RECYCLE: The Home Depot is now recycling CFL Bulbs

As you work through your remodel, you can now drop off old compact flourescent light (CFL) bulbs to The Home Depot for recycling while you are picking up new home products.

This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States and offers customers additional options for making environmentally conscious decisions from purchase to disposal.

At each Home Depot store, homeowners can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance.

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WATER HEATER: Velux delivers new solar water heater

Add Velux (the skylight company you find at The Home Depot) to the list of companies now offering Solar Water Heaters.  This week the company announced their plans to start offering the products that have been proven in Europe.

The company worked hard to ensure that the roof collectors aesthetically pleasing and to integrate well with rooflines while delivering exceptional energy collection capabilities. The units also integrate with VELUX roof windows. The collectors are certified by independent testing agencies in Europe (Solar Keymark) and in the United States (SRCC) and installers must have completed advanced training to assure reliable installations.

The cost of installed systems will vary depending upon the volume of heated water required in a home. Two to three rooftop solar collector panels will usually be installed and solar hot water holding tanks are available in 80- and 120-gallon sizes.

Tim Miller, President of VELUX America, says that federal tax credits can help pay 30 percent Read more

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TANKLESS: GE Introduces Tankless Gas Water Heaters

Yesterday GE announced their new line of tankless water heaters.  The products are available this month.  Here is what GE had to say in their announcement:

A hot shower. Few rituals bring as much pleasure as does standing beneath a warm spray. And few things can spoil that ritual as much as finding that the person who showered before you has used up every drop of hot water.

The new line of GE® tankless gas water heaters provides a continuous supply of hot water* when and where you need it. No more dipping the finger into the spray to see if the temperature is just right, or standing in a cold bathroom waiting for hot water that’s been drained from the tank.

Unlike conventional water tanks that heat and store hot water around the clock, GE’s tankless gas water heater only activates when you start to use hot water, and Read more

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AUDIO-VISUAL: Mitsubishi LaserVue television uses 50% less energy

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. has just announced additional details surrounding the performance and functionality of its LaserVue TV. With operating power targeted at under 200 watts, the LaserVue TVs are environmentally friendly, consuming approximately one-half the power of today’s LCD TVs, and one-third of plasma TVs.   If you read our past article on the most efficient 50″ plasma TVs then you’ll know that this is more than a 50% energy consumption savings for a large format television of this size - great news!

Mitsubishi says, LaserVue will be available in 65″ and 73″ models with the 65? Diamond shipping to authorized retailers in the third quarter of this year and the 73? Diamond to follow.  LaserVue will raise the bar for large screen television by delivering Read more

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REBATES: Lowe’s is offering another 10% discount day

In the spirit of the 4th of July, Lowe’s is offering a 10% Discount on purchases up to $5,000 for Active, Reserve, Honorably,  discharged, and Retired Military Personnel and Their 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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Pella gets more eco-friendly with Window and Door transportation

This week Pella announced it is now a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership program.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership is an innovative collaboration between EPA and the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while striving to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Because of three-year commitments to upgrade their trucks with auxiliary power units, energy-efficient tires, enhanced trailer aerodynamics, and other improvements, the EPA estimates SmartWay partners are saving 600 million gallons of diesel fuel ? a cost benefit of almost $2 billion ?and eliminating nearly seven million metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions that can contribute to Read more

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WINDOWS: How do you find rebates for your new windows?

Whether you select Pella, Andersen, Marvin, JELD-WEN, or another brand, windows are almost a certainty in your home remodel project.  Did you know there are rebates and incentive plans in many areas of the country?

Window rebates are most often paid out based on the U-factor or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient by your power or Utility company.  Many times these rebates have a budget, and once they are used up they are gone - so submit yours as soon as you can if there is a program in your area.

GetWithGreen searched the web and found you a fairly comprehensive list of rebates.  Click here for the .pdf list of Utility Programs that Offer Incentives and Rebates for Energy Efficient Windows

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Pacific Coast Builders Show Announces Top 5 Green Products

PCBC, the largest home builder show, is coming to San Francisco next week and the announcements are starting to flow.

Members of the home building industry have voted and named the “coolest” homebuilding products in the annual Cool Products contest. PCBC 2008, the largest PCBC, the largest home builder show is on it’s way to San Francisco, and the announcements are starting to flow. Today members of the home building industry have voted and named the “coolest” homebuildinghomebuilders show on the West Coast, organizes the annual Cool Products contest for the more than 600 exhibitors at the conference.

Exhibitors entered more than 125 products in three categories - Consumer, Green and Industry products. Five products were chosen for each category by 679 home building professionals who voted online. All companies, products and booth information is available at www.pcbc.com/cool.

Here are the Cool Products from the Green Category, and stay tuned as GetWithGreen writes live from PCBC in San Francisco…

2008 Cool Products - Green Category:

1. Rinnai Corporation’s Rinnai LS Series Tankless Water Heater - Offers 30% to 50% energy savings over traditional tank-style units and can supply hot water when you need it, for as long as you need it, while contributing to a greener environment.

2. Eagle Roofing Products’ Eagle Solar Roof powered by SolarSave Integrated Solutions - This solar system integrates seamlessly with Eagle concrete roof tile and maintains the aesthetics of the roof, maintains the integrity of the roof system, prevents leaks and protects the home or building.

3. Cree LED Lighting Solutions LR6 Light Bulb - Has a 20-year life span (50,000 hours under Read more

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News: Congress investigates green home loans

This week U.S Rep Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), presented Bill HR 6078: G.R.E.E.N Act 2008 (Green Resources for Energy Efficient Neighborhoods) to the House Financal Services Committee - of which he is a member.   He also is chair of the bipartisan Financial Services Energy Efficiency Task Force whose goal is to determine ways to improve energy efficiency within the financial services industry and housing sector while creating healthier communities.

HR 6078 was submitted on May 15th.  Among many other things, the GREEN ACT 2008 provides incentives to lenders and financial institutions to provide lower interest loans and other benefits to consumers, who build, buy or remodel their homes and businesses to improve their energy efficiency.  For consumer this includes Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) products.

If you want to watch Perlmutter in action around the G.R.E.E.N Act watch this video from late April 2008. Stay tuned to GetWithGreen.com, and we will keep you posted as this story unfolds. 

 

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WINDOWS: U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient…what does it all mean?!

It is time to make THE window decision for your remodel.  If you are looking for energy efficient windows then you will run into many new vocabulary terms:  U-Factor, SHGC, Visible Transmission…   And all you want are windows that will save energy, and look amazing when your remodel is done! 

So what do all these new vocabulary words mean? Turns out this new language does not find its root in Latin.  These terms actually belong to the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).  Fenestration, when it comes to your home, are windows, doors, and skylights.  The NFRC is a non-profit that develops and publishes standards for fenestration performance.  Windows, doors and skylights are then labeled with a sticker like the one example in the upper right.

Turns out that understanding the terms and acronyms on this label can help you quickly navigate the glassy waters as you are considering one window over another - assuming you are looking for efficient windows that transmit a great deal of light into your home!   Here is your guide Read more

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