Green Dreamin'

What do you get when you cross a deep energy retrofit with an 1880s Victorian-style home?

The Lowdown on Structural Insulated Panels

Author: Jim Gunshinan and Al Cobb

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January 01, 2002

More builders are recognizing the benefits of building with structural insulated panels, yet unless the panels are properly installed, moisture buildup can create major problems. [continue reading]

Steel Stud Walls: Breaking the Thermal Bridge

Author: Jan Kosny

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July 01, 2001

Steel stud walls are notoriously inefficient due to thermal bridging, but new construction and insulating methods are solving that problem. [continue reading]

Steel Framing: How Green? Q: Is the use of steel framing for residential construction turning into a trend that we must now take seriously? Isn't energy efficiency very tricky when using steel? ... [continue reading]

Sealing Up Your Home's Leaks

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June 16, 2001

Your house's walls and windows-what building professionals call the building envelope or shell-are supposed to prevent air from moving through them. [continue reading]

The Concrete Facts

Author: Edward Wyatt

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May 01, 2001

Q: What is autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)? Why have I only heard about it recently, when apparently it has been around for years? When should a builder such as myself decide to use this material? ... [continue reading]

Calculating Whole Wall R-Values on the Net

Author: Jeffrey Christian and Jan Kosny

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November 01, 1999

In 1995, approximately 85% of U.S. residential housing was stick built. While energy-efficient walls can be built with dimensional lumber, it takes careful design and construction to achieve this. [continue reading]

New Value for High-Mass Walls

Author: Jan Kosny

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September 01, 1999

In certain climates, construction of massive building envelopes--such as concrete, earth, and insulating concrete forms (ICFs)--can be one of the most effective ways of reducing building heating and cooling loads. [continue reading]

Refining Straw Bale R-values

Author: Mary James

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March 01, 1999

A new test of the thermal performance of a wall built with 19-inch straw bales laid flat revealed that the wall had an R-value of 27.5. [continue reading]