You are here: Home / Archives for solar

Getting in on Green Real Estate

By Leave a Comment

If you need to sell your home but are having difficulty interesting buyers, there is an alternative available. The green real estate market has skyrocketed in the past five years, thanks to new interest in sustainable living and the passing of eco-friendly legislature. Here are some tips for transforming your home from dull listing clutter to green real estate commodity.

Invest in Making Green Real Estate

If you are truly committed turning your home into a green paradise, and thus make it more marketable, you may have to make a large investment. Map out the types of changes you want to accomplish, such as adding solar panels and water efficiency kits. Determine how much each project would cost, whether you can do it yourself or have to hire someone to do it for you, and how long the project will take.

With all of this in mind, research the kinds of houses that have made these adjustments and how much they have sold for. Contact a selling agent to ask questions. Get a home appraisal prior to these green projects, and also ask them their opinion on how much your home would be worth after the projects were completed.

Small Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

If you simply cannot afford the investment, or you don’t think the investment will yield greater returns, there are small things you can do to make your home more marketable as green real estate.

Check your home’s energy efficiency. Replace any insulation that may be allowing heat to escape. Check doors and windows for cracks in panes, sealant fails, or even holes. These small repairs will all save big on heating and air conditioning costs.

Replace your regular light bulbs with energy efficient CFL, or compact florescent lights. Also, install new showerheads and faucets, replacing them with low-flow technology. This will save water. Installing an insulating jacket around your water heater saves money and energy.

Plant a Tree

One of the simplest and best ways to make your home green is to actually surround it with green! Planting a tree outside will produce shade in the summer, and can reduce cooling costs by up to twenty-five percent. Trees and shrubs can also block strong winds from your home, which prevent them from coming in through compromised windows or leaks in your doors. This can save on your heating costs by up to twenty percent.

In the summer time, your home will be more attractive to potential green buyers if it is surrounded by plants and flowers. You can purchase cheap flowers ready for planting from a local greenhouse. Ask the greenhouse attendant for how to plant and care for the flowers if you are not sure.

It is also easy to make your home appear greener during the winter time. Keep plants and flowers indoors. Be sure to water them as needed, and consult online manuals for how to care for particularly tricky plants. As soon as a potential buyer walks in and sees that your house is a great place to have plants, the chances are that they will be more interested.

Promoting your house as a piece of green real estate can make it much more marketable. Decide whether you can make big investments like solar panels or replacing appliances with energy efficient ones. If not, there are many small things you can do to make your home more eco-friendly and attract those green buyers.

Filed Under: Energy Efficient, Green Homes Tagged With: , , , , ,

Five Principles of Green Home Design

By Leave a Comment

A green home minimizes the negative impact on its environment through its home design. Here are a few considerations an architect takes into account when designing a green home:

1. Site: Evaluations and analysis of access, slope, ledge, soil, bodies of water, and vegetation in order to limit the home's impact on the site environment. This includes the site location (farmland, wetland, protected species habitats) and proximity to public transportation, parks, schools, and stores.

2. Size: A green home is efficiently designed to keep the square footage to a minimum. This reduces the amount of energy to heat and cool the home, lighting, and the quantity of building materials used, and also controls costs and reduces site impact.

3. Solar: Whether or not there is a plan to install a solar energy system to heat the water or produce electricity, there are several other solar considerations in green home design. Designing the home for passive solar makes the most of solar energy by harvesting it into the homes' natural energy flows. Passive solar systems include day-lighting strategies, heating and cooling control techniques, and natural ventilation. When a whole-building approach is taken, energy savings can be great both in terms of reducing the home's carbon footprint and the costs associated with heating, cooling, and maintaining the home.

4. Energy: Lighting, heating, and cooling systems are an important consideration in green home design. Renewable energy systems such as solar, wind, and geothermal systems use the earth's natural energy to heat and cool the home, as well as provide electricity to run appliances and technology..

5. Water Conservation: Building a new home presents a unique opportunity to save water. Two money and energy-saving strategies which can be easily incorporated into an energy efficient home design are 1) reducing the overall water using in the home by specifying low-flow water fixtures, low-flush or composting toilets, installing aerators on all taps, and installing low-flow showerhead nozzles; and 2) specifying a plumbing system that reuses grey water (wastewater from domestic usage such as dish washing, laundry and bathing) for flushing toilets, watering lawns, etc. (note: some grey water systems require approval by most local building jurisdictions, your architect will verify this prior to design).

Of course, a new home should use minimal amounts of fossil fuels, last a long time, and cost less money. Many home design strategies don't cost a dime in materials but can save hundreds of dollars on heating and cooling costs. The result is a beautiful, healthy home – for both the homeowners and the environment.

Filed Under: Green Homes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Green Homes | The Basic 10 of Green Construction Part III

By Leave a Comment

The fundamental elements of green construction result in energy conservation, water conservation, improved indoor air quality, and a more durable structure.

Having covered orientation and design, sealing the building envelope, improving the insulation, and upgrading the HVAC system in the first two articles, we continue the series with two more energy-saving basic green features.

5—Upgraded Windows: The windows are another feature that will influence the energy efficiency of the building envelope. The energy saving attributes of windows, such as insulated, gas-filled, double-pane glass; low-E coatings; and vinyl, wood, or fiberglass composite frames contribute to a lower SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) and U-Value.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): This rating is a measure of the percentage of solar radiation that enters a building as heat gain through a window, door, or skylight, a primary concern if you live in a warm climate. The SHGC rating tells you how well the product blocks heat caused by the sun. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat is transmitted. For example, a window with an SHGC of 0.39 allows only 39 percent of the solar heat that hits that window to be admitted to the house; the remaining 61 percent is blocked. If you live in a warm region, look for windows and doors with a low SHGC.

U-Factor: The U-Factor or U-Value, as mentioned in the discussion of Low-E glass earlier in this chapter, is a measurement of the rate of heat loss. The lower the U-Factor of a window, the greater its resistance to heat flow and the better its insulation value. U-Factor is of primary concern if you live in a cold region. The NFRC tests for U-Factor in a simulated environment where it is 70°F inside the house and 0°F outside. It measures the heat loss passing through a window from the inside to the exterior. If you live in a cold part of the country, select windows with a U-Factor of 0.35 or lower.

These two figures appear on the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council) label affixed to the window. Check with your supplier to make sure the recommended windows have been rated by the NFRC. Click here for further explanation of the NFRC label and rating system.

The Energy Star® program uses NFRC ratings to determine if a particular window qualifies for an Energy Star® designation. The criteria for earning the Energy Star® seal vary from region to region. Click here to find the Energy Star® SHGC and U-Factor requirements for your climate zone.

Window size, placement, quantity, and specifications are considered in conjunction with home orientation and design, the first component of green building discussed in Part I of this series. This is just one of the reasons why a home design that’s focused on retaining the sun’s heat in winter and blocking it in summer can play a significant role in energy savings.

6— Energy-Saving Appliances: Energy Star® qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models. Visit www.energystar.gov for information on all qualified appliances.

Not only are Energy Star® appliances more energy-efficient, they’re also quieter. And let’s address the water usage issue. For example, Energy Star qualified dishwashers not only use at least 41 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption, they also use about one-third less water than non-qualified models.

Front-loading washing machines also use less water, about 15 gallons less than older, top-loading models. When considering an Energy Star® machine, take a look at the Water Factor — the lower this number, the more efficient the machine. (Water Factor is a measurement of the number of gallons per cycle, per cubic foot, that a clothes washer uses. For example, if a machine uses 30 gallons per cycle and has a tub volume of 3.0 cubic feet, the Water Factor for that device is 10.0.)

Click here for a list of Energy Star® washing machines and their corresponding Water Factor.



***************************************************************************

Guest Writer Tracy DeCarlo

Tracy DeCarlo is author of The Difference is in the Details: The Homeowner’s Planning Guide for Building a Functional Home and owner of One Stop Green Home Certification.

Click Here To Purchase The Book

Green building tips by Tracy DeCarlo & Curt Roese, Orlando Green Home and realty specialists.

Filed Under: Green Homes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Useful Guide About Solar Power Installation

By Leave a Comment

The planet’s sources of non-renewable energy are on a slippery slope into non-existence. For this reason our attention is being turned towards using renewable energy sources and products such as solar power installations are becoming a regular feature on the world’s rooftops.

Quite simply renewable sources such as wave, wind and solar power can help us to reduce costs of our electricity and gas bills. These methods are also good news for the welfare of the environment and eco-systems of the planet. Solar panel installations can be erected on almost any structure-whether it is an office or a home that is owned completely.

The process of using solar power uses photovoltaic cells contained in the panels. These cells absorb the sunlight and transform it into energy such as electricity. It is not a complicated method and the installation procedure for solar panels is a very easy task to undertake. It is possible to purchase systems that are pre-manufactured or you can buy all the parts necessary and assemble the solar panel system or cells yourself.

You will find numerous specialist companies globally who are able to sell the parts and some can even install the whole solar panel system for you. Generally advertisements can be found on the internet in abundance, but you will find them looking locally too. It is possible to buy solar panel kits with the intention of building them by yourself; the low-priced units can cost as little as $200, and once this has been paid, you are then free to tap into the solar power for no extra cost. Just think that you could reduce your current spend and consumption on your electricity. Current thinking states that it is possible for a solar panel installation to reduce energy bill by as much as 80%.

Whether you decide to purchase or make your own solar panel system, the best panels to use are termed as adjustable. This means that they can be angled differently throughout the day in order to maintain the most amount of energy being captured. Where you can mount your system is very flexible. Generally it is the roof of the property that is used but this may not always be possible. You can buy or make kits specifically designed to be located anywhere you wish, even at ground level. A pergola or trellis is a useful mounting place and your system will still be able to absorb the sunlight well.

Owning a solar panel system does not mean that it needs a lot of maintenance and time on your part. In regards to the cleaning of the panels, this is mostly taken care of by natural factors such as the wind and rain.

One concern you may have is related to the cost of the units. Doing some research will help you to gain the needed knowledge in relation to the products available and what costs could be involved. It may also be the case that the state government in your area runs a scheme which pays towards the cost of the purchase or installation of a solar panel system by homeowners.

Doing extensive research will help you gather a lot of information and help you to choose whether having a solar panel installation is the right option for you. Whichever method you employ to make and install your system, always make sure that safety measures and procedures are adhered to. A solar panel installation is one of the best sources of renewable energy with no catches for you or for the worlds’ environment.

Filed Under: Solar Power Energy Tagged With: , , , ,

Roof Solar Panels- A Comprehensive Guide

By Leave a Comment

In the present day people are apprehensive about the future of Earth and the increasing cost of being able to live every day. New methods are being researched constantly to sustain life for the future; this includes some sources that are already available. One of the current answers is to use roof solar panels.

You may be aware that sources such as coal and petroleum, as well as other fossil fuels are due to become diluted and eventually depleted; this creates a stronger case for us to start using renewable energy. Among others, one great method of producing the power that we need is solar power. It involves using cells (called photovoltaic cells) which transform the sun’s rays into usable energy, for example, electricity. The photovoltaic cells are coupled together to make a solar panel that can be affixed to your home.

One of the most favorable and frequent places to install a solar panel is on the roof of the property. The main motive for this action is to gain as much sunlight as possible to increase the amount of energy that is available. You can attach panels to other areas of the property; however they may not provide as much energy.

There is a multitude of solar panel products attainable in today’s market. Many companies will sell a variety of roof panel systems that fit all shapes and sizes of homes. Many of these providers can be found by looking online. It is best to buy a solar panel system that contains adjustable solar panels. This way you can manipulate the panels into facing the direction of where the sun is throughout the whole day.

Another asset of having solar power is that it can run in conjunction with your existing electricity supply that powers your home. A battery is usually provided with the kit; this allows unused energy to be stored for when you do need to use it; perhaps this would prove useful as the day draws to a close. Solar panels can aid you in reducing the amount you have to pay for your standard electricity bills- just visualize that electricity bill being for an infinitesimal amount!

Many people find that they enjoy taking on the project of making their own roof solar panels. With some guidance the task is pretty simple and the initial payout for parts and materials is very small. You may also discover that there are some parts lying around your home that can be used as parts for the panels. An approximation of two or three days is given to complete building your own solar panel. Use the tutorials and guidance available on the internet to help you start the task from scratch.

The benefits of using solar power override any problems you may face. It is clean and safe for the human race, as well as being non-toxic or hazardous to the environment. Our ancestors used the power of the sun for their energy needs, and now it is turning full circle. The sun is not likely to die out for billions of years so solar energy is a wonderful source to use, especially as non-renewable energy is on its way out.

Using methods such as wind power or water power will aid in bringing the cost of living down, as well as being beneficial to the planet. Start researching this fantastic resource online to find out more.

Filed Under: Solar Power Energy Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts