Green Homes News

I have a 2x6 framed house with taped CDX plywood and Tyvek on the outside. I'd like to reach an r40 wall insulation, but I'd also like to skip exterior…

I have a mechanical engineer who says he's done Passive home design. My new home design is 6,000 s.f. in climate zone 4A with a SIP house exterior walls and…

Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts!I'm considering applying the methods outlined in Dr. Joe's 2014 article:https://buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi079-deep-dish-retrofitsBut I'm having a hard time with the detail at the top of…

I'm preparing to build a freestanding backyard sauna on a freshly poured 4" concrete pad (cured for 10 days) and have a few questions before I start framing.The pad measures…

I have a Colonial style house built in 1785, located in Connecticut (climate zone 5A). There is a 12'x20' bedroom addition on the north side that needs a new roof.…

A year of side-by-side field monitoring in a Climate Zone 5 double-stud wall

I’m getting ready to cover my popcorn ceilings on my house that was recently purchased. My plan is to put 1 or 1.5” inch of poly iso foam installation on…

What are people typically doing for a door sill pan that's wider than 7.25"? That seems to be the limit for pre-made sill pans. Custom bent metal with site made…

We are planning to use the contega w/ sill seal method as pictured below for our garage build. The one thing I found when looking up details is that you…

Can anyone recommend a free heat load calculator? I’m renovating a 1950s ranch home for my parents with heavy insulation upgrades, including double exterior walls with mineral wool and exterior…

I bought an “induction” pot that barely worked. A side-by-side test shows why—and what to look for before you buy.

Hi All,I live in Toronto, USDA Zone 5/6. Our house is double brick, 1920s or 1930s, lathe and plaster walls interior and no insulation.The basement has interior waterproofing and spray…

Hello GBA, I think most of you know I work for Fine Homebuilding. Several of you were really helpful with an article I wrote a few years ago about making…

Manufacturers are working to reduce packaging waste, but durability, cost, and new regulations complicate the path to more-sustainable solutions

I am trying to determine what is the best insulation for our home in south Florida and avoid toxic materials as some of my family members are sensitive to chemicals.…

I have a new build in zone 6a, and noticed water leaking in above a window after the siding went on. I have a contractor working on the site but…

Thanks to state-level legislative efforts, U.S. consumers will have greater access to plug-in solar devices, assuming states can remove the red tape

Integrating blue carpets Dubai into green building projects requires focusing on low-VOC emissions and sustainable material sourcing. These high-quality carpets provide excellent thermal insulation, contributing to the energy efficiency of…

A DIY builder questions his heat-loss numbers—raising bigger questions about Manual J accuracy, low-load homes, and HVAC sizing.

I'm so grateful for the help of the GBA community as we build our new home and I have had so many questions along the way.  At the moment I'm…