EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) is embarking on the 6th annual EEBA Team Zero Inventory of Zero Energy Homes and invites all zero energy (ZE) builders, designers, architects, developers and owners to upload their projects to the database.

The yearly report tracks ZE single and multifamily home trends and leaders across the U.S. and Canada. Currently, the Inventory includes ~28,000 ZE projects voluntarily submitted.

When homeowners think about features they want in entry doors and replacement windows, energy efficiency is typically at the top of the list. Energy-efficient products save money, add comfort, provide better return on investment, and most importantly help protect our environment. But what about the manufacturing processes that go into making home exterior products? If you’re concerned about the environment, you can spec products that are made by companies committed to protecting it.

EEBA Sponsor: ProVia

Sustainability is no longer a niche or unique idea—it is here to stay. Eventually, homeowners won’t just see green living as a desire but as a need. Of course, reducing our carbon footprint is a key benefit, but what else is driving the demand for sustainable construction?  

With businesses opening and life becoming more normal after COVID-19, you may want to start fresh, too. The best place to begin is with your home. Rearranging, remodeling, and refreshing your home sustainably can make it feel like a real new start. Begin by asking yourself the following questions to figure out how to revive your home post-pandemic.

A green future depends on sustainable cities. It might sound contradictory, but it’s actually greener for people to reside in urban environments. In order to preserve what’s left of the natural environment, human settlements must not encroach on these areas. As the global population continues to grow at an exponential rate, cities and urban planners face the challenge of sustainability. Fortunately, many cities are succeeding. Here are the ten characteristics of a sustainable city as a result of environmentally-conscious urban planning.

Global carbon emissions dropped with the onset of Covid-19; however, with the increase in human activity in recent months, emissions are on the rise again. Additionally, the annual increase in carbon pollution over the past 60 years is about 100 times faster than previous natural increases. With the acceleration of this growth, the possibility of a 1.5* C warming peak may have passed. 

Nearly two centuries ago, American author and environmentalist, Henry David Thoreau, borrowed a friend’s axe, high-tailed it out to the banks of Walden Pond, Massachusetts, and built himself a one-room log cabin by the water. But building the homes of the future has gotten quite a bit more complicated in the last 200 years. Yet, with today’s technology, the homes of tomorrow promise to be every bit as environmentally friendly as Thoreau’s modest little homestead in the woods.  

As the effects of climate change have become more apparent around the world, sustainability is a major talking point in every industry. In the realm of architecture and construction, the materials we use matter to the natural environment, as well as our own health.

Here’s what you need to know about green building, as well as the environmental and economic benefits of choosing eco-friendly materials, whether you’re building or planning a sustainable single-family home, commercial building, or another type of structure.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has announced the winners of its 2021 Housing Innovation Awards. This recognition distinguishes the leading home builders across the country constructing Zero Energy Ready Homes, the federal government’s most rigorous guidelines for new residential construction. Grand winners in each of the award categories listed below will be announced during the Housing Innovation Awards ceremony on September 14^th, at the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance High Performance Home Summit.

As more alarming studies surrounding climate change come out, scientists are recommending that people take real action to prevent the disasters of global warming. A great way for individuals to start is by rethinking eco-friendly housing practices. First-time homeowners should take this into consideration when making their move. There are a variety of ways first-time homeowners can create a more sustainable home for the future and by using these tips, you can prepare your home with environmental sustainability in mind.