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Home Performance

Building Envelope

Walls

Spotlight Article:

Green Dreamin'

What do you get when you cross a deep energy retrofit with an 1880s Victorian-style home?

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A Serious Challenge to a New Building Technology

Author: John D. Cooper

free CONTENT

January 01, 2003

Every new building technology comes with new problems along with its benefits, and structural insulated panels (SIPs) are no different. SIPs are made of rigid foam insulation sandwiched between ... [continue reading]

The Lowdown on Structural Insulated Panels

Author: Jim Gunshinan and Al Cobb

free CONTENT

January 01, 2002

More builders are recognizing the benefits of building with structural insulated panels, yet unless the panels are properly installed, moisture buildup can create major problems. [continue reading]

Steel Stud Walls: Breaking the Thermal Bridge

Author: Jan Kosny

free CONTENT

July 01, 2001

Steel stud walls are notoriously inefficient due to thermal bridging, but new construction and insulating methods are solving that problem. [continue reading]

Steel Framing: How Green?

Author: Edward Wyatt

free CONTENT

July 01, 2001

Steel Framing: How Green? Q: Is the use of steel framing for residential construction turning into a trend that we must now take seriously? Isn't energy efficiency very tricky when using steel? ... [continue reading]

Sealing Up Your Home's Leaks

free CONTENT

June 16, 2001

Your house's walls and windows-what building professionals call the building envelope or shell-are supposed to prevent air from moving through them. [continue reading]

The Concrete Facts

Author: Edward Wyatt

free CONTENT

May 01, 2001

Q: What is autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)? Why have I only heard about it recently, when apparently it has been around for years? When should a builder such as myself decide to use this material? ... [continue reading]

Calculating Whole Wall R-Values on the Net

Author: Jeffrey Christian and Jan Kosny

archive CONTENT

November 01, 1999

In 1995, approximately 85% of U.S. residential housing was stick built. While energy-efficient walls can be built with dimensional lumber, it takes careful design and construction to achieve this. [continue reading]

New Value for High-Mass Walls

Author: Jan Kosny

archive CONTENT

September 01, 1999

In certain climates, construction of massive building envelopes--such as concrete, earth, and insulating concrete forms (ICFs)--can be one of the most effective ways of reducing building heating and cooling loads. [continue reading]