Information on making buildings more energy-efficient, including conserving electricity, natural gas and water, and efficient heating and cooling.
You recycle, you compost, you turn off lights when you’re not using them, but have you ever wondered what else you can do to improve your home’s “green quotient?” One way to make sure you’re doing everything you can to save energy and water and protect our environment is to do a green audit of
This post first ran in 2017. In the mid-20th century, there seemed to be little reason to insulate a new California home. Mild winters and summers, combined with seemingly plentiful, inexpensive energy meant homeowners could crank up the heat without breaking the bank or worrying about their carbon footprint. In the 21st century, however, we
If you, like me, are a certain age, smoke curling from chimneys and the earthy smell of woodsmoke from fireplaces and stoves represent the glories of winter. Unfortunately, they also represent a threat to health and safety, which is why it may be time for all of us to think about replacing our woodburning fireplaces
Solar tubes, also known as tubular skylights, sun tunnels, or light tubes, are a great way to bring more natural light into your home, particularly to dark rooms or areas that might otherwise miss out on the benefits of sunlight. What Are Solar Tubes? A solar tube is a metal tube that runs from your
Installing a solar energy system for your commercial building can be a great choice, with both financial and environmental benefits. In 2019, I spoke with Taylor Poff, a project manager with solar installer JBL Solar Energy, a Sonoma County company with extensive experience in commercial installations, who passed on some important tips for business owners
Make energy efficiency part of your 2021 New Year's resolutions. January is typically a time to take stock of ourselves and our goals. Many of us ask ourselves, “What do I want to achieve this year?” Along with going to the gym five times per week, eating less meat, or finally finishing that novel
A version of this post first ran in 2017. I love my radiant heating. There’s nothing cozier on a chilly winter morning than a toasty warm floor greeting your cold feet. More and more, clients are asking me about radiant heat for their homes. What used to be thought of as a luxury is going
This post first ran in 2017. In the mid-20th century, there seemed to be little reason to insulate a new California home. Mild winters and summers, combined with seemingly plentiful, inexpensive energy meant homeowners could crank up the heat without breaking the bank or worrying about their carbon footprint. In the 21st century, however, we
This post first ran in 2017. In a 2017 post, I mentioned converting to LED lighting as a simple way to improve your home's "green quotient." Today, I'll take a more in-depth look at LEDs and what you need to consider when converting from incandescent or CFL to LED bulbs. Why
This post first ran in 2016. With summer just around the corner, this is an ideal time to think about installing a solar energy system to take advantage of the abundance of sun we get in Marin and to increase the eco-friendliness of your home or business while potentially lowering your energy costs. So where
