The Texas Solar Energy Society's 14th Annual Austin Cool House Tour June 6, 2010 10:00am-6:00pm highlights 12 projects that are a mix of new construction and remodels and the projects range from affordable houses to mid-range and high end construction. You can plan your day using this map from Google Maps. The map includes a picture and a description of each project.
Get your guidebook/ticket now!
The guidebook, which is your ticket to the tour, is available at both Austin Central Market stores or online for $15. You can preview the guidebook on the TXSES website, but you will still need to buy the guidebook to go on the tour.
Checkout the TXSES or Cool House Tour sites for more information.
Showing posts with label Sustainable Building. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sustainable Building. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Check out the 14th Annual Austin Cool House Tour June 6, 2010 10:00am-6:00pm
The Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) has announced the 2010 Cool House Tour. TXSES has selected 12 projects to highlight on the tour, June 6th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The projects are a mix of new construction and remodels and the projects range from affordable houses to mid-range and high end construction.
Get your guidebook now!
The guidebook, which is your ticket to the tour, is available at both Austin Central Market stores or online for $15. You can preview the guidebook on the TXSES website, but you will still need to buy the guidebook to go on the tour.
Checkout the TXSES or Cool House Tour sites for more information.
The tour is always a lot of fun. You are certain to learn a lot and to have a good time.
Get your guidebook now!
The guidebook, which is your ticket to the tour, is available at both Austin Central Market stores or online for $15. You can preview the guidebook on the TXSES website, but you will still need to buy the guidebook to go on the tour.
Checkout the TXSES or Cool House Tour sites for more information.
The tour is always a lot of fun. You are certain to learn a lot and to have a good time.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Green Building Myths
We’ve all heard the arguments over sustainable building and renewable energy. Let’s take a look at three of them.
Sustainable building is too expensive.
There is nothing inherently expensive about sustainable building. At its simplest, sustainable building uses common sense design principles such as considering the sun and prevailing winds when deciding where to build or using design principles that provide shading or natural ventilation.
Green houses look funny.
Some of them do, but most green houses look like every other house on the block. If you want to build a dome or an underground house, go right ahead. However, many of green building concepts being “discovered” today have actually been around for a long time. Deep wrap around porches, dog trot style homes, and two story houses with windows at the top of the stairway are timeless designs in the south that embody “modern principles” such as shading, natural ventilation, and “chimney effects.” Northern homes have used enclosed entries for years. The “airlock” concept is nothing new. The only difference between many green homes and other homes is size of the utility bill!
Solar power, wind power, and rainwater collection is too expensive.
Yes. Those things do cost money. However, green building is not about finding ways for people to become miniature utility companies. In fact, before you even consider producing electricity or harvesting rainwater, you should figure out how to avoid wasting the electricity and water you already use. With that said, alternative power sources are becoming less expensive, and electricity from coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear sources is becoming more expensive. Rain has been a water source for hundreds of years, and in some places as aquifers are pumped down, rain is more reliable than a well.
If you want to see for yourself that green houses can be economical and good looking too, attend the 14th Annual Austin Cool House Tour.
Sustainable building is too expensive.
There is nothing inherently expensive about sustainable building. At its simplest, sustainable building uses common sense design principles such as considering the sun and prevailing winds when deciding where to build or using design principles that provide shading or natural ventilation.
Green houses look funny.
Some of them do, but most green houses look like every other house on the block. If you want to build a dome or an underground house, go right ahead. However, many of green building concepts being “discovered” today have actually been around for a long time. Deep wrap around porches, dog trot style homes, and two story houses with windows at the top of the stairway are timeless designs in the south that embody “modern principles” such as shading, natural ventilation, and “chimney effects.” Northern homes have used enclosed entries for years. The “airlock” concept is nothing new. The only difference between many green homes and other homes is size of the utility bill!
Solar power, wind power, and rainwater collection is too expensive.
Yes. Those things do cost money. However, green building is not about finding ways for people to become miniature utility companies. In fact, before you even consider producing electricity or harvesting rainwater, you should figure out how to avoid wasting the electricity and water you already use. With that said, alternative power sources are becoming less expensive, and electricity from coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear sources is becoming more expensive. Rain has been a water source for hundreds of years, and in some places as aquifers are pumped down, rain is more reliable than a well.
If you want to see for yourself that green houses can be economical and good looking too, attend the 14th Annual Austin Cool House Tour.
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