Green Homes News

After living in our newly built home for nearly 5 months we’ve observed the HVAC system balancing could really be improved.Is it normal to see a 5 degree temp differential…

Sometimes repairing a window makes more sense than replacing

I have a block piers under a park model. The issue is the piers are varying heights, some as much as six inches or so short of the i-beam they…

Your contractor recommendations please!I’m helping out a friend/client with a house in Broomfield, CO. This is just northwest of Denver. I don’t live in the area but will be heading…

We are slowly renovating a 1949 single level 1300 sf house we own in a working class neighborhood in a small city in Virginia, northern edge of CZ 4A.The house…

Hi all! I really need a support system since I don’t have enough pros in my area to reach a consensus for an attic encapsulation. I’m working alone on the…

My house has a measured ach50 of 1.48Location is north Texas climate zone 3a. There are four occupants I have an open window in the main bedroom of approx 32" x…

Cala Systems’ predictive sensors and other features allow for solar syncing and avoidance of peak pricing

I'm helping a friend insulate the floor of a porch that was converted to living. The porch has Advantech laid down as a subfloor and has a hardwood finish floor.…

Thank you for your time in advance.I am building a home with a thick wall. 2 x 6 wood studs, then 7/16" Zip sheathing, then 3" Rockwool Comfortboard 80. Then…

Tips and strategies for building in wildfire areas

I'm thinking rough side facing out, because it will provide more friction against the studs for shear strength, plus the smooth side will make a nicer interior finish (this is…

The foundation of our home was designed with a reverse brick ledge that the trusses sit into to allow our main floor to be at the same level as the…

We are in the middle of a new build and the weather is changing. When is the soonest our contractor can or should start using our new HVAC units? We…

I'm wondering if there is anything wrong with setting a roof ledger for a covered porch on-top of a rainscreen, so the rainscreen is continuous behind the ledger?Basically I have…

Most people (usually families) prioritize neighborhood, looks, and costwhen buying a house - while energy efficiency, durability, and ability toachieve long term savings only get "lip service". There's a lot…

The question: Can 1/2" 4'8' vertical MDO siding over a 12" rain screen provide a shear wall?We're rebuilding a 1946 cottage, one story, 25'x20', 2x4 framing, on a concrete stemwall…

In 1990, my husband and I built our pole-barn house using utility poles as the posts. Most of the twelve poles that form the structure of the house are embedded…

Has anyone looked at the Panasonic Oasys system? It’s an interesting concept. I did a search here and didn’t find anyone talking about it. Panasonic’s website doesn’t give much information,…

Hello, we are trying to pick the best type of insulation for the 2nd floor addition. We want to use spray foam for the roof. Walls- 1 inch spray foam or…