www.ecowatch.com has published a Guide to Solar Water Heater Systems that is quite informative. Solar hot water heaters are split into two broad categories: passive and active. Active systems require circulating pumps and passive systems rely on gravity to move water. So active systems require electricity and may use antifreeze to exchange the heat to … Read more
New approaches to home-building are emerging in response to the multiple crises of climate change, unaffordable housing, deprivation and exclusion. Models for housing vary enormously, from self-build, to socially provided housing and speculative, private markets. But the failure of rent-based models to provide homes that people can afford, especially in big cities and larger towns, … Read more
Governments are expanding financial incentives to reduce emissions. The US government is offering some homeowners an energy-efficient mortgage option, which can help you finance efficiency improvements, save on utility bills and even increase how much home you can afford. An EEM expands the amount you can borrow when you invest in efficiency upgrades. If you qualify, … Read more
John Root is a longtime solar pioneer and this is his journey to powering an off-grid hot tub at 6,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada mountains: “I’ve been living on- and off-grid for 40 years. I started out building hot-air solar collectors and designing root cellars with sunspaces on top. For those designs, I fed … Read more
“This House Never Ends” is a renovation project in Melbourne, Australia, designed by Steffen Welsch Architects. The design applies passive solar principles with thermal mass, insulation and cross ventilation. It uses double-glazed timber doors and recycled brick. A 4.75 kilowatt photovoltaic system powers the house, while a heat pump and induction burner negate the need … Read more
A collaborative team in Amsterdam have created a floating neighborhood called Schoonschip on a canal. It consists of 46 dwellings with more than 100 residents. Each dwelling has a unique architectural style and various exterior finishes. The project seeks to conserve natural resources while decreasing pollutants. Construction at Schoonschip will be completed later this year. … Read more