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Understanding LEED for Homes: Innovation and design
Innovation and Design is the first of eight categories in the LEED for Homes Rating System. It awards up to 11 points toward certification. For those homeowners who are not that interested in LEED …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Understanding LEED for Homes: Overview
Ever since we got our home LEED certified, I have gotten questions about what it takes to actually accomplish this. Is it all energy efficiency? Does it cost more? Is it worth it? While these answers …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
5 ways to improve your indoor air quality
The EPA estimates that indoor air quality can be 3-5 times worse than outdoor air quality. And since most Americans spend most of their time indoors, that can seriously affect our health — in …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Is it possible to be green in a larger footprint home?
Question: Is it possible to be green in a smaller footprint home? Answer: I love this question, because so many articles are written about how the greenest homes are the smallest homes. Yes, smaller …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
How does a green home benefit a family?
A green home benefits a family in several real, deep ways. The first and most important way is that it benefits our health. A green home is built with materials that do not off-gas toxic fumes, so …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Is it worth it to pursue LEED Platinum certification on a home?
This question needs to be divided into two parts: Is it worth it to pursue LEED Certification on a home? Is it worth it to get to the Platinum level? As someone who did pursue LEED Certification on …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
5 Tips to save energy at home
Five tips to save energy at home: Become aware of your energy uses and get a watt meter to better understand it. Space heating and cooling accounts for the largest share of energy, followed closely …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Remodeling with a clean site
Many people dread the thought of remodeling their home because of the mess it creates. Trying to keep it clean can be hard, but here are some tips to consider: Choose a subcontractor that …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
LEED-certified buildings reach record
As a LEED AP and one who works with a firm that certifies existing buildings under LEED-EBOM (EBOM = Existing Buildings, Operations, and Maintenance), I am particularly excited about a green building …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
The greenest holiday gifts are free
During holiday time, it's hard not to notice the shopping spirit in the air. Commercials scream at us to hurry up and buy while supplies last. Stuff is everywhere! But if you are thinking green, you …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Living in a green home
The beautiful thing about the word "green" is that it captures two of the most important things that most people care about: their health, and their money. And there is a wonderful third reason to go …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Consider each type of hot water heater for a home
ProudGreenHome: What is the most efficient hot water heater for residential use? Melissa Rappaport Schifman: As with most questions that deal with tradeoffs, the answer to this question will always …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
My favorite solar panels
It has been almost one year since our solar panels were installed on our roof. I had written the whole solar saga in my blog, and if you had talked to me during the installation process, you would …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Top 5 benefits of geothermal systems
This month's "Ask the Expert" column is about what to consider when installing geothermal. Since this topic is well covered by Ted Clifton's column, I thought I would add to the discussion by talking …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Wildflowers make for a stunning native landscape
When you look at a huge, sprawling lawn, what comes to mind? Kids playing, taking naps, a serene afternoon walk? When environmentalists look at one, they usually think of all the energy and water …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Three reasons to go green
When I am asked why someone would want to green their home or business, the answers always fall into one or more of these three reasons: To save money by reducing utility bills. To ensure a material …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Ask the Expert: How do I add solar to an existing home?
ProudGreenHome: How do you add solar to an existing home? Melissa Rappaport Schifman: We installed a 3.6 kilowatt solar panel system on our roof in October 2010, and I wrote about the entire process …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
An unexpected benefit of a green roof
My office sits on top of half of our garage, which has a flat roof, so I look out on the roof of the other half of the garage. I had always been intrigued by green roofs, so that seemed like an …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman -
Tips on energy savings this summer
We have solar panels on our roof, so a lot of people ask me about them as they consider how to decrease their electric bill. As much as I love solar panels, most people should not install solar …- Melissa Rappaport Schifman
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Latest posts by Melissa Rappaport Schifman
Melissa Rappaport Schifman
Melissa provides sustainability consulting services for businesses in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Melissa is also the founder of Green Intention LLC, where she writes and blogs about her experience in getting her own home LEED Gold certified--and then trying to live more sustainably in the home. She chairs her congregation’s Task Force for Sustainability, has her MBA, Master's in Public Policy, and is a LEED AP for Homes.
