The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Insulating Rim Joists
Rim joists make up the perimeter of the floor system of a wood-framed house. Also known as band joists, rim joists are pieces of lumber—either sawn lumber or engineered lumber—that…
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More Stringent Energy Codes Don’t Necessarily Save Energy
Since states began adopting energy codes in the 1980s, newer versions of the energy code continue to be adopted every few years, with each new version ratcheting up the stringency…
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Christmas Poems for 2019
If I Were King With apologies to A.A. Milne I often wish that I were king, So I could order anything. If I were King of South Sudan, I’d buy…
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Jacking Up Buildings in Fairbanks
How do you build a residential foundation in Fairbanks, Alaska? The answer depends on site conditions — especially soil conditions and the presence or absence of permafrost. The answer may…
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Still Fighting the Same Battles, 20 Years Later
When I began working at the Journal of Light Construction in 1999, I was assigned to edit the magazine’s Q&A column. At all of my various jobs since then, I’ve…
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Can We Build An Electricity Grid Based on 100% Renewable Energy?
As scientists and ordinary citizens see increasing signs of climate change, forward-thinking leaders on every continent are taking steps to make our electricity grids less dependent on fossil fuels. For…
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Insulating a Wood-Framed Floor Assembly
Most wood-framed floor assemblies — for example, floor joists over a basement — have conditioned space on all sides, and therefore don’t need insulation. Sometimes, though, a wood-framed floor assembly…
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Solving Hot Water Piping Problems
Gary Klein, a residential energy expert who has been nicknamed “Mr. Hot Water,” has for years been providing advice to builders on ways to reduce the wait time for hot…
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Filling Rafter Bays With Fluffy Insulation
For years, building scientists have investigated whether fiberglass insulation or cellulose insulation can be used to insulate an unvented cathedral ceiling. In general, the answer has always been no, because…
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Saving Our Vanishing Wilderness
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) covers more than 19 million acres in northeast Alaska. It’s about the size of North Carolina. A significant portion of the refuge -- 8…
