Each facet of the Living Building Challenge is performance-based so every building must measure for 12 consecutive months after...

While green building technology continues to improve and new green products continue to evolve, they’re only “lipstick on a pig” if the...

Start in the attic, since that’s where you’ll find some of the biggest energy drains. Then tackle gaps around flues and chimneys....

Sizes Glass block come in a variety of nominal sizes including (in inches): 4 x 8, 6 x 6, 6 x 8, 8 x 8 and 12 x 12. Two thicknesses of 3...

Insulation prevents condensation and dripping from ducts. Un-insulated cold air ducts very often have surface temperatures below the...

The most common types of lighting controls include: • Dimmers • Motion, occupancy, and photosensors • Timers Before purchasing and...

Weathering refers to the chemical composition of these steels, allowing them increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion compared to...

Fiberglass Fiberglass, consisting of extremely fine glass fibers, is one of the most ubiquitous insulation materials. It’s commonly used...

First of all, bamboo isn’t wood at all. It’s a type of grass, the biggest grass in the world, and there are dozens of varieties. The one...

Is an ADU a Good Investment? Even with ADUs gaining popularity, the value an ADU adds to a given piece of property is hard to calculate....

Our bodies respond to queues in our environment – as our evolutionary responses developed – and much of what is designed today is giving...

For most paint jobs, both inside and outside the house, latex paint is preferred. Latex emits fewer odors and VOCs than oil-based paint,...

By now, most conscientious builders and designers know that ducts, furnaces, and air handlers belong inside a house’s conditioned space....

The fan pulls air from a central hallway and blows it into the attic. Because whole-house fans are relatively powerful—usually rated...

Resiliency – a quick search for a definition states: “Able to recover quickly from misfortune; able to return to original form after...

Smart house technology concept with centralized control of lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, security locks and video...

So why is the mayor of Portland, Oregon, calling a modest 12-story tower set for completion there next year “a true technological and...

For really major projects, or if your jurisdiction requires lengthy planning reviews, you’ll want to start no later than the fall so you...

According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOCs, released by a wide variety of products, are consistently higher indoors (up to ten...

What is Mold? Mold, one type of fungus, is different from plants, animals and bacteria. Molds are decomposers of dead organic material...