K-tect Sustainable Building Systems makes a wall system that the company calls the “newest generation of structural insulated panels.“ Although not a sandwich panel, the system is kind of like rSTUD but different and more comprehensive. K-tect includes a light-gauge, metal-stud frame with insulation in a thermally broken assembly (see below) that improves thermal efficiency and controls noise.
Yesterday Tendril and Vivint, formerly APX Alarm, announced a partnership to connect Vivint Go!Control home devices with Tendril’s home energy management technology. The partnership is designed to give customers with a home security system the added ability to learn more about their energy use and control energy consumption.
Michigan-based Great Lakes Electric has a solar hot water product with evacuated tubes that allows for creative building-integrated solar hot water. By releasing the restriction of roof mounting, as with typical solar hot water products, GLE’s unit allows for more innovative placement and ends the worries of roof penetrations and units looking like large black rooftop tarps.
A smart homeowner can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs with proper sealing and insulating, according to EnergyStar.gov. Assuming the air-sealed home has sufficient and adequate ventilation, air sealing is supposed to reduce energy costs and improve indoor comfort. One area that typically needs attention is recessed lighting. In the video above, Yves Vetter of Vesta Home Performance, explains how to seal a can light from below.
As it turns out, with near real-time feedback, most electricity consumers will take action to reduce energy usage, according to information released by CenterPoint Energy. CenterPoint conducted a pilot program with 300 Texas customers using a simple in-home display (IHD) wirelessly connected to a smart meter. Consumers used the IHD to obtain electricity usage data and a forecast of monthly usage and costs, spurring them to turn off lights, adjust the indoor temperature, and switch to energy-saving light bulbs.
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