Fear of Agenda 21 fuels a bill to ban sustainability planning in the state of Kansas The Konza Prairie in northeastern Kansas.Photo Credit: Bill Johnson

Climbing the learning curve in working with a new insulation material Sliding a slab of precisely cut cork insulation against a door jamb. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Alex Wilson

Why we chose cork exterior insulation for our net-zero-energy house

Among the innovative—some might say weird—products we’re trying out at our Dummerston, Vermont farmhouse, none is more unusual than the expanded cork insulation we’re currently installing as a layer of exterior rigid insulation.

Building complex window surrounds for a deep-energy retrofit
A definitive guide to how the federal government builds green—and why its leadership matters.

This post is the second in a series on the federal government’s use of green building certifications. Coming soon: The Hidden Beltway Lobbyists Who Shape Green Building Policy.

Bruce Brownell's impressive track record with foam-insulated low-energy homes Bruce Brownell has been building low-energy passive solar homes for four decades.Photo Credit: Adirondack Alternate Energy

As DoD rethinks its green building needs, a recommendation to keep using LEED is just the tip of the iceberg.

This post is the first in a series on the federal government’s use of green building certifications. Part 2: Sustainable Federal Buildings: What's the Law?

A gradual shift in the supply-and-demand balance for natural gas and increasing shipments of LNG will bring the prices back up, while the risks of fracking continue to be debated
Large fines levied on companies making deceptive claims about R-values
In a long-awaited cost report, the National Research Council recommends LEED Silver or its equivalent as the preferred green building standard for the military.
Why larger wind development projects make sense Two 2.5 MW wind turbines in the Sheffield, Vermont wind project. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Martin Holladay

I'm a huge fan of wind power, but we should recognize that some applications of wind don't make sense
Rather than releasing its final report on LEED and other rating systems, the agency posts recommendations and asks for more feedback.

Treating wastewater onsite can save owners money, but there are other good reasons too.

Living Machines and other types of constructed wetlands are beautiful, but they’re not ideal for every client. Onsite wastewater treatment might make sense for your next project, though, depending on factors like the site, the local infrastructure, and the owner’s mission.

Top-performing quad-glazed windows from Alpen installed with three low-e coatings and krypton gas fill R-12 windows from Alpen with three low-e coatings and krypton gas-fill. Click to enlarge.Photo Credit: Alex Wilson