Structural insulated panels are one of several experimental building materials being pushed to combat the volatile lumber market. The panel houses are energy-efficient and easy to build, but resistance form the building trades and some technical glitches are holding back mass acceptance.

Mold, mildew, failing grout, dislodged tiles, water stains, wet insulation, rotting walls-moisture in bathroom walls causes serious problems. One reason the issue of bathroom moisture is so hard to address is that these problems, and their solutions, vary from climate to climate. Things get more complicated as builders decipher contradictory information about strategies for air-sealing, ventilating, and insulating. 

After more than 30 years of energy efficiency regulations and standards, the United States still carries a heavier energy load per capita than any other industrialized country. But aren't consumers buying more energy-efficient products for their homes, and aren't homes more efficient also? The numbers say yes.

What's the best way to size a residential air conditioner? To what extent do air conditioners tend to be oversized? How can energy research and programs help promote optimal sizing of cooling systems installed by contractors? These questions can heat up a discussion, but a new study suggests solutions that help everyone.