This New House

This New House - Threat to Arctic Ecosystem as Ice Cover Reduced to 'Young, Thin' Floes

Friday, 14 October 2011 07:25

Severe seasonal melting has reduced ice floes, floating chunk of ice, in the Arctic Ocean to the thinnest on record, according to researchers.

Scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany said the proportion of old, thick sea ice in the central arctic has declined significantly. The ice cover now "largely consists of thin, 1-year-old floes," they said, revealing measurements obtained from the "TransArc" project that aimed to track changes in water, air and ice across the polar sea.

This New House - Insurance For Green Buildings

Friday, 07 October 2011 14:09

When it comes to building green, we know the many environmental benefits of, say, tight envelopes, green roofs and thermal heating — not to mention commissioning it all to make sure it’s up to spec.

A select but growing number of insurers are recognizing it, too, offering discounted premiums on property insurance for green certified commercial and residential properties. It’s also become more common to find policies that offer green upgrades in the event of a loss, albeit at a slightly increased price to reflect the higher upfront cost of building green.

This New House - Solar Homes Showcase Students’ Energy, Creativity

Friday, 30 September 2011 10:57

University of Maryland students didn’t compete in the last Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t show up. Dozens of them carried clipboards and furiously scribbled notes while eyeballing solar-powered houses designed and built by other students from around the world. They were preparing to vie for this year’s event, which started Thursday at West Potomac Park and runs through Oct. 2. U-Md. is unveiling WaterShed , a house inspired by the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. Water from its sinks, shower and washer is captured, filtered and recycled to sustain a lush water garden that runs the length of the house. Solar tubes heat running water.

This New House - The NFL Makes A Play For Renewable Energy

Friday, 23 September 2011 17:53

With the 2011 National Football League season now in full swing, savvy fans are scanning the field for the latest tactics for attacking and protecting the goal line. But above and around the stadium, another important NFL play is in motion: A move to cleaner energy. Following a trend under way at sports facilities around the world, three NFL clubs were planning to showcase new green energy installations this season. The Washington Redskins unveiled their new installation of 8,000 solar panels (and new "Solar Man" sculpture) at FedEx Field today, and are touting their upcoming home game this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals as "the Solar Bowl."

This New House - GE Unveils LEED Platinum-Certified Data Center

Friday, 26 August 2011 10:47

GE Appliances and Lighting announced the opening of a new data center at its Appliance Park headquarters in Louisville, designed to reduce energy and lower environmental impact. Research shows that data center emissions worldwide are growing faster than many other types of carbon emissions, and that carbon dioxide from data centers will quadruple to exceed emissions from the airline industry by 2020 due to the rapid growth in global demand for computing power.

This New House - ConEdison Study Reveals New Roles for Green Roofs

Saturday, 20 August 2011 18:52

By now it’s become widely accepted that green roofs can help reduce heating and cooling costs for buildings, and evidence is mounting that they can provide tangible benefits in other areas as well. The latest piece of information comes from New York, for a green roof constructed by ConEdison, the city’s electric utility.

This New House - Energy Star to Label ‘Most Efficient’ Appliances

Thursday, 18 August 2011 22:50

A new pilot program that adds a “Most Efficient” designation to Energy Star labels is expected to help raise the bar more quickly for appliance and equipment efficiency. The program, jointly announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in July 2011, identifies top energy-efficiency performers in seven categories: clothes washers, air-source heat pumps, central air conditioners, furnaces, geothermal heat pumps, refrigerator-freezers, and televisions.

This New House - The Secret Air-Conditioning Power of Solar Energy

Thursday, 18 August 2011 22:47

There are plenty of benefits to using solar panels—notably clean energy, long-term electric-bill savings, utility rebates, and tax incentives. But one recently discovered side effect might be especially attractive to people suffering through this weekend's heat wave: Solar panels also keep buildings cool.

This New House - The Last Lawn

Friday, 05 August 2011 11:19

Lawns, according to research compiled from satellite images and aerial photography, are America’s largest irrigated crop, covering 40 million acres. Keeping all this grass green, mowed, and weed-free requires amazing amounts of water, energy, and chemicals. It also washes excess nitrogen into our waterways, choking them with algae and harming aquatic ecosystems.

This New House - Green Housing Comeback Predicted

Monday, 25 July 2011 11:14

Since the recent recession and ensuing credit crunch walloped American home buyers, demand for green homes has leveled off, according to a demographic expert who spoke at the 2010 ULI Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C.

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