To lower the risk of wall rot, it often makes sense to provide a ventilated air gap between your siding and your sheathing Posted on Mar 1, 2013 by Martin Holladay, GBA Advisor UPDATED June 17, 2013 with new product information Twenty years ago, very few residential builders knew what a rainscreen was. These days, …read more
Super Insulation
Superinsulation is an approach to building design, construction, and retrofitting that dramatically reduces heat loss (and gain) by using much higher levels of insulation and airtightness than normal. Superinsulation is one of the ancestors of the passive house approach. Definition There is no set definition of superinsulation, but superinsulated buildings typically include: Very high levels …read more
Why Super Insulate your Home?
Cold Snap Tests High-Performance Homes By Ted Cushman posted in the Journal of Light Construction on Jan. 27, 2014 At the top of a hill in the Old Port section of Portland, Maine, stands a city landmark: the “Time and Temperature Building.” On the roof of the building is a lighted sign displaying — yes …read more
Energy Recovery Ventilator
The following article is from http://energyrecoveryvent.sustainablesources.com DEFINITION An energy recovery ventilator (ERV) is a type of mechanical equipment that features a heat exchanger combined with a ventilation system for providing controlled ventilation into a building. An energy recovery ventilator with humidity regulation incorporates a method to remove excess humidity or add humidity to the ventilating …read more
Solar Power
Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam. Photovoltaics convert light into electric current using the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaics were …read more
How do Solar Panels Work?
The following is an article from http://www.solarhome.org. Many people find themselves wondering, “How do solar panels work?” This article will attempt to explain the answer with both a summarized version and a longer explanation. How Do Solar Panels Work? The simplified answer: Silicon is mounted beneath non-reflective glass to produce photovoltaic panels. These panels collect …read more
The Passive House Build, Part One: Designed for Success
One architect’s approach to designing a house to meet the country’s most stringent energy requirement Article from Fine Home Building by Steven Baczek Video Extra: The Passive House Build, Part 1 For the first part of a new FHB series exploring the construction of a new Passive House in Falmouth, Mass., architect Steve Baczek writes …read more
Passive Solar Design
DEFINITION Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun’s energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. In this approach, the building itself or some element of it takes advantage of natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun. Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts, …read more