Get Email Updates
Monthly Archives: May 2015
The Lasting Neighborhood Benefit of Blighted Property Litigation May Surprise You
The City of Atlanta has taken a real estate investor to court over his failure to clean-up blighted properties. The lasting benefit of this litigation for neighborhoods may surprise you.… Read more
Federal Mortgage Insurance Threatened in 14 States
The 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will be the new baseline for FHA/HUD insured financing. That threatens federal mortgage insurance in 14 states.… Read more
Posted in Building Codes, Energy, Finance, Government
Tagged 2009 IECC, Building Energy Code Program, department of energy, Federal Housing Authority, federal mortgage insurance, Final Affordability Determination-Energy Efficiency Standards, IECC, international code council, International Energy Conservation Code, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Administration
Leave a comment
What the Phase Out of R-22 Refrigerant Means for Homeowners
The U.S. Federal Government is phasing out the R-22 refrigerant used in many residential air conditioners. What does that mean for home owners?… Read more
Posted in Government, HVAC
Tagged chlorofluorocarbons, Clean Air Act, greenhouse gas, HCFC-22, heating and cooling, HVAC, Montreal Protocol, ozone, R-22 refrigerant, refrigerant
Leave a comment
Notes from “How + Why: The Details of Sustainable Homes”
Ryan Taylor and Mike Barcik of the Southface Energy Institute are looking forward to presenting, “How + Why: The Details of Sustainable Homes” at the 2015 AIA National Convention.… Read more
Posted in Building Codes, Design, Energy, Government, Health, HVAC, Water
Tagged ACCA, AI-820.04, AIA CRAN, Air Conditioning Contractors of America, Appraisal Institute, ASHRAE 62.2, Building America, Building America research teams, Building America Solution Center, Building Science Corporation, department of energy, ENERGY STAR Certified New Homes, Energy Vanguard, Engineered Wood Association, environmental protection agency, EPA, Green Building Advisor, Indoor airPLUS, Key Air Sealing Details, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, National Green Building Standard, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PNNL, Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum, RESNET, Southface Energy Institute, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, WaterSense, ZERH, Zero Energy Ready Home
Leave a comment
Georgia’s HB 255 Outlaws LEED Green Building Standard for State Properties
House Bill (HB) 255 passed through the Georgia General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session. Though HB 255 is probably unknown to most citizens, the precedent it creates deserves our attention.… Read more
Posted in Building Codes, Energy, Government, Health
Tagged American Tree Farm System, Forest Stewardship Council, georgia general assembly, Georgia House Bill 255, HB 255, House Bill 255, LEED, LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction, lumber, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, timber industry, U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, wood wars
2 Comments
Are You Ready for Carpenter Bees?
They’re back! Warm weather brings carpenter bees. Get ready for battle with these simple steps to protect your property…… Read more
Posted in Design, Preservation
Tagged carpenter bee, home maintenance, pest, pest control, Xylocopa virginica
Leave a comment