The Brownsberger two-family in Belmont is the cover model for the January 2013 issue of Home Energy Magazine. For the second year in a row we have achieved total building energy use roughly 85% below (i.e., 15% of) the New England per person average, below Thousand Home Challenge Levels. Read the full text of …
Deep Energy Retrofit
Thousand Home Challenge
In 2010, we did a deep energy retrofit on our home in Belmont. We tracked energy use in 2011 and found that we were 85% below the New England per person average. In so doing, we helped meet the “Thousand Home Challenge.” Check out the Thousand Home Challenge website and read about the challenge and …
Message to Remodeling Contractors: Go Green
Builders can do good and make more money through green building. It’s not so hard to get started.
Becoming a green builder
This is a set of thoughts for builders seeking to become more green oriented. The thoughts may also be helpful for homeowners thinking about green projects.
Financial analysis of deep energy retrofit
This post continues the sharing of learning from the “deep energy retrofit” of our home. It summarizes a financial analysis of the project.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Brownsberger Deep Energy Retrofit (DER) project
What is the net environmental impact of a deep energy retrofit (DER)? We know that adding insulation, a more efficient furnace, modern windows and leak sealing foam to an older house will reduce the energy required to maintain a given temperature. We can calculate the cost savings and GHG reductions. But what of the environmental …