Doug Garrett

Doug Garrett is principal of Building Performance and Comfort, which is based in Leander, Texas.

Better Breathing Thanks to Good Science

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June 16, 2001

About 15 years ago researchers started applying scientific methods and instruments to the study of buildings. [continue reading]

Beware the Closed Bedroom Door

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June 16, 2011

It seems like such a simple act, but carbon monixde poisoning, smoke, and mold may follow. [continue reading]

Beware the Closed Bedroom Door

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January 01, 2001

It may sound like a tabloid news story, but building science researchers have found that simply closing a bedroom door can create serious safety, comfort, and health problems in a home. [continue reading]

Why Houses Work - or Don't

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January 01, 2001

With newer and smarter technological marvels hitting the marketplace daily, it seems reasonable to expect that something as basic as a house should do what it is intended to do. [continue reading]

The Future of Building Performance and the HVAC Industry

Author: Doug Garrett

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August 29, 2013

The building performance and HVAC industries are destined to interact in the marketplace, since they both work for and with millions of American homeowners and businesses. The two industries share important common ground in that ... [continue reading]

Moldy Shoes Blues

Author: Doug Garrett

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April 15, 2015

Below is a dialogue, conducted over time, between Doug Garrett and Moldy In Marin. The topic came up in the office because we received several questions from online readers about an article, “Beware the ... [continue reading]

The Back Porch: Texas' Five-Star Butterfly and Hummingbird Retreat

Author: Doug Garrett

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December 31, 2015

When we built our new home 50 miles from Austin on 21+ acres we made the decision to have all of our indoor water come from harvested rainwater and to make our flower gardens bigger than they ... [continue reading]

Home Performance and HVAC Contractors: Recent Legislative Initiative In Texas

Doug Garrett

As energy auditors and raters went about their business of testing homes, performing energy audits and HVAC system inspections, they discovered and reported certain “problems” to the homeowners of Texas. For example, they reported that HVAC systems were oversized, or suffering from massive duct leakage! In late 2011, The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which oversees the HVAC industry, started getting complaints from contractors about these new energy auditors doing work that ... [continue reading]

Code Conflict Between 2012 IRC and 2012 IECC

Doug Garrett

It has come to my attention that there may be a building science-based conflict in the language of the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). [continue reading]