I am a builder in Northeast Georgia and am currently requiring my HVAC contractor to install FlexFlow elbows. I build Energy Star certified homes and improper air flow to the supply and return registers is the biggest reason systems fail to be Energy Star labeled. Collapsed elbows and joints is the main reason. A system may be rated for 1500 cfm but will never attain that flow level if the duct work is restricted. Therefore, the sytem will not operate efficiently and the home may not be heated or cooled evenly. Builders who build "green" certified homes are audited by third party energy raters. The air flow of the HVAC system is one of the biggest areas that they monitor. I am promoting the FlexFlow in my area. Would be glad to communicate with other builders/HVAC installers.

http://www.mvhomebuilders.com
mvhomebuilders@bellsouth.net

Mountain View Home Builders, of Gainesville, Georgia, recently qualified as a green home builder under the Department Of Energy’s Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program. Energy Star homes use up to 50% less energy to maintain than conventional homes. To date, they have built four homes that qualify for the EnergyStar label and plan to make all their future homes EnergyStar qualified. The company is also certified under several other green building programs including Jackson EMC “Right Choice”, Georgia Power EnergyStar, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy “Builders Challenge Program”. Mountain View Home Builders is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. During 2009, the company plans to be certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The LEED green building rating system provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Also during 2009, the company plans to become a certified builder under the EarthCraft House program of the Atlanta Home Builders Association. The EarthCraft House program is recognized nationally as the leading residential green building program. For more information on how Mountain View Home Builders is pioneering green building in the Northeast Georgia area, visit their website at... http://www.mvhomebuilders.com
Phone: 770-654-3435
or e-mail at mvhomebuilders@bellsouth.net.

Courtney,

I am surprised 308 people read your post and nobody tried to answer your question. I know your post is old, but maybe you will get this reply.

"Green Building" is the practice of home builders of building extremely energy efficient homes and using environmentally responsible building techniques and materials. It would take several pages to explain in detail. Please feel free to go to the web pages below which explain in more detail about green building. They also have many links that will help you become educated about what you can do to make your home more "green".

http://www.mvhomebuilders.com/Green_Building.php
http://www.mvhomebuilders.com

Mountain View Home Builders, of Gainesville, Georgia, recently qualified as a green home builder under the Department Of Energy’s Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program. Energy Star homes use up to 50% less energy to maintain than conventional homes. To date, they have built four homes that qualify for the EnergyStar label and plan to make all their future homes EnergyStar qualified. The company is also certified under several other green building programs including Jackson EMC “Right Choice”, Georgia Power EnergyStar, and the U.S. Dept. of Energy “Builders Challenge Program”. Mountain View Home Builders is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. During 2009, the company plans to be certified under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The LEED green building rating system provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Also during 2009, the company plans to become a certified builder under the EarthCraft House program of the Atlanta Home Builders Association. The EarthCraft House program is recognized nationally as the leading residential green building program. For more information on how Mountain View Home Builders is pioneering green building in the Northeast Georgia area, visit their website at... http://www.mvhomebuilders.com Phone: 770-654-3435 or e-mail at mvhomebuilders@bellsouth.net.

I am a Green builder in Georgia. Many things you can do to make your home "greener" and use less energy. Will also make your home more comfortable and lower your utility bills.

Install low water use shower head (Home Depot). Check weather stripping around all doors and make sure there are no leaks. Install a programmable thermostat (Home Depot, Lowes) This will allow you to more efficiently heat and cool your home without wasting energy. Add extra layer of insulation in your attic area. Will reduce utility bill greatly! The list is endless. Go to these web pages...

http://www.mvhomebuilders.com/Green_Building.php

http://www.energystar.gov

There are many links on these pages to great ideas for greening your home. Lots of them are not expensive and will repay you in a short period of time.
Hope this helps.

Flexflow elbow was just listed in GreenSpec.

Here's a link.

http://greensource.construction.com/products/0811-2.asp

We are conducting a survey to better understand how the construction community learns about environmentally sustainable building products and technologies.

We are looking for responses from a wide variety of building professionals so your help in this research would be greatly appreciated. The 9 question survey shouldn’t take more than 6 minutes to complete and participants have the option to enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate from Home Depot.

Responses will be analyzed on an aggregated level and all individual responses will remain strictly confidential.

Please follow or copy and paste the following link into your browser.

Thanks for your help!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nFpBsQmyukwSsHo1_2fuiJVg_3d_3d

We are conducting a survey to better understand how the construction community learns about environmentally sustainable building products and technologies.

We are looking for responses from a wide variety of building professionals so your help in this research would be greatly appreciated. The 9 question survey shouldn’t take more than 6 minutes to complete and participants have the option to enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate from Home Depot.

Responses will be analyzed on an aggregated level and all individual responses will remain strictly confidential.

Please follow or copy and paste the following link into your browser.

Thanks for your help!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nFpBsQmyukwSsHo1_2fuiJVg_3d_3d

I live in the northeast and this year with heating fuel pries solar space heaters are even more cost effective. Solar space heaters work like solar water heaters but heat air instead of water. They can make a big dent in your heating bill if you live someplace cold. The one I like the most is made in Canada out of used aluminum cans.

http://www.cansolair.com/

Have you tried soap nuts? They are a nut that actually grows with natural soap in them. They are used in renewing super fund sites and actually improve the quality of the soil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindus