Educational Media Reviews Online

This four-part series on sustainable renovation speaks to a variety of audiences using a show-and-tell approach whereby architecture and energy professionals, business owners, and homeowners explain how green techniques can improve home energy efficiency in terms of cost as well as comfort and safety. Tradesmen and women in training would find a suitable introduction to many of the conceptual and technical matters pertaining to green building and renovation. The information contained in the series is also presented so that a layperson investigating possible home projects will come away with a general overview and be well prepared to understand and consult with professionals. Additionally, those studying business or technology are given a multi-faceted portrait of an emerging industry.

The first program, Home Performance: First Step to Green, discusses how an existing structure can be closely examined to identify areas needing improvement. Certified auditors and consultants walk the viewer through a home performance audit, giving special attention to air quality and health matters as well as energy efficiency. The auditors outline how special equipment, such as infrared cameras, are used to hone in on problem areas. An overview of HVAC concerns on a historic house which has recently been restored using geothermic technologies is given, including heat analysis and heat load calculations.

Green Power, Clean Choices takes a closer look at technologies with which viewers may be more familiar, notably photovoltaic (PV) panels (or solar panels), solar hot water collectors, and wind electric systems. The benefits of these newer, active technologies are highlighted alongside passive design decisions, which include age-old approaches such as the orientation of the sun and building features like overhangs and awnings. Professionals note the important effect that policymakers and legislators have had on increased research and development in green technology, and the expanding viability of green construction-oriented businesses.

Sustainable Landscaping: Growing a Greener House investigates how the outside of the home can be designed with greater energy efficiency in mind while touching on important matters of land stewardship. Landscape architects note how trees can be selected and positioned to block the sun’s rays during the hottest times of the year and allow light through in colder months. Shrubs can provide an air buffer, which creates an air cushion to mediate temperatures and block drifts. Management of the landscape can also have a significant long-term impact on the environment; landscape architects advocate for the use of native species, which are lower in cost and require less maintenance over their lifecycle. Management of water run-off and creation of natural habitats to support wildlife also contribute to sustainability goals – the focus shifts from the neighborhood backyard to the urban rooftop in the last segment of this program, where a growing trend toward landscaped roof systems is examined.

Thinking Green, Building Smart is the final program, and would serve well as an overview or summary of the series if only one can be utilized. One homeowner and green enthusiast simplifies the tenets of green renovating with the familiar adage “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Toward that end, the viewer is shown how one-third of the energy put into a project lies in the materials used. Salvaging existing materials and structures and using recycled and non-toxic products can not only make a project more earth-friendly, but can lead to a healthier environment.

Throughout this unique series, various practitioners and innovators share their passion for their livelihood, showcasing how to integrate practical and technical approaches while advocating for greater use of green techniques and technologies in our homes and buildings. As such, these programs serve as a valuable primer on an industry that will no doubt continue to become even more innovative in years to come.