Rethinking the box
Builders who have been fortunate enough to stay busy over the past few years have had to rethink the way they run their day-to-day operations — to re-evaluate what they […]
Go geothermal
By Rick Clemenzi on 03/06/2012 A geothermal system is one of the most efficient heating and cooling systems available. It harnesses the stable temperature of the earth as an energy source.
The three R’s of greener schools
There’s a tiny thing at the edge of the rudder called a trim tab. It’s a miniature rudder. Just moving the little trim tab builds a low pressure that pulls
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Feature: Closed crawlspaces
Feature: Closed crawlspaces By Maria Mauceri on 03/22/2010 Each year, tens of thousands of homes are built on crawlspace foundations in the Southeast. In most of these homes, the spaces are
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Checklist: Installing Insulation the right way
Checklist: Installing Insulation the right way By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 There are many types of insulation. The most common type is batt, or blanket-type insulation (typically fiberglass). This is the
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Checklist: Indoor air quality
Checklist: Indoor air quality By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 Ensuring healthy indoor air quality in a home starts with the very foundation. Many simple building techniques, from radon-resistant construction to drainage
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Checklist: HVAC
Checklist: HVAC By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 A home can be heated or cooled using electricity, gas, geothermal energy, solar energy or a combination of energy sources. Radiant floor-heating systems are
Checklist: Energy-efficient retrofit
Checklist: Energy-efficient retrofit By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 The average American family spends about $1,500 a year on utility bills, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. This could be reduced dramatically
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Checklist: Air sealing
Checklist: Air sealing By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 Air sealing is a crucial part of building a healthy, energy-efficient home. Below is a checklist of items to use to ensure proper
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Checklist: Advanced framing
Checklist: Advanced framing By Marcus Renner on 03/22/2010 Although contested, wood-framed buildings are a great American innovation. Developed 150 years ago, wood-framed (also called stud-framed or western platform framed) buildings now
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