The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Insulating Behind Kneewalls
Although I wrote a 2012 article for Fine Homebuilding on ways to insulate the cramped attic behind a kneewall, I’ve never written such an article for GBA. So it’s clearly…
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Three New Books on Green Building
Three new books crossed my desk recently, each with a shiny cover and the promise of useful information for green builders. One turns out to be a gem, and the…
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Another Look at Embodied Carbon
What is "embodied carbon"? I tried to answer that question in a 2018 article called “Carbon Emissions By the Construction Industry.” The issue is complicated, and requires builders to make…
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More Bad News on Ventilation System Effectiveness
When researchers look at the effectiveness of ventilation systems installed in new homes, what do they find? To some extent, the answer depends on what area of the country you’re…
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Sandwiching Roof Sheathing Between Two Impermeable Layers
Many builders have heard the phrase, “Walls should be able to dry in at least one direction.” The rule usually makes sense. If you want to install rigid foam on…
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Why Is My Attic Damp?
If you’ve got a damp attic, you may think that diagnosing the problem is complicated. And you may be right. But in the vast majority of cases, damp attics have…
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Updating Vermont’s Energy Code
Vermont regulators who are rewriting the state's building energy codes have adopted a revolutionary and progressive approach, providing new evidence that Vermonters are at the cutting edge of building code…
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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,…
