Posts Tagged ‘WaterSense’

Getting Focused: How To Start Your Green Retrofit

Friday, December 17th, 2010

When it comes to green homes, most people have heard of certifications like LEED for Homes or NAHB Green.  These programs are geared almost exclusively toward new construction. But most of us aren’t in the process of building a brand new home; and unless you’re doing some MAJOR gutting and renovating, there aren’t any building programs out there to certify an existing home as “green.”  That doesn’t necessarily mean you are stuck with what you’ve got, though.  Green retrofits are getting to be more common with people who want to improve the health, comfort or efficiency of a home that’s already been built. If you fall into that camp, then we hope this blog post will help you see how to approach this type of undertaking so you’re set up for success before you even get started.

The first thing I tell people who are considering a green retrofit is: (more…)

WaterSense for New Homes – Taking Efficiency Beyond The Low-Flow Shower Head

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

When people think of efficiency programs, they are often considering ways to reduce electricity or natural gas bills; water efficiency can sort of become an afterthought. Unless there’s a drought like the Southeast had a couple of years ago, the topic of conserving water has sometimes fallen under the radar — but it shouldn’t! Water is one of the most important resources we have, and if people can save money and conserve water at the same time, it’s a win-win situation.  With WaterSense, a new home certification program developed and implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, it’s now easier for builders and prospective new home buyers to build or live in a home that uses water more efficiently.

With this post, I’ll explain the WaterSense program and clarify how builders can take advantage of this program to conserve resources and differentiate their homes. (more…)