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  • Boise Cascade. The manufacturer now offers FSC chain-of-custody certification for its engineered wood products, which already were SFI certified. Available products include BCI joists with Versa-Lam LVL flanges, Versa-Stud LVL framing lumber, and Versa-Rim rimboards. Also available are AllJoist products, including the new deep-joist AJS 30, which has 3?1/2-inch-wide flanges in 18-, 20-, 22-, or 24-inch depths. 208.384.6161. www.bc.com.

    New + Notable

    15 New products for sustainable homes, including low-flow faucets, an alternative-energy management system, and a geothermal heat pump.

     
  • The winning entry, the SunShower SSIP house, features a two-part roof. The primary roof slopes toward the center, funneling rainwater to a courtyard and into a cistern. The porch roof, featuring photovoltaic panels and a wind turbine (both included in the kit), is angled for optimal solar collection. Because the kit of materials included only nine windows, the designers added free-form apertures to the SIPs porch walls for extra light and ventilationas well as a bit of whimsy

    Safe and Sound

    Using the same set of materials, eight New Orleans-based teams designed off-grid, kit-built homes that transport easily, rise quickly, and resist extreme weather, winds, and seismic activity.

     
  • Johns Manville. The companys offerings include JM Corbond III, a medium-density closed-cell polyurethane foam with an R-value of 6.6 per inch that can be used alone or in hybrid systems with fiberglass to create affordable applications. New to the portfolio is ocSPF, an open-cell insulation with an R-value of 3.8 per inch; according to the maker, the products blowing agents are made with 100% reactive catalysts to minimize emissions during spraying. Finally, the manufacturer offers IB Coating, a fire-retardant spray that adheres to polyurethane foam and other substrates to provide an ignition barrier. JM ocSPF and JM IB Coating have been third-party certified by ICC-ES, and JM Corbond has been third-party tested by IAPMO-ES. 800.654.3103. www.jm.com.

    Expanding Options

    Spray-foam insulation can definitely crank up the performance of your homes, if you make the right choices. Here's what to look for.

     
  • The Sage feels much larger than its 1,447 square feet, the judges commented.

    Merit Award

    A compact lot and small footprint don't stop this ultra-green demonstration home from living large.

     
  • A traditional barn-like exterior combines with an extensive list of sustainability-boosting details, including reclaimed timbers; locally sourced trim, ceilings, flooring, and pavers; and solar electric and water. The efforts paid off with a HERS rating of 27 and certifications to LEED-Platinum and NGBS-Emerald.

    Merit Award

    A traditional barn-like exterior combines with an extensive list of sustainability-boosting details in this high-performance home.

     
  • The architects transformed the cramped first floor into an airy, open layout. Skylights, clerestory windows, and a two-story window wall in the stairway flood the space with natural light.

    Merit Award

    A new setback second story, an opened-up layout, and an updated front facade modernize this 1930s cottage.

     
  • The Labron Residence in suburban Dallas was designed as a modernist take on a treehouse.

    Merit Award

    A modern take on a treehouse, this home's second-level great room, window walls, and balconies keep residents connected to lush outdoor space.

     
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    Merit Award

    A gentle facelift of the existing home combines with a modern, edgy rear addition.

     
  • High transoms along the roofline heighten the indoor-outdoor connection and frame distant views.

    2010 EcoHome Design Awards

    10 green-built homes that creatively balance beauty and performance.

     
  • The Incredibly Green Home in Bethesda, Md., is one of the first houses in the country to achieve both LEED-Platinum and NGBS-Emerald certifications.

    Merit Award

    Arts-and-Crafts details mingle with an abundance of healthy and efficient products in this top-rated infill home.

     
  • Outdoor rooms separated by telescoping glass walls extend the cozy living space. Among the reclaimed materials is this vibrant pendant light crafted from an old buoy from Washington's Puget Sound, furthering the home's rustic sophistication.

    Grand Award

    Vertical integration and abundant indoor-outdoor connections help this rustic-modern home work in harmony with its steep infll lot.

     
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    Grand Award

    LEED-Platinum prototype production home combines high-performance features with flexible design details.

     
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    Buzz Kill

    PACE loans for renewable energy are driving business growth around the country, which makes it all the more disturbing that the FHFA has stopped the programs dead in their tracks.

     
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    Micro-Managing Moisture

    Moisture and heat can compromise the short-term performance of adhesives, coatings, sealants, and finishes. Here's how to avoid issues.

     
  • The design team set out to build a home that is not only sustainable, but also that is appropriate for the homeowners' lifestyle, is respectful of their memories of the cabin that the house replaced, and is perfectly suited to the characteristics of the site. Modern technologies blend with a cottage-esque design that takes architectural cues from the original structure.

    Merit Award

    Sustainbly built waterfront home connects residents to the outdoors while retaining some inspirations--and materials--from the cabin it replaced.

     
  • High transoms along the roofline heighten the indoor-outdoor connection and frame distant views.

    Grand Award

    Spatial separation and flexible mechanical zoning help balance seasonal occupancy swings in this custom home overlooking Cape Cod Bay.

     
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    Seen at AIA 2010

     

  • Energy Star to Raise Gas Water Heater Criteria

    This fall, the EPA program will increase its minimum Energy Factor for gas storage water heaters from 0.62 to 0.67.

     

  • Alex Wilson Selected for the 2010 Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership in Sustainable Housing

    Annual $50,000 award from The Hanley Foundation and EcoHome recognizes visionary environmental building editor, educator, and advocate.

     

  • DOE Rule Clarification Could Eliminate Some Multi-Head Shower Systems

    Rule interpretation would clarify the term “showerhead,” require entire systems to meet 2.5-gpm flow maximums.