EEBA's High Performance Home Blog

The challenges homebuilders face seem to grow every year. In addition to the business of designing, constructing and selling homes, there is a constant need to keep up with code changes, new regulations and consumer demands. Climate change is bringing additional pressures to build for efficiency and electrification and now, embodied carbon is yet another aspect homebuilders must factor into their business model. Change is necessary and there are a multitude of economic, performance, and emissions-reducing benefits builders stand to gain by tackling embodied carbon. And help is on the horizon. This April, RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) is launching the Homebuilders Carbon Action Network (HomebuildersCAN), with the primary purpose of helping homebuilders understand embodied carbon and learn how to measure and reduce it in a productive and profitable way. HomebuildersCAN was conceived as a “community of practice” where homebuilders and energy raters can engage with... read more

In an era where water scarcity is becoming an increasingly critical issue, Hydraloop presents a ground-breaking solution with its graywater recycling devices, designed to significantly reduce potable water usage in homes. Leveraging advanced technology, the Hydraloop calculator assesses potential water savings by analyzing daily household activities, such as shower lengths, frequency, and water volume, as well as the number toilet flushes, and laundry loads. The more individuals living in the home, the more graywater produced. This innovative approach not only optimizes water reuse for gardening, laundry, and toilet flushing, but also showcases substantial annual water savings, making it a compelling choice for environmentally conscious builders. By integrating a graywater recycling device, households can play a pivotal role in sustainable water management, ensuring a greener future with each drop of water saved. In this scenario piece, we are diving into the potential water savings... read more