Green Homes News

Hi Folks,We are planning a lean-to style addition for our home in climate zone 5b. It’s an adaptive re-use project—former mechanic’s garage into a home. Because it’s a former industrial…

I think I got the right approach with trying to insulate washer drain area with XPS  rigid board  R3 0.5 thickness but now questioning if the XPS should go behind…

We are remodeling a brick house built in 1983. On the outside, the walls have 1 inch of foil-faced foam insulation. There’s no plywood sheathing — just 1x wood braces…

Hi folks,I'm doing a reno for a client in Midcoast Maine. There's an outbuilding on the property, built on PT sleepers.  Fully insulated, tight windows, wired with electric. As soon as…

The power company finally came to complete their part of the heavy up. Since none of the workers had a T20 bit (or asked me), the brackets holding the old…

Are these two options equivalent solutions for 2x6 walls in Zone 6 (Minnesota)?From the inside...1. Drywall > Membrane > R-21 batts > Zip sheathing >  1.5" Comfortboard 80 (R-6) >…

I need to build two decks on my house under construction.  I have a small pile of 2x10s left over among other lumber.  Are there any good products out there…

I am a beginner at this, building our home. The municipality where we are building a small home (1000 sq ft on 1st floor; 450 sq ft on 2nd floor)…

Two tools that can evaluate and confirm window and door glass performance

When sealing duct boots at the ceiling, is it better to seal from the attic side, or should everything be sealed to the drywall from inside the living space? Or…

Hi there! First-time poster. I recently bought a home built in 1980. The previous owner added a layer of 0.5" foil-faced foam board insulation (foil facing inward) on the exterior—installed…

This one's a bit odd, but my internet search yielded confounding results, so I thought I'd try here. We have about 6 acres of land, with underground lines from the…

Location: Harvard Graduate School of Design, Piper Auditorium

As the keynote speaker for the Center for Green Buildings and Cities symposium, “Environmental Adaptions/Adaptive Environments,” Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, the co-founder of Snøhetta, will provide insights into the firm’s work, highlighting the relationship between people, nature, and built environments. Established in Oslo, Norway, in 1989, Snøhetta was inspired by the Brundtland Commission’s report on sustainability, Our Common Future, published by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) two years earlier. Today, Snøhetta is a transdisciplinary practice with studios in...

Read more about Environmental Adaptions

Location: CGIS South S020, Belfer Case Study Room, 1730 Cambridge Street, Cambridge

2025 Surin Pitsuwan Lecture in Thai Politics and Society

In Thailand today, there are tens of thousands of disputes over forests in the courts. Most are between local communities and state agencies. Many have lingered for decades. Occasionally some break out in violence of burning and killing. This situation is not good for either people or trees. Climate change has lent new importance to Thailand’s forests for the ecosphere, for the economy, and for the world. Urban residents, bothered by haze and floods, have become interested in how the forests are managed. New technologies are...

Read more about Forest, City and the Politics of Climate Change

New construction in Klamath Falls, OR. Note this is 4400' elevation, east of the Cascades, a high desert basin, not Portland!! We're using radiant heat with a high-velocity A/C-only ducted…

Location: Harvard Graduate School of Design, Piper Auditorium

How do we design spaces that evolve with us—shaping, shifting, and adapting to the conditions, behaviors, and needs of those who inhabit them? Adaptive Environments explores how architecture can move beyond the static, making adaptability a core principle in creating resilient, future-ready environments that respond dynamically to their users and surroundings.

This symposium, bringing together leading voices in architecture and design—including keynote speaker Kjetil Thorsen, Founding Partner of Snøhetta—delves into the dynamic interplay between people, nature, and built...

Read more about Adaptive Environments

Does anyone on here regularly or have you ever used the bni cost workbooks? Do they seem to be fairly accurate? And do they have any relevant data to high…

Looking for recommendations on insulating a basement in climate zone 5a. It is currently unfinished, but will be finished at some point.Area is roughly 2000 sqft. The basement is full…

My questions are: – are the proposed filter sizes likely be sufficient for longevity? – are there issues putting two filters in the same box? (if so, what?) – what…

Understanding setbacks and thermostat setting will keep you comfortable and allow you to use your heating and cooling system efficiently