Massachusetts Archives - GreenHome Institute

What are the top 5 YouTube green building education sessions of 2019?

December 29, 2019/0 Comments/in Local, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin/by Brett Little

If we had to summarize the sessions it’s that people are craving all-electric net-zero homes that are built from natural and healthier building materials. We hope to see this exciting trend continue into 2020 and will work to bring in speakers, thought leaders, and courses around these topics.

Here is a summary of our top 5 in order. Check them out for your needed continuing education and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube to keep up with 2020 courses!

5. 7 Steps for designing economical zero energy residences.

Professor Ty Newell joined us to discuss the Build Equinox ZEROS tool which is free to use on your next project to give you more assurance you are on track to take your next project to net-zero which includes using smart ventilation for lower energy use. Watch now!

4. Natural Building in Cold Wet Climates.

Sigi Koko, Down to Earth Design, joins us in one of our very old webinars that’s still way ahead of its time discussing old traditions in a new way of using natural materials and insulations. Sigi shows us that we can use local, healthy and beautiful materials in a smart way to avoid the fears of rot and mold. Watch now!

3. How to design and build affordable zero energy homes.

Bruce of the zero energy project spreads the message that zero energy can be done with the right upfront planning for minimal extra costs and a quick return on investment in new homes and apartments. Come learn what you can do on your next project!

2. Introduction to natural hempcrete construction

Now with industrial hemp legalized in North America, it’s becoming easier to spec and build with healthier, locally sourced and potentially carbon-negative material. Join Chris Magwood to discuss strategies to implement this on your next project. Watch now.

1. Introduction to fully ducted heat pumps for all-electric heating and cooling.

Our top-rated course for the year is hardly a surprise. Heatpumps use to be confined to geothermal and ductless systems only but now work as plug and play electric furnaces that can replace old gas systems or used in new homes who still want fully ducted systems. Join Mike Schaefer from Mitsubishi who will walk you through the benefits of these new systems. Watch now!

GreenHome Institute continues to grow our YouTube channel with over 160,000 views this year and nearly 4000 subscribers! Please make sure to subscribe today to keep with our 2020 CEU webinars that you can watch anytime, on your time!

Will Gallmeyer, Green Projects Group joins GHI Board of Directors in 2019, Elected Treasurer

October 3, 2019/0 Comments/in -local, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, michigan--local, Minnesota, Ohio, wisconsin--local/by Brett Little

Will is President at Green Projects Group, currently focusing on LED lighting supply. His background is in utility rebate programs, residential energy auditing, and construction/remodeling. He is passionate about affordable housing, energy efficiency, natural building, and cooperation. He is also on boards at Circle Pines Center and Fountain Street Church. His wife, Samantha, is passionate about birth work. Their dog, Tawny, is just an adorable dog. He was recently very inspired by Drawdown and wants to create a vehicle to implement those solutions hyper-locally.

Will serves as the Treasurer for GHI.

Kay T. Rose, Hope Network Housing Development Corp joins GHI Board of Directors in 2019

October 3, 2019/0 Comments/in Local, -local, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, michigan--local, Minnesota, Ohio, wisconsin--local/by Brett Little

Kay Rose, a West Michigan native, has an extensive background in professional administration and customer service in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She brings an overall understanding of business and a passion for being environmentally conscious to the Board. Always looking to learn more about green building options, she is excited to join efforts with GHI to educate and encourage residents to explore greener alternatives. An avid believer in reuse, recycle, repurpose, she enjoys breathing new life into ‘funky junk’ in her spare time, as well as travel, exploring the outdoors, hiking, camping – always with camera in hand. Currently, Kay works with the Hope Network Housing Development team focusing on affordable housing solutions and integrating supportive services for those most in need of help.

CEO of Mitsubishi US picks up Zero Energy Capable Certification

July 26, 2019/0 Comments/in Local, Certified Homes, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Single-Family Projects, Wisconsin, Zero Energy Capable/by Brett Little

Clean Energy Credit Union – New GHI membership benefit!

May 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Local, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin/by Brett Little

Well, it is not often we add new benefits but this one we are really excited about!

As a GreenHome Institute member, as well as your clients, are now eligible to join Clean Energy Credit Union (www.cleanenergycu.org), an online-only financial institution that focuses exclusively on providing loans for clean energy products and services such as electric vehicles, solar electric systems, geothermal systems, green home improvements, and electric bicycles. Clean Energy Credit Union envisions a world where everyone can participate in the clean energy movement, and it helps fulfill this vision by:

(a) making it easier for everyone to afford to use clean energy (or save energy) by offering loans with better terms; and

(b) making it easier for everyone to invest in the clean energy movement by offering federally insured deposit opportunities whereby the deposits are solely used to help others pursue their clean energy projects.

In case it helps, here’s some background about credit union membership eligibility requirements: although credit unions provide similar services as banks, they are different from banks in many ways. For example, a credit union is a not-for-profit, financial services cooperative that exists solely to serve its members and to fulfill its mission, whereas a bank exists to maximize financial returns for its stockholders. Another difference is that a bank can serve the general public whereas a credit union can only serve its “field of membership,” which is defined by regulators as the people and entities that are legally eligible to join the credit union. Ultimately, a credit union’s field of membership is comprised of one or more groups of people and entities that all have something in common that binds them together in some way. Many credit unions have a field of membership that includes people who work for a certain employer, or who live in a certain geographic area, or who are members of the same professional association or religious organization. Clean Energy Credit Union’s field of membership consists of mission-aligned organizations like Greenhome Institute that are partners in working to grow the clean energy movement.

GHI will continue to help you breakdown the barriers to upfront costs for energy effecient and net zero housing!

Learn about our GHI membership here and all our benefits!

Kris Hunter, Battery & Solar Expert joins GHI Board of Directors in 2018

January 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Local, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin/by Brett Little

Kris Hunter is an owner of two West Michigan based companies—Hunter Energy Resources LLC, a solar PV system design and installation firm and Global Battery Solutions LLC, an advanced chemistry battery solutions provider. She has been an active advocate for the advancement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for over 10 years and has participated in many grassroots efforts to educate community members—leading seminars for faith-based organizations, educational institutions and local youth groups. Kris has been involved with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, GreenMichigan.org, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (glrea.org).