A Little Green Can Go A Long Way
Yesterday I received an email forwarded to me from a co-worker. The email itself was a request from a journalist seeking information on a variety of topics related to eco-friendly housing from both an owner and builder perspective. Some of the questions of interest to me included “Does a small budget limit going green or can a little go a long way?” and “Where is the overlap between being cost effective and going green?”
Both questions are relevant on a variety of levels because they touch on the realistic nature of what we can versus cannot (or just do not want) to do. Continue Reading »
Energy Conservation Basics – Easy and cost effective ideas for reducing energy consumption.
When you surround yourself with like-minded people, it can be difficult to understand why others think or reason in a fashion dissimilar to you. I was recently talking with a young woman who, while well educated and intelligent, did not understand the basic concepts of energy conservation. Therefore, rather than write about why energy efficiency is important, I thought I would just do a casual reminder on some of the basic ways that we can be more energy efficient in the winter. Below are some casual, relatively easy and low cost solutions for staying warm for less during the winter season. Better late than never, right? Continue Reading »
Energy Auditing Ourselves
A short while ago I was in a meeting that centered on creating a flexible winter weatherization plan that would have a wide degree of application. While such plans are not uncommon in the least, I was surprised to hear that we, as inhabitants, came up as a serious aspect of energy inefficiency.
As someone who works with material and energy inefficiencies, I often hear blame directed more at mechanical and structural systems rather than people. But people play such a direct role in energy consumption that taking mechanical and structural aspects alone into account simply cannot give you an adequate picture of where or what your real issues are. Continue Reading »
The Next Big Leap
“So what can we do to keep homes improving from an energy efficiency standpoint?”
For a long time, answers such as “improve insulation” or “designed better HVAC” systems would have likely been what first came to mind. However, with new building guidelines, standards, and especially with the emergence of organizations such as LEED, Energy Star, and the National Green Building Standard coming to the main stage, a lot of what can be done from a design standpoint has been covered. Continue Reading »
Let’s Talk Preservation: Part 2
In my previous journal entry, “Let’s Talk Preservation: Part 1”, I briefly touched on why Energy Star certified homes, despite their high levels of efficiency, still inflict considerable damage to the environment. We know that Energy Star homes reach their certification by making use of high efficiency windows, appliances, insulation, and HVAC systems. However, regardless of how little energy a new home consumes, it still requires exceptional levels of energy to construct. Continue Reading »
Let’s Talk Preservation: Part 1
Every day, while traveling to or coming home from work, I hear an advertisement for new Energy Star homes under construction or ready for purchase. While I have the utmost respect for what Energy Star certification stands for and hopes to accomplish, I don’t believe I could ever own one myself. Energy Star and other similarly accredited homes offer quite a bit in terms of energy efficiency, but in terms of lessening the homes impact on the environment…I’m not entirely sure I could agree. Continue Reading »
Its Not All About The “R”
A few months ago I had lunch with a friend of mine who recently bought an older historic home in southern Ohio. The subject of insulation and heating costs came up and we engaged in a bit of a debate over what kind of insulation to use. Now, I don’t believe either of us won, primarily because I don’t think an ultimately right answer exists for the topic we were debating. The topic you ask? “How big of a role does the R-Value really play in insulation on an application specific basis?” Continue Reading »
Historic Housing Tax Credit
Assembling and preparing to send in yet another successful set of documentation for the Historic Housing Tax Credit! Another lucky property owner is getting 25% of their expenses back just for keeping their home in good condition!
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get 25% of the cost back that you invested in, say for example, a new boiler, furnace, paint, and much more?
If you have any questions, ask away!
Nathan Christensen
nate@hickoryenergy.com
In Winter, Those Who Are Proactive Profit The Most
I hate to be the barer of bad news, but in the next few weeks, old man winter will make his annual appearance once again. Unfortunately (or fortunately, if you like winter), with his arrival, snow and cold winds are close to follow. Continue Reading »
The Neighborhood House Where Science and Energy Efficiency Meet
Great article about Hickory Energy/HMS Companies work on a historic home in Kalamazoo.
“Now, the property management side of the company works together with the conservation side of the company in a way that makes good business sense, Fleckenstein says. Their goal is to create affordable, comfortable living spaces in neighborhoods full of old historic homes that simply need attention.”
