New developments in Internet-based controls for electrical systems documented in research for the California Energy Commission (CEC) have given new life to demand-response (DR), and led to the development of a training program to prepare electricians to implement the technologies.

R-value, which measures resistance to heat transfer in insulation, is one of the most popular building metrics—but what it does and doesn’t tell us is often misunderstood.

There are two test methods that are important to measuring R-value. The first, ASTM C518, is relevant to single materials. In this test, a sample of the material is... Read more

By Paula MeltonIt’s been five years since our super-sized housing market collided with the iceberg of reality and began its long descent, eventually pulling the global economy into the frigid depths along with it. The magnitude and origins of this collapse are making the recovery a slow one—and uniquely painful for those working in building... Read more

The predicted economic impacts of climate change play a key role in directing policy responses to a warming planet. Of particular importance is a figure called the social cost of carbon (SCC), which gives a dollar amount to each ton of carbon emissions—and a figure derived by the Obama administration of $21 per ton of carbon is drawing sharp... Read more

The Finnish company Upofloor’s PVC-free LifeLine CS commercial resilient sheet flooring uses a tough wear layer and low-emitting materials to create a durable surface. It is appropriate for healthcare, education, and other public spaces prone to consistent, heavy foot traffic.

Distributed in North America through Altro,... Read more

The resulting education programs and building performance databases will help appraisers recognize and evaluate sustainability features within their own local real... Read more

In exchange for the installation, which would typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, homeowners will agree to pay a set amount (lower than typical utility costs) for the power produced by the PV... Read more

That’s where environmental product... Read more

[Editor's note: Robert Riversong, a Vermont builder, continues his 10-part series of articles taking design and... Read more

The overall energy efficiency of domestic portland cement manufacture has increased 13% over a ten-year period, according to a report prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by economists at Duke University.

The decrease in total source energy, researchers wrote, is “equivalent to an annual reduction... Read more

The Energy Lab at Hawai’i Preparatory Academy is the third building worldwide and the first K–12 school facility to achieve “Living” certification through the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

The science building, completed in January 2010, houses classroom and meeting spaces for a school curriculum focused on renewable energy.... Read more

Manufacturers are improving photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency and bringing down costs, but the most efficient PV systems today use silicon crystal technology that is decades old. At the same time, thin-film technologies offer a cost-competitive solution with some advantages but with lower efficiency. With the hundreds of... Read more

The urban heat island effect created by large areas of pavement and buildings can cause many problems, from increased energy use to reduced water quality. A new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) suggests that expanses of paved surface may also worsen air quality in coastal cities like Houston, where... Read more

The new standards, which will go into effect in 2013 for furnaces and 2015 for air conditioners and heat pumps, set regional equipment standards for the... Read more

Through the program, Bank of America will distribute $50 million in low-interest loans as well as $5 million in grants to help community lenders administer... Read more