FCWC

Green Homes

Looking for information on renewables? Want to "green" your home?

 

See what you can do to invite sustainability into your home.

I'm thinking about incorporating renewable energy sources in my home. Where do I begin?

 

Incorporating renewable energy sources into your home is a positive move sustainably and financially. By investing in renewable energy sources, you will decrease your dependence on unreliable fuel. When deciding what type of renewable you would like to include in your home, you need to begin with the question: what do you want to achieve? From there you can narrow your options. Below are a series of links aimed at helping you answer this question.

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Let's Go Solar

Let's Go Solar provides how-to checklists, easy-to-follow financing explanations, expert tips and state-specific solar scenarios.

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Solar Energy Guide

Consumer Affairs has created a solar energy guide that will allow you to compare solar installers, read reviews of installers,  and learn more about the costs, savings, and options when it comes to installing solar on your home or business. 

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Home Solar Panels; Pros, Cons, and Hidden Costs

Sponsored by Expertise.com, based out of Seattle, this article goes into the many questions about home solar installation. Read for a straight-forward introduction of the basics of solar for your home.

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Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Energy

DSIRE is the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States.

 

American Solar Energy Society

Founded in 1954, ASES is dedicated to inspiring an era of energy innovation and speeding the transition toward a sustainable energy economy. ASES is involved in many endeavors that promote solar and renewable technologies.

 

Find a Solar Professional

Solar energy resources, calculator, and blog

 

Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium

The Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) is The Voice of the Geothermal Heat Pump Industry in the United States. As a non-profit trade association, we promote the manufacture, design and installation of GeoExchange® systems—the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly heating and cooling technology in the world.

 

International Ground Source Heat Pump Association

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) is a non-profit, member-driven organization established in 1987 to advance ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology on local, state, national and international levels.

 

 

How do I reduce my home's carbon footprint?

 

Most of our daily activities cause emissions of greenhouse gases, especially those centered around the household. If jumping into renewables is too big of the leap at the moment, look into reducing your carbon footprint through other measures. Doing an energy audit on your home could highlight areas of your home that are weak spots.

 

 

EPA's Household Carbon Footprint Calculator

You can use the following online calculator to get a rough “ballpark” estimate of your personal or family’s greenhouse gas emissions and explore the impact of taking various actions to reduce your emissions.

 

Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit Tool

Home Energy Saver

 

Bedford 2020: Energize Bedford

The Energize program was introduced in 2011 with the mission of connecting homeowners in specially selected Westchester communities with available State incentives to assess home energy efficiency and, where indicated, to perform home energy improvements. Bedford was the first such Town to pilot an Energize program, and the success has been staggering.

 

Architecture 2030

Architecture 2030, a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization, was established in response to the climate change crisis by architect Edward Mazria in 2002. 2030’s mission is to rapidly transform the built environment from the major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a central part of the solution to the climate and energy crises.

 

Home Performance with Energy Star

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.

 

NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

 

 

I'm going to be renovating my home. What should I do about all of the construction waste?

 

Home renovation can be a very wasteful process, and is something to be cautious of when making home upgrades. Below are a series of links which can help make this process a little greener.

 

 

Freecycle

A grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills.

 

Green Demolitions

Green Demolitions is North America’s premier luxury recycler for kitchens, high-end renovation items, showroom displays, and new-in-box overstocks.

 

How2Recycle

How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. This organization also provides clear information on local recycling programs. Click here to find local recycling locations.