Architect and MIT professor in practice Shelia Kennedy has developed a type of “solar textile” that can be used to create solar-powered curtains. These curtains would capture sunlight during the day and use it to help power the home.
Her company, Kennedy & Violich Architecture is using thin-film photovoltaic material. This is integrated into [...]
Every Man Jack is a line of men’s grooming products launched in 2007 with sustainability in mind. They are the creation of Method’s former VP of Marketing, Rich Viola.
Based in San Francisco and carried by Target stores across the country, Every Man Jack sells shaving gel, shaving cream, body wash, face wash, and lotion. [...]
The smart use of natural daylight can be very effective in reducing electrical use from lighting fixtures during the day. Traditionally windows and skylights have provided natural sunlight to the interiors of buildings, and more recently, solar transport “tubes” have gained in popularity.
A new breed of sunlight transport mechanisms can bring natural daylight to [...]
Looking for podcasts related to green home building, remodeling, eco-friendly home products, and energy savings? We have assembled a list of our favorites:
HIZ (Home Improvement Zone) Current Energy Report
Current Energy’s principal partner Joseph Harberg, General Manager Chad Vickers and David Yates from the Home Improvement Zone, discuss practical energy saving tips and explore [...]
The United States switched to using 1.6 gpf toilets in the 1990s, greatly reducing water consumption compared to older models, which used 3.5 or more gallons per flush. There have been advances since then, more common in other parts of the world, such as 1.6 gpf / 0.8 gpf dual-flush offerings from Caroma and [...]
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) completed a study of houseplants’ ability to scrub the air of pollutants and improve air quality in sealed indoor environments. The NASA Clean Air Study was commissioned to find ways to clean air in space stations, but the results are highly relevant to modern, tightly-sealed, [...]
One of the more innovative green home products in recent years is the Skystream residential wind generator. Made by Southwest WindPower, the world’s largest producer of small wind generators, the Skystream makes residential wind energy accessible and affordable to the masses.
According to their website:
The Skystream 3.7™ is a new generation residential wind generator that [...]
Adding a low-flow showerhead to your home is an easy way to save energy and conserve resources. Your will save money and reduce your environmental footprint by not only reducing the total amount of water used, but reducing amount of hot water used in your home.
Facts about reducing shower water usage:
Showers account for 22% [...]
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) have made dramatic improvements in cost and quality since they were introduced to the market in the 1990s, but still are still seen by many as a compromise - sacrificing light quality for energy savings. So it may be surprising to learn that in a double-blind subjective test by [...]