In a typical home, 43% of the utility bill goes toward heating and cooling. 

Homeowners  want ready access to a variety of building methods that can make their homes more weather resistant and energy efficient.

Energy, Weatherization and Technology can incorporate energy efficiency into rebuilding technology options by educating contractors and homeowners on how best to repair or rebuild damaged homes in a more flood and wind-resistant manner.

These aren't usually cosmetic solutions.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Technical Assistance Project includes information and technical specifications that include renewable and energy-efficient technology suggestions for reconstruction.

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has tested many high-performance building materials and provides municipalities and states with training materials and information on incorporating energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies into the rebuilding or repairing of flood- and wind-damaged homes.

Many local governments incorporates the energy efficiency and renewable energy technology materials into workshops and training materials for contractors and homeowners.

Some of the high performance technologies that are being tested and developed are found on the Department of Energy's division websites such as:

ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

DOE EERE  Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Seasonal Energy Savings for Consumers  

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Physical and Life Sciences

Much of Livermore's research is at the molecular level and reaches into the depths of space, but some research is also directed to the natural spaces around us.  For instance,


Through research funded by the California Energy Commission, scientists from the Laboratory, the University of California at Merced, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research found that temperatures in California from 1915 to 2000 have increased by 1.16°C (2.1°F) statewide.

The research, which appeared in the March 2008, Supplement 1 edition of Climatic Change--dedicated to California's climate--also suggests that the warming may be related to human activities.

The team used data from nine sets of observational records and from a suite of climate model simulations of natural internal climate variability to analyze trends in California-average temperatures during the periods 1950-1999 and 1915-2000.

The researchers found large increases in mean and maximum daily temperatures in late winter and early spring, as well as increases in minimum daily temperatures from January to September. These trends are inconsistent with model-based estimates of natural internal climate variability, and thus require one or more external forcing agents to be explained. The researchers suggest that the warming of Californian winters over the twentieth century is associated with human-induced changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation.

Recent climate models have not been effective in explaining California's summertime trend, where warming mainly occurs at night.

Based on their previous research, the team suggests that lack of a detectable increase in summertime maximum temperature arises from a cooling associated with large-scale irrigation, which may have counteracted warming from mounting greenhouse gases and urbanization.

If this hypothesis is verified, the acceleration of carbon dioxide emissions combined with a leveling of irrigation may result in a rapid summertime warming in the Central Valley in the future.

SO... more energy-efficient and weather-resistant homes could be a good strategy in California's Central Valley!

Sustainable Industries magazine recently announced the release of its 2009 Top 10 Green Building Products guide, the annual publication profiling industry-leading green building products selected by a panel of expert judges and the Sustainable Industries editorial team.

The 2009 Top 10 Green Building Product winners are:

Acadia Combined Heating and Cooling System
Made by Hallowell International
(www.gotohallowell.com)
The Acadia is not just another heating and cooling system. It maintains 200 percent efficiency even when outdoor temperatures drop well below zero. When heating oil prices were sky high, Acadia users were saving up to 70 percent in energy costs.

ec-H20
Made by Tennant Co.
(www.tennantco.com)
Requiring no chemicals, ec-H2O uses tap water to clean most any surface of most any substance. Each machine reduces water usage by 70 to 80 percent, and the potential of 245 million gallons of water each year if it were installed in all new floor-cleaning machines.

InSpire Wall
Made by ATAS International
(www.atas.com)
This simple, elegant technology essentially uses the power of the sun to heat outdoor air before sending it indoors, thereby slashing energy use while boosting indoor air quality. Depending on what kind of heating fuel is being replaced, this product can reduce heating costs by up to $5 for each square foot of InSpire Wall installed.


kama EEBS Structural Systems
Made by kama Energy Efficient Building Systems Inc.
(www.kama-eebs.com)
kama EEBS Structural Systems integrate light gauge metal stud framing system with expanded polystyrene insulation in a proprietary design that eliminates thermal bridging and helps to create a tight, energy-efficient building envelope.

PlybooPure Bamboo Plywood
Made by Smith & Fong Co.
(www.plyboo.com)
Because it's technically a grass, bamboo had not previously been eligible for FSC certification. But in January 2008, after two years of lobbying, Smith & Fong achieved this first that propelled it to recognition on this year's Top 10 list.

RainTube
Made by GLI Systems Inc.
(www.raintube.com)
This product received more Top 10 nominations than any other product this year. RainTube is a rain gutter filter made of 100 percent post-consumer high-density polyethylene - old milk jugs, in other words. This product is also Cradle to Cradle-certified, meaning that GLI Systems Inc had to develop a Post-Use Recovery Plan that goes out with every product.

Separett Villa
Made by Separett
(www.ecovita.net/villa)
This urine-diverting composting toilet - which is 100 percent PVC fee - uses no water and keeps solids separate from liquids, reducing odor and making it possible to reuse waste and urine for composting and fertilizing. The Separett Villa can be deployed where no plumbing exists, allowing for a greater reach of the technology.

Serious Windows
Made by Serious Materials
(www.seriouswindows.com)
Serious Windows are so efficient they have the potential to allow for the elimination of a building's heating system, allowing waste heat from building appliances to serve as the main heat source in some applications. The windows have a full-frame R value of at least five and up to 11, which can cut a building's energy bills by up to 50 percent per month.

Solatube Daylighting Systems
Made by Solatube International
(www.solatube.com)
This patented technology catches direct sunlight and redirects it down an adjustable-length tube, bringing daylight to parts of buildings that would not otherwise have access to natural light. The Visa, Calif.-based company recently launched a product specifically designed for commercial applications, making it ideal for large-roofed warehouses and manufacturing facilities, as well as retail stores and schools - all places that have been shown to benefit from increased daylight, as daylight is linked to higher worker productivity, decreased absenteeism and better retail sales.

Your Old Light Fixture
Made by Eleek
(www.eleekinc.com)
Eleek is the only business to make the Top 10 Green Building Products list all four years. Though not a product, Eleek's lighting restoration service speaks to the important concept of the re-use of existing goods. When Eleek restores a light fixture, every piece of a fixture is taken apart, repaired and restored to its original splendor. Its wiring is updated to comply with modern codes and standards and a new lamp base is installed so it works with energy-efficient lamps such as CFLs and LEDs.

USA SIPS manufactures structural insulated panels -- SIPs -- that are being used in building projects -- both green buildings and conventional --  in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

Insulated panels, with their built-in, sandwiched insulation, are used in residential and commercial construction. A big advantage is that the product allows construction crews to frame, sheet and insulate in one step.

USA SIPS is working on a 150-home neighborhood in Branson, Mo., and a 314-unit new urbanist neighborhood in Stillwater that ultimately will include houses, apartments, retail and restaurant areas, a community building and a community garden.

The company has designed a catalog of manufactured homes to be constructed from the panels. The catalog shows off their Craftsman Style homes with large front porches.  

The insulated panels are cut to sizes that easily fit to a building plan, which down waste costs for the builder, who has less to discard when the project is completed.  The SIPs, which can be used to help meet LEED standards (USGBC green building certification standards), also contribute to lower utility bills.

USA SIPS touts meeting international building codes and municipal building inspectors are becoming more familiar with the product, which is a big marketing help.

USA SIPS, Inc.
Structural Insulated Panels Systems are a modern way to construct buildings with a higher level of strength and operational energy efficiency.
www.usa-sips.com/