The truth is we can actually take you completely off the grid with the right combination of Geo-Thermal, Solar, and Thermal Mass Construction panels. The geo-cell will provide the storage space for heat in the hot Summer months; the stone aggregate holds the heat in and reradiates it back into the structure when the outside temperatures begin to drop, a proportionate solar array will supply the heat for your hot water as well as supplying electricity for mechanical needs, and the thermal mass panels that will make up the housing structure will be the core of the heating and cooling system. The panels lined with radiant tubing will absorb and retain the heat while circulating pumps will transfer the warm air throughout the entire structure, keeping every inch at 70 degrees.

Can retro-fitting be done to existing homes using Thermal Mass Construction? The answer is YES. As long as the structure is supported we can retro-fit one panel at a time. If you want to do it in stages it is very easy to do one side of the structure at a time. Our structures do not require load bearing walls so adjusting the positioning of the panels prior to setting is easy.

Lately I have been reading more and more in the news about an upturn in starts and building activity. It's nice to see something positive, especially in an industry that's been hit pretty hard this past year and half. According to a recent statement by Eric Belsky, Managing Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, we should see a healthy rise in home improvement activity this fall and into 2011.

The energy efficiency retrofit industry for public buildings is relatively well developed worldwide compared to the private building retrofit industry. It is a large market in the United States, with annual revenues for energy service companies in the vicinity of U.S. $4 billion. However, long-term energy efficiency and carbon mitigation targets worldwide will rely heavily on improving the efficiency of the entire building stock. Public buildings represent only about a quarter of the total commercial building stock in the United States, and retrofits have barely begun to touch the private building stock.

One reason for the sluggishness of efficiency in the private building stock is the lack of post-retrofit data on building performance. Although there are many successful examples of retrofits in the private sector, the industry as a whole needs a robust set of data on post-retrofit performance and payback before they will be convinced that the opportunity to reduce operating costs is real, the risks are low, and the ROI is high enough to justify investments in efficiency.

Continuing with Bob’s thinking about the lean and green, President Obama this morning added more details to a plan some are calling ‘cash for caulkers.’  Speaking at a Home Depot in Virginia, he began describing how insulation is sexy. He broke it down like this: better insulation means increased energy efficiency, which means dollar savings. In a move similar to the incentives for automobiles put out last summer, this new program would encourage consumer spending on home retrofits.

With increased spending several players would benefit. The hardware stores would see increased sales, which would lead to increased requests for product from the manufacturer. Local contractors and construction workers would see a boost in hiring to actually put these retrofits into place.  A welcome change to their industry as unemployment hit 19.4% in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last but not least, the consumer would save money each and every year off of their utility bill. No more leaky windows and attics to drain precious hot and cold air from the living space.  Just a well-insulated home providing comfort all year long.