Green Homes News

Are cellulose manufacturers still using recycled material? My insulation contractor told me that cellulose manufacturers are using a lot more virgin fiber and a lot less recycled for cellulose insulation…

More building departments are beginning to require verified air-sealing. With a little information and planning, even builders new to blower-door tests can do much better than code. 

Planning for future, when I start to find it difficult to travers steps and other obstacles, I am thinking of changing the slabs for the front porch, back patio and…

Hello All,Code seams to call for min. 6' centers for PT, sill-plate, hold-down anchors (plus those at openings/edges). Any value in moving them to 4' or 5' centers?

Hey All,I performing a review of the Garage/Dwelling Detail of my current plans, I've noticed that they show a rain and bug screens on the garage side.  Sanity check here.  I…

Location: Gund Hall 111, GSD, 48 Quincy St., Cambridge

UC Santa Cruz Associate Professor of Sociology Hillary Angelo will present "The Origins of Green=Good, and Other (Mis)conceptions."... Read more about Urban Planning Theory and Praxis Lecture

Location: Harvard SEAS Atrium, 150 Western Ave., Boston

The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) Makerspace, the Leman Program for Creativity and Entrepreneurship (LPCE) and the Office of the Fine Arts (OFA) present the Marine Debris Fashion show. All Harvard students, staff and faculty are welcome to join us in the Atrium in the SEAS building to learn more about the Marine Debris Fashion Show and competition.... Read more about Marine Debris Fashion Show: Competition Launch

Hi everyone--first time caller, long time listener here. I had a 4-zone ductless mini split system installed a couple weeks back and am hoping that you all might provide some clarity.…

Would you canless recessed lighting from luxrite be enough for 20 feet ceilings? The liviring room area is not that big where its double height mabe 11 foot x 15…

Hey all, Should I specify CDX on my plan set for the portion of the roof that may later support solar panels. The area would be about 650 sq. ft.…

A look at why third-party verfication of a project's materials, methods, and systems matters

Hi I’m remodeling my 1989 house and took the walls down to the studs. I have a garage that shares walls with the living room and one of the bedrooms…

I have a 1918 bungalow and am doing a full remodel of the finished attic including the addition of a shower.  I have not changed the roof venting but doubled…

Defining airflow pathways is key to maintaining an insulation material's thermal resistance capacity

Climate zone 7 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)Wall assy:Cladding1x4 strappingR7.5 EPS with air barrier taped (+-1.2 Perms)R12 Fiberglass (16 OC studs, load bearing wall)6 mil Vapor barrier, taped seamsR12 Fiberglass (24OC studs,…

Having read the 5 options for insulating a cathedral ceiling (By Martin Holladay | December 11, 2020) I am in a dilemma...#3 seems the closest.  Here is my situation - …

Hey all,I'm working on design details for what I hope to be a fairly well built and efficient house (Pretty Good House).  In considering the electrical entrance, I am thinking…

Hey all,General interpretation of 5-1-6: FROST DEPTH: The frost depth level for the city is hereby declared to be two feet (2') below the natural surface of the ground. All foundation footings…

Hello, I need to make a 6" penetration in a gable wall from a conditioned unvented attic. I'm not experienced with doing penetrations the right way but strive to do a…