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Household appliances are responsible for 20%-30% of a home's energy use and about 25% of its indoor water use.  Thankfully, we have ENERGY STAR labels for appliances, so I don't have to look up every different standard of energy efficiency measures for each type of...

Lighting can account for 5%-15% of a home's total energy use.  Being one of the first to install the new LED (light-emitting diode) recessed can fixtures made by CREE, we were pioneers in this area.  The fixtures we chose, LR6 recessed downlights, had just come on the...

In line with efficient distribution of hot water and hot water pipe insulation, this credit is the last in this section that awards points for efficient hot water systems.  It is only, however, required for the prescriptive pathway (unlike 7.1 and 7.2, which are...

For this sub-section, also required in both the prescriptive and performance pathways, all domestic hot water piping needs to have R-4 insulation. Insulation needs to be properly installed on all piping to elbows to adequately insulate the 90-degree bend.  This helps...

This credit counts in both the performance and prescriptive pathways, because it is not an input in the HERS index rating.  The intent is to reduce energy consumption associated with the domestic hot water system, including improving the efficiency of the hot water...

So...I did not want to write about our solution to the last "solar blip" post until it was actually happening.  (I have gotten rather jaded and won't believe things until I see them.)   But yesterday, 16 Centrosolar photovoltaic panels were delivered to our roof!  I...

This credit is broken down into three parts: the prerequisite for HVAC Design & Installation (EA 6.1), High-Efficiency HVAC (EA 6.2), and Very High-Efficiency (EA 6.3).   Energy savings can be achieved by sizing the equipment appropriately and selecting very...

This credit is designed to minimize duct leakage.  (Duct leakage?  Sounds gross.)  Just as a home's envelope should be tight to save energy, so should the air duct system - the system that distributes hot and cold air throughout the house, usually invisible to us...

This is the third LEED credit in a row that starts out stating "Approximately one-quarter of a home's heat losses and gains is due to...."  The first is heat flow in and out of the insulated building envelope (EA2), the second is leakage through the envelope (EA3),...

This credit is about sealing up the house.  The tighter the home, particularly those in more extreme climates, the less energy it uses for heating and cooling; typically these houses are also more comfortable because they are draft-free.  The tradeoff, though, is that...

So, now I am going to count up our points under the Energy & Atmosphere prescriptive path, and see if we get more points this way than going down the performance path with the HERS rating.  I am also going to learn more about the components of an energy efficient...

This credit is the first and major one for the performance pathway, which requires a HERS rating from our green building rater.  There is one prerequisite: EA 1.1 : Energy Star for Homes.  I am not sure if we have an Energy Star House, but a home that earns points...