The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) invites the public to visit local sustainable buildings across New Jersey to talk with energy-saving experts during the 2009 Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, Oct. 3.
NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House, part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, is an opportunity to learn first-hand how incorporating green elements can help reduce heating costs, increase energy conservation, and even generate surplus clean energy. Private homes, businesses, nature centers and public buildings will be open and the public is welcome to tour, ask questions, and discover the ways people are conserving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment.
Last year, thousands of people toured more than 600 energy-efficient buildings from Pennsylvania to Maine to experience the variety of ways presently being used to conserve energy, save money on energy bills, and help reduce the carbon footprint of their homes or other buildings.
A complete list of Green Buildings Open House sites and events is available at www.nesea.org. Use the list of local open houses to plan a visit or design a tour of local green buildings.
Examples of green features that are used in homes and buildings that will be open during this event include passive solar heating (advantageous placement of windows), solar hot water collection and storage, radiant floor heating, the generation of electricity by using photovoltaics (solar panels) or wind, use of energy-saving appliances and techniques (super-insulation and sealing air spaces), use of sustainable and healthy building materials, and the use of water-saving fixtures.
To improve indoor air quality, green building materials that address allergy/asthma-sensitive people include paints, insulation and carpeting. Also demonstrated is the use of local, sustainable harvested wood products. Visitors may also learn about how they can support the expanded development of renewable energy by purchasing clean renewable energy through their utility company or a green electricity provider.
Available at each host site will be NESEA’s Sustainable Green Pages. Listed in this publication are organizations and individuals that offer sustainable products and services in the Northeast U.S. that include quality building practices, energy services and transportation. In addition, state and federal incentives (tax credits, grants, rebates, and discount utility rates) are available at www.dsireusa.org for renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies. Check www.EnergyStar.gov for Federal tax-credit information on qualified appliances and products. For more informationvisit www.nesea.org or call 413-774-6051.