News / Announcement: SolarCity Launches Solar Seminar Series
May 29, 2008
SolarCity today announced a series of summer seminars to help inform California residents about affordable new ways to switch to clean, solar power. Each session will highlight recent developments in solar technology and explain federal and state tax incentives that reduce the cost of solar power. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions about local permit processes, local solar programs, roofing and electrical requirements and other information specific to their communities.
The seminars will begin June 7 and extend into the summer in communities across California. To find a seminar in your area or to RSVP online visit http://www.solarcity.com/events.
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TUBULAR SKYLIGHT: Start saving lighting electricity with Solatube today
May 26, 2008
GetWithGreen.com set out last week to purchase a tubular skylight. We needed a tubular skylight for a remodel we are doing, and we chose a tubular daylight device because we wanted to reduce the need for electricity to light a hallway.
Using the list of tubular skylight manufacturers GetWithGreen compiled last year, we selected Solatube. Solatube was selected solely because their website provided the most complete information about tubular daylight device. After a great introductory conversation with Marjorie Clark at Sunlight Concepts, Inc. (Solatube reseller and installer), we decided to drive down and make our purchase.
There are many options when purchasing a tubular daylight device. Here are the items you will need to consider:
- How much space are you attempting to light? The Solatube products come in a 10″ diameter (Model 160 DS) and a 14″ diameter (Model 290 DS). Tricky in their naming, the 160 DS means that it lights roughly 160-200 square feet, and 290 DS means it provides coverage for 300 square feet. For our hallway we decided that a 10″ skylight would fit the bill. The 160 DS retails for $350, and the 290 DS for $450. Your contractor will likely receive a discount on these products.
- Light or No Light. Solatube sells an optional electrical light fixture that installs inside the skylight for night-time use. This is a really nice option if you are Read more
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TANKLESS WATER HEATERS: In defense of tankless water heaters
May 25, 2008
Some of our most heated emails and comments on GetWithGreen.com have to do with the savings around tankless water heaters. We will continue to bring you all sides of the story, as we install them ourselves, and discover differences of opinions out there in the marketplace. Just yesterday, the SF Chronicle ran another article on the subject. Take a look as they deliver some pros/cons: In defense of tankless water heaters
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REBATES: Save 10% on Memorial Day at Lowe’s
May 24, 2008
On Memorial Day, Lowe’s Stores will be giving 10% off your entire purchase (up to $5,000) for all Active, Reserve, Honorably Discharged, and Retired Military Personnel and Their Immediate Families.
If you qualify for this, get out and save some money on greener alternative products at Lowe’s such as:
- Energy Star Appliances
- HET-low-flush toilets
- Ceiling Fans
- Insulation and Caulking
- Dimmers and HVAC Filters
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SOLAR WATER HEATER: 10 Misconceptions and Truths
May 23, 2008
Sooooo much buzz continues around solar water heaters. Mati Bishop recently posted to Building Seattle Green highlighting Ten Misconceptions and Truths about these popular talked about products.His article Top Ten Misconceptions and Truths about Solar Hot Water, to explain that even in Seattle where it rains alot, you can still get hot water from one of these devices. He brushes on topics such as rebates, using hot water from a solar system at night, expense of a system and installation.
For more on solar water heaters, see our recent article on solar water heater manufacturers and rebates.
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BATHROOM: Flushing golf balls down your eco-friendly low-flush toilet!
May 23, 2008
A low-flush toilet is a must green alternative for your bathroom remodel. You can get the low-down in our previously published article: High Efficiency Toilets (HETS) that Flush.
Recently the team over at GoodHousekeeping on TV did a two minute video overview on these water saving eco-friendly flushing machines. Take a look, and please consider incorporate one in your remodel to conserve our most precious resource:
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FLOORING: FLOR offers new Martha Stewart modular carpet tile designs
May 22, 2008
FLOR, the modular carpet company that offers a ‘Return & Recycle’ program, has just made available their new Martha Stewart Floor Designs.FLOR, teamed up with Ms. Stewart to create Martha Stewart Floor Designs. Interior design a la Martha Stewart is now even more accessible to the DIY set.
Derived from Ms. Stewart’s personal collections and her own homes — Lily Pond in the New York Hamptons, Skylands in Maine, Turkey Hill, built over two centuries ago in Westport, Connecticut — Martha Stewart carpet collections, now include carpet tiles from FLOR. FLOR’s Martha Stewart Floor Designs, available in a variety of styles, colors and textures, are a good start for budget-conscious DIY’ers who want to create tranquil and intimate bedrooms, vibrant family rooms and warm, inviting living areas, says the FLOR team.
The Martha Steward carpet styles come in 9 different collections with multiple patterns in each collection. Pricing ranges $5-6+ sq. ft, and the carpet tiles can be purchased directly from the FLOR website, or various FLOR retail outlets.
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LIGHTING: LED lighting from the LIGHTFAIR International show
May 21, 2008
Next week in Las Vegas, the lighting industry will be gathering in for LIGHTFAIR International. LIGHTFAIR is one of the top lighting shows for architectural lighting, and this year efficiency, eco-friendly, and green lighting are on the most talked about list.The announcements are starting to roll out about energy saving bulbs, and LEDs are the ones we are watching at GetWithGreen.com. Just today Renaissance Lighting announced their commercially available 4-inch solid-state LED downlight (Model: ED04). This LED recessed product offers more than 16 million color combinations without glare or visible LEDs.
As the newest arrival on the general illumination scene, solid-state LED lighting has yet to make a major market impact commensurate with its potential for outperforming and even replacing other types of lighting — until Read more Print This Post
INTERIOR DOORS: JELD-WEN door takes advantage of juniper wood
May 18, 2008
?(Western juniper) now occupies about 10 times more territory across eastern Oregon, northern California, and southwest Idaho than it did in the 1880s and has muscled out native shrubs, flowers and grasses to achieve a dominance that may last for hundreds of years.? ? ?Oregon?s Agriculture Progress,? Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, 1995- 2005.JELD-WEN windows and doors has just announded availability of interior and exterior doors made with Western juniper as part of the authentic rustic style JELD-WEN® IWP® Estate collection.
The company is calling these doors an eco-friendly green option for homeowners because juniper is considered a ?water hog,? and the overgrowth of juniper especially in the Western states has been linked to the disappearance of critical water springs in high desert regions, as a single tree can consume 30 to 50 gallons of water per day.
JELD-WEN goes on to say that since invasive juniper outcompetes several native plant species, this leads to a loss of forests and wildlife habitat. So much so, state and local governments have offered programs to help support juniper removal in areas where it is quite literally a growing problem…now this ?throwaway? wood, which might otherwise be burned down to clear land, can be put to productive use.
The company says its Juniper doors deliver unique knots and splits in addition to Read more
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AUDIO-VISUAL: Klipsch P-39F speakers take a green eco-friendly approach
May 14, 2008
Home audio manufacturer Klipsch, just announced their very high-end Palladium P-39F floorstanding speaker set. While this speaker qualifies for the high-end remodeler budget ($20,000/pair), we wanted to bring it our audience because we like what Klipsch did with the wood paneling on this product — and we know their are homeowners out there that will purchase these! The company moved away from the use of zebrawoodveneer (considered a threatened species), often desired by high-end homeowner’s with home theaters, and replaced it with woods from government controlled harvests. The team over at ecoustics.com discusses the move in detail, backed up by the recent Klipsch press release.
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