ReCircle: Fixing Wet Basements, A Deep Energy Retrofit Grows in Freeport, Getting Energy from Whiskey, and more!

From Energy Circle:

Wet Basement? Call a Home Performance Contractor.

When we have a problem in our house, our first instinct is often to call a specialist in that area. Here’s why that’s not always the best option.

Photos from the 57 Depot Deep Energy Retrofit Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Energy Circle has been spearheading the Deep Energy Retrofit of an historic home in downtown Freeport, ME to be incorporated into the existing community center. This week, ground was officially broken.

Curated Links from the Web:

A Deep Energy Retrofit in "Southie."

The Castle Square Apartments complex in South Boston is in the middle of a Deep Energy Retrofit that organizers say will be one of the biggest in the country, with a projected energy reduction of 72%. (From CNET)

Is Spray Foam Insulation Safe?

Sprayed polyurethane foam -- increasingly popular for its R-Value and air sealing capacity -- is also increasingly coming under fire for high embodied energy and potential health hazards. (From Treehugger)

Fear and Loathing in the Light Bulb World.

As the lighting efficiency standards passed under the second Bush administration draw near, anxiety is beginning to abound over the banning of the incandescent. Turns out the incandescent isn’t actually really being banned. (From The New York Times)

Why the Incandescent Bulb Deserves to Go the Way of the Dodo.

Despite the fact that the incandescent bulb isn’t actually being banned (see above link), the truth is that it’s time for us to move on to better lighting -- and that better lighting is available. Now. (From Home Energy Pros)

Air Sealing the Attic Hatch: More Important Than You Think.

We often disregard our attic hatches as a not-so-relevant component of our homes. Turns out, the attic hatch is more important than you might think. (From SLS Construction)

Whiskey to Energy Project in Scotland Gets Green Light.

A whiskey to energy plant has gotten the go-ahead in Scotland. Don't worry, the whiskey isn't being wasted: the new bioenergy plant will produce enough energy from a combination of wood chips and waste from distilleries to power 9,000 homes. (From Inhabitat)

Another Energy Related Blog We Love:

Powering Down.

Powering Down focuses on peak oil and the challenges it presents -- emphasizing, particularly, relocalization, and particularly in North Carolina and the rest of the Southeastern United States.