Green Homes News

As homes become tighter and ventilation requirements more complex, the HVAC industry faces a growing problem: Nobody truly owns residential ventilation.

I am currently working on the thermal envelope design for a train maintenance workshop and have some doubts regarding the perimeter insulation strategy at ground floor level.The building includes both…

We’re renovating the basement of our 1926 house with block walls. Zone 5 (Nebraska). I was planning on 1” XPS against foundation wall, then 2x4 stud wall with the rock…

Working with a homeowner on a fully ICF house — walls, floor system, and roof are all ICF, not just the typical walls-only application. This is a large, one-of-a-kind project…

We live in Anchorage, Alaska (climate zone 7). The house was built in 1983. We are having LP smart side put over our existing cedar T&G siding that has a…

Understanding the differences between old-growth and managed-growth lumber

CZ7.  I have a handful (about 15) of ends of joist bays that were blocked with BCI cut offs and where I perhaps errantly decided to just drill a hole…

Roughing in SIP home. Cathedral ceiling is SIP roof but rest of roof is rafter. We know rim joists need to be sealed with PU stray foam. What areas of…

Turns out things aren’t as bad as we thought, but there’s no cause to change course.

The EPA's AirNow app can help you track wildfire smoke, ozone, and other pollutants—and decide when it might be time to take action

I'm currently in the very early stages of a Pretty Good House build. We are very cost conscious but don't want our forever home to lack in quality or comfort.…

On our old house CZ 2A, we are removing the old siding and installing Zip sheathing, taped and sealed. the windows are going in as well, taped and sealed. The…

On our old house CZ 2A, we are removing the old siding and installing Zip sheathing, taped and sealed. the windows are going in as well. The exterior foam insulation…

I have a section of my basement with an 11 foot concrete wall. I'd like to frame the wall here in the thinnest way to save floor space. What are…

Seven basic principles to make homes safe, durable, and energy efficient

Description:Multi-story wood-framed home in Panama, Central America (ASHRAE climate zone 1A — hot-humid, near-equatorial, minimal diurnal swing, high year-round outdoor absolute humidity). Looking for feedback on a diagnosis and remediation…

On exterior walls our code requires that vapour-barriers "shall beinstalled sufficiently close to the warm side of the insulation to prevent condensation at design conditions".A couple of related questions:- Does…

Historic masonry buildings present unique challenges for high-performance retrofits. Here's how one project balanced preservation, airtightness, moisture control, and thermal performance to achieve EnerPHit certification.

I am in Northern Virginia and recently completed an integrated attic-insulation and HVAC project on my townhouse. I would appreciate input from people with building-science and residential HVAC-design experience.The original…

I am located in western New York State (Climate Zone 6). I am putting an addition onto an existing farmhouse and trying to use a wall section that is simple,…