This is The New American Home — a project built every year in conjunction with the NAHB’s International Builders’ Show — in Orlando, Florida. The 4,000 square-foot home collected eight green building certifications, including LEED Platinum and NAHB Emerald, and is expected to consume 52% less energy than a standard home of similar size. Plus, a 4.0 kW solar array provides about 18% of annual energy needs.
If you weren’t already busy enough keeping track of all the new LED bulbs hitting the market, here’s one more. This is a 60-watt equivalent, omnidirectional led lamp by Florida-based LEDnovation. The EnhanceLite A19 LED is designed and manufactured in the USA and has the following specifications: 810 lumens, 9.4 watts, 2700 Kelvin, 94 CRI, and a five-year warranty.
Florida-based Lighting Science Group (LSG) recently announced a new LED product called Glimpse. The Title 24-compliant downlight is compatible with most 5″ and 6″ recessed cans and can be surface mounted to a J-box as a luminaire. Glimpse is Energy Star qualified in all model types, according to a press release, and provides up to 20% more light than other products on the market with the 750 lumen package.
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.
The small wind market is doing well these days with lots of new companies popping up all the time. Since 2007, Urban Green Energy, one of these newish companies, has been expanding and growing — their vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) has been installed in 48 countries. One of their most recent installations was broadcast to the world last month on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (pictured).
