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People are skeptical, and in today’s world it can be especially difficult to believe much of what we’re told is 100% true. That’s probably a healthy thing! So, how do we know that what we’re being told is the truth—that the window you’re purchasing insulates like it should? Which Window Certifications…and Why? Certifications provide
Why triple pane windows are the best choice for your home Windows account for around 12% of a building’s energy use, yet, less than 2% of window sales are energy-efficient triple pane! One of the reasons for pushback on triple pane/dual chamber windows has been the weight issue: Three pieces of glass weigh
Boston Society of Architects/AIA awards 2018 Sustainable Design Honor Award Located on the Amherst, MA campus of Hampshire College, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment features an integrated interpretive program that explains universal natural principles and illustrates how those principles are applied within the building. It also features Alpen windows. “This center doesn’t merely
The perfect net zero energy solution for EVERY building? Applied to vertical surfaces of buildings, this transparent solar coating turns traditional windows into highly energy efficient and electricity-generating windows. Ubiquitous Energy, a leader in transparent solar technology, has partnered with Alpen High Performance Products to produce the first demonstration commercial window façades with > 1m2
A subject that’s near-and-dear to our hearts! It never hurts to (re-)invest time toward learning, so here’s a list of books about Passive House that have been published in the last 4 years. An Introduction to Passive House by J. Bere Positive Energy Homes: Creating Passive Houses for Better Living by R. Brimblecombe and K.
Today, we have AI that can make our grocery list, we create green roofs for in-office get-aways, and we’re even testing self-driving cars (a lot!). But that’s small compared to what may be coming – everyday sustainability. Tomorrow, well, we really don’t know–we’re hoping it will be efficient and amazing. Much like the smartphone,
You may remember the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, created 17 years ago. The results from this global effort were not insignificant, and they’ve now inspired the continuation of effort in the form of the Sustainable Development Goals. Past Success Some successes of the Millennium Development Goals, specifically in regards to environmental sustainability, include: 98%
Sustainable living can mean adapting social, economic and sustainable practices to every aspect of your life. So, if life needs a heart, and a home is where a heart is—then sustainable living starts with the home! Here are three amazing and environmentally friendly homes that could kick-start your new sustainable life. Oh, and remember:
The Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center in Basalt, Colorado “This building achieves beyond net-zero energy because we have gotten better at choosing and combining technologies to maximize building performance.” –Amory Lovins The Three Main Design Challenges of the RMI Innovation Center in Basalt, Colorado: Meeting the goal of net zero in one of the
Alpen and the Living Building Challenge: What does good look like? That is the question that the Living Building Challenge asks. The living building challenge is just as much about beauty as it is about environmental impact—and one reason why the International Living Future Institute uses the metaphor “Efficient as a flower” to describe its
August 25, 2019