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

I'm simply interested in attending some introduction or training seminar if someone could inform me of any that are scheduled to begin in April.

I'm interested in ICFs primarily to build foundations for new residential homes. I don't know about using them for the walls of an entire house, but it seems good to use them in foundations, especially as I get more convinced that crawlspace ventilation does not seem necessary in most climates. Building footings with protruding rebar, then stacking ICFs for the rest of the foundation seems so much easier than wood or plywood forming. Then clean and cover the interior earth with ground barrier.....frame without the need for floor insulation, etc.

I am residing my house located in Minneapolis, MN built in 1907. The wall assembly is -- plaster/lathe, wood framing, building paper, wood board siding, and the old wood lap siding (which will be removed except for the soffit/crown trim at the eaves.) Before residing I will be blowing dense pac cellulose into the stud cavities. My house is a 1 ¾ story gabled configuration with ~10” overhangs. The exterior wall are highly exposed to the sun and weather.

From what I have gleaned from this site a drainscreen installation will maximize the longevity of the wood lap siding and paint.

New catergory without any questions - I couldn't resist. I have spent the last several years trying to learn as much as i can about green building and building science. Have taken all the prep classes on all of the different green building programs in town - Energy Star, EFL, Earthcraft, LEED-H, Healthy built homes, National Green Building Standard, etc. and have certified a few homes to a few of the different programs trying to get a feel for them all. Frequent all of the building science websites and subscribe to the typical home building publications.