Green Homes News

My contractor uses form-a-drain - thoughts on this in a high radon zone? is it better to have a separate radon pipe? I’m not sure how I feel about form-a-drain…

I’m finally installing my exterior foam - 2x6 wall7/16 osbtyvek commercial wrapdrain wrap2 layers of 1” xps and one 1/2” layer of xps for r-13, taping outermost seam1x4 furring stripsin…

Hello,What’s going on with my 3 1/2 year old Mitsubishi MSZ-FS09NA head install? This corrosion can’t be normal. I purchased Mitsubishi over Fujitsu to avoid this exact scenario. There is…

Last winter I opted to use a console type humidifier to boost the indoor humidity of our well-insulated and carefully air-sealed new home (apparently the wife and I don't take…

Learn when safety glass is required, how to identify it, and the testing process

Hey hope everyone is doing well. I’m renovating a new bathroom 5x8 in the second floor. Everything down to the studs. I plan on using cement board for a 32x60…

Hello, my name is Alex from Kansas City, MO.   I've read many of the knee wall / devil's triangle posts on here but was left a little unsure of the…

Some work is being done on my house that includes installing plywood sheathing and then a self adhered WRB. (Adhero 1000) I noticed that the plywood corners don’t meet very well…

Read and read and read about air sealing and insulating this area but want to get another opinion. I’m in climate zone 5 in northeast Ohio. I have an early…

I have an overhang over the rear of my garage that was built by the previous owner many decades ago based on pictures. There are a lot of things about…

I am a student, designing an ADU. My teammate and I decided to use double stud walls in our design to increase the R-Value in the walls. How do the…

How architecture evolved with energy sources, from wood to electricity

My fairly tight house was set up so that when the kitchen exhaust hood is turned on, a damper opens and lets in unfiltered, unconditioned ouside air.  The interior grill…

Hi all, Can you use regular caulking such as Sashco Big Stretch or non fireblock rated sprayfoam, to air seal electrical boxes? Obviously care must be taken to keep too much…

Wondering if air and vapor tight air vent baffles below roof deck and foil faced iso at bottom with fiberglass in between might create a space that cant dry in…

The discussion on thermal bridging focuses heavily on new construction or reclassifying the outside walls. I have been unable to find any information about using sheet insulation inside old houses…

One homeowner’s journey in high performance – part 1

Howdy. I am installing a Panasonic vent fan with a DC motor that I want to run on a continuous on/off repeat cycle. 30 minutes on then 30 minutes off…

I’m currently designing a proposal for a home in Portland, Maine (Climate Zone 6). The window detail uses Corten steel as the exterior material, which provides an overhang for summer…