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Mass-media showcases of green building would lead some to believe that sustainability is achieved only in ultra-modern, ultra-high-end, glass-and-steel homes and high rises. But as certification programs continue to proliferate, more and more communities are popping up in traditional styles and...
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Heating and cooling systems account for nearly 50% of a home’s energy consumption, so your choice of equipment and the way it is installed are keys to success for any green builder. And as the focus on energy efficiency has led to improved building shell performance (including high-performance...
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Whole-house ventilation isn’t just a good idea, it should be a standard feature in your homes. Here’s how it works.
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The temperature atop Chicago's City Hall building on an average summer day is usually 14 degrees to 44 degrees cooler than the county office building across the street. The reason: the county building has a typical black-tar roof, while City Hall has a green roof planted with grass, plants, and...
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Carpenters love wood. The smell of fresh sawdust on a crisp fall morning, the slap and ring of hammers on boards, the sturdy feel of a new house frame—what's not to love?
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Structural insulated panels are an energy-efficient framing alternative.
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Indoor air quality (IAQ) was not priority No. 1 for Virginia Ranch Development project manager Davis Johnson as he oversaw construction of an 800-home community in Gardnerville, Nev., near Carson City. It seldom is. Like just about everybody else in the business right now, Johnson's biggest concern...
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With the number of people with airborne allergies on the rise, and the number of children with asthma having doubled in the last two decades, builders who offer pre-installed air exchangers would seem to have a ready-made market.