More examples of LEED buildings

[csintexas]

I see current existing building stock as another big issue.

Certainly there are limitations to what can be done. Our current methodology seems to be to tear it down and build something new. I think this is a poor choice.

It is a daunting challenge for me to figure out some way for my house to become efficient. Comparatively it would be much easier to design a new "green" house.

How do we modify an existing society built on cheap oil to operate with very little oil? Our communities are not made for light transportation.

While batteries can store enough energy for light personal transportation the big machines which run off of oil is a problem.

[Antisthenes]

reclamation?
reuse
recycling

of course all this takes energy to do but it saves the virgin resources and who really takes down stuff with care these days to get the most use out of the materials unless it is something historic.

what i have done is make Popins (eps foam covered in a reflective radiant barrier, one side white one side black) that i pop in and out of my fenestrations/windows depending on the need to stay cool or keep in heat.
(LEED innovation points ? j/k)
also solar shade hats that are based on the suns position to my latitude and what time if the year i think it is good to block out direct lighting (~equinox) think Spaceballs helmet...

[csintexas]

Have you gathered any good data on the savings with these pop-ins?

My better half would probably not appreciate them anyway but there may be a time that we really need that type of solution.




I know LEED has the opinion that doing something is better than nothing and I agree. That is why I am opposite of Kevin's opinion that the minimum requirements for getting in should be raised. For me, if the best someone can do is 10% better than todays poor standard than so be it.

LEED has picked a pretty lofty acronym. If they want to lead they should lead in a direction that we need to go and not just towards a vague understanding of the goal. By definition a platinum building should be the best we can do. It should produce the world that we need to transition to in the not to distant future. Allowing mediocrity at the platinum level only serves to confuse the real problem and the real solution. We need clear leadership.

[Antisthenes]

my elec. bill was 13 dollars last month.

but they really have the most effect in the extreme heat and cold situations

I am taking my LEED AP tests soon so i will let them know, but know that i am no absolutist , not best not worst but different...

i do have a energy performance testing guy i know, maybe i can get him to bring his "build it tight ventilate right" tools, not for free though to test this old house. i think a nice digital thermometer would do too but i don't want to test the opposite case as that i know would cost me extra resources.