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The future of sustainable communities
I am seeing the beginning of a movement that is gathering steam. More and more communities in our area are trying to become more sustainable, and part of that progress is due to grass-roots groups of …- Ted Clifton -
The best green building certifications
In the state of Washington we have enjoyed a set of very robust and thorough Built Green programs, operated by our local home builders' associations. One of the advantages of these programs is that …- Ted Clifton -
How do you build (or retro-fit) an extremely tight and healthy home
Air-tightness and healthy homes should go hand-in-hand, however, certain old habits often get in the way. People need fresh air, but we don't want that air to be filtered through every crack and …- Ted Clifton -
Incorporate passive solar design into home from the start
While sunshine may "just happen" and it happens better in some places than in others, effective use of passive solar energy needs to be very carefully designed into the home from the very beginning …- Ted Clifton -
Lessons learned in building clean and green
I was young once; I worked hard, I achieved a lot, and I had risen to a position of some responsibility within my company. I was in charge of anything having to do with carpentry, in a company …- Ted Clifton -
Energy savings best gift to give
The best gift I could give anyone would be the bill for their next 30 years worth of energy, if they do nothing to change their energy habits. For the house alone, that would amount to about $220K on …- Ted Clifton -
Increase insulation to make a home more energy efficient
When making a home more energy efficient, think more of transforming your home, rather than "adding features." Existing homes pose a number of problems for would-be renovators. It is often assumed …- Ted Clifton -
Base water heater choice on regional climate
The best type of water heater to use? It depends! How about we start with what not to use! Do not, under any circumstances, even consider using a naturally aspirated gas water heater. They do not …- Ted Clifton -
Advantage of a sustainable community
There are no drawbacks to living in a sustainable community. Even the cost to develop the community will be less, if it is done right, with a government who understands the process. Think about the …- Ted Clifton -
Adding geothermal to a new home
There are lots of factors that will enter into the equation of whether or not to consider a ground source heat pump (GSHP) for your heating or cooling needs. I will outline these factors below, in …- Ted Clifton -
Home projects to do before winter arrives
Prepare your home for winter, now. These tips will help homeowners know what to do before the arrival of cold weather. Water is the number one destroyer of homes. Take the following steps now to …- Ted Clifton -
Ask the Expert: How do I add alternative energy to a home?
ProudGreenHome: What are the top challenges and solutions to adding alternative energy to an existing home? Ted Clifton: When adding alternative energy sources to a home, I often find the biggest …- Ted Clifton -
Ask the Expert: How to make a kitchen more green
ProudGreenHome: What are five ways to make a kitchen more green? Ted Clifton: Five ways to make a kitchen more green? This is an interesting question. Many people would assume that putting in some …- Ted Clifton -
Ask the Expert: Pros and cons of Insulated Concrete Form?
ProudGreenHome: What are the benefits of ICF? Ted Clifton: The first advantage is the structural strength inherent in a reinforced concrete wall. In one simple operation, you have the structural …- Ted Clifton -
Ask the Expert: How do I make an existing home green?
ProudGreenHome: What are easy ways to retrofit an existing home to include green features? Ted Clifton: One of the big problems with many green building programs, including LEED for Homes, is that it …- Ted Clifton
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Latest posts by Ted Clifton
Ted Clifton
Ted L. Clifton is a designer-builder from Coupeville, Wa., with over 45 years of hands-on experience in the construction industry. His two companies, Zero-Energy Plans LLC, and CVH Inc. have won five Energy Value Housing Awards, and two National Green Building Awards for Concept and Research. Ted has been closely involved with the development of both his local Built Green program and Built Green Washington.
