August 18, 2023

Start with SIP Panels: Cost Savings, Efficiency, Health, Resilience

Architects and builders continue to innovate with structural insulated panels (SIPs), proving the benefits of affordable, healthier, and more resilient homes.

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July 19, 2023

Tackling Water Scarcity: RainStick Showers Changing the Game

In-home greywater recycling systems offer significant water savings, but they can be expensive and challenging to to install. This immediate, point-of-use water treatment technology combats water scarcity one shower at a time.

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July 5, 2023

Cost-Effective Retrofits: 7 Steps to Zero Energy

To achieve a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, we can smooth the runway for energy-efficient, cost-effective home retrofits

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March 29, 2023

Home EV Charging Made Simple (But Do Hire an Electrician)

Home EV charging setups can be tricky. So we’ve developed a primer: from model options and safe installation, to pricing and solar storage.

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January 19, 2023

Electrifying? You May Not Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade

Abandoning gas for all-electric appliances? The electrical panel is the unsung hero of any home electrification project.

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January 7, 2023

Heat Pump Dryers: Low-Impact Laundry

Heat pump dryers are an exciting, relatively new electrification technology. One can cut perhaps 10% of your household energy use.

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January 2, 2023

Cold Climate Heat Pumps Warm Homes on the Coldest Days

We know that decarbonization requires electrifiction, and we know that heat pumps work in many situations. But many people still wonder: Will heat pumps work in cold temperatures?

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January 14, 2022

My Net Zero Home Got Me Through a Wisconsin Winter — Here’s What I Learned

When Amber Westerman Set Out to Build a Net-Zero House, She Knew the Design Had to be Small and Smart.

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November 12, 2021

Shedding Light on the “Dark Side” of Solar Power 

The dark side of solar power includes trashing millions of used solar panels and batteries in landfills, intermittent production, and taking large tracts of land out of productive use. But new recycling approaches, and energy management and land use strategies are keeping the light on solar. It has a bright future.

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August 6, 2021

Financing Energy-Efficient Housing on a Massive Scale 

There is one major obstacle to the widespread transition to zero energy homes: The mortgage industry has been slow to recognize their higher market value and reluctant to finance the additional upfront cost of financially sound energy efficiency features. One solution is a system to create mortgage backed securities specifically for energy efficient homes. 

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August 5, 2021

Zero Homes Are Great: Let’s Make Them Better — Zero 2.0

Ten years ago, making a home or building generate as much energy as it uses over the course of a year seemed an immense challenge. Tens of thousands of these advanced energy-efficient structures have been built. But they need to be better to meet the challenges of climate change, health, security, and resilience. So what’s next? Zero 2.0! 

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July 19, 2021

Simple Steps to Maintain Zero Energy Home Appliances

Zero energy homes have many advanced features and systems. After you have your very own zero energy home, you’ll want to keep it operating at peak efficiency. Fortunately, home maintenance for these homes is not more difficult or time consuming than for conventional homes.  

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