Construction has remained largely the same for the last hundred years or so, with the exception of design and the occasional new technology or introduction of safer materials. In 1996, that changed with The Passive House Certification, which originally began in Germany under the name PassivHaus. It focuses on using the natural elements surrounding the
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is an educational center that aims to develop a deeper bond between humans and the natural world. The Hitchcock Center is a certified living building located on the Hampshire College campus in Amherst, overlooking the Holyoke Range. The Center for EcoTechnology was able to help The Hitchcock Center measure
Above is an image of The Lumberyard – an affordable housing complex located in the heart of Northampton, Massachusetts. At first glance, it may look like any new apartment complex, but this building is a highly energy efficient multifamily building. The efficiency of the Lumberyard was measured using the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), a
We’ve all been feeling cooped up lately. For some people, this means spending all day tweeting, but at our reuse store, EcoBuilding Bargains, customers have been crowing over materials to build chicken coops! Raising chickens is a great way to get fresh eggs, teach children about where our food comes from, and become involved in
The hills are quiet and snow dusted, and a winding dirt drive leads to a home half-built into the hillside. This home, built and owned by James Moore, is sustainably designed and features many reclaimed finds from EcoBuilding Bargains, the largest reclaimed building materials store in New England. As a regular visitor to the