The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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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…
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An Update on the Residential Ventilation Debate
It's been a while since I've written about what I had been calling "The Great Ventilation Debate" back when Joe Lstiburek was battling the ASHRAE 62.2 residential ventilation committee. The…
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Do Solar Panels Need to be Cleaned?
I was at my brother’s house in Lee, New Hampshire, recently and looked up to see that his photovoltaic (PV) panels looked a bit dull (see Image #2 below). His…
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Simple Steps to Improve Air Conditioner Performance
It's getting hot out there. Here in the Southeast, we love our air conditioning. In fact, without air conditioning, far fewer people would live in places like Houston, Hattiesburg, and…
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Phenolic Foam Insulation Revisited
A particularly well thought-out and thorough question from longtime GBA reader Aaron Birkland on the pH of phenolic foam and its possible corrosive nature prompted me to follow up my…
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How to Read Manual J Reports
When you enter the world of building science — whether through building a house, becoming a home energy rater/building analyst, or just hanging out in cyberplaces like this — everyone…
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Proper Sizing Isn’t the Real Reason for HVAC Design
Many people seem to think HVAC design means you get a load calculation (Manual J in the ACCA protocols) so you know what size system to put in. Hey, that's…
