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Recent Articles
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When It’s Better to Demolish an Old House than to Patch It Up
GBA readers get a steady diet of advice on how to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of old houses. The list almost always includes basics like air sealing and…
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Trump Budget Attacks Familiar Targets
It's a new year, and the Trump Administration's proposed federal budget has a familiar ring: more for defense, less for energy research and the environment. The proposed 2021 budget, which…
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How to Choose Insulation
Insulating a new house used to be a no-brainer. It was that step between installing windows and hanging drywall, when the crew spent a few days stapling fiberglass batts between…
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Wanted: Windows for a Northern Retrofit
Brooklynite is considering the purchase of a home in New York City that comes with a second story full of single-pane windows. If the deal goes through, one of his…
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Washington City Ponders a Future Without Gas Heat
A climate task force in Bellingham, Washington, is advancing a long-range plan that would compel city homeowners to stop using natural gas for heating as part of an effort to…
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A Composite Alternative To Concrete Foundations
A Wisconsin-based company has developed a way to replace cast-in-place concrete foundation walls with insulated composite panels that can be set in place in just a few hours. Epitome foundation…
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Details for Insulating a Slab Perimeter
In New Hampshire, Chris Roche is pulling together plans for a new energy-efficient home. The slab-on-grade design calls for double-stud walls insulated with dense-packed cellulose, what Roche believes is the…
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A Better Path to a Low-Carbon Future?
Building superinsulated houses with low energy needs and highly efficient mechanical systems is the best way for builders to lower greenhouse-gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, right? Maybe…
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Is Air-Sealing “Mostly BS”?
Like many other owner/builders planning an energy-efficient home, RedFalcon6 is well aware that careful air-sealing is considered a cornerstone of high-performance building. But do the numbers really add up? "I…
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Choices for Roof Underlayment Continue to Expand
Builders once had one choice when it came to roofing underlayment: asphalt-saturated felt. OK, two choices—#15 asphalt felt and #30 asphalt felt. These days, there are dozens of brands of…
