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  • 1.  Question about articles of interest to homeowners

    Silver
    Contributor
    Posted 04-27-2023 12:06 PM

    What kinds of potential stories in Solar Today might be of strong interest to U.S. homeowners who want to learn about clean energy?



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    Kat Friedrich
    Editor in Chief
    ASES
    Monona WI
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  • 2.  RE: Question about articles of interest to homeowners

    Posted 04-28-2023 10:41 AM
    4.28.23  SAVE: RE article topics-scroll my Facebook page Kathy GIng for multiple entries on energy efficient houses and building products made of hemp worldwide, many now made in the USA. Europe and many other areas have been building with hemp for decades.

    Industrial hemp is the ecological sustainable green building product for which the world has been waiting. 

    Hempcrete or hemp blocks termite, rodent resistant even -proof, breathable, superior acoustics; can last 600-800 years. 

    Hemp not only carbon neutral but carbon negative: continues to sequester hemp years after building constructed. 

    Hemp can be grown almost anywhere with minimum inputs. On 3 acres grow enough hemp to build a 2,000 house. Preferred cultivars have been identified for higher quality hurds for construction uses. 

    Many hemp builders incorporate passive solar features not only orientation but also efficient window placement, Trombe walls etc.  

    Europeans have been building with hempcrete since mid 80s. In recent decades hemp blocks, hemp bricks, hemp panels including SIPS becoming popular as these can reduce labor cost. Dozens of hemp block companies worldwide now. Many hemp houses are works of art. 

    Three essential books for your library:  

    Hemp Buildings: 50 International Case Studies by Steve Allin, 2022, Ireland, HempBuilding.com for fast track info; 4 pages on each building includes 350 colored photos.

    Building with Hemp also by Steve Allin includes 350 colored photos. He has been building with hemp since 1997; Perriers in France since mid-80s. Hundreds of other builders around the world and this movement needs acclerated.

    Join Steve's International Hemp Building Association $77 USD year (student/ business rates available) to see videos of past 11 hemp building symposia 11 nations including hemp high-rises withstanding earthquakes in Italy in the past decade. I attended last 2 in France, Ireland online. Many attend real time; reasonably priced either way. 2023 event will be in Amsterdam, Netherlands 10.7-8.23

    Hemp Building Directory, 2nd ed. 2023 by Jean Lotus listing 400+ hemp sourced building companies/products 25 categories, 25 nations; and concise interviews with world hemp building leaders, several from the USA; academic article references. 

    To order Jean's directory only: https://www.hempbuildmag.com/directory-2023  

    If join USHBA $99 get free Jean Lotus' 2nd Hemp Building Directory, 2023, $69 if purchased separately. 

    Important to join or donate to nonprofit US Hemp Building Assn. USHBA.org:     partial map of USA hemp homes: https://ushba.org/hemp-structures-map/  

    400 volunteer hours were donated by USHBA professionals to facilitate hemp being legalized in USA since 9.22. More accreditations in 2024. 
    ~~~~
    Kathy Ging, MA, GRI




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Question about articles of interest to homeowners

    Silver
    Contributor
    Posted 05-07-2023 05:38 PM

    Kathy,

    Respectfully - I believe you're using this forum as a marketing venue for building materials. This is a forum about solar energy and the energy transition. I would recommend that you place ads elsewhere.

    Best regards,

    Kat



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    Kat Friedrich
    Editor in Chief
    ASES
    Monona WI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Question about articles of interest to homeowners

    Posted 04-28-2023 10:57 AM

    Kat,

    The Summer 2021 article, "Is Solar Sexy When You Sell Your Home?" was an eye-opener for me about pitfalls when it comes time to sell a house with a substantial investment in solar. The Summer 2020 issue had a page listing 40 Questions to Ask an Installer, which was very informative for anyone contemplating installing solar. Any one of the questions could be expanded upon in potential stories. I would be interested to know more about the range of options available for home power systems, with and without energy storage. I'd like to know more about heat pumps and options for domestic hot water and radiant heating that do not rely on natural gas. 

    Thank you.

    Buff



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    Burford Furman
    San Jose State University
    Mountain View CA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Question about articles of interest to homeowners

    Silver
    Contributor
    Posted 05-07-2023 05:41 PM

    Buff, 

    We are very interested in questions of financing, as are our ASES members who joined us through the credit union network. 

    I think that list of questions is a very practical resource. I will add these ideas to our brainstorming document. 

    Thank you,

    Kat



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    Kat Friedrich
    Editor in Chief
    ASES
    Monona WI
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    Original Message