Are you a subscriber but don’t have an online account?

Register for full online access.

 
 
 

Featured Articles

  • Image

    Attic Insulation for Hot Climates?

    Q: Builders in cold climates often go beyond code-required attic insulation levels, especially when using a relatively inexpensive material like blown-in cellulose. Is the same approach helpful in cooling climates?

     
  • Image

    Hillside Elevators

    Waterfront property never goes out of style, and everyone likes a spectacular building site perched on high ground.

     
  • High-Performance Homes on a Budget

    Well-thought-out details make energy-efficient houses both attractive and affordable.

     
  • Lawsuit Claims LEED Certification Is False and Misleading

    Class action suit holds that the "green" project rating system is just a marketing gimmick that harms the interests of non-LEED building performance experts.

     
  • Image

    Net Zero House for a Cold Climate

    An architect shares his plan and process for building a northern Vermont house that produces as much energy as it consumes.

     
  • JLC Report

    Massachusetts stretches for higher homeenergy scores; lack of energy-efficiency training impedes job growth; Energy Star tightens requirements for product certification; more

     
  • Image

    Getting Certified for Home Energy Audits

    As the owner of a small remodeling and handyman company (nearly $1 million annual sales before the downturn), I’ve always been careful to stay focused on our core offerings — bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and small jobs ranging from two-hour service calls to week-long “honey do” lists.

     
  • Energy Performance Monitor

    For contractors serious about assessing building performance, Onset has assembled the HOBO Measurement & Verification System.

     
  • In the News

    Energy Star raises the bar with tough new 2011 specs; asphalt roofing prices defy downturn; Pella scores high; more

     
  • Image

    Home Performance Contracting

    Careful diagnostic testing is the key to cost-effective energy upgrades.

     
  • Image

    In the News

    Stringent new energy code offers flexibility; company fined for breaking FTC’s R-value rule; Denver’s moratorium on fees pays off; PV-panel prices decline; more

     
  • Image

    Making the Best of Rising Energy Costs

    Now is a good time to refine your green strategy in a way that guarantees profit.

     
  • Letters

    Air-sealing diagnostics; proposal to document illegal immigrants; preventing accidents; more

     
  • Image

    A Builder's Guide to Energy Codes

    A close look at current energy codes - and where they're headed.

     
  • Image

    Business: Staying Informed Can Keep You Out of Trouble

    Staying informed can keep you out of trouble

     
  • Q&A: Keeping Garage Fumes at Bay

    Q. I'm building a house that has an attached 24-by-24-foot garage with a master suite above. The owner is concerned about fumes getting into the living spaces next to and above the garage. What's the best way to seal out the fumes?

     
  • 1004Re51

    Practical Engineering: Resisting Tornado Damage

    This APA storm report shows that structural sheathing, metal connectors, and strong garage walls can increase the likelihood that a home will survive all but the most powerful storms.

     
  • 0404BK-01

    Backfill: Catch a Falling Star

    New remodeler's specialty — repairing meteorite damage

     
  • 1003wi103

    What is Green?

    Green may sound simple, but it can be surprisingly difficult to define. An expert in the field explains what green means, and why it matters.

     
  • Q&A: Insulating a Foundation

    Q. To turn a small outbuilding into a living space, I plan to pour a slab floor within the existing 4-foot frostwall foundation. How much and what kind of insulation should I use for the foundation, and where should I place it -- under the slab or next to