Design
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Designing a House for a Hot Climate
Pay attention to roof details, window specifications, and duct system design
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Ledger-Hung Floor System
A method for keeping the first floor close to grade
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Systems and Products for a Small All-Electric Home
Choosing plumbing and HVAC systems, windows and doors, and finishes with sustainability and health in mind
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Roof Overhangs and Moisture Problems
Research demonstrates the correlation between roof-overhang depth and wall performance
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Compressed Straw Panels for Low-Carbon Building
A builder’s desire to tackle climate change results in proprietary equipment for manufacturing carbon-storing wall and roof panels
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High-Performance Demonstration Home
A designer-turned-contractor showcases the benefits of a small, all-electric, healthful home
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Continuous Control Layers for a Cathedral Ceiling
A detail for ensuring water, air, vapor, and thermal management at key transitions between wall and roof
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Habitat for Humanity Chapter Commits to a Zero-Energy Future
After successfully building its first DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, Hartford Habitat sees net-zero as a fundamental goal for affordable-home builders
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Planning a Furnace-to-Ducted Heat-Pump Retrofit, Part 4: Zoning and Equipment Selection
An in-depth explanation of how to choose the right heat-pump-driven HVAC system
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Getting to Zero on Every Front
This Living Building Challenge–certified home has no conventional heating or cooling equipment, no municipal water supply or well, and no sewer or septic, and it makes more energy than it consumes.