The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Condensation on Swim Masks and Bathroom Mirrors
When vacationing in warm locations, I’ve had several opportunities to go snorkeling. Over the years, I’ve used a number of different swim masks, and like anyone who spends time snorkeling,…
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Martin’s Six Rules for Polyethylene
In the 1970s and 1980s, the practice of installing polyethylene on the interior side of wood-framed walls became common in much of the U.S. These days, however, installing interior poly…
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Designing a Multifamily Building That Approaches Passive House Performance
Jesse Thompson is a Maine architect whose company (Kaplan Thompson Architects) has been involved in three recent high-performance multifamily projects. At the Better Buildings by Design conference in Burlington, Vermont,…
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Another Deceptive Letter About Spray Foam R-Values
Back in 2010, I wrote an article condemning certain deceptive sales practices by Icynene, a spray foam manufacturer. In that article, I discussed inaccuracies in a letter written and signed…
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Housing and Human Health
What is “healthy housing”? Scientists don’t really know for sure, but that hasn’t stopped green builders from making poorly supported claims about “healthy” and “unhealthy” homes. No one really knows…
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New Green Building Products
This week I’ll take a look at four new products of interest to residential builders: a supply fan from Panasonic, a high-efficiency HRV from Quebec, triple-glazed windows manufactured in New…
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A Builders’ Guide from British Columbia
The type of batt insulation that is typically installed between 2x6 studs has a nominal rating of R-19, R-20, or R-21, depending on the type of insulation used and the…
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All About Flashing
Of all the construction-related topics that young builders need to master, one of the most confusing is flashing. If you don’t yet have much job-site experience, you’ve probably got loads…
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All About Makeup Air
Most homes have several appliances or fans that expel air from the home: one or more bathroom exhaust fans, a clothes dryer, a range hood fan, a gas furnace, or…
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Sliding Insulation Between Rafters From Above
It’s harder to weatherize an old Cape Cod house than it is to weatherize other types of houses. The second floor of a Cape Cod house has sloped ceilings, typically…
