Green Homes News

Hello,I was wondering if anyone had anything to add to my decision matrix on my upcoming purchase and install of 4" exterior insulation.  This is on a 2 story custom…

The house was built in 1924. Roof is 2x6 stick-built 16" OC gable roof (1x ridge), 1x8 decking with asphalt shingles. There are 2 dormers on each side of the…

I live in central Vermont and have a staple-up hydronic radiant floor (Onix) under a tiled living space (10'x18'). The basement below should be treated as unconditioned, but it has…

Why drawings, specs, and coordinated documentation form the backbone of high-performance residential construction

Why does everyone seem to prefer the idea of putting the insulation below a foundation slab instead of on top of it? That seems harder to do, in terms of…

We recently raised a 200 year old post and beam frame after repairing or replacing many timbers. We plan to build an interior 2x4 wall and fill the 11 inch…

In my plan, I am required to have R60 in attic. Is it possible to get to R60 using two rockwool or fiberglass R30 batts ?

What's the best way to address this open duct that just dumps outside air into the basement? Its for combustion air, but it's not needed anymore. Remove the entire thing…

Zone 6a. Windy area with prevailing wind blowing through main gable vents. Ranch house has 3 gable vents plus ridge vent. No soffit vents. The soffit area has a tiny gap…

Hi all,Looking for a sanity check on a cathedral ceiling rebuild after water damage. I’ve read extensively on GBA and want to confirm I’m not missing any moisture risks.ContextLos Angeles…

Hi all, I've looked online and haven't been able to find a proper detail showing how solar panels should be integrated with a clay tile roof.  Working on a project…

We are building a breezeway home with corrugated metal siding over coravent rainscreen and currently working with the sider on how to detail the breezeway area. Specifically the area where…

From load modeling to air-sealing sequencing, the most successful Passive House and high-performance projects start with early, informed decisions

So I’ve been burning candles nonstop lately, and I keep running into this weird thing where my Fresh & Clean or Fruity & Citrus scents just tap out after a…

Long-time reader, first-time poster. Thanks to everyone active in these forums; I've learned a lot from the discussions here!I have secured land to build a small (1,200 sq. ft.) high-performance…

First, an note of appreciation to Randy who has so ably taken up the mantle as GBA editor. From the outside he makes it seem pretty effortless - which I'm…

Anyone else having issues attaching images to posts? No matter what I do, I can't get anything to upload. It used to work fine.

Worried a dehumidifier will overwhelm your cooling system? Here’s why most homes don’t need extra AC capacity—and how humidity and cooling loads actually interact.

Excuse the drawing, it's crude and not to scale, but I'm limited cad-wise as I'm away from home right now.  The bump out is about 1ft, the dimension got displaced…

Zone 7A new construction. See attachment. Rear of house faces Southeast. Majority of the house is 6/12, chord trusses (18" & 24"), R60 (cellulose or Comfortbatt) and is vented and…