The move away from fossil fuels requires that buildings and vehicles be powered by electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, etc. All-electric homes in cold climates present a challenge for comfort and cost, but those barriers have fallen to recent developments in design and technology - making all-electric homes desirable even in cold climates.

No matter where you live, there is financial assistance to help you improve the energy efficiency of your home and save money. These states are leading the pack, but even if you live elsewhere, you can still find technical and financial help.

For most people, developing a vacation rental would be about profit. For these two Washington state couples, it was about much more. Oh, and the profit is there too.

To stay competitive, a production builder must find a good balance between cost, price, and profit. Here’s the story of one builder who has successfully added high-performance, clean energy features to their standard offering. More importantly this builder has developed an elegant solution to the challenge of solar-powered homes producing energy when it is not needed by the grid.

The first certified Passive House in Scranton, Pennsylvania, offers more than super energy efficiency. It demonstrates that high-performance homes can be built for the same price as code-built homes.

Imagine a world where a builder can set a precise level of building air tightness, pay one contractor to deliver it, and reach the same performance standard on every home. That world is here... today.

One payoff of a super insulated building envelope is a smaller heating and cooling system. Achieving the payoff requires HVAC contractors to plan and implement the project a bit differently than a typical one.

High-performance homes deserve high-performance ventilation. BuildEquinox now offers a second generation ventilation system with an integrated heat pump and sophisticated user-friendly controls.

Third-party certifier, Earth Advantage, has evolved their zero energy home standards to make it easier for builders to include natural gas in their zero energy homes. Here’s what they did.

Mike and Cindi O’Neil share some lessons from more than 20 years of building high-performance homes. Now the company specializes in zero energy homes. Learn what draws clients to them and how they have made energy efficiency their bread and butter.

Perhaps the biggest barriers to energy efficiency in multifamily buildings are not technology, but business and finance. A new handbook shows you the ins and outs of financing. Written for project owners and lenders, this guide includes many specific suggestions and examples.

High-performance homes have many cool features that are not always obvious to buyers. As a builder, you want the effort and expense you’ve invested in the home to be effectively represented to potential buyers. That means engaging real estate brokers and appraisers who have the training, knowledge and experience to recognize these features and communicate the benefits effectively.