Green Homes News

Greetings,I'm a general contractor in Eastern Iowa, working on a mixed commercial and residential remodel on a historic building. This is a complex remodel; we have started from scratch in…

Energy efficiency measures how much energy we use. Exergy asks whether we're using the right kind of energy in the first place.

Im looking for something other than acoustical caulk (since it's a mess to work with) to seal 6 mil poly sheeting when using it as an air barrier. Poly to…

Hi all, I’m framing the second floor of our home using Doug fir post and beam. The joists are 4.5”x9.5” (a 3-ply 2x10) spaced 30” oc, and in some places 36”…

Hello, I am looking for advice on how to add insulation to my roof. The tricky part of it is I want to do it from the outside when I…

A Colorado company that manufacturers altitude-control systems for residential, commercial, and industrial uses is now making headway in the hospitality sector.

I'm renovating a 2,200 sq. ft., 100-year-old home in southeast Alabama (Climate Zone 3A). The original house has 2×4 heart pine framing, a vented crawl space and attic, R-13 fiberglass…

I'm looking at a frost protected shallow foundation for a zone 6a garage. Code calls for a 12" thickened edge for the "footing", and then I intend to use a…

Hello everyone,I am developing a modular roofing and siding platform focused primarily on TR-BIPV (Thermal Recovery Building-Integrated Photovoltaics).The primary goal is to put thermal harvesting front and center. Instead of…

What does device-level energy intelligence mean for builders, homeowners, commissioning, and residential electrification?

I am looking for some advice on how to better calculate the size of an HAVC system for use in a 4500 SIP home.  The home is a combination ICF…

I’m building a tiny house on wheels (8.5’ x 30’ trailer) and I have a very basic question about using a site-built “SIP” (plywood> 3-4’’ rigid foam > plywood) to…

Hello, I'm looking for WRB advice. Repairing or totally replacing siding. I've been reading old articles/Q&A, but I apologize if I've missed available info or have failed to grasp basic…

Wildfire smoke can quickly turn healthy indoor air into a hidden health hazard. Here's how to monitor PM2.5, reduce smoke infiltration, and improve indoor air quality during smoke events.

Hello, I'm building a new home in southeast Alaska zone 7.  Ive got 3in of polyiso with taped seams on the outside with no interior vapor barrier.  ventilation and humidity…

Definitions (chapter 2) may be the most overlooked section of the residential building code, yet it provides the foundation for interpreting nearly every requirement that follows.

I was working on balancing a system yesterday and ran into a situation where we couldn't get the rated air flow out of the system.  Long story short, I ended…

A Wisconsin couple set out to build a resilient net-zero homestead largely on their own. The first step was creating a design that balanced performance, affordability, accessibility, and self-reliance.

I’ve posted before about the fire smoke filtration system I’ve been working with for about 3 years now.  It’s based around an 8” AC Infinity (refillable) carbon canister, and a…

I have a large 2nd floor Master with a double gable vaulted ceiling. The interior ceiling is beautiful wood that I want to keep intact. I'm about to start a…