Building Science Corporation
Getting SIPs Right
In his latest newsletter, Joe Lstiburek revisits problems that can occur when SIP roof panels are poorly air-sealed.
1 MIN READ
Building Science
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Building Science
One Building-Science Book to Lead Them All
12 MIN READ
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JLC Builder's Guide
Preventing Common Callbacks
3 MIN READ
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HVAC
Whole-House HEPA Filtration
6 MIN READ
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Building Performance
Better Blower Door Testing
7 MIN READ
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How To
Sleuthing Out Moisture
9 MIN READ
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Projects
An Introduction to Zonal Pressure Diagnostics
7 MIN READ
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Building Performance
Retrofit Air Sealing
7 MIN READ
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Q&A
Ductwork for a Retrofit ERV
5 MIN READ
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Projects
A New ‘Builder’s Guide to Cold Climates’
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Energy
R-Value Creates Confusion. Let's Change That
11 MIN READ
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How To
The Danger of Installing Vinyl Siding in Cold Climates
9 MIN READ
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JLC Builder Guide
Reducing Carbon in Buildings
14 MIN READ
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Energy
Single-Point vs. Multi-point Blower Door Testing
7 MIN READ
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Energy
Calculating House Volume for Blower Door Tests
9 MIN READ
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Building Performance
Why and How to Build an Insulated Overroof
11 MIN READ
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JLC
Setting Up a Home for a Blower Door Test
11 MIN READ
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Training the Trades
Beguiled by Buildings
4 MIN READ
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Training the Trades
Beguiled by Buildings- Answer Key
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Exteriors
Detailing Rotproof Wood Exteriors
12 MIN READ
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Energy
Upgrading to a User-Friendly Manometer
7 MIN READ
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Green Building Advisor
Monitors for Accurate Data Logging
1 MIN READ
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Q&A
Should We Install Faced Insulation Batts?
6 MIN READ
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How To
Air-Sealing Code Update
9 MIN READ
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HVAC
How to Size an HRV or ERV
7 MIN READ
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How To
A Troubled Tiny House
5 MIN READ
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How To
Health-Based Ventilation Rates
2 MIN READ![1. International Residential Code (IRC) ventilation requirements are calculated using the formula: [7.5 cfm x (number of bedrooms + 1)] + (sq. ft. x .01). 2 The ASHRAE 62.2 (2013) ventilation rates are calculated using the formula: [sq. ft. x .03] + [(number of bedrooms + 1) x 7.5 cfm]. This air-flow rate remains in the 2016 and 2019 versions of the 62.2 Standard. 3. Formula for Hayward Score (HS) recommended ventilation rates: 20 cfm x (number of bedrooms + 1) + [(sq. ft. - 1000) x 0.3]. a. Formula assumes 9-ft. ceilings b. Occupancy dictates ventilation rate for the first 1,000 sq. ft., then add 30 cfm per 1,000 sq. ft. (at 9-ft. ceiling height), as smaller volumes are quickly overcome by occupant CO2 c. It matters where you put the air: Bedrooms must get their 20 cfm per occupant, as healthy air at night is priority number one. d. As home square footage increases, two or more systems will be required. Focus on the "casita" (core area) first - the main bedroom and primary occupancy area, which includes the kitchen, baths, and home offices. As occupancy increases (families grow) additional systems can be added. e. Supply air to bedrooms, home office, living space, fitness/wellness room. Exhaust air from kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms and closets. Balance by zone. f. The Hayward Score (HS) recommendations assume stand-alone, balanced, energy-recovery ventilation (ERV), and are based on experience with high-efficiency ERV at 90% energy recovery and 60% moisture recovery with additional dehumidification where climate dictates. g. For best ventilation performance, consider the following: i. Design ventilation system to deliver HS recommended ventilation at 50% of capacity to optimize energy consumption. ii. In winter climates with increased levels of ventilation, supplemental humidification may be necessary to maintain 35-55% RH. iii. Installing a 4-inch MERV-13 filter in the main forced-air HVAC system can assist significantly in reducing dust and particle count indoors. It helps if the HVAC system is a variable-speed system that can operate continuously between heating and cooling cycles. iv. Infiltration air (natural leakage) is typically contaminated and needs to be diluted as well as cleaned. v. In the first two years after construction, chemical off-gassing from building materials and new furnishings is higher and may require running the ventilation system at higher than 50% operating speed. vi. Ideally the envelope of the house should be built to an air tightness of less than 2 ACH @50p. (Code maximum is 3 or 5 ACH, depending on climate.) It doesn't make sense for healthy, conditioned air to compete with infiltration air. Airtightness must be central to this discussion. This example that illustrates the importance of the envelope: A home built to airtightness limit of 3 ach @50Pa. has a natural leak rate (with no wind or significant temperature differential) of .17 ach - more than 50% of the air being introduced and conditioned by the ERV. 4. While four and five bedrooms are unlikely in these smaller houses, air-flow numbers have been provided here because the number of bedrooms often serves as a proxy for house occupancy. It is not uncommon for smaller houses to have 5, 6 or more occupants, and as we have learned human occupancy is a more important driver of ventilation need than house size.](https://www.jlconline.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/hs-recommended-corrected.jpg?w=232)
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How To
A Builder’s Guide to Breathable Indoor Air
15 MIN READ
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HVAC
Retrofitting Forced-Air HVAC With High-MERV Filtration
7 MIN READ
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JLC
Moisture Detection Tools
10 MIN READ
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How To
How Insulation Can Peel Your Paint
2 MIN READ
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Building Performance
Tracing Air Leaks With a Blower Door
6 MIN READ
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Building Enclosure
Log Cabin Envelope Makeover
4 MIN READ
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Q&A
Latent Heat, Sensible Heat, and Cooling Loads
3 MIN READ
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Building Science Corp.
Concrete Solutions
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WalletHub
2020 Ranking of Most and Least Energy-Efficient States
1 MIN READ
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Foundations
High-Performance Crawlspace Foundations
10 MIN READ
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Energy Vanguard
Why Do Air Conditioning Vents Sweat?
1 MIN READ
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Insulation
Dense-Packing Unvented Roofs
8 MIN READ
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Energy Vanguard
Humidity, Health, and the Sterling Chart
2 MIN READ
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Building Science Corporation
A Deep Dive into Rainwater Control
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How To
Insulating Parapets and Balconies
6 MIN READ
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How To
Crawlspaces: Either In or Out
1 MIN READ
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Building Science Corp.
Builders Resource: Interior Spray Foam
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How To
Drainage Rules for Siding
2 MIN READ
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How To
Highlights From Building Science Summer Camp
10 MIN READ
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Building Science Corporation
Building-Performance Double Plays
2 MIN READ
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Science
Updating the Solar Still
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Training the Trades
Heat Transfer Through Buildings
7 MIN READ
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Energy Docs via Energy Vanguard
Right-Sizing HVAC Ducts
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ARCHITECT
Early Ventures, and Misventures, in Building Science
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How To
Learning from Failure
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How To
Blower Doors for Builders
10 MIN READ
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BSC
Learning Building Science Fundamentals
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Build Show
Understanding Air and Vapor Barriers
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Building Science Corporation
Ice Dam Solutions
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Building Performance
Air-Barrier Basics
6 MIN READ
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BUILDER
Five Rising Stars in Building Science
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How To
On Site With Majrex
4 MIN READ
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JLC BUILDER GUIDE
Avoiding Wet Roofs
10 MIN READ
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How To
Preventing Ice Dams
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Backfill
Buildings Don't Lie
6 MIN READ
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Coastal Contractor News
Flood-Hardy Construction: Louisiana’s Lesson for Texas
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How To
A Texas Tornado: Lessons Learned
9 MIN READ
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How To
Avoiding Wet Walls
7 MIN READ
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Projects
A Passive House in Wildfire Country
7 MIN READ
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How To
BioPCM: Smart Thermal Mass Using Phase Change Material
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Business
Building Tough
16 MIN READ
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How To
Thermal Imaging: A Detective’s Casebook
4 MIN READ
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How To
How Buildings Learn
1 MIN READ
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Work With WAP? Apply Here.
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How To
Blower Doors and Energy Retrofits
8 MIN READ
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Projects
High-Performance Insulated Wall Retrofits
9 MIN READ
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How To
Building Science Fundamentals
1 MIN READ
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How To
Lessons From a Yeti
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Energy
Unvented Flat Roofs: Theory Meets Practice in Rural Vermont
6 MIN READ -
How To
Understanding “Smart” Vapor Retarders
6 MIN READ
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Heatspring
Online Course: Deep Energy Retrofits
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How To
Flood in a Passive House: Lessons Learned
4 MIN READ
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Energy
Selling Remodeling With Energy Audits
6 MIN READ -
How To
Finding the Source of a ‘Roof Leak’
4 MIN READ -
Q&A
Windows in Thick Walls
3 MIN READ -
BUILDING AMERICA
Making Energy Efficiency Easier to Sell
1 MIN READ -
How To
Deep Rafters for a Massachusetts Passive House
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How To
Major Surgery for a Failing Fat Wall
15 MIN READ
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Projects
Vermont Modular Builder Shoots for Net Zero
2 MIN READ -
Projects
Brewer, Maine Multifamily Shoots for Passive House
2 MIN READ -
How To
Maine Remodel Beats Passive House Standards
3 MIN READ
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BUILDING SCIENCE CORP
Building Science Seminars
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How To
Insulated Footings for a Massachusetts Passive House
2 MIN READ
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Projects
Tips for a Net Zero House
14 MIN READ -
Projects
Warm House for a Cold, Cold Winter
1 MIN READ -
How To
Air-Sealing Techniques From a Passive House Pro
11 MIN READ
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Energy
Moisture in Fat Walls
8 MIN READ -
Products/Tools
Onset Data Loggers Track Building Data for Energy Auditing
2 MIN READ
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How To
Treated Wood Industry Looks to Toughen Standards
6 MIN READ -
How To
Best WRB Behind Brick Veneer?
2 MIN READ -
Energy
The Science of Kitchen Ventilation
6 MIN READ
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How To
Slideshow: Framing a Loft
1 MIN READ
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How To
Lateral Bracing for Decks
1 MIN READ
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How To
A Net-Zero Addition on Cape Cod
2 MIN READ
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Troubleshooting
Petri Dish House
8 MIN READ -
Energy
Electric Water Heating for a Low-Load Home
8 MIN READ -
On the Job
Installing Windows in a Deep Wall
5 MIN READ -
Energy
How Small Jobs Killed My Business
14 MIN READ
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How To
Maine Passive House: Framing Overhangs
2 MIN READ
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Projects
Building Science Summer Camp 2014
Brought to you by Western Window Systems2 MIN READ -
Projects
Enclosing and Strapping a Passive House Roof
1 MIN READ -
Energy
Solving for Comfort With a ‘Smart’ Thermostat
7 MIN READ
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How To
Choosing a Whole-House Ventilation Strategy
17 MIN READ
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How To
Installing an ERV in a Two-Family Passive House
2 MIN READ
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Projects
A Passive House Consultant’s Toolkit
5 MIN READ -
Troubleshooting
Monitoring Home Performance
10 MIN READ
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Projects
Panelizing Passive
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Energy
More Than ‘Tips’ Needed to Improve Energy Efficiency
Brought to you by Enertech Global4 MIN READ -
How To
Stucco Rainscreen – Delta Dry Stucco & Stone Review
4 MIN READ -
Projects
Building a Passive House for the First Time
13 MIN READ
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JLC
Why ‘Energy-Saving’ Tips Suck
4 MIN READ -
How To
A Look Through European Windows
12 MIN READ -
Projects
Studying Moisture in Fat Walls
5 MIN READ
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How To
JLC June Letters
4 MIN READ -
Projects
A Visit to a Passive House Panelizing Shop
1 MIN READ -
Projects
Panelizing Passive House: A Maine Builder Starts Production
4 MIN READ
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Projects
Words Matter
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JLC
Mixed Reality: The Future of Building Design?
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How To
The “Perfect Wall” Concept
3 MIN READ
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Energy
Heat Pumps for Cold Climates
6 MIN READ
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How To
Slideshow – An Insulated Roof Parapet
1 MIN READ -
How To
Insulating a Roof Parapet
2 MIN READ
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How To
Working With Flexible Flashing
15 MIN READ -
How To
Details for Foam-Free Superinsulated Construction
1 MIN READ
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On My Plate: A Blog by Roe Osborn
Warming up to Energy-Efficient Building
3 MIN READ -
Projects
Passive House Walls for an Old House
3 MIN READ
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Projects
Brooklyn Brownstone Makeover: The Energy Analysis
6 MIN READ -
How To
Holes in the Wall: Understanding Total R-Value
5 MIN READ
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Troubleshooting
The Case of the Sobbing Siding
4 MIN READ -
How To
Brooklyn Passive House: Sealing the Envelope
3 MIN READ
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Projects
Cold Snap Tests High-Performance Homes
9 MIN READ
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Projects
A New York City Passive House: First, Get Out the Shovels
7 MIN READ
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How To
Tight House Construction – Sealing Exterior Sheathing Seams
3 MIN READ -
How To
Building Above-Code Walls – Norwich, Vermont Single-Family Home
2 MIN READ
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How To
Building Above-Code Walls – Maine Single-Family Home
2 MIN READ
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How To
Building Above-Code Walls
1 MIN READ
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How To
Building Above-Code Walls – Belfast, Maine, Cohousing Units
2 MIN READ
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How To
Building Above-Code Walls – “Avalon” a Connecticut Farmhouse
2 MIN READ
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How To
Thermal Imaging With a Blower Door
7 MIN READ
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How To
Best Practices: Continuous Exterior Insulation
10 MIN READ
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Energy
Venting the Crawlspace
8 MIN READ -
Projects
Martin Went To Summer Camp, So You Don’T Have To
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How To
An Air-Sealing Priority List
12 MIN READ
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Projects
Energy Efficiency And Affordability: Searching For The “Sweet Spot”
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How To
Straight Answers About Efficient Windows
14 MIN READ
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Coastal Contractor News
Sandy’s Flood Damage, Through an Engineer’s Eyes
6 MIN READ -
How To
Alabama Deck Collapse Injures Spring Break Partiers
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Projects
“Weeding Out the Weak”: Blizzard Poses Risk of Roof Collapses
4 MIN READ -
How To
New Design Values Issued for Southern Pine
2 MIN READ
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Projects
Lessons Learned on Energy-Efficient Affordable Housing
14 MIN READ
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How To
Southern Pine Grade Changes: Action Coming Soon?
5 MIN READ -
Q&A
Cutting Holes in Sheathing
3 MIN READ
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Projects
Maine Passive House Builder Tweaks His Package
3 MIN READ -
Projects
Super-Efficient Cohousing Community Springs up in Coastal Maine
6 MIN READ -
How To
October Hearing Set for Southern Pine Downgrade
2 MIN READ -
How To
Air-Sealing for Hot Climates
8 MIN READ -
How To
Lights … Camera … No Action: Authorities Postpone Revision of Southern Pine Design Values
2 MIN READ -
How To
I-Joist Installation
1 MIN READ -
How To
I-Joist Installation
1 MIN READ -
Projects
Merging Biophilic Design with Green Building Standards
2 MIN READ
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Projects
“An Old School Chain Saw Retrofit”: Old House Meets Passive House in Coastal Maine
3 MIN READ