The purpose of insulation is to slow down the movement of heat, and most of that effect occurs by slowing conductive heat transfer. The higher the conductivity of a material, the more quickly heat can move through it. Insulation materials are rated by their resistance to heat transfer, a term we call R-value. The higher the R-value, the lower... Read more

When I started writing this weekly column for the Brattleboro Reformer one year ago this week, the price of oil was spiraling to an all-time high of $147 per barrel. Residents were dealing with pre-buy heating oil contracts at over $4.50 per gallon. Panic was brewing.

Then, with a tanking... Read more

Over the past several weeks, I've written about water conservation as a strategy for saving energy and examined a number of water heating options. This week, we'll look at the issue of water waste while waiting for... Read more

Recently, I broke one of my long-standing rules and blogged about something BuildingGreen-related at my own blog. My Costanzian fears were indeed warranted, and I've been egged on to cross-post it to the Live blog. Here she is, warts and all: my unvarnished opinion on the very best parts of the BuildingGreen product GreenBuildingAdvisor.com./BF... Read more

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Twenty-five years ago, if you had predicted that I might be suggesting that electric water heating could be a good option, I'd have asked what you were smoking. I agreed with the argument that it's dumb to use such a high-grade form of energy (electricity) for such a low-grade energy need--a need that can... Read more

Continuing our series on water heating, this week we'll look at two options for heating water with the home's central boiler. First some terminology: boilers heat water or produce steam for distribution in baseboard units or steam radiators, while furnaces heat air for... Read more

Twice each month, BuildingGreen publishes an email news bulletin with current news and product information briefs. Sign up here — it's free. We will never share or sell your email address, and you may unsubscribe at any time.

Last week I suggested some ways to reduce your hot water use. This is almost always the easiest way to save energy with water heating--it's the "low-hanging fruit" to be sure. Over the next few weeks, I'll get into water heating options. To start, let's look at the differences between "storage" and "tankless" water heaters.

The vast... Read more

On Friday, May 19, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal published a damning story based on the leaked minutes of a private strategy meeting of food-packaging executives and chemical industry lobbyists that took place in Washington DC the previous day. The story's authors spoke with the chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA),... Read more

BuildingGreen is making its unofficial LEED for New Construction Accredited Professional (LEED AP) practice exam available to BuildingGreen Suite members hoping to take the exam before it changes on June 30, 2009. This practice test is unforgiving, which means if you pass it, you’re very likely to sail through the real thing! If you have... Read more

It’s the year 2060. A developer has gathered a group of designers to answer a request for proposals for a 250,000 ft2 building in Portland, Oregon, built entirely with natural materials and without mechanical systems, plumbing, or electric lighting. The developer represents a company that will profit from the ecosystem services the building... Read more