Green Homes News

How architecture evolved with energy sources, from wood to electricity

My fairly tight house was set up so that when the kitchen exhaust hood is turned on, a damper opens and lets in unfiltered, unconditioned ouside air.  The interior grill…

Hi all, Can you use regular caulking such as Sashco Big Stretch or non fireblock rated sprayfoam, to air seal electrical boxes? Obviously care must be taken to keep too much…

Wondering if air and vapor tight air vent baffles below roof deck and foil faced iso at bottom with fiberglass in between might create a space that cant dry in…

The discussion on thermal bridging focuses heavily on new construction or reclassifying the outside walls. I have been unable to find any information about using sheet insulation inside old houses…

One homeowner’s journey in high performance – part 1

Howdy. I am installing a Panasonic vent fan with a DC motor that I want to run on a continuous on/off repeat cycle. 30 minutes on then 30 minutes off…

I’m currently designing a proposal for a home in Portland, Maine (Climate Zone 6). The window detail uses Corten steel as the exterior material, which provides an overhang for summer…

I have a situation where the new roof was  framed over the old roof. I’ll include a sketch. My question is, where the old roof meets the ceiling it gets…

Hello! I'm seeking advice on how to insulate the rim joist area on my 1950's Cape Cod near Philadelphia. It's a stick frame with brick veneer (no weep holes as…

I’m building a new house in Wisconsin. The home sits at the bottom of a low point of a 2 hills which is not ideal but what it is. I’m…

My understanding is that when building a conditioned attic below an unvented hybrid roof assembly, it is not necessary to install an air barrier on the underside of the roof…

I'm considering installing a vinyl fence around my property for a low-maintenance, durable option. Can anyone share experiences regarding how well vinyl fences hold up over time, especially in different…

For my latest project, I decided to renovate our shower.  When the contractor took out the shower pan there was plywood under it (with some moisture and after further investigation,…

Responsive vapor retarders deliver vapor control that adapts with the seasons. They can also be great air barriers if they're detailed right. Here's what builders should know.

See attached photos. While preparing to repaint, I noticed mold when I took off baseboards. My question is about finding the cause, as I'm already planning to rip out affected…

I received such spot on advice for a roofing question I figured I would ask the other one that was puzzling me...I have a side "shed" style roof under the…

I'm sizing a new heat pump system. Trying to decide between Tempstar (Carrier equivalent) systems rated at 24K BTU/hr ( AHRI Cert#: 215319085) and 30K BTU/hr ( 215319098). As of right…

Hello all,I'm about to install new foam board insulation on an addition attached* to a late-1800's triple wythe brick farmhouse in zone 5A (central PA). I've read a ton and…

This is the second post of GBA’s series, “Building Science Puzzles.” The first post, which you can read here, discussed the reasons for the investigation, explained the process, and shared the…