Ground-Source Heat Pumps

The most common configuration of a ground-source heat pump has tubing laid in a horizontal trench--often as a series of coils.

Despite being highly efficient at turning kilowatt-hours of electricity into heat or chilled air, ground-source heat pumps have a significant drawback and usually aren't the best heating system choice.

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Exciting Developments at Marvin Windows

I was at Efficiency Vermont's Better Buildings Conference in Burlington, Vermont last week. It's a great conference each February to learn about energy-efficient construction and find out about innovations in energy-conserving products, from lighting to heating systems.

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Home Wind Power

The Skystream 3.7 is rated at 2.4 kW in a 24-mph wind. This system is in Mullica Hills, New Jersey.

The 30% federal tax credit for residential wind turbines (with no upper limit) opens the door to scams, which could tarnish the reputation of the wind energy industry

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SafeTouch Polyester Batt Insulation from Dow

Update: We have learned that SafeTouch was discontinued by Dow in spring 2011 due to poor sales. More detail in the comments below. We have confirmed that EnGuard polyester insulation, from Vita Nonwovens, remains available. – The Editors

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From Grease Traps to Green Kitchens: Reflections of a Recovering Food Service Professional

Over the years I've held a lot of job titles and have done most kitchen jobs, from cleaning a large supperclub's grease traps in mid-July after the obligatory upper-Midwestern Friday fish fry (I don't recommend that as a career path) to picking herbs and edible flowers from the garden that I'd use in lobster salads at a Relais & Châteaux restaurant (that was a pretty good job).

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Tax Credits for Solar Energy Systems

This gird-connected, 2.52 kW PV system in Glastonbury, Connecticut, comprised of Evergreen Solar modules, was installed by groSolar, of White River Junction, Vermont.

Take advantage of these tax credits now, because they're unlikely to last.

I've been addressing tax credits for home energy improvements the past few weeks. This week, we'll look at what's available for solar energy systems.

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TimberSIL Now Made with Waste-Ag Silicate

We first wrote about TimberSIL from TimberSIL Products in a 2004 article in EBN, touting the company's treated wood as a revolution in the treated wood industry. From an environmental standpoint, a recent enhancement makes the product even better.

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Tax Credits for Window Replacement

Five different glazing options, along with the option of having no windows, are shown here for a highly insulated house in the Boston climate. Shown are the annual combined heating and cooling loads. Energy modeling was done by Bruce Gough of Energy Building Group using the Minto Inspiration house as the baseline.

Why the 30-30 Requirement for Windows Isn't Very Smart

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Caroma's Redesigned H2Zero Urinal

Environmental Building News first introduced waterless urinals to the green building community--back in February 1998 in a product review of the No-Flush Urinal from the Waterless Company. In the 12 years since then, we've profiled as many as a dozen waterless urinals as they've entered the market.

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Green School For A "Community Of Learners"

The Family School is a "community of learners." Classes are composed of multiple ages and parents are active in the classroom. Each student's day is split between home schooling and coursework led by professional APS staff. Their parents may elect to participate in the classroom with their child. Monthly, parents are asked to attend workshops at the school to provide academic support for their home schooling efforts.

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Tax Credits for Energy Upgrades

Benefiting from the 30% federal tax credit for energy improvements

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Armstrong FSC-Certified Wood Flooring

While we continue to feel great about small companies embracing FSC, we also find it exciting when larger players enter the FSC world--because these companies will help FSC become more accepted by the mainstream timber and building-products industries.

 We've promoted the Forest Stewardship Council's wood certification program in the pages of Environmental Building News since FSC was formed back in 1994. We've always looked for companies offering FSC-certified wood products to highlight in EBN and GreenSpec.

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Innovative Financing for Energy Improvements

The PV system on this Lafayette, Colorado home, providing 100% of the power requirements, was installed with no money down through Boulder County's ClimateSmart program. The cost will be repaid through the homeowners' tax bill.

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People's Choice Top-10 GreenSpec Products of 2009

Here at BuildingGreen.com, we recently announced our picks for the Top-10 green building products of 2009. The list is a pretty cool selection of newer products that could come in handy on your 2010 green projects. But what were your picks?

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Clean Dry Hand Dryer

by Alex Wilson
Every time I turn around, it seems, I'm finding out about some new, really cool green building product. It's time to start sharing this information. Starting this week, I'll be writing a weekly "product of the week" blog. I'll be skipping around from category to category. Not every product will be brand new, but I'm guessing that most will be unfamiliar to most readers. I welcome suggestions of products I should cover. Contact me by email (alex@buildinggreen.com) or use the comment field at the end of the blog to submit suggestions.

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