Posts Tagged ‘solar’

Expo and House Tours Great Fun on Saturday!
by Robert Fortunato on May 24th, 2011 2 Comments »

We really appreciated the opportunity to be in the Water and Energy Expo in the morning and on the EPN Green and Solar house tour circuit in the afternoon.
We were impressed by the interested and engaged group that showed up.  Thanks to all our friends (old and new) that
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Join us on Saturday the 21st for Two Big Events!
by Robert Fortunato on May 16th, 2011 No Comments »

We have been invited to talk about the Green Idea House during two events on Saturday the 21st:
1. Our partners West Basin Water District and So Cal Edison are putting on a Water and Energy Smart Expo. They have set up a booth for us to explain the Green Idea
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Dency Nelson Featured in SouthBay Magazine
by Robert Fortunato on April 1st, 2011 No Comments »

Dency Nelson, the most passionate activist we know and one of the first supporters of the GIH, is featured in SouthBay Magazine

Solar Just Got Easier in Hermosa
by Robert Fortunato on July 28th, 2010 No Comments »

Despite budgetary concerns and the threat of a $700 million lawsuit against the city by MacPherson Oil,  the Hermosa Beach City Council showed their commitment to being the first carbon neutral city in Los Angeles County last night when they unanimously voted to waive all permit and plan check fees
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A Passive – Aggressive Move II
by Robert Fortunato on April 29th, 2010 2 Comments »

Passive Heating & Cooling via Proper Eave Depth
This is the first massing model we created of our house. We built it with a free program called Sketchup. we started designing the project with a massing model we created in Sketchup, a free drawing program from google that does
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Build It Green
by Robert Fortunato on April 27th, 2010 2 Comments »

The GreenPoint Rated label is the mark of quality for green home construction. It is a recognizable, independent seal of approval that verifies a home has been built or remodeled according to proven green standards. To make sure that every GreenPoint Rated home is healthy and efficient from the inside
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A Passive – Aggressive Move
by Robert Fortunato on April 27th, 2010 No Comments »

Passive Solar Heating in the Winter
This diagram depicts how the thermal mass wall in the stairwell
collects heat in the winter and stays cool in the summer
During summer months, the south facing lightwell window is shaded and prevents overheating.
During the winter months the low angles of the sun heats the thermal
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Ancient Wisdom
by Robert Fortunato on April 27th, 2010 No Comments »

Without cheap energy ancient people had to understand the arc of the sun and thermal mass to be comfortable. The oldest inhabited caves face south to maximize the benefits of the sun. We’ve simply forgotten.
Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde, Colorado
2pm June 17, 2008
We don’t inherit the land from our
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The Heat is On
by Robert Fortunato on April 25th, 2010 No Comments »

Redistributing the Solar Heat Gain
This diagram depicts how the heat from the thermal mass wall can be distributed
1. The low angle sun during winter months allows for sunlight to heat a thermal mass inside the lightwell.
2. Hot air naturally rises to the top of the lightwell and is collected by
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Renewing the Draft
by Robert Fortunato on April 23rd, 2010 No Comments »

Thermal Cooling in the Summer
Thermostatically controlled windows at the top of the stairwell create a natural drafting effect as hot air rises out of the building
1.In summer months, the overhang of the roof prevents sunlight from entering the lightwell and overheating the interior.
2.As interior air warms, it rises to toward
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