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Reviewing Energy Efficient Products in the Home

At the Cobb Hill co-housing community, Bob and GC Mark Albee look at some of the energy efficient and eco-friendly products begin used. The home's large south-facing windows provide significant passive solar gain. They are Thermotech pultruded fiberglass windows from Canada and have Styrofoam insulation in them. For cost reasons Mark is using Thermotech's double glazed window with one low "E" coating. Because the glass and fiberglass have a similar expansion coefficient, you get a window that is tight through all seasons. The flooring is yellow birch from a mill in Maine. It's a certified sustainable product that is made from short pieces that would ordinarily be discarded, and there is a lot of color and grain variation to it creating a distinctive look. More information