The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
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Testing a Forty-Year-Old Photovoltaic Module
I purchased and installed my first solar electric panel—technically known as a photovoltaic module—in 1980. The PV module, an Arco model 16-2000, was rated at 33 watts. Installed on the…
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An Old Homesteader Looks Back
I’ve always had an optimistic approach to human and environmental problems. My attitude probably reflects the influence of the social movements of the 1960s and early 1970s—the trends which shaped…
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Thinking Like a Roofer
Roofers have a distinct way of looking at buildings. Scanning a building from the street, a roofer’s eyes usually start at the ridge and follow an imaginary raindrop all the…
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Mudrooms Need to be Heated
Many New England homes have a mudroom. In other parts of the country, similar rooms are called the entryway or a foyer—but a mudroom differs in several respects from its…
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Forced-Air Systems With Room-to-Room Temperature Imbalances
The majority of U.S. homes have a forced-air heating or cooling system—that is, a system that use ducts to deliver warm or cool air. These systems usually include a furnace,…
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Moldy Roof Sheathing in the Pacific Northwest
Increasingly, homeowners in the Pacific Northwest are noticing mold on the underside of their roof sheathing. This phenomenon occurs in vented attics, and is more common in new homes than…
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Wrinkled Housewrap Behind Exterior Rigid Foam
If you plan to install a layer of continuous rigid foam on the exterior side of your wall sheathing, where do you put the housewrap? There are many opinions on…
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What Do Windows Do?
We ask a lot of our windows. A window is like a Swiss army knife: it’s a tool that's supposed to do lots of different tasks. For certain tasks, most…
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Are There Any Reasons to Make Homes ‘A Little Bit Leaky’?
Here are a few recent building code trends: Airtightness requirements are becoming more stringent. An increasing number of jurisdictions are mandating blower door tests. An increasing number of jurisdictions are…
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Copper Surfaces Are Antibacterial and Antiviral
In recent weeks, many of us have become reluctant to use door handles and handrails in public spaces. Worried about the new coronavirus, we either avoid touching these surfaces, or…
