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Looking for ways to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient this winter? Tax incentives offered by federal and state governments, and local utility companies, can help ease the burden of home improvements that will reduce your monthly bills. If you’re in the market for new windows, doors, biomass stoves, heating systems, and/or insulation, [[ Please visit GreenStrides.com for the full post, links, and more information. ]]
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2011 Tax Incentives that’ll Heat up your Home
Italian architect Flavio Galvagni of Lab Zero sent us some information on this calming, woodsy cabin that he designed and built with the help of Raffaelli Contract. The tiny eco hut — roughly 12.5′ wide x 14.5′ long x 10.75′ tall — can be used as a mini-lodge, mountain shelter, meditation space, or temporary dwelling. It’s easily transportable and both off-grid and off-pipe. The prototype is shown here and in the embedded video . The front deck folds up and down, depending on usage, effectively disguising the cabin as a massive stack of neatly cut wood. YETA features a mini-kitchen and mini-bathroom with a boat toilet and shower. With carbon-based filters, rainwater is filtered for use, while black water is collected in a tank. It’s earthquake-proof and built with larchwood on a layer of insulation. Six photovoltaic modules cantilever flush with the roof line and power all of the hut’s functions, such as LED lighting, electrically-operated venetian blinds, ventilation fans, and a 24-volt central unit for the entry keypad, motion sensors, and environmental sensors. Galvagni is in the process of configuring YETA in different versions that can be sold to customers. In the mean time, you can learn more about this low-impact retreat at the YETA and Lab Zero websites. Credits: Alessandro Gadotti, Flavio Galvagni; music: Popof .
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Woodsy Off-Grid YETA Retreat in Italy
This self-sufficient home took a 2010 Evergreen Award from Eco-structure in the Greenhouse category and features some impressive, green elements. Built in Houston for owners Daniel and Adele Hedges, the home – referred to as Virginia Point – is net-zero energy, near net-zero water, and the first home in Houston to receive LEED Platinum certification. According to a case study in Eco-structure , Virginia Point has 140 Sharp solar panels with a total output of 23.8 kW that help make this home self-sufficient. Together with four, two-ton heat pumps and 10, 300-feet deep wells with geothermal loops, it was rated below zero with a HERS of -11. Perhaps a reference to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike, and others, Virginia Point was built by Dovetail Builders with a battery backup system that keeps things going in the event the electrical grid goes offline. In addition, a 7,000-gallon rainwater cistern and water treatment system provides potable water for all needs, making the home practically net-zero water ( i.e. , there’s still a sewer connection fee). The landscape area is free of turf grass and planted with drought-tolerant plants that require no irrigation system. Virginia Point was designed by Adams Architects to maximize a corner lot. With the longer side facing the sun, south-facing panels capture solar energy and north-facing windows admit indirect solar light. The architect also specified a durable, long-lasting structure of galvanized steel and a skin of galvanized aluminum. Inside, the 3,500-square-foot home is finished with polish concrete on the first floor, bamboo on the second floor, operable windows to allow natural cross-ventilation, bamboo cabinets, recycled paper countertops, spray foam insulation, and low-VOC paints and finishes. [+] More of the Virginia Point Case Study on Eco-structure . Credits: Joe Aker
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Solar Sufficient LEED Home in Houston
For the ninth year in a row, BuildingGreen has announced their list of Top-10 Green Building Products . BuildingGreen sifts the products from additions to the GreenSpec Directory , coverage in Environmental Building News , and blogs on BuildingGreen . Here are seven products from the list to keep on the radar: NyloDeck Recycled Content Composite Decking ( link ) Foamglas Inorganic Cellular Insulation ( link ) Ornilux Reflective Bird-Safe Glass ( link ) Bensonwood Open-Built Plus Wall System ( link ) Niagara Dual-Flush Stealth Toilet ( link ) Wilo ECM Smart Water Pumps ( link ) Electec Modular EZ Wiring and EZ Cabling ( link ) [+] See all Top-10 BuildingGreen Green Products .
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Top Ten Green Building Products [2010]
The self-repair manifesto . 14 products: a Greenbuild preview . Tips for successful green remodeling
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Greenbuild Products, LEED Revisions, Repair Manifesto, + Green Remodeling