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On average, water heating is the second largest energy expenditure behind heating and cooling, according to information on the Energy Star website. Folks spend anywhere from $400-$600 per year on water heating, so it's a good area to scrutinize when trying to save energy at home. In South Carolina, thanks to a grant from the state energy office, 60 homes received a shiny, new Velux solar water heating system to showcase the benefits of this technology.
Tiny houses are popping up all over the country. Students at Green Mountain College built one with reclaimed materials last semester. They spent $1,927 on materials, acquiring insulation at half price and lumber and windows from the local salvage store. The 8-foot by 12-foot house still needs a solar-powered electrical system, which will be installed early next year.
Artemide recently introduced a refined, energy-efficient table lamp called Egle, which has adjustable direct LED lighting and is available in polished white, black, or chrome finishes. Notice the concave base, a feature included in the lamp by designer Michel Boucquillon for two reasons. It can hold tiny objects and spreads light when the lamp is adjusted downward.
Here's a quick note to modern enthusiasts. Gilt Groupe just listed plans for a Dwell Home by Turkel Design for 50% off the normal rate. That's $12,500 for the Finisterre 1115 plan and architectural services to customize the plan. The plans are for a contemporary home that can be used as a first home or weekend retreat, depending on an owner's situation, and doesn't require much land to make it work.
Greenfab, developer of well-designed, sustainable homes, just installed six modules in the Jackson Place neighborhood of Seattle for what’s expected to be the city’s first LEED Platinum modular home. The demonstration home is owned by Robert Humble of HyBrid, project architect and general contractor, and will target net-zero energy and Built Green 5-Star certification.
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If you're looking for holiday gifts and don't want to break the bank, below is an index of gifts that you can get for less than $200 from our eight-part Ultimate Modern Gift Guide for the Holidays 2010,* a curated list of presents for design-savvy folks interested in the environment. A lot of this is books and magazines -- what better gift can you give than enjoyable reading -- but there's other stuff in here, too.
Bastyr University's new student village was named Outstanding Multifamily Project of 2010 by the USGBC. Located north of Seattle in Kenmore, the 11-building project was designed by CollinsWoerman and earned LEED Platinum certification. It's estimated to save about 34% on energy costs, as compared to a non-green, similar project, and houses 132 students.
This month 37 Parkside Avenue in Southampton – the HGA House – received LEED Platinum certification with a sizable 104 points. Sadly to say, it was built after David and Saundra Dubin’s original home was destroyed in a fire a couple years ago. The green home is nicely done, traditional, and wired up with all sorts of green gadgetry, perhaps showing folks in the jumbo luxury market what it takes to secure LEED Platinum certification.
