Columbus Green Building Forum Home Page

Homeowner's
Resources

The Energy Conservation for Ohioans (ECO-Link) program is designed to provide reduced rate financing through partnering banks for Ohioans completing "whole home" weatherization and energy efficient improvements in their homes.

ECO-Link provides homeowners a 3% rate reduction on five-year bank loans when completing energy efficient projects in their homes. Visit http://ecolink.ohio.gov
for details, or download the brochure (pdf).

RAIN GARDEN INFO

Rain Gardens (Cuyahoga Soil and Water)

Rain Gardens (presentation from Showcase)

GREEN BUILDNG MATERIALS

Choosing Green building materials

Resources now available for download:

Green Home Fair
Held Saturday, December 5th, 2009
1:00 - 4:30 pm
Schoenbaum Center, 175 E. 7th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio

A Green Residential Tradeshow & Conference Free & Open to the Public!

Residential Energy
Retrofits - pdf

Energy Efficiency
resources - pdf

Local Funding and Residential Tax Credits for Greening Homes (talk given by Brian Higgins) - pdf

Multiple sessions on Greening homes included:

Residential Energy Retrofits - Cost Effective Strategies
Energy Retrofits and their impact on Indoor Air Quality
Implementing a Green Neighborhood Plan
Learn about Local Funding and Residential Tax Credits for Greening homes

Additionally, the Green Home Fair had exhibits of Green products for Residential home construction/retrofit and everyday use. The Fair is a gathering of homeowners and residential building industry professionals.

IMPORTANT NEWS FOR HOMEOWNERS -Energy Saving Rebates
listed on DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

Columbia Gas of Ohio - Home Performance Solutions Program

Columbia Gas of Ohio (CGO) offers rebates on energy efficient equipment and measures to residential customers in the eligible service area. Rebates of up to 70% may be available if a customer purchases or installs measures recommended by an eligible home energy auditor. Currently, only customers in the Cleveland, Columbus, and Toledo areas may receive incentives. The program requires that a representative of Conservation Services Group inspect and test the home before informing the residents of recommended measures and possible incentives. The resident may then contact a qualifying contractor to install the equipment. The rebate may then be issued for eligible work completed. Confirm eligibility for incentives with utility and home auditor before purchasing or applying for rebate. Approved contractors are listed on the program web site.

Columbia Gas of Ohio - Programmable Thermostat Rebate Program

Columbia Gas of Ohio (CGO) offers rebates on programmable thermostats to its residential customers through the Simple Energy Solutions program. The program allows customers to access energy efficient information, tips, and products through a CGO E-Store. Energy Star qualified programmable thermostats are eligible for an instant $25 rebate if purchased on the E-Store web site or a mail-in rebate if purchased at a local retailer. The E-Store web site contains application forms and other important program information. Energy efficient shower heads are also available through this program. Customers are eligible for two qualified thermostats. Call 866-542-4767 for information regarding retail purchases. More:

Contact:

Columbia Gas of Ohio
P.O. Box 117
Columbus, OH 43216-0117
Phone: (800) 952-3037
Web Site: http://www.columbiagasohio.com/en/your-home/YourEnergySolutions/

Photos of past residential workshops

Vinnie Tremante, Williams Creek Consulting, describes the use of rain gardens in mitigating stormwater runoff in a residential setting.

Want to build a rain garden? Visit Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District for plans and suggested plant lists. Or click here for a pdf of the presentation.

Describing the use of Styrofoam sheathing, combined with metal bracing, and Tyvek house wrap instead of traditional OSB, to minimize moisture infiltration and heat loss.

Lisa Frasure, Innerspace Interiors and Nathan Lahr, Fanning Howey Associates gave a presentation on choosing Green building materials. Highlights of their talk:

The house passed its blower test with flying colors. All homes in this development must meet the requirements for Energy Star high performance and the more stringent ratings required for the federal energy tax credit.

Every garage has this ventilation fan that turns on when the garage door is opened and runs long enough to remove exhaust fumes so they aren't drawn into the house.

Walking tour of the LEED Home pilot project at
258 N. 21st Street, Columbus, Ohio. 43203.
The house was built to the standards required of a platinum level LEED rating.

The house is a new build, but is designed to use the same floor plan and styling as other older homes in the neighborhood.	Studs are centered on 24" rather than the traditional 16", to lesson thermal leakage. Studs are 2 x 6 rather than 2 x 4, allowing and additional 2" of insulation to be used. Windows are triple pane argon filled; the extra cost of windows is more than offset by the money saved on ductwork - most homes need extra heat ducts by windows to make up for cold air entering through the windows.
An open floor plan. The future kitchen looks out over the back yard.	A future rain garden - both the back of the house and the garage will drain into this garden, minimizing the home's stormwater load.
Even the basement will have insulated walls, eliminating a major source of heat loss.