When thinking about the U.S. military the words green, eco friendly, and sustainability rarely come to mind. However, the Department of Defense has been on a mission for many years to create a greener military. The variety of strategies are quite surprising as well as the scale at which the strategies are being implemented. This begs the question … why?

Sustainability has become quite a buzz word as of late. During the last recession, many small and large businesses alike looked for ways to reduce costs and, where possible, increase profits. One of the most obvious ways was to focus on efficiency by reducing overhead, manufacturing and transportation costs. In fact, a trend has emerged where many of these companies have actually become more profitable even with declining sales. This is due to a focus on reducing waste and increasing efficiency which is a big part of what sustainability is all about.

Many types of specialized heat reflective paints are on the market today. These coatings are very popular in hot climates like the southwestern U.S. as well as Australia, Dubai and China. When properly applied, these coatings can reduce the amount of heat that penetrates the building. By reducing the amount of heat that enters the building, the load on the air conditioner is reduced thereby increasing the energy efficiency of a building. So here's an overview of the basics behind this technology.

Many forces are at work against and within a building. Some include wind, stack effect, duct leakage and even exhaust fans. These forces cause changes that create positive and negative pressures inside and outside of a building. An air boundary, or air barrier, is used to control airflow and control the loss of conditioned air. Conditioned air is air that has been heated or cooled by a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system and is used for temperature control of a living space.

Many people think the only way to boost wall insulation in an existing building is with an invasive procedure. It requires drilling holes between the wall studs and fire breaks and then filling the voids with insulation. These holes are patched and painted but often leaving traces of rework behind. Another approach is available from the vinyl siding industry that can work independently or in conjunction with upgraded wall insulation.

For years it’s been touted as common knowledge that energy efficiency and renewable energy raise the overall resale value of a home. Recently Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a new study. This study reviewed resale value of homes with solar panels in California and found sufficient data to support the claims of increased resale value.

Many homes and office buildings are built to take advantage of a view. Naturally these structures offer multiple windows to enjoy it. These windows permit brilliant natural light to shine in which adds life to the space. The real issue arises from the low insulation value of windows and is multiplied by the solar heat gain. Therefore many of the new windows have incorporated Low-E coatings to help deal with the heat gained through them.

Anyone that has ever been on a roof in the summer has most likely experienced a significant increase in temperature. This is also known as a heat island. Originally roofs were designed to keep out the rain or snow, but they also absorb heat. This works well for colder climates most of the year. However, during the summer months that heat is transferred to the attic and eventually the living space. In hotter climate zones like the southwest a dark roof can become a real liability.

Insulation offers a wide variety of benefits from increased energy efficiency to soundproofing. It makes buildings more comfortable while preserving vital resources by reducing the need for heating and cooling.

A common question is which kind of insulation is the best. The answer depends on a number of factors like climate, availability, accessibility and pricing.

The new Power Saver program from the FHA is a pilot project designed to provide two great benefits. It will offer the financing necessary to implement energy saving improvements for homes in the U.S. And it will also provide the mortgage insurance on the loans that homeowners need to become more energy efficient.

Have you driven a Prius lately? If you haven’t, chances are you have definitely seen one on the road. Toyota recently announced that they have sold over one million Prii (the official plural of Prius) in the U.S. and over two million worldwide. This pretty much answers the question, “Is the world ready for hybrids?” It’s clear that for the past decade the Prius has paved the way. Now many others are following that path.

On September 23, 2011, the competition will begin for the U.S. Department of Energy's fifth Solar Decathlon. This collegiate program promotes innovative thinking of zero-emissions homes. 20 international teams are given the opportunity to design and build the most attractive, cost efficient, and energy efficient home powered entirely by the sun. The entries are judged on more than just solar energy production and efficiency. They must also balance other criteria including consumer appeal, affordability, livability and comfort.