Midwest Eco-Design - Your home for eco-friendly construction, remodeling & housing choices including prefrabricated homes, cabins and other sustainable material choices.

- In addition to replacing leaky toilets and faucets, think about improving the pipes feeding the fixtures.
- Low-flow faucets & fixtures are more costly than standard fixtures but will help you save money on water bills and, ultimately, will pay for themselves.
- Low-yield showerheads let you reduce water use while still having an enjoyable shower.
- [...]

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Insulation is one of the most important aspects of energy-efficiency in a home.  There are many types of insulation , the majority used for thermal purposes.  Insulation reduces unwanted heat loss or gain and can decrease the energy demands of heating and cooling systems.
Over the past years we’ve seen leaps and bounds towards creating cheaper, [...]

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When upgrading or choosing a new heating system, you want a system with a high annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. You can find this information in the product literature. If a salesperson tells you the rating, be sure to verify it by reading the label.
The AFUE is the measure of the amount [...]

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According to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), for a material to qualify as “green”, it must:

Meet or exceed performance requirements.
Have sufficient, predictable strength, durability, or stability.
Be resistant to moisture, decay, or biocontamination.
Be nontoxic or nonhazardous to occupants and installers.
Be comparable in cost (labor + materials + equipment + other) to traditional materials.
Be [...]

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