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The latest green building products, including a hybrid water heater, eco-friendly wood, Energy Star-rated range hoods, an ultra-low-flow toilet, weather barriers, and much more.
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As recently as a year ago, Epcon Communities was not specifying hardwood flooring in its home market of Columbus, Ohio. The builder of slab-on-grade, ranch condominiums in the $180,000 to $250,000 price range installed carpet and vinyl surfaces in its homes, says Craig Thomas, vice president of...
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When Trus Joist introduced the first engineered I-joist in 1969, it wasn't to save the planet. It was to help save a building industry that depended on huge, old-growth trees that were quickly becoming scarce and more protected by regulators.
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Even with surging interest in green building and sustainability, new construction and renovation projects continue to deplete vast quantities of resources. Remodeling, in particular, is a double-edged sword--the new house consumes materials, the demolition of the old structure generates debris. You...
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Jonathan Katar of Sage Builders in Newton, Mass., agrees that now is the time for reform, whether required by law or not. But he thinks the emphasis should be on the building science of green remodeling--for example, insulation, on-demand heating and cooling systems, and water-saving plumbing. The...
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Utter the word “custom” and visions of sprawling floor plans, lavish finishes, and top-of-the-line everything often come to mind. You know—those palatial playgrounds of the rich and famous that make for good television, and make average homeowners feel inadequate.
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Lately, manufacturers have been introducing vinyl siding lines with traditional profiles and with features that offer performance improvements over products of the past. Deeper, darker color palettes and insulated panels also continue to proliferate.