10 Years of NATiVE

10 Years of NATiVE

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101466″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”850200″][vc_column_text] by Lloyd Lee In March 2007, Nick Ryza and I were sitting in a pub in Dublin, Ireland talking about what we wanted to do with the next chapter of our professional lives. We were there on a business trip visiting one of our semiconductor customers. Back home our wives…

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Earth Day is Everyday

Earth Day is Everyday

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101487″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”211850″][vc_column_text] Earth Day is April 22nd. It is a day to not only celebrate mother nature, it is a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes. At NATiVE, Earth Day is Everyday. We work daily to help Texans reduce their carbon footprint with green building, rainwater collection,…

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Water Conservation

water conservation

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101729″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”110871″][vc_column_text] NATiVE Rainwater Collection & Water Conservation There are two fundamental resources that we use in our homes: energy and water. We understand that installing a low-flow faucet saves water. But what if installing LED lighting was just as connected to water conservation? And what if the low-flow faucet saved electricity and…

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Rainwater Ranch: Self-Sufficient Living

Self-Sufficient Living

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101775″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”173340″][vc_column_text] Nestled on 100 acres in Texas Hill Country, this artist’s compound is a colorful gem of self-sufficient living and connection with nature. It is an energy efficient and creative nod to quintessential, self-reliant, Texas ranch living. A heavily integrated design process included builder, client and architect and after a careful one…

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Building a Net Zero House…Part Two

net zero home

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101826″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”202640″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”193767″] “It is amazing to see the lot without the house, quite weird, really. Are we brave or crazy? People are asking. We say brave.” – Liz We say brave too. Not everyone would decide to build a net zero house, sign off on the plans, and then leave to London…

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Rainwater Collection…Every Drop Counts

rainwater

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101899″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”190437″][vc_column_text] old Texas rainwater cistern When you live in a sun-scorched state like Texas, every drop of water counts. Luckily, we have had a few rain showers recently to soak the ground before the heat hits again. Did you know that it is in our blood as Texans to collect rainwater? Not…

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Elements of a Net Zero Home in Texas

energy efficiency upgrade

There are six key ingredients to a net zero energy home. Learn more about how to achieve net zero energy usage with proper orientation, responsive envelope design, rainwater collection, solar power, and more.

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Go Solar to Save…Water?

save water

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101903″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”152094″][vc_column_text] We’re here. The dog days of summer. The mercury seems to enjoy sitting at 100 degrees! Actually, we’ve had a relatively cool summer and it hasn’t been nearly as brutal as summers in the past. Even with the mild summer, 59% of Texas is still in moderate to extreme drought.…

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Water: Your Home’s Worst Enemy

water

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101958″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”172211″][vc_column_text] Water. This simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms affixed atop a single oxygen atom forms the very basis of life as we know it. In fact, all known life forms depend on it. Astronomers get breathlessly excited at the mere hint of water on any extraterrestrial body precisely because…

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