Green Homes News

Journal of Light Construction (jlconline.com) published an article a few days back that presents interesting information on the diminishing returns of adding insulation. Some of you may find it interesting.…

How best to cope with disruptions in grid-tied utility services during winter

I'll be using an Electro Industries packaged make-up system with two current transformers to energize the unit:  one on the range hood circuit and the second on the electric dryer…

In another question on the site someone asked about Alpen windows and in looking at the Alpen site they mention using thin glass instead of a suspended film for energy…

So, i am trying to better understand this calculation as it applies to this client's house for the purposes of sizing ridge vents and soffit vents.  Its a 12/12 single…

Hi there, We're debating some major home improvements and are trying to understand whether installing a heat pump makes sense. I'd appreciate any and all advice you can provide!Our situation- 1930s…

Situation:  Climate zone 5B.  My existing 75 AFUE furnace actually keeps our 1500 sf mobile home plenty warm, albeit by burning a considerable amount of LPG, and although it's now…

Good Day GBA,My sons and I built this screen porch (12ft x18) with a low pitch 1.5:12. In order to get more use out of it I'd like to install…

Looking for any input on this. In planning a build, we're looking to achieve a high deflection rating, such as L/720 for super stiff floors. The preference is to go…

Please see the attachment. I’m working on a double wall assembly design and I’d like people’s thoughts on two issues, air sealing and framing the double wall. My experience is…

Hello All - we have a ~1700 SF place (not counting a full unfinished basement) in NH that has an old 3 zone oil boiler which is starting to leak. …

Zone 4 (York, PA) Finish carpenter currently working on updating our personal home, this is our first winter here and the gas bills are as bad as I expected.  I ran…

I know it's not closed cell, i know its not 2in minimum, but if i spray a mist with a wide spray nozzle and standard door and window foam to…

I received great feedback from my question about crawl spaces so I'm back with another question.  Building a new home in Vermont (Climate Zone 6) and learned that Vermont Efficiency…

Zone 5Retrofitting a porch, 23’x15’, sloped roof, to create a four-season room. Three exterior walls, lots of glass (continuous rows of windows and patio door, with knee wall and wall…

Due to budget limitations, I am considering leaving the 2nd floor and basement unfinished rather than cheap out on the house shell. The builder I am working with is advising…

Hello,I am working on the septic system placement for my house.  There are basic distance requirements in Idaho from the well of 100 ft. (partial circle on attached image) and…

Here's a very good video from Corbett Lunsford's Youtube channel "Home Performance" where he discusses the advantages to using a ducted air system.https://www.youtube.com/@HomePerformancehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VPqFSITm0w&t=24s

We kick off our new podcast series with a conversation about energy retrofits with Birdsmouth Design-Build's Josh Salinger

The title almost says it all:- On an unvented roof, if I were to have a layer of polyiso or XPS (2"), topped by a layer of XPS (2"), which…