In July 2012, Cree announced brighter LED downlights in the CR Series.  The CR4-575L fits a 4″ housing and delivers 575 lumens, 90 CRI, 2700 Kelvin, dimming up to 5%, and 50,000 hours while only using 9.5 watts of energy.  The CR6-800L fits a 6″ housing and delivers 800 lumens, 90 CRI, 2700 Kelvin, dimming up to 5%, and 50,000 hours while only using 12 watts of energy.  Both are Energy Star qualified and they’re available in either the Edison or GU24-type bases.  The CR4 sells for about $53, and the CR6 sells for about $55 (both at EarthLED).

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• (RW+GW) – (Lwr+M) = 0.
• DOE adopts HERS Index for Challenge Homes.
• Developer: green homes aren’t just for the wealthy.
• Smart, eco-friendly, and beautiful (and 7,000 square feet).
• Editors love to announced the greenest home ever built.
• Energy innovation under Romney and Obama.
• Trading a spacious home for a tiny house.
• Passive solar strategies for the home.

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Today Hulger announced the new Baby Plumen 001, a designer CFL light bulb that tracks the original Plumen 001.  It’s a smaller 9-watt bulb that’s meant to replace a 40-watt incandescent.  The 220-volt version is available today through Plumen.com, while the 120-volt version, which is compatible in North America, will be available later this year.  The Baby Plumen lasts about 8,000 hours and has a color temperature of 2700 Kelvin.

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Speaking of the Cottage Series, here’s the first prefab home in this line by Method Homes with a design by Studio 29. Located on Orcas Island, the home was designed for a Washington family wanting a vacation getaway with some of the more traditional details — sleeping loft, breakfast nook, window seats, etc — typically found in classic homes of the 19th century.

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If your design palette is traditional, you’ll probably like the new Cottage Series by Studio 29 and Method Homes. The Cottage Series marries craftsman style with off-site fabrication in six floor plans.  These have tiered pricing based on things like the materials, interior palette, and finish packages.  For a general idea, pricing is between about $215,400 – $498,300 (not including separate, optional garage and ADU structures from $23,000).

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