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

I am building an Energy Star certified home with fiberglass, triple glazed, low e casement windows and slider/patio doors in Connecticut. I prefer using a Canadian company because of their expertise with fiberglass, triple glazed windows and sliders. I must have window specifications for the Energy Star certification, preferably NFRC ratings or at least independent U, SHGC and VT value ratings. Window ratings do not seem to be diificult to acquire but slider/patio door ratings can not be provided by some manufactures for fiberglass triple glazed sliders and French doors.

What's the general consensus for economically soundproofing bedrooms for guests/family comfort during normal daily life? I'm aware of using more than one layer of drywall, and would like to avoid this option.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your advise,

Robert

I can't seem to get values for doors from manufacturers or when I do, the SHGC drops precipitously once you put the glazing in the door, e.g., Sungate 500 SHGC drops from .6 to less than .4 when put in a swinging fiberglass patio door. Of course glass size is limited to about 2 ft width, although the length is long. How I get what I need in SHGC in a south facing door. Do I change door style, size of door/glass, material, glazing brand, ? etc. Thanks

My basement is fairly dry and well above the local water table
and hasn't had any water ingress over any of the major storm
events we've had, and has never had a sump pump. So I don't
really care about storm water; what worries me is the potential
for internal plumbing leaks as there's no way for the basement
to drain until it basically fills all the way up. So I'm
thinking of putting in a sump pump but into a small well that
*doesn't* connect to whatever gravel/earth/whatever is underneath
the slab -- it would be connected to the slab and sealed in and