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A number of leading companies in the banking, energy and building sectors have joined forces to set up a not-for-profit organisation to help fund the installation of renewable energy equipment.

The Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) will provide cheap loans to both businesses and home owners who want to install renewable energy equipment, as part of the government’s Green Deal scheme.

It is hoped many people will install renewable energy equipment such as solar PV panels, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers as part of the scheme to not only reduce their energy costs but to also help the government meet its targets on carbon emissions.

One of the rules of the scheme states that loan repayments must never exceed the savings on energy bills, so it is hoped that this will encourage people to take up the finance options available.

The Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne, said:

“New firms like the Green Deal Finance Company are testament to the attractiveness of the Green Deal framework and its potential to offer a better deal to consumers.”

The GDFC is made up of 16 members including energy companies such as British Gas and npower, banks such as HSBC and Lloyds and retail group Kingfisher who own B&Q. It is hoped that more companies and local authorities will become part of the group to make the funding as accessible as possible.

There are also a number of other government incentives available for home owners who install renewable energy sources including feed in tariffs as well as the Renewable Heat Incentive which is due to be launched in autumn 2012.

Replacing a boiler with a more environmentally friendly version, whether it’s a wood chip and log boiler or a wood pellet and log boiler can help you make significant savings on your heating bills, and as they use all your existing pipes, it is easy to install and can cost much less than you expect.

If you’re looking for advice on renewable energy then contact independent advisors Enerfina. They can recommend the ideal source for your home and have also negotiated special deals with suppliers to ensure that you get the best price possible for your renewable energy equipment.

Summary. In 2010, Curitiba, Brazil was awarded the Globe Sustainable City Award which was set up to recognize cities and municipalities which excel in sustainable urban development around the world.

“The City of Curitiba shows maturity in their understanding of sustainable city development – both regarding policy and implementation. The holistic approach is well framed and managed in order to create a strong and healthy community, integrating the environmental dimension with other dimensions like intellectual, cultural, economic and social.”

Videos. Below are some videos that show highlights from the city.

Division 43
Small, Sustainable, and Walkable
New Urbanism Community
in Portland, Oregon
by D.R. Horton

Our micro homes are a conscious commitment to a different way of building and living. The home designs are built with reclaimed and sustainable materials and share community resources.

Division 43 is a 29-unit complex with three single-family homes, three duplexes, and five four-plex structures. Floor plans include studio, one bedroom + loft, and two bedroom designs, including space saving features such as built-in storage, moveable wall storage units, and murphy beds.

A community garden and outdoor gathering area make it easy to get to know neighbors. It is located in a vibrant Southeast neighborhood at the corner of SE 43rd and Division Streets, with great restaurants, shopping and entertainment close by. It’s only a short bike ride to the city center, and a TriMet bus stop and Zipcar station are just steps away. Division 43 also incorporates enclosed bike parking and a bike workshop.

A reduced reliance on fossil fuels is achieved through metal roofs instead of asphalt shingles, electric appliances that eliminate the need for gas, and bike storage for car-free living. A focus on bikes is perfect for the neighborhood, which has a Walk Score® walkability rating of 89.

Recycled and reclaimed materials are used throughout and all wood used is repurposed or sourced within 500 miles. Industrial exterior finishes are utilized including metal roofing, corrugated steel accents, and substantial overhangs.

Energy performance is another focus of these homes, which includes energy efficient lighting, a zoned system for heating or cooling small areas of the home, solar energy in common areas and many of the homes, ENERGY STAR® rated appliances, hot water heater, and windows, plus low flow toilets and showers.

The designs also utilize natural resources with solar powered lights in common areas and multiple water planters, which collect rainwater and flow to a cistern for use in a drip irrigation system.

If you are interested in seeing more, please feel free to stop by and visit and take a look at www.drhorton.com/division43.

Summary. Philips, developer of the Sustainable City Light Blossom,  has launched the website ASimpleSwitch.com for personal and business energy usage analysis.

The site is drenched with richly detailed and colorful graphic images.

Practical suggestions are given to help people and businesses reduce their power consumption.

Ongoing interactive consultation allows future assessments to be taken that will display progress toward greener living. Click here to begin.

How to Love and Live in Your Eco-Inspired Home
by Shireen Qudosi (with additional editing by Gregory Johnson)

Long before the mod designs of today’s sustainable homes, there the “Glass House”. Built in New Canaan, Connecticut in 1949 by Philip Johnson for his personal use. It was a ground breaking project in its time and still continues to astonish those of us today who cannot fathom living in a see-through house.

While most people love the concept of a glass house, they have one major problem with it – privacy. But there’s a simple solution – curtains. Lightweight curtains would provide both shade during summer months as well as privacy, without compromising the structure’s aesthetic appeal.

But what a lot of people also don’t realize is those eco homes aren’t cookie cutter houses. On the contrary, they can be built with a lot more forethought and personalized design than traditional real estate. Just ask Michelle Kaufman of MK Designs.

When Michelle Kaufman and her husband moved to California, they decided to fill the market for clean green homes after their own difficulty in finding one. Clients can design their own custom home and choose the features that work for them. According to Michelle, “the real challenge, and the critical area for a successful project, is the implementation and the production.” Fortunately, through many years of being in the business, Michelle and her team have been able to iron out this wrinkle.

Regardless of whether or not you’d choose to live in a glass house, our mutual love of aesthetic and design are instantly drawn into Johnson’s minimalist creation. A balanced sense of proportion and a design that connects with the environment is what ultimately has paved the way for modular and prefab.

Yet no matter what your home is like, you can get it be more sustainable – and contrary to what some may think, sustainable doesn’t mean living a “bare bones” lifestyle. A sustainable lifestyle can be chic and creative while still be eco-conscious.

With fall at our doorstep and winter around the corner, the number one consideration is learning to reduce heating costs. Insulating your home, using an energy-efficient space heater, and good old fashioned bundling up will certainly help you do your part in reducing energy consumption. But for extreme green, try installing a geothermal heating system, with loops deep in the ground around your home, and a heater exchange to collect relative heat from the ground.1 If you’re already in a DIY renovation mode, then consider installing windows and skylights that’ll let more light come in – thus reducing your dependency on electrical lighting. There are also a number of window designs that not only let more light in, but also help keep in the heat.

But if you’re a quick-fix type, there are still versatile ways you can prep your home for winter and reflect your stellar taste – especially if you’re a notorious coveter of wooden floors.

If you’ve got wooden floors (hopefully bamboo), try covering them with rugs during the winter. The use of rugs is a quick DIY insulation that gives you a chance to add a new style element in your living space. Far from perhaps over bearing eclectic themes too strong for certain tastes, some eco-inspired pieces are also designed for the utilitarian thinker. For the military-mined eco-enthusiast, there’s Rebekah Rauser’s Redeploy Rug that combines the necessary military durability of surplus blankets with organic fluidity. Made of 100% wool Russian army blankets and with topographic pattern, the Redeploy adds a unique dimension that makes the piece not only necessary but stylish.

Ultimately, no matter which route you choose, the goal is to create a home that is both functional and stylish, while still doing its part for the environment.

Eco winter ideas is brought to you by Shireen Qudosi.

1 http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/home-reno-and-design/green-renovations/five-ways-to-make-your-home-more-sustainable/a/21292

Image 1: Philip Johnson’s ‘Glass House’