posts made from Brazilian ipe like the deck. Streett has borrowed textures from the home’s interior to repeat on the deck, like distressed wood and exposed beams on outdoor deck roofs.

6. Minimize maintenance. While wood remains dominant in decking, more and more award-winners are constructed of composites. Stephens says most of his clients request it because it’s low-maintenance and comes with a warranty against fading and splintering.

Kramer advises builders to heed manufacturers’ specs for installation—even for out-of-sight framing—to keep from voiding the warranty and having to repair or replace a disappointing deck on your own dime.

7. Rally around rails. Rails and posts can be a deck’s “wow factor,” says Lambros, who mixes the components of color-matched pre-fab kits with custom-made post sleeves and dreams up creative alternatives to wood or wood-look rails, like glass and iron. “That will set you apart,” he notes.

8. Frame the picture. Placing deck boards in well-considered alternating patterns gives the builder the chance to make each deck unique. Lambros favors “picture framing” the perimeter of a deck with boards that go in the opposite direction from the decking on the rest of the surface. Other simple techniques: placing boards on each half of the deck diagonally facing the center of the structure or using a lighter or darker color around the edges and at transition points between levels or at steps.

9. Cool things off. A pergola, retractable awning or vinyl canopy can shade a deck and allow the homeowner to use it when the weather is especially hot. It also can add an unexpected design touch and make the deck look more finished. Stephens’ tip: While you can’t use composite decking to build a shade structure, choose a low-maintenance product. “Nobody has the time or inclination to maintain it,” he says.

10. Keep what’s out of sight top of mind. The homeowners might not notice when the builder takes the time to hide fasteners or install joists that are a step above code. But they’ll notice if you don’t, says Kramer, when they feel the boards bounce or snag a bare foot on a popped-up nail.

Thanks to Sharon O’Malley, contributing editor at Building Products magazine.

Deck Trends

1. Curved elements, like rounded deck edges, soft corners, and curved planters.
2. Multiple levels, often divided into functional areas for cooking, conversation, and eating.
3. Two-story decks with plenty of room on the paved bottom level for furniture and entertaining and with drainage on the elevated deck so rain doesn’t drip downstairs.
4. Outdoor kitchens, which more homeowners consider functional, convenient—and a status symbol.
5. Low-voltage lighting for safety and ambiance that can also extend the use of the deck into the night.
6. Water features on the deck or nearby to create calming white noise and add a point of interest.
7. Fire features like fireplaces or fire pits that sit a couple of feet up from the walking surface, especially those with the latest gadgetry, like gas burners that fire up pea-gravel or glass rocks in place of wood logs.
8. Sound systems designed for outdoor use with speakers built into rail posts and jacks for weather-safe home theater equipment.

Refrigerator efficiency standards are a prime example of government standards that actually benefit consumers. The precise savings for major categories are as follows:

• 25% for top-mount (i.e. freezer on top) and side-by-side refrigerator-freezers
• 20% for bottom-mount refrigerator-freezers
• 30% for automatic defrost freezers

Categories with lower sales volumes will require 10-25% savings.

Since the first standards were enacted, the price of refrigerators has dropped significantly, even though modern refrigerators are larger, have many more features and cost less to operate than previous models. In 1978, the average new model cost $1,566 in today’s dollars – almost three times as much as the $550 an average model retails for today. This trend is expected to continue, even as refrigerators grow in size and features.

Long-Term Savings for Consumers and the Environment

According to DOE, the new standards over 30 years would save 4.84 quads of energy, or roughly enough to meet the total energy needs of one-fifth of all U.S. households for a year. Over the same 30-year period, and taking into account up-front costs, consumers will save up to $36 billion.

DOE also estimates CO2 emissions will be cut by 344 million metric tons over 30 years, an amount equal to the annual emissions of about 67 million cars. Smog-forming NOx emissions and toxic mercury emissions would also be reduced dramatically.

Advanced Technologies Help Manufacturers Meet Efficiency Standards

Refrigerator manufacturers have been able to improve the efficiency of their new models with incremental design changes such thicker insulation, more efficient compressors and automatic defrost. Energy saving improvements like through-the-door ice and alarms that sound when a door remains open for an extended period are features on a number of refrigerators as well. Despite these changes, many features were not part of the efficiency equation. For example, current standards simply assume that ice makers use 84 kWh per year. Once DOE finalizes a method for testing icemaker energy use, the placeholder value of 84 kWh will be replaced by actual measured energy use. These benchmarks will help consumers understand the cost and savings potential of future purchases.

Information on the New Standards

The new standards will take effect in January 2014 and cut energy use by 25% for the most common refrigerator types. High-efficiency single-speed and variable-speed compressors and further insulation improvements, including vacuum insulation panels (VIPs), will contribute to even greater energy savings. VIPs use technology similar to a thermos where space between the two walls is evacuated, limiting the transfer of heat. VIPs are already in use in refrigerated trucks, commercial refrigeration and some residential refrigerators and freezers.

Thanks to George Parman of  The Alliance to Save Energy

Australian PM Julia Gillard announced approval for the world’s largest coal/solar hybrid power plant. Photo: CS Energy

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard today announced the approval of a $104.7 million project to integrate solar energy into one of Queensland’s largest fossil fuel power stations.

The 750 megawatt (MW) coal-fired Kogan Creek Power Station in South West Queensland will be integrated with a new 44 MW solar thermal system, making it the largest project of its kind in the world.

The project, called the Kogan Creek Solar Boost project, will use concentrated solar power technology from French firm AREVA Solar to convert the sun’s energy into super-heated steam which will drive the plant’s turbines along with steam from burning coal. Areva Solar acquired the solar technology, called the Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector (CLFR), when it bought Australian firm Ausra last year.

The world’s first solar/coal hybrid facility, called Cameo Station, was opened last July in Colorado in the United States. The project, valued at $4.5 million, was a demonstration project that used a different concentrated solar technology to Areva’s, this one based on solar troughs. Carbon emissions reductions were estimated at two to five per cent, although project managers are targeting ten per cent in future operations.

Kogan Creek Power Station is owned by CS Energy, a Queensland government-owned corporation that owns and operates four Queensland power stations.

CS Energy chief executive David Brown said, “Already Kogan Creek Power Station is one of the largest and most energy efficient power stations in Australia’s electricity market. By using energy from the sun, we will increase the station’s capacity to meet the growing demand for electricity, increase its fuel efficiency and reduce its greenhouse intensity – avoiding the production of 35,600 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

“In simple terms, the solar addition will enable Kogan Creek Power Station to produce more electricity with the same amount of coal,” he added.

Use of the solar thermal technology will provide enough extra electricity to power up to 5,000 Australian homes annually. The amount of emissions saved is the equivalent of taking 11,000 cars off the road for one year.

Construction of the solar integration project will begin in the first half of this year and will be completed in 2013.

CS Energy is providing $70 million for the project, $35.4 million of which has been redirected from a contribution by the Queensland Government to CS Energy’s Carbon Reduction Program. The Australian Government’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Program is contributing over $34 million.

With the impending carbon tax set to be enacted in July 2012, Australia’s power companies are still waiting for details of how their industry will be affected. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last month that Ross Garnaut, the government’s chief climate change adviser, said no compensation would be needed for coal-powered electricity producers. But the same report also mentioned that the government would likely provide compensation in order to prevent plant closures and job losses.

Irregardless of whether or not compensation is provided, power companies are looking for ways to increase their energy efficiency and reduce their vulnerability to a carbon tax.

Mr Brown said, “Projects like this are essential for CS Energy to successfully transition to a low-carbon future and will build the capacity of the Australian solar industry.”

By : Jenny Marusiak

In the backyards of five houses within a 2-mile span in Tarrant County, Texas, small Skystream wind turbines whir quietly atop poles. A prospective client recently approached builder Don Ferrier about making his lakeside house the sixth.

“The owner came to me as most of my clients do, saying, ‘We believe building energy efficient only makes sense,’” says the owner of Ft. Worth-based Ferrier Custom Homes.

Ferrier had to build the alternative energy system into the budget but found–as incentives for harnessing wind power whip over the nation in the form of federal tax breaks and state, local, and utility incentives–his client was in for a good deal.

Wind turbine dealers have sold almost 100,000 residential units since 1980, and in 2009 the turbine market swelled 15% despite the economic slump, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The market boom, buoyed by growing interest in alternative energy, is a direct result of federal tax credits worth 30% of wind-harvesting costs.

More reliable and durable equipment also has helped. “The technology has really moved forward,” says Sterling Condit, a Kansas remodeler and turbine dealer. “For example, one of the turbines I sell is practically maintenance-free.”

How it Works
A wind turbine is essentially a generator with fan blades that catch the breeze and spin the rotor over a coil to create an electric current. The most common are horizontal-axis turbines, which look similar to a pinwheel, and eggbeater-like vertical-axis turbines. Also offered are helix models, which resemble DNA. As the industry picks up speed, new options resembling bike wheels and jet engines mark a competitive quest for the best angle to catch the breeze.

Many horizontal residential models resemble smaller versions of common industrial-sized versions, with a 3-foot to 10-foot blade span, according to Mike Batten, a turbine dealer for Midwest Energy Solutions.

It takes 8-mph winds to kick an average turbine into gear, and about 15 mph for it to generate electricity. Since winds that fast only blow high above ground, for the most effective results a turbine needs to sit on a pole, a house, or a hill, and away from obstacles.

U.S. wind maps show the strongest gusts snaking down the middle states, off the coasts, and near mountains. Air in the Southeast is still, so that region may never see a huge turbine trend.

Average residential models generate from 1 kW to 10 kW, according to the AWEA. A 10-kW unit could completely power an average home in good wind conditions (and potentially have extra power to sell back to the utility company), Batten says, but there are many factors–including turbine location and wind conditions–so it’s difficult to give a broad, concrete estimate. A 2-kW model provides just supplemental power, but is a more manageable size. Turbine dealers evaluate each project to determine the best unit for the home buyer’s needs and the wind potential of the site.

Most residential systems cost $15,000 to $20,000 installed, say turbine dealers. But the figure is dramatically reduced by federal tax credits, as well as state rebates and tax credits, low-interest loans, and utility incentives.

Challenges
Before a homeowner leaps into wind energy, there are a few considerations: “What are your needs? How can we get there? Where’s the application going? What’s your elevation? Who’s your power company?” says Batten. “You can’t just go and stick up a wind turbine.”

In addition, codes in most counties dictate how far from the house you can place a turbine, how high it can be, and the amount of acreage required on the lot. While the smallest systems are relatively quiet, 10-foot-long blades create a whooshing noise, a sound manufacturers attempt to silence.

In Kansas, remodeler Condit says some utilities are not eager to embrace wind technology because of the industry’s past. “I’ve actually had a couple of customers discouraged from installing a wind turbine… [Utilities] just say they don’t work, they are not reliable, which is not true, but that was true of the early ’80s.”

But the biggest determining factor is the client, asserts Ferrier. The homeowner has to understand the return on investment and have the resources to pay the up-front costs.

While clients willing to work $15,000 into the budget may be scarce, manufacturers believe the winds are changing direction. “We are looking at the wind industry almost the way we looked at the satellite television industry 20 years ago,” says Brian Levine, vice president of business development and marketing at WindTronics. “First those satellite dishes were monstrous … then they got smaller and now people have multiple units on their homes.”

Predicts Levine: “I think you are watching the wind industry and the alternative energy industry going mainstream.”­–Evelyn Royer

In March 2010, GAO released a report about its experiences submitting 20 made-up products to Energy Star for certification, highlighting weaknesses in the program, which relies primarily on self-policing by manufacturers to maintain the label’s integrity. These products ranged from the truly ridiculous—a gas-powered alarm clock—to those that seemed believable, but all included fake data that showed performance better than anything currently on the market. According to the report, “GAO found that for our bogus products, certification controls were ineffective primarily because Energy Star does not verify energy-savings data reported by manufacturers.” The program did require confirmation of test results for two products, which were then rejected.

The agencies that oversee the Energy Star program—the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—responded quickly to the findings, changing the program’s policies and the way it approves products. By April 10, 2010, the agencies had stopped approvals of new products through Energy Star’s self-certification and automated-qualification programs (which did not require staff member reviews). The Energy Star program now requires staff review of all products, as well as testing results backed up by reports from independent laboratories.

DOE and EPA began testing products that have already been certified, starting with the most common appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dishwashers, and water heaters. The agencies have also taken action against 35 manufacturers whose products carried the Energy Star label but did not meet Energy Star standards. Among these was LG Electronics, which had 21 refrigerators carrying the label—some sold under the Sears/Kenmore name—that failed to meet Energy Star standards. LG removed the Energy Star labels from those products and signed a memorandum of understanding with testing and certification firms Underwriters Laboratories, Intertek, and CSA International to have all of its products tested to ensure Energy Star compliance.

Energy Star is also strengthening the standards it uses for its homes label. New guidelines for the homes program, which go into effect in January 2011, will require that Energy Star homes exceed the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code by 20%. New requirements include enhanced air sealing and envelope insulation, higher-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and moisture control in the envelope.

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity – an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future.

Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability. Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day.

Who might be interested in Deconstruction Services?

• Those interested in deconstruction for environmental or cost-savings reasons include:
• Present homeowners seeking to expand their current residence
• Purchasers of a property that wish it cleared so they can build a new house on the site
• Builders bidding on a contract with a homeowner to perform a remodeling project or new construction and seeking a competitive advantage by lowering their hauling and disposal costs and providing the owner with a tax benefit
• Speculative builders seeking to lower their hauling and disposal costs, and perhaps earn a tax benefit, for the take-down of a structure on property they intend to erect a new residence

What are the benefits of Deconstruction?

• Makes available used building materials at greatly reduced prices to homeowners, re-modelers, landlords, and rental management companies
• Recycles unusable building materials into mulch, aggregate fill, and reusable metal
• Reduces need for construction & demolition landfill space
• Saves natural resources and embodied energy contained within the reclaimed materials
• Reduces greenhouse gas emission
• Creates new, stable jobs in an growing “green collar” industry
• Produces revenues for nonprofit retail warehouses to use on behalf of their missions
• Generates substantial tax deductions for the property owner
• Performs a structure’s take-down in a manner that is both more environmentally friendly and cost-competitive with traditional demolition

1. Upgrade the mechanical systems

An old furnace or boiler is often the worst energy user in an old house. Many houses built prior to 1920 still have old coal-fired boilers that were converted to gas or oil. These units are workhorses, but use a lot of energy. A new furnace or boiler can save energy dollars right away. Replacing window air conditioners, which we did in all these houses, with a central system also can save energy right away, as long as the ductwork has been placed in the conditioned space. Solar water heating is a good option to add here if you can afford it, but at the very least, upgrade the efficiency of hot water production by coupling the tank to the boiler.

2. Bring the basement and crawlspace inside the house

Warm, dry basements and crawlspaces can extend living and storage space. Wet basements are the source of high humidity levels and discomfort in the summertime in old houses. They also can be the source of mold growth that gets distributed around the house. Spray foam is a fast, effective way to bring these areas into the conditioned space while sealing the leaks between foundation and floor framing.

3. Super-insulate and air-seal the roof

If air leaks in at the bottom of the house, it leaks out at the top, which makes a house cold and drafty in winter. A poorly insulated roof also can make a house hot in summer. Air-sealing is a by-product of good insulating, so it’s really a one-step process. Using spray foam under a roof also can eliminate the need for roof venting, which is tricky in complicated roofs.

4. Replace the windows

With the bottom and top of the house sealed and insulated, the next opportunity is the walls. And old windows are like big holes in the walls. Old windows often leak both air and water into the house while functioning poorly. They might not open and close properly, and can be obscured with storm windows and screens that diminish the amount of light that can enter. Properly installed, Energy Star (or better) windows seal the holes in the walls to keep out water and weather extremes.

5. Insulate the walls

Filling empty wall cavities with cellulose is a cheap, easy, effective way to warm up an old house. Blowing cellulose into existing wall cavities is an art, to be sure, but there are many contractors who have been doing it for years. In fact, there are now inexpensive ways to check with infrared cameras to make sure that all voids have been filled without disturbing the existing plaster or sheathing on outside walls. Because siding or shingles on old houses might also have worn out, we take the opportunity to install foam sheathing on the outside of the house before re-siding.*

6. Buy Energy Star Appliances

A new Energy Star refrigerator will use 15% less energy than a standard model. Replacing old light fixtures with pin-based compact fluorescent fixtures ensures your electric bill will stay lower (up to 30%).

7. Add a renewable-energy source

Once your energy consumption has been reduced significantly, it becomes reasonable to produce your own energy with systems such as photovoltaic, wind power, or hydro, if you happen to have a stream nearby. Until you slash the energy usage, though, it’s not worth the investment in renewable power sources. Conservation is still the cheapest game in town.

*Note to item 5: Go back to Step 1 and reduce the size of the mechanical systems. An airtight house with insulation on all six sides of the cube and good windows provides predictable performance, so the mechanical contractor won’t have to guess at the quality of the enclosure. Downsized mechanical equipment can defray the cost of steps 2-5.