Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere

Electrification Costs Less than Alternative Fuels for Hardest-to-Decarbonize Buildings

Ben Somberg

New research from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) finds that relying on alternative fuels is an impractical method for building decarbonization—even in the hardest-to-decarbonize cases. The main reason is thatalternative fuels are more expensive than electricity from renewable sources and because the limited supplies of these fuels will […]

Buildings to the Fore for Slowing Climate Change

Yes, the tall one is the Passive House building. (Handel Architects www.bit.ly/get-winthrop)

Barb and Greg Whitchurch

Early this April, along with about 1,000 others, we attended Efficiency Vermont’s “Better Building by Design” conference, a vital yearly gathering for those serious about providing a sustainable built environment. Drawing experts from the Northeast […]

Building Net-Zero Housing for the Middle Class

Aspire Residential multi-unit building. (Aspire Residential)

 

 

George Harvey

Aspire Residential (Aspire), based in Merrimack, New Hampshire, bases its approach to building to some degree on the idea that we all should be living in net-zero housing. Of course, there are some wealthy people among us who do not […]

Newly Built School Teaches Sustainability by Design

Rooftop solar. (ReVision Energy)

Michael J. Daley

The Brian S. McCarthy Middle School in Nashua, New Hampshire opened its doors on August 27, 2024, marking the culmination of a visionary project that set a new standard for energy efficiency in educational facilities across New Hampshire. The 225,000 square foot building is designed to […]

The Future of Home Technology Is Here Now

AdobeStock 251748209

Jennifer Castenson

Data-driven climate control, energy management, and a shift from “wants” to “needs” will spur changes in how builders provide home comfort.

Home performance has evolved substantially in the past 20 years. New technologies have been able to weave home performance right into the fabric of the walls, floors, and […]

Efficiency Vermont’s EEN Contractor Spotlight: Newton Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Dennis Newton

Interview with Dennis Newton.

G.E.T. Staff

Mr. Newton is the owner and founder, master electrician, and a refrigeration specialist

GET: How did you get started in this industry?

Dennis Newton: When I graduated high school in 1981, I was all set to go to a […]

Your Perfect New Home or Remodel

High Street Passive House. (Images: Wright Construction)

Greg and Barb Whitchurch

If you want to shop around to design a beautiful new home, visit Patricia Chen’s website, www.PC-Architecture.com/. Chen, the architect of High Street House in southern Vermont, is also the owner of this three-story, all-electric, super-comfortable and high-performance home. To […]

Closing the Loop on Construction Waste

Proper construction waste segregation enables material recovery and prevents contamination of recyclable material. (publicdomainpictures.net)

Jessie Haas

Recent presentations from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Solutions Center (A Smashing Success: Sustainable Management of Demolition Debris | Better Buildings Initiative) on handling construction waste and bird-safe buildings shared a common theme […]

ENERGY STAR Versus Zero-Energy-Ready Primer

Sara Gutterman

More builders than ever are pursuing ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Home certifications. What are the main benefits of and differences between the programs?

The Federal government has two primary home certification programs for energy efficiency: ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH). Both programs are designed to […]

NH Saves® Helps Seniors Beat The Chill in Nashua, NH

A building-envelope retrofit for the Hunt Community in Nashua, NH included energy recovery ventilator, condensing boiler, and domestic hot water heater qualified. (Courtesy images)

Michael J. Daley

The Hunt Community in Nashua, New Hampshire (https://silverstoneliving.org/hunt_community/) is a continuing care retirement campus offering a blend of independent and assisted living, and skilled nursing care […]