eclipse
November 18, 2014
Fiberglass Blown-in Insulation Systems, also known as the Polar Blanket, is one of the latest green building techniques used by Renaissance Homes. This system improves a home’s efficiency by filling the wall cavity completely, including the areas around pipes, cables and outlets. Polar Blanket gets into all the voids where traditional insulation can’t protect, creating a “blanket” of insulation and making a...
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Be ready for the summer months and improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioner at the same time. To get the most out of your air conditioner during the peak summer months, Dave Teller, Renaissance Homes’ Quality Assurance Field Specialist, recommends that homeowners run air conditioning units now for a few minutes to make...
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eclipse
February 27, 2014
Oregon’s green-building prowess continues to pack a mighty punch. So says the U.S. Green Building Council, which reported Tuesday that the state ranks sixth in terms of per-capita Leadership in Environment and Energy Design projects. The list recognizes states with myriad projects that use less energy and water and emit less carbon than other types...
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eclipse
November 12, 2013
Whether you’re hoping to ease your impact on the planet or just want to save a few dollars, reducing your energy use can help you get there. In fact, 10 percent of renters in a recent Rent.com survey said that utilities are their biggest monthly expense, coming in third after monthly rent and groceries. Heating and...
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Home building was responsible for 20 percent of GDP growth in the last six quarters. An important reason why the economy has not recovered from the Great Recession as quickly as in prior economic downturns is that a traditional leader of economic growth – housing – has been stifled. In recent months however, housing has...
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eclipse
December 19, 2012
More communities embrace redevelopment WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new report examining residential construction trends in America’s metropolitan regions, which finds that nearly three out of four large metropolitan regions saw an increased share of new housing development in previously developed areas during 2005 – 2009 compared to 2000 –...
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Green building — or sustainable building — involves incorporating eco-friendly elements into the design and maintenance of a home and minimizing the impact on the environment when building houses, condos and the like. More homeowners and builders are interested in green building and want to choose energy efficient features for their homes, so it’s important...
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Twelve years ago, the U.S. Green Building Council launched a rating system called LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, hoping that architects, engineers, designers and real estate firms would improve energy efficiency and increase the use of recycled materials and nontoxic paint in their projects to win LEED-certified recognition. Now LEED has grown...
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October’s National Energy Awareness Month is designed to promote smart energy choices. We all can do small things to save energy around our homes and work places. No matter how large the problem may appear, we all have the means to shape our energy future and move our nation toward energy independence. The following energy...
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Staying cool this summer doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pay a fortune to keep the air-conditioning running day and night. Here are tips—most costing less than $25—that will keep you comfortable and cut the typical $1,000 cooling bill by as much as half. What’s needed to get the temperature to drop? Only a little...
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