In early June, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies issued a report entitled “Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health” which found that climate change could affect indoor environments as buildings seek to become more energy efficient. The report was commissioned by the EPA to summarize the effects of climate change on indoor air quality and health.
An Energy Star qualified ceiling fan and light is about 50% more efficient than a conventional ceiling fan and light, according to EnergyStar.gov, and can save a user more than $15 per year on utility bills. One company, The Modern Fan Company, makes several Energy Star qualified models and just released five new designs this year. If you’re in the market, Lumens.com currently has 20% off fan models and free shipping on orders over $50, including these five new designs:
EcoFactor is a company that you may begin to hear about in your neck of the woods. Today, they announced the results of several pilots and deployments of a personalized, SaaS-based solution for managing residential energy use. The results: households using EcoFactor saved an average of about 17% per month on energy and up to $56 per month in energy costs.
The ‘Power Haus’ by Josh Wynne Construction in Sarasota, Florida has achieved the lowest HERS rating on record in the U.S., a negative 22, with an elegant, well-crafted design. Earning 118 LEED points the home is just shy of also becoming the highest scoring LEED home in the country by 1.5 points to the Helenowski Residence in Chicago, which holds the highest known score at 119.5.
DesignByMany recently held a contest seeking a low-cost, low-energy home for New Orleans. The brief requested designs in a shotgun typology and entrants were encouraged to strive to meet Passive House standards. The winners have now been announced and sustainable.TO took top honors, according to Arch Daily. Check out the top five homes, and click through for more detail on each home.
Project Profiles
