The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Common Sense On Mold
In 2001, Melinda Ballard of Dripping Springs, Texas, sued her insurance company in a dispute over the settlement amount in a mold mitigation case. The case gained national attention, inspiring…
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Blower-Door-Directed Air Sealing
There are two ways to seal potential air leaks in homes: You can either seal seams that you anticipate will leak, or you can seal leaks that become evident when…
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Ducting HRVs and ERVs
Here at GBA, we have consistently advised readers who plan to install a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) to install dedicated ventilation ductwork rather than trying to…
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All About Foundations
Let’s say you’re planning to build a custom house. Do you care what type of foundation your house will have? Some homeowners leave this decision to the designer or builder.…
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How to Flash an Exterior Door
It’s easy to find advice on flashing windows. But what about exterior doors? For some reason, most construction experts haven’t provided builders with much advice about flashing doors. Don’t be…
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Electric Resistance Floor Heat
In most regions of North America, electric-resistance space heating is expensive to operate. Since air-source heat pumps use only 33% to 50% as much electricity as electric-resistance heaters, most homeowners…
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Revisiting Heat-Pump Water Heaters
About six years ago, I wrote an article for GBA called “Heat-Pump Water Heaters Come of Age.” Since then, manufacturers' offerings have changed significantly, so it’s time for a fresh…
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Contemplating an Off-Grid Future
While my wife and I were away on a recent vacation, my brother was house-sitting at our off-grid home in Vermont. Halfway into our vacation, my brother emailed me to…
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All About Dry Wells
A dry well is a type of hole in the ground designed to accept rainwater. If the dry well is designed properly, it can hold a volume of water for…
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Determining Sub-Slab Rigid Foam Thickness
When, if ever, should you consider installing a continuous layer of rigid foam under a concrete slab? The answer to this question depends on at least four factors: (1) your…
