Click on the link below to check out Enphase Energy’s website and see solar power production information for zHome’s Unit 1! 

http://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/4jfN26325#

Performance informaiton can easily be viewed “at a glance” or in detail, including graphs, totals by day/ week/ month/ lifetime, and time-lapse videos.  Every zHome unit’s PV array will be continuously monitored this way, checking  the health and performance of every solar module and microinverter in the array and giving zHomeowners important feedback about how much energy their home is producing.  Net zero, here we come!

Two-part video follows Renton family through a remodel gone wrong, made right

King County GreenTools released its second online episode of “EcoCribz” this week, a video series that highlights local families who are remodeling their homes using green products and practices. The goal of the online video series is to provide local residents with practical green remodeling advice.

EcoCribz’ second episode, ‘Green Gone Brown,’ documents the story of the Brown family, whose Renton home remodel project went awry. Not only did their original contractor use unhealthy products and practices, but also made other construction errors that led to water intrusion, structural damage and the installation of insulation that was harmful to Kay Brown, who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity disorder. EcoCribz Part II shows how the local green building community lead by Doug Kennedy of Pathway Construction donated their time and expertise to fix the problems, and improve the home’s energy-efficiency and its indoor air quality.

In addition to highlighting local green remodeling projects, EcoCribz also illustrates how homeowners can use King County’s online Eco-Cool Remodel Tool to find the best green remodeling products, practices and resources. The tool allows users to take a tour through a virtual house and find tips ranging from selecting healthy paint products, to what should be considered when replacing a furnace, upgrading a kitchen or landscaping the yard.

 To view all EcoCribz episodes, or to check out the Eco-Cool Remodel Tool, visit www.ecocoolremodel.com.

I just had the pleasure of providing a tour to a group of Taiwanese building scientists and policy experts, including professors from the National University of Kaohsiung and the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, the CEO of the Taiwan Architecture and Building Center, and researchers from the Architecture and Building Research Institute.  We spent well over two hours going through the ins and outs of zHome. 

zHome was internationally inspired, has an international builder, and it is great to spread the word to key folks in other countries.  If we all work together, we CAN deal with climate change – and even have fun doing it.