Great video from the Conservation foundation located in Naperville Illinois. They sell recycled rain barrels for around $100. www.theconservationsfoundation.org

Rs2 Architects has finished an adaptive reuse project in downtown Wheaton. The two story brick building originally housed a retail farm implement store which dated back to Wheaton’s agricultural past. Recent tenants included a retail furniture store. Rs2 Architects has converted the occupancy use from retail to office space. The interior has been completely renovated. The original tin ceiling has been completely restored. Underneath soffits and exterior signage, the original leaded glass windows were uncovered and restored. A new custom fabricated kitchen for employee convenience was built by Mike Wilson of Hummingbird Woodworks. The second floor also has been completely renovated, new bathrooms and extensive restoration of the original mill work and flooring. The exterior has received a new bluestone patio, stone fireplace and ADA compliant entrance.

Every wonder what is keeping the rain out.  Your roof, that’s what.  Ever wonder what type of roof you have?  Probably not, but it is one of the most important parts of your home.  There are many types of roofing systems ranging from typical asphalt shingles to zinc clad metals and everything in between. 

One of the most environmentally friendly roofing material is metal.  Metal roofing first and foremost is 100% recyclable.  That is an extremely significant number.  There are very few materials used for the construction of your home that can boast that type of recyclability.  Another nice aspect of the metal roof is that the coatings out there offer a “cooling effect” in that much of the heat is reflected away from your home resulting in lower energy costs.   By reducing energy consumption from heating and cooling your home you will reduce your over all footprint on the environment. Over the years you will be surprised by the savings both environmentally and financially.

If you install a new metal roof you will be installing most likely the last roof you will ever need.  They help protect from fire, they are very durable and can be very aesthetically beautiful.  The next time you thing about a roof think again and investigate.

Geothermal power (from the Greek roots geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning heat) is power extracted from heat stored in the earth.  As we all know temperatures on the earth’s surface can vary greatly but did you know that approximately10 feet below the surface the temperature is relatively constant at 50 to 60 degrees.  That is amazing. 

One of the most environmentally friendly, extremely energy efficient and cost-effective systems for temperature control are a geothermal heat pump.   These pumps help extract heat from the below the surface and use to help cool and heat your home.  I ran across this video http://www.geoexchange.org/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=243&video_id=2 from the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium that explains how a geothermal system works.  Check it out, very helpful.

As of December 1, 2009 homeowners who install geothermal heat pumps with the ENERGY STAR are eligible for upto a 30 percent federal tax credit.