Home Energy articles from July 2002

Home Energy archives from July 2002

The 2002 Energy Globe Prizes. (Editorial).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... There are Nobel Prizes for peace and achievements in science, Oscars for acting, and the Pulitzers for writing. But where do achievements in energy efficiency and renewables get international recognition? The answer is gradually, but steadily,...

Cold climate attics. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Joseph Lstiburek's article, "Unventing Attics in Cold Climates," (HE, Nov-Dec '99, p. 27), has given me pause. All roofing contractors in Erie, Pennsylvania, say I need soffit vents and a ridge vent put in when they redo our roofing shingles....

Kudos welcome! (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Yet another fantastic publication. March/April 2002 is loaded with good stuff that all my colleagues seem to be mentioning early on during conversations when we get together for this or that. We are constantly promoting your Web site and...

Rising star. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... I was delighted to read the article by Talmon Haywood, "More Than Just Patching Holes," in the March/April issue (p.42).The certifications administered by Indiana Community Action Association, Incorporated (INCAA) for the state weatherization...

Duct leakage revisited. (Letters).(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2002... Philip Wemhoff writes: Your recent article on duct testing ("Only Testing Will Tell" HE Jan/Feb '02, p. 24) describes an extraordinarily useful effort. I hope you might give your thoughts on some issues. They involve final operating...

Energy-10 gets a major facelift. (Software/Web).(software for designing building energy consumption)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Nearly 2,000 registered users worldwide reap the benefits of Energy-10, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) building energy design program. Energy-10 integrates daylighting, passive-solar heating, and low-energy cooling strategies with...

A better way to light a kitchen. (New Construction).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Kitchen downlights account for one-fourth of the residential lighting energy used in California. There are, on average, six kitchen downlights in each new home built in the state. These lights aren't very efficient, and builders who are faced...

Ceiling fan stars now in stores. (Appliances).
July 1, 2002... Americans buy roughly 15 million residential ceiling fans each year, seeking cooling breezes, better air circulation, and decorative room-lighting options. Now improved motors, fan blades, and lighting designs can deliver these benefits at a...

Alliance opens windows and sheds light. (Programs).(Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Consumer education is one of the highest hurdles to overcome in maximizing energy efficiency. Congratulations to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, which has been recognized with the federal government's Energy Star partner of the year...

A home with family values: Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Tuskegee University strike a balance between energy efficiency and affordability. (New Construction).(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Create a house that provides a healthy indoor environment fit to breathe in, that is energy efficient, and that a family with an annual income of $12,000 can afford. Responding to the growing concerns of U.S. scientists and health...

With liberty and solar hot water for all: a Pennsylvania program shows how a well-designed renewable-energy project can be a good investment for public benefits funds. (Programs).
July 1, 2002... No matter what the final outcome of electric deregulation turns out to be, some side effects of this market shift have begun to benefit the development of renewable energy programs. Pennsylvania's Universal Service programs, spawned by...

What should I do about my windows? Window retrofit decisions will be made easier with a little help from an advisory tool. (Windows).
July 1, 2002... Should I get new windows, repair my existing ones, or buy retrofit products? Which strategy will save me more money on my monthly utility bills and make my house more comfortable? What is the best solution for my house and my budget? As a...

Predicting energy savings: McLean Gardens condominium in Washington, D.C., may replace 7,400 windows to reduce residents' complaints. But how much energy can the project save? (Windows).
July 1, 2002... Built in 1942 as wartime rental housing, McLean Gardens is a condominium community of 720 units. Brick exteriors, slate roofs, and lots of open space around the buildings give it a college campus feel, and it has become a favored location for...

Missteps with mold: building professionals should follow a thorough mold and IAQ investigative protocol when they tackle mold remediation cases. (IAQ).
July 1, 2002... In the summer of 2001, a First Nation community north of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, declared a state of emergency due to mold problems that were perceived to be life threatening. The community consists of about 84 single-family homes,...

A Minnesota jewel. (News & Reviews).(reward for environmentally-sound architectural design)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The renovation of a 950-[ft.sup.2] cabin in Minnesota received one of ten coveted green building awards presented this spring from the American Institute of Architects. Designed by Sarah Nettleton Architects, the cabin features a superinsulated...

Definitely not small potatoes. (News & Reviews).(adoption of International Building Code in Idaho)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The Idaho legislature passed a bill in March to adopt the 2000 International Building Code, which includes the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code. The estimated energy savings are substantial. "In the residential segment, a yearly...

Honors follow Energy Star's first decade. (News & Reviews).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Energy Star was established by the EPA in 1992 to offer energy-saving and pollution-preventing solutions for homes and businesses. Energy Star now works with more than 7,000 partners to improve the energy efficiency of products, homes, and...

Standing up to standby power. (News & Reviews).(federal energy regulations)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... To help government agencies comply with a new executive order stipulating low standby power in electronic devices (Order 13221), DOE's Federal Energy Management program has a new Web site with information that is useful for everyone. Check out...

EBN Archives improved. (News & Reviews).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... BuildingGreen, Incorporated, publisher of Environmental Building News (EBN), has released an updated and expanded version of its EBN Archives CD-ROM, a compendium of all back issues. The Version 6.0 archives are fully searchable and have many...

Rocky Mountain Institute case studies. (News & Reviews).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The Rocky Mountain Institute has released a second version of its Green Developments CD-ROM. Version 2.0, featuring updated resources and Web links, contains more than 200 case studies of green building projects from around the world. The...

Builders show the way. (News & Reviews).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Fifteen builders received Energy Value Housing Awards (EVHA) in March at the National Green Building Conference in Seattle. The conference and awards were sponsored in part by DOE and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The EVHA...

Calendar.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... June 30-July 5 Indoor Air 2002: The Ninth International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Monterey, California. Contact: Hal Levin, Indoor Air 2002, 323 Soquel Ave., PMB 312, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Tel:...