In the industrial era, home is where the carbon is. The built environment accounts for about 40% of annual CO2 emissions globally. An MIT urban and environmental study recently reported that the materials used to build a new home could generate between 15 and 100 tons of CO2eq. Meet Mike Anderson, CEO and design leader at Passive Design Solutions, a […]
Are Heat Pumps the Future of Home Heating?
In the last several years, heat pumps have skyrocketed in popularity and are now a common HVAC solution, even in colder climates. Technology advances have made heat pumps an efficient heating source at temperatures as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, Maine’s 2020 Climate Action Plan set a goal to have heat pumps in 45% of the housing stock […]
Wood Stoves for Home Heating
There are many reasons why natural gas is the most common home heating source in America while fewer than 10% of U.S. homes burn wood as a primary heat source. If your home is in the wood-burning camp, you already know that fireplaces are not the best home heating system. Fuel availability is often the driving force behind choosing to […]
We Earthlings: Set Back the Thermostat
Every small change we make to reduce our energy consumption makes a difference. Before you leave your home, reduce the heat or air conditioning to conserve energy and reduce your carbon emissions. Setting back the thermostat just 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit while you are at work can reduce your heating or cooling load by up to 10%. Source: Good, […]
Heat Exchangers: Balancing Your Home’s Heat & Air Quality
When you’re trying to live more sustainably, you are often faced with trade-offs. The clothes washer that uses the least water uses more electricity; your old car burns fossil fuels but electric vehicles use toxic batteries; large refrigerators operate more efficiently but encourage food waste. It’s hard to find the balance point between two choices. Fortunately, heat exchangers maintain the […]