Polystyrene Insulation Doesn’t Belong in Green Building

As a writer about green design, I hold some opinions that consistently attract tremendous disagreement and abuse; two are heat pumps and insulated concrete forms (ICF) noting that a sandwich of polystyrene and concrete can hardly be called green. Alex Wilson at Environmental Building News notes another significant problem with polystyrene insulation, found almost universally in structural insulated panels (SIPs) …

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Polystyrene Insulation Doesn’t Belong in Green Building

What’s The Greenest Insulation?

Sometimes I get it wrong in this gig, but rarely have I been so consistent as I have been in my coverage of Ultratouch Recycled Denim Insulation .

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What’s The Greenest Insulation?

16 GW of Renewable Energy to be Created in US by Stimulus Bill

16 gigawatts is a lot of power. The average nuclear power plant in operation today provides less than just one gigawatt of power (I believe the average is around 850 MW). Which is why it’s good news that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , otherwise known as the stimulus bill , is on track to add 16 GW of renewable energy to the US grid.

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16 GW of Renewable Energy to be Created in US by Stimulus Bill

"Most Credible" Climate Skeptic Revealed to Receive Funding from Big Polluters

Photo via Read the Hook Charges that climate scientists are “out to line their pockets” get bandied about with such preposterous frequency, that when I stumbled upon this investigative report into one of the leading climate skeptics and his income, a post became necessary. The man in question is Patrick Michaels, one of the few actual climate scientists who calls himself a member of the skeptic camp. For this reason, he’s often touted as the ‘most credible’ skeptic, especially..

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"Most Credible" Climate Skeptic Revealed to Receive Funding from Big Polluters

Space-age Aerogel Insulation Now Cheaper and Available in Sheets

Insulation may not be sexy, but it is important. Over the past years we’ve seen leaps and bounds towards creating cheaper, thinner, more breathable materials with higher R-values . There still isn’t “one” insulation out there that has all the best characteristics, but Aerogel is one of the top contenders.

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Space-age Aerogel Insulation Now Cheaper and Available in Sheets

IllumiCharger Adds Solar USB Charging to Any Wall

Solar power doesn’t get more plug-and-play than the IllumiCharger , a wall-mounted charger that soaks up ambient light within your home to provide grid-free energy for any USB gadget. Designed by Greenwaves , the conceptual gizmo features a shell made from recycled and corn-based plastic, waste-free packaging, and is one of 18 finalists in this year’s Greener Gadgets Design Competition . Read the rest of IllumiCharger Adds Solar USB Charging to Any Wall Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: alternative energy , green design , greener gadget , greener gadgets design competition , IllumiCharger , renewable energy , Solar Power , solar powered usb charger , sustainable design

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IllumiCharger Adds Solar USB Charging to Any Wall

Space-Age Aerogel Insulation: It Is Already Here

KMA Mike recently wrote Space-Age Tech Coming to a Building Near You: Aerogel as Insulation It is true that it hasn’t been used much as conventional insulation in solid walls, but because it is translucent, it has been used a lot in applications where architects want natural light and a high level of insulation. Kalwall puts Cabot’s nanogel aerogel between two layers of fiberglass panels and gets R-20 out of a translucent wall, which is certa..

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Space-Age Aerogel Insulation: It Is Already Here

How can I reduce my energy usage/heating bills? Super tips!

Following on in our few days of very seasonal heating & energy themed posts, I thought it would be worthwhile for us to share our super-greenie tips for reducing energy consumption (and bills!). Whenever I read/hear mainstream media advice on cutting back on energy usage, it’s always the same basic stuff: put on a jumper, close your curtains and turn down your thermostat – very useful tips but when you’re already in your woollies, with your heavy lined curtains closed and your thermostat as low as it will go, they’re not that much help. I’m presuming that most of the people that read this site – particularly the regulars (hi beloved regulars!) – will already be doing more than the basics — so what are your green+ tips for reducing your heating and electric bills

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How can I reduce my energy usage/heating bills? Super tips!