Climate change / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

...climate change worsens, AC will only contribute to the problem. So passive cooling strategies need to be at the forefront of global building design. The following strategies apply to urban planners, hardscapers, architects, and building professionals: Permeable pavements and surfaces Traditional asphalt and concrete su...

...climate. Weather patterns have changed, and heavy rains now often move far more slowly. As storms linger over one area longer, they dump far more water in one place than they used to. This can overwhelm drainage infrastructure and waterways, causing flood risks and damage to homes. With thoughtful landscape design Indi...

...climate catastrophe. Buildings are responsible for more than 50% of climate change emissions, and all because we have built them to the lowest common denominator – building code minimum performance standards. Because of that short-sighted approach and our carbon-based economy, we are all paying the price for it in term...

...climate change. In fact, weather is not climate. Weather is what happens day-to-day, whereas climate trends are long-term patterns based on historical records over large regions. I would be full of hot air if I told you that one early heat wave in any given region is directly caused by climate change.  As for long-term...

...climate change by promoting responsible forest management and the recycling of wood and paper. Forests have a key role in regulating the earth’s climate and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. When making the choice to buy FSC certified wood products, it guarantees that all the trees harvested are replac...

...change in the economics of rooftop solar in the coming years as PV solar shingles such as the Tesla Solar Roof may actually be the cheapest roofing material over the lifespan of a building when reduced energy costs are factored.  What are RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates)? The primary objective of the renewable ener...

...climate change, there is still the issue of what is the most affordable heating system for a house, and the most sustainable for the future.  Is buying a new gas furnace a good idea? A gas furnace may last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, but the average life expectancy is 20 years. Also, choosing to add gas to a home mea...

...climate change is to weigh all the variables and make the most informed decisions possible while we balance quality of life with reducing our personal carbon footprint. And, short of parking yourself on top of a compost pile and waiting to meet your maker, there is simply nothing you can do on this planet that will not...

...Climate Education Week toolbox, for elementary school, middle school, and high school students. The EPA’s Lesson Plans : The Environmental Protection Agency’s Earth Day website provides great ideas, lesson plans, and tips for Earth Day learning. Check out the lessons, which cover  air, ecosystems, climate change, water...

...climate change. The Whale Pump Natural Carbon Reduction Mechanism - how it Helps Climate Change - Courtesy: GRID-Arendal There are even more ways that whales help trap carbon in the ocean. "In addition to being the largest animals on the planet, whales are among the longest-living, with some living over 150 years," s...

...climate change, as it prevents the release of carbon into the atmosphere. Currently the only real carbon storage option in green building materials comes from natural building products such as strawbales, wood for framing, cellulose insulation, hemp insulation, insulated wood fiberboard panels, MDF panels made from ric...