The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Pete’s Product Puzzle: Cetco RX-101 and Sika 703
What's the scary thing about the two products in the photo above? The scary thing is that it is rare to find a residential builder or architect who has seen…
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The Two Main Flaws With Kitchen Ventilation
Energy efficiency is a gateway drug to building science. When you really start learning about it, you come to the inescapable conclusion that there's so much more to making homes…
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R-10 Vacuum-Insulated Glazing
For twenty years or so, companies like Pilkington (Spacia) have been cranking out R-5ish (center-of-glass) vacuum-insulated glazing (VIG). The attraction of glazing units with a very thin profile, relatively low…
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What Is the Relative Humidity When It’s Raining?
Serious question here: Have you ever thought about what the relative humidity is when it's raining? I've heard people say it's 100% because, well... because it has to be. It's…
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How Much of Your Life Do You Spend in Buildings?
Back in 2004, as I was immersing myself in the world of building science and green building, I took the U.S. Green Building Council's exam to become a LEED Accredited…
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Professor Straube on Moisture Physics
The 22nd annual Westford Symposium on Building Science (a.k.a. Building Science Summer Camp) happened two weeks ago. And it began with a bang, as Professor John Straube expounded on moisture…
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The Basics of HVAC Zoning
Last year I wrote five articles in a series on duct design and ever since, I keep getting requests to continue it. Here’s a link to the first article in…
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Pinless Moisture Meters
I got a call the other day from a builder client, who said, “Hey Peter, a new homeowner of mine is super-worried about moisture and mold and is getting scary…
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What Exactly Is a Low-Load Home?
I found out last month that the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) is working on a new design manual. You certainly know of some of their other manuals: Manual…
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The Important Stuff You Need to Know About Ceiling Fans
Here we are in the middle of air conditioning season. So why don't we chop down some myths and misconceptions about ceiling fans? What got me on to this topic…
