The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to change many of our habits. We now must wear masks, social distance, avoid crowded buildings and events, and curtail our long-distance travel—just to name a few. Countless lives and daily routines have been changed in a myriad of different ways, but at least one of those changes looks
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
This year, April 22, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The first official Earth Day was held in 1970, when 22 million Americans engaged in rallies, marches, and educational programs to advocate for clean air, land, and water. Since then, Earth Day has grown to become a global celebration raising awareness of environmental issues