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Ask Eartha: What is Insulation?

Dear Eartha, I know insulation is something you need in your house to keep you warm. But if I’m being honest, I don’t even know what it looks like. What exactly is this stuff and why is it so important? “I absolutely love my insulation!” is not something you hear too often. Despite not having […]

Ask Eartha: A Call for Energy Efficiency Professionals

Dear Eartha, I just had an energy assessment done, which got me really excited about completing energy efficiency projects for my home. But now I’m having trouble getting anyone scheduled to come to do the work. Why is it so hard to line up contractors for these types of projects? The demand for energy efficiency […]

Ask Eartha: Energy and Happiness

Dear Eartha, I know that to fight climate change, we all need to use less gas and less energy. But do I have to give up my creature comforts? How can I find some balance? This is an important question to consider in the wake of yet more discouraging news from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate […]

Ask Eartha: Electrifying the Future

Dear Eartha, I’m trying to decrease my carbon footprint at home. I subscribe to a renewable electricity program but what do I do about heating with natural gas? I want to save, but I don’t want to live in an igloo! This is an excellent question to ponder as we enter heating season – or, […]

ASK Eartha: Check for Gas Leaks

Dear Eartha, I’ve been having huge energy bills over the last few months. The strange thing is that I’ve had my heat off since mid-April. According to my energy bill, the majority of my costs are on the gas side, not electric. What is going on!?  This very question pinged into my inbox around noon on […]

ASK EARTHA: Combatting Climate Change

Dear Eartha, I’ve heard that to avoid the scariest impacts of climate change, we humans need to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Are we doing enough to get there? What would it take to hit that target?  As we emerge from the Covid reality of the past year, it’s worth reflecting on the world we’re […]

ASK EARTHA: Solar Energy – How to Get Started

Dear Eartha, Last year, my neighbor installed solar panels on her roof, and she loves them. I’m interested in solar now, too. How do I get started?  When you pause to think about it, solar energy is pretty rad. The most abundant source of energy on Earth, it powers nearly everything around us – growing the […]

ASK EARTHA: The Zero Energy Ready Home

Dear Eartha, I’m a local Summit County Builder with decades of experience building in the mountains. I’ve heard some rumblings about the new sustainable code in effect and would like to know what I should expect before I pull my first construction permit this year.  With a new set of construction codes in effect across the […]

ASK EARTHA: What to Know About Building Codes

Dear Eartha, I’ve been hearing some rumblings about new construction codes in the county. As a local Realtor, what should I know about these updated codes? Will these changes improve the energy efficiency of new homes? With a new set of codes in effect across the community, sustainable construction has certainly taken a step forward. […]