Green Homes News

Location: David T. Ellwood Democracy Lab, Room 414AB, Rubenstein Building, 79 JFK St, Cambridge

Join us for an Energy Policy Seminar featuring Todd Stern, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. In a fireside chat with Professor Joseph Aldy, Stern will give a talk on "Reflections on Global Climate Change Policy."... Read more about Energy Policy Seminar: "Reflections on Global Climate Change Policy"

My roofer couldn't get over prior to a bunch of rain in the forecast so I told my framer to put the ice/water shield on... My error.  Now the ice…

This less-favored insulation type will do a good job of slowing heat loss, if key details are attended to during installation

Hello all,New member here.  I'm located at around 7k feet up in the New Mexican mountains.   We do get a few inches of snow in the winter and a monsoon…

Questions are at the end.Background - environment, infrastructure and loadsWe are building an addition on our 60-year old home, making this a good time to replace our 27 year-old water…

I will be using I-joist on the attic floor; however, most manufactures state they are inadequate as rafter ties. I was wondering if I could lay a 2x4 on top…

I'm building a home in Vermont and recently asked a question about my low slope cathedral ceiling, thank you for the responses on this blog they were very helpful.I have…

Hello! Have a question on  drainage planes when using multiple layers of exterior foam insulation. Would you recommend doing a textured drainage plane on the face of the sheathing AND…

Hello, Any advice on where to re-sell unused construction materials that one cannot return? I have 5x unopened Membrain Vapor Barriers that I am unable to return. a) anyone want to buy them…

There seems to be an endless amount of discussion on this siteabout the amount and type of insulation that make sense for oneproject or another. The answer invariably given is…

In today's world, balancing home security with environmental responsibility is increasingly important. Thanks to advances in technology and a shift towards sustainable practices, it's possible to achieve both. This article…

If you’re considering making some green improvements to your home this year but aren’t sure if this represents a good investment, we’ve got great news. Many green improvements will not…

I'm building a new home in Vermont with a large living room that has a 1/12 pitch cathedral ceiling.  The roof is constructed with 16" LVLs spanning the entire width,…

Just had some original 1967 vintage r15 mineral wool batts pulled from my attic and will attempt to do my own air sealing. I have a shallow pitched roof so…

All,Our plans call for 10 mil under the XPS of our slab-on-grade house in Idaho with vertical XPS at the stem walls and under the slab (see atch'd image).The contractor…

Hey All,We are working on our slab-on-grade, single level, 2100 sf house in Idaho.  Just in case we find radon seeping in, I want to have some mitigation measures in…

I am an energy auditor in the upper Midwest, and I am trying to figure out how to accurately account for the benefits of duct sealing in what is very…

Hi everyone,  I'm planning to use a dimpled membrane (R value 4) under steel stud track on a concrete slab in my basement. The goal is to prevent thermal bridging. I'd…

Hello all, I live in zone 5a in a 100+ year old house. I’d like to insulate my rim joists (rigid foam with a spray foam perimeter) and I’m curious…