Tag: Energy Efficiency
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Guest Post: DOE Backs Down on Higher Furnace Efficiency Standards; Air Conditioning Standards also Being Challenged
In late 2011, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced increases in the minimum efficiency standards of residential furnaces and air conditioners. In the 30 northern states, the minimum efficiency rating of new furnaces was to be raised to 90 percent from its current level of 80 percent, starting May 31st, 2013. In the 20 southern…
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Certified Passive House in Oregon Maximizes Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Concepts
The founder of Oregon-based STUDIO-E Architecture, Jan Fillinger, is a Certified Passive House Consultant and LEED AP who has over twenty years experience in sustainable design, including the use of sustainable and non-toxic materials, integration of energy-efficient building systems, and the design of site- and climate-responsive buildings. Switzerland born and raised, with a Master of…
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Top US Cities with the Most ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings in 2012
An ENERGY STAR certified building meets strict energy performance standards set by EPA and uses less energy, is less expensive to operate, and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its peers. Which US cities perform best in terms of number of certified buildings and annual cost savings? Top 25 US Cities Los Angeles maintains top…
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The Sarah House Project Will Provide Shipping Container Shelter for Low-Income Families
Jeffrey White, a real estate agent who resides near Salt Lake City, Utah, is spearheading the Sarah House Project, a nonprofit, community-based organization that aims “to provide fast, green minded, safe, affordable homes for the underserved.” Built from converted, recycled shipping containers and named for a San Francisco artist who succumbed to cancer, the homes…
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Building for life
When it comes to satisfying the world’s almost insatiable appetite for energy, nothing beats energy efficiency. While the efficiency of commercial buildings has improved significantly in recent decades, the building industry has only begun to tap the energy reserves trapped in underperforming facilities. Trane, a 100-year global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services, foresees…