Noreen Adler
Founder and President, Ecobrownstone
Noreen is Founder and President of Ecobrownstone. She has been a resident of brownstone Brooklyn (Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights and Carroll Gardens) for over two decades and has planned, designed and managed a wide range of renovation and real estate development projects in Brooklyn and elsewhere. As a developer she is a member of the NYC Committee evaluating the LEED for Homes Guidelines for application in New York. She also has a personal passion for sculptural relief ceramic tiles and murals which she has designed and fabricated at her studio on the Gowanus Canal.
Noreen is Founder and President of Ecobrownstone. She has been a resident of brownstone Brooklyn (Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights and Carroll Gardens) for over two decades and has planned, designed and managed a wide range of renovation and real estate development projects in Brooklyn and elsewhere. As a developer she is a member of the NYC Committee evaluating the LEED for Homes Guidelines for application in New York. She also has a personal passion for sculptural relief ceramic tiles and murals which she has designed and fabricated at her studio on the Gowanus Canal.
Articles by this Author
Water Conservation -- A Holistic Approach That Saves Water and Energy
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 05/29/2008
- Law and Policy , Conservation , Water Heating and Conservation , Building Envelope
Depleting potable water supplies due to over-development, global warming, and industrial and agricultural pollution are leading to water shortages. In addition, wasted water in NYC flows into the already overtaxed sewer system. This article describes the many measures you can implement to conserve water when renovating your brownstone, and smaller scale, high impact changes that can be made without major renovations.
Insulation and the Building Envelope: Controlling Heat Loss and Gain
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 05/21/2008
- Cooling Systems , Heating Systems , Sizing , Heating and Cooling System (HVAC) , LEED for Homes , Insulation , Windows and doors , Insulation , Building Envelope
Save energy and lower your utility bills. Learn the basics of heat gain and loss, and how to prevent it.
Window, Skylight and Door Basics -- Increasing Energy Efficiency
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 05/12/2008
- LEED for Homes , Windows and doors , Building Envelope
Windows, skylights and doors can make up 10% to 30% of the building envelope and can contribute up to 30% of heat loss and gain. Learn how to evaluate the different energy-saving characteristics of windows and doors, skylights, daylighting and tubular solar skylights to make the best energy savings choice for replacement windows, and how to increase the efficiency of existing windows.
Ventilation - Designing an Effective and Energy Efficient Ventilation Plan
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 04/25/2008
- Indoor Air Quality , LEED for Homes , Heat Recovery Ventilator , Energy Recovery Ventilators , Ventilation , Building Envelope
Become familiar with different types of ventilation systems, now they can improve the indoor air environment and be used effectively to reduce heating and cooling loads.
Water Heating - Understanding Water-Saving and Energy-Saving Measures
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 04/24/2008
- Bathroom , Appliances - Laundry , Appliances – Kitchen , Solar Thermal (Hot Water) , Incentive Programs , Conservation , Solar , Electric , Water Heating and Conservation , LEED for Homes , Project Planning Checklist and DIY Guide
Comprehensive overview of hot water heating energy efficiency and conservation measures, from working with your existing heater to designing and installing an entirely new plumbing and hot water system, including an analysis of solar and in-line, tankless hot water systems.
Indoor Air Quality -- Identifying Sources and Making Renovation Choices that Eliminate Contamination
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 04/23/2008
- Decking , Window Coverings , Furniture , Fabrics and Linens , Cabinetry , Carpeting and Rugs , Wood Finishes , Wallpaper , Paint , Indoor Air Quality , LEED for Homes , Flooring , Wood , Insulation , Caulks and Sealants , Adhesives , Ventilation
Make the air inside your home cleaner than the air outside. Identify the sources of indoor air pollution in the home, learn how to design your renovation project to eliminate them, and how to abate existing sources.
Start Here: The Decision Making Paradigm for Brownstone and Urban Row-house Green Renovation
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 04/22/2008
- Project Planning Checklist and DIY Guide
Discover a simple, universal analsyis that you can apply to all your renovation decisions for guidance on how to carry out a green renovation.
Navigating Green Building Guidelines Part I: LEED® for Homes Guidelines
- By Noreen Adler
- Published 02/20/2008
- Landscaping , Green Roof , Bathroom , Appliances - Laundry , Appliances – Kitchen , Fixtures and Furnishings , Paint , Finishes , Demolition, Rubbish and Salvage , Wind , Solar Thermal (Hot Water) , Solar PV , Renewable Energy , Indoor Air Quality , Solar , Electric , Water Heating and Conservation , Cooling Systems , Heating Systems , Sizing , Heating and Cooling System (HVAC) , LEED for Homes , Green Building Guidelines , Insulation , Construction Materials , Windows and doors , Heat Recovery Ventilator , Energy Recovery Ventilators , Ventilation , Insulation , Building Envelope
"Green" building is becoming mainstream. Faced with escalating energy costs, increased awareness of the depletion of our natural resources, and the ill-effects of poor indoor air quality, a movement is growing among building industry professionals and homeowners to approach residential construction with a primary view toward energy conservation, alternative energy generation, and the employment of sustainable, non-toxic materials. This is the first Article of a multi-Article series summarizing the various quidelines currently in the marketplace and analyzing how they can be applied in the context of the renovation of a brownstone or other urban townhouse.