Fresh AIRE

Today Show Chases Away My Night Scares

Last night, I went to bed scared to death. Why? Well, a couple days ago, I started reading "An Inconvenient Truth," and it was the last thing I read before turning out the light.

Yet this morning, I turned on NBC's Today Show and was filled up again with hope! (Things always look better after a good night of sleep, 'eh?) There was a long segment about "How to Go Green" (when you click on this link, be patient...a 30-sec ad comes first) that included some interesting energy efficient items. They had the standards such as CFL bulbs, then some nifty items like a water-powered alarm clock?! And a solar "Juice Bag" that can power various small devices. Oh yeah, I learned that front-loading washers use MUCH less water than top-loading washers -- about half. Hmmm...this might help win the "discussion" with my husband about getting a new energy efficient washer/dryer this year. And ENERGY STAR rated washers "spin out" more water, reducing drying time and saving energy.

I also saw a segment about someone who had converted a Civil War tear-down Victorian house into a green home of the future. Very cool. All the energy consumed by the renovated home (which is now a bed and breakfast) is made in the backyard! Check out the video segment (again, you'll have to wait through a short ad, but it's worth it).

I'll end with a quote that Matt Lauer used to introduce the segment: "You don't have to be a green tree-hugging environmentalist to worry about the planet and what you're doing to it."

Jennifer K. Smith, 17-year resident of Arlington
Arlington County communications mgr. (and AIRE blog administrator)

Don't Regret It!

Jennifer Smith has pointed to a nice resource on the web (see previous blog post) to help pinpoint opportunities to save energy in your home. If you're considering any remodeling for your home, an indispensable resource is this book, No-Regrets Remodeling, by the editors of Home Energy Magazine.

You can get it at Amazon for about $20, but it's also available directly through Home Energy Magazine for only $11.95. Before you spend thousands on making changes to your home, buy two copies of this book: one for you and one to give to your contractor before he or she starts work.

What's great about No-Regrets Remodeling is exactly that -- no regrets. By reading it first, you won't be slapping yourself on the forehead later regretting that you didn't take advantage of your remodeling opportunity to improve moisture control and reduce exterior noise and improve indoor air quality and improve comfort -- generally at little or no extra cost. It's also a very nice introduction to the basics of what is called "building science," the science of how all the systems and structure of a building work together (or fail to work together).

Even if you're not planning to remodel soon, this is a great reference to understand how your house works and what you can do to operate it better and use less energy in the process.