Posts From March, 2020

Carrier's Sustainable and High-Efficiency Solutions for Home Builders

Celebrating Earth Day
Carrier
As we celebrate Earth Month, it's important to recognize the role that sustainable and high-efficiency solutions play in protecting our planet. Carrier, a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions, is dedicated to providing innovative products for home builders that reduce environmental impact and drive progress for the planet. This Earth Month, let's explore how Carrier is making a difference with its commitment to sustainability. High-Efficiency Solutions for a Greener Future Carrier's high-efficiency solutions are designed to meet the needs of both single and multi-family real estate owners. The Infinity Heat Pump with Greenspeed Technology is a prime example of Carrier's innovative approach to energy-efficient heating and cooling. This heat pump operates efficiently at lower temperatures and uses electricity instead of fossil fuels, which can help reduce carbon emissions and overall energy costs compared to a gas furnace. In dual fuel applications, building ... read more
 

Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood

A collaboration between DOE, utilities, and a long-standing homebuilder create an opportunity to explore how homeowners are using energy in a real-world, smart home environment.
Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood
"Altus at The Quarter," a townhome community consisting of 46 units, recently opened in Atlanta, Georgia and will serve as real-world research for understanding "how emerging smart technologies and distributed energy resources can impact energy efficiency, energy management and resiliency." The townhomes include PV panels, battery storage, heat pump water heaters, and other energy efficient building elements - all managed by a "grid-interactive control system" developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory ("ORNL") and the Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office ("BTO"). Oak Ridge National Laboratory was originally established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project. They are currently managed and operated by UT-Battelle as a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the DOE. ORNL supports DOE's national missions of scientific discovery, clean energy, and security. The DOE's Building Technologies Office leads a vast network of research and... read more
 

Collaboration and Energy Efficiency for Affordable Homes

It’s great to hear about net zero energy communities being built, and even better to discover the aim is to make them affordable.
Collaboration and Energy Efficiency for Affordable Homes
In many areas in the country, home prices are growing faster than incomes are increasing. Making sure homes stay affordable once they are occupied is essential in keeping costs down once they’re occupied. Collaborating on projects is becoming more and more popular when attainability is of utmost importance. In Hillsborough County in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, Commissioners are working with the Florida Home Partnership, a 501(c)3 nonprofit community home builder to build seven zero energy homes. The houses will utilize solar panels and aim for monthly electric bills of $20 or less. Other features will include metal roofing and concrete walls for hurricane resistance and lower insurance premiums. Along with their collaboration with Florida Home Partnership, Hillsborough County has also secured a $150,000 grant from Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo has a history in housing philanthropy and recently announced a partnership with Enterprise Community Partners to create the Housing... read more