A few weeks ago, I wrote about a few tools you could use to find out how much energy you could make off of solar or wind resources at your home.
But now I'm thinking that I went at that from the wrong angle. Because realistically, when it comes to making your home more efficient, renewable energy is probably the last step you'll consider taking.
If you drop by the EERE Building Technologies Program, which handles building research and energy efficient building technologies, you'll see that they emphasize the importance of whole building design. The idea is simple: Energy efficient houses are made when every part of the home is working efficiently—not just one part.
So let's not look at renewables by themselves. Let's look at where they fall in the grand scheme of things.
Continue reading "Thinking From a Whole-Building Approach" »