Information on making buildings more energy-efficient, including conserving electricity, natural gas and water, and efficient heating and cooling.

New Energy Efficiency Laws Take Effect for 2020

Every three years, the California Energy Commission (CEC), which is responsible for developing the state’s energy efficiency standards, updates regulations for buildings in California. Changes made in 2019, which took effect January 1, 2020, bring some big changes in the requirements for new construction. Most New Homes Must Have Solar Systems California is the first

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Time to Replace Your Woodburning Fireplace?

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

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How Green Is Your Home? Find Out with a Green Audit

This post first ran in 2017.  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

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Solar Energy for Your Business: 6 Tips from an Installer

Installing a solar energy system for your commercial building can be a great choice, with both financial and environmental benefits. I recently 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 considering

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Five Ideas for Cooling Your Mid-Century Modern Home

Summer is almost here, and while many of us are looking forward to lazy days by the pool with a good book (and lots of sunscreen), we’re also thinking about how we’re going to keep cool without breaking the bank or destroying the earth. Cooling a mid-century modern home can be particularly tricky. When they

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Insulate Your Mid-Century Modern Home

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 know that the beauty of floor-to-ceiling

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