Q&A: A Forum for Green Building Experts and Beginners

I have a 200yr old 11/2 story cape in mid-VT. Over the years we have added insulation most everywhere and last year had significant attic and basement sill air sealing done. This past winter we still saw ice damming on the main part of the house. We heat with wood and have a woodstove connected to one of the flues in the central chimney. The chimney gives off significant heat into the unheated attic space. Is this a problem? Can I wrap it with mineral wool? Will that help? or should I quit using that flu in winter?

Hi,

Wondering what the opinion is on an underlayment for a hardwood floor.
From what i understand the main reason for an underlayment would be to have Vapor retarder (not barrier!) to slow the water vapor (if any) from passing thru the hardwood to fast which could possobly cause cupping and other issuies. Please add or correct if i am wrong.

Stackup:
slab > 6mil poly > 1" polyiso rigid foam > 5/8 advantec.

I think the advantec has a perm rating of 1-2

Hi, getting ready to build and it seams like there ought to be some substantial tax credits or incentives for building a super insulated and energy efficient home...can't find any though...am I looking in the wrong places or are there really no incentives for new construction being done right? Location: Idaho.

Thanks!

I previously had asked about the potential of constructing a rudimentary geothermal basement by purposefully NOT insulating the masonry walls of a basement. Martin pointed out that the ground temps in NY/NJ/CT in winter at the surface are freezing and not until something like 48 inches are they above freezing, say around 40 to 45 degrees? Thus making it clear the walls should be insulated. But what about the the floor slab? Assuming a depth of say 9 feet at the slab's underside, would this not be a constant 55 degrees or so? Thus be warming in winter and cooling in summer?