Pre-fabricated housing is beginning to become mainstream again.  Mobile homes have been an industry for a while now, but shipping pre-assembled parts of a conventional house to be configured onsite is catching up.  Cost has always been a concern, but the quality advantage is becoming a sales tool now that conventional housing is facing challenges on all fronts.  Box Prefab is a Houston-based entity with founders from the design professions who wanted to more tightly hold the quality of the finished product rather than hand that off to a conventional builder. 

Lighting with all its positive benefits can be installed just plain wrong. It should have a clear purpose, directed where it is needed, no brighter than necessary, used only when it is useful, and we should use warmer colors where possible. You’ve heard about dark skies and light pollution, but did you know about the danger of excessive glare? Lighting consumes energy and costs money and is regulated by the energy code. Nobody wants too much light shining in their bedroom at night.

Net Zero Energy (NZE) has developed from a fringe movement to approaching mainstream. Here’s a definition: "A Zero Carbon Building is a highly energy-efficient building that produces on-site, or procures, carbon-free renewable energy or high-quality carbon offsets in an amount sufficient to offset the annual carbon emissions associated with building materials and operations." Washington, DC actually incorporated Appendix Z to their Energy Code to delineate requirements for achieving an NZE classification for a DC building.

In addition to this document, you can also view this video from Energy.gov more information:

Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit

"By taking a “street-wise” common-sense approach to high performance design strategies and comparing them to the expensive and maintenance intensive "green gizmos" approach being promoted by most, Architect Peter Pfeiffer will present to and help the participant critically determine what works - what is effective and long lasting - and what may simply be 'hype' of the latest 'fad' product or method."           

This is a webinar on Startmeeting.com, with 1 CEU available.

What is PACE again? Property Assessed Clean Energy. Texas PACE enables property owners to finance 100% of their energy saving, water conservation, and distributed generation improvements with little to no capital outlay. PACE enables property owners to lower their operating costs, increase net operating income and the quality of the asset, as utility savings will be

greater than your payments.

A wonderful daylit Commercial Interior.

The highest level of LEED in a visually stunning interior with a view.