Consider these four lucrative renovations to maximize the value of your home: 1) A new front door. A seemingly small thing, replacing your door with one made of 20-gauge steel costs just over $1,000, and pays for itself in no time. 2) A new deck. Despite the low maintenance of composite decking, a traditional wood […]

To meet the heating and cooling needs for city dwellers, researchers are investigating thermally driven cooling systems as an innovative option. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg are developing sorbents, through metal organic frameworks (MOFs), that can hold large amounts of water vapor as an alternative to traditional cooling […]

Maryland sees the value of the energy-efficient home building industry, and its legislators are looking for ways to fund it. The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that will set up a low-cost construction loan program that could be fostering green communities by the end of 2014. Though the funds proposed in this bill […]

Do Americans still long for  grand, sprawling homes? Or does recent census data seem to indicate that the huge-house honeymoon is over? Big homebuilding isn’t quite done yet, though the quantity of large homes built has decreased, falling 14 percent last year. Still, the “average” sized home built in 2013 was 180 square larger than […]

Alex Wilson, founder and executive editor of BuildingGreen, LLC in VT offers lessons and advice from his own green home building experience to make better use of a tight budget: 1) Keeping your remodel compact and square footage reasonable will go along way in keeping energy costs manageable. 2) Rigid mineral wool accomplishes a secure […]

Green House Australia (GHA) is a fast-rising company that understands the need for environmentally efficient homes in the region. Recently having opened a sixth branch, the company distinguishes itself by focusing on building high-performance new homes that are practical and affordable to build and operate. Taking into account homeowner preferences, climate, budget, and lifestyle, homes […]

Unemployment is down. The housing market is rebounding. Homeownership is a real possibility. For people wanting to move on or upgrade, the time may have finally come.  First time buyers can now maximize their savings. Those who have outgrown their homes will be able to sell or finance extensions.  Empty-nesters can now look into downsizing […]

Home remodeling is a surefire way to maximize your investment and derive satisfaction from your purchase. Beware! There are those who would take advantage of your eagerness to beautify your home. Spring brings scammers out in droves. Be sure that your choice of remodelers has a clean track record, decent BBB rating and favorable complaint […]

Jump on the home remodeling bandwagon this year; design trends for 2014 are bold and exciting. Consider these trending projects: 1) Modern style: The rustic, warm feel is waning. Modern white or gray palates with clean, glossy minimalist designs are in. 2) Floating shelves: Fewer cabinets with more floating shelves are changing the face and […]

Construction technology and methodology are turning a corner; here’s what you need to know: 1) Popular cargo container construction cuts costs, is sustainable, and maintains quality. Retired shipping containers are increasingly “versatile, widely available, economical and code-friendly.” These heavy gauge steel structures are also energy efficient. 2) New Building Industry Modeling (BIM) software integrates drawings, […]