Contact

Guillermo Metz
Green Building & Renewable Energy Program Coordinator
(607) 272-2292 ext 185
gm52@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Tompkins County
615 Willow Avenue
Ithaca, NY 14850-3555
(607) 272-2292
tompkins@cornell.edu

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Fact Sheets

Below are Cornell University Cooperative Extension fact sheets on the following topics:

  1. Biomass (77KB PDF) discusses the advantages and practicality of using biomass in your home.
  2. Geothermal (114 KB PDF) defines the different types of systems available, as well as its feasiblity for home use.
  3. Hot water (124 KB PDF) addresses five main options available for hot water heating; conventional storage water heaters, demand water heaters, heat pump water heaters, solar water heaters and tankless coil and indirect water heaters.
  4. Passive Solar (164KB PDF) explains the logistics of capturing passive solar energy and outlines its capability on a home-to-home basis.
  5. Purchasing Green Power (72KB PDF) details the benefits of using green power versus conventional electric energy sources.
  6. Solar Electric Systems (214KB PDF) outlines the practicality of using photovoltaics (PV) through a cost benefit analysis of initial costs and incentives.
  7. Solar Thermal (71KB PDF) summarizes the different types of solar heating systems, in addition to the advantages and disadvantages of this type of system.
  8. Wind FAQs (51KB PDF) answers common issues concerning wind power and recommends the appropriate process for installation. This fact sheet was complied by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA).

 

Additional fact sheets pulled from other sources are provided below. Although CCE may not agree with all the information included in these documents, they offer an array of perspectives on a variety of issues.

  1. Ground Source Heat Pumps (759KB PDF) - Written by John Straube and published by Building Science Press, this digest dispels incorrect assumptions about geothermal energy and specifies its ideal operating conditions. 
  2. Green Building Products Directory (366KB PDF)- Available at builditgreen.org, this report contains information about suppliers and service products that are in accordance with four primary green building guidelines. 
  3. Picking Green Products (139KB PDF)- Written by Dr. Jeff Howe of Dovetail Partners Inc., this commentary details the dos and don'ts of buying green products. 
  4. How To Use Reclaimed Materials (30KB PDF)- Created to make using recycled materials less intimidating, this resource guide will help you be prepared when using salvaged goods.
  5. Green Advertising (23KB PDF)- Developed by the Federal Trade Commission and the EPA, this document educates the consumer about how to see through misleading advertising. 
  6. Housing and Home Environment News (358KB PDF)- The winter 2009 edition of this magazine, produced by Cornell University's College of Human Ecology includes several articles; how healthy is a green home, radiant floor heating and building safety laws.
  7. Certification of Building Materials (622KB PDF)- Written by several members of Dovetail Partners Inc., this document explains the importance of certification for building materials within the green building field. 
  8. Climate Friendly Built Environment (695KB PDF)- Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, this summary explains the affects of the built environment on climate change and what can be done to reduce its impact.

Last Updated: December 2, 2011