Do you wonder why your house gets dusty so fast?
Do you feel like your house is always dusty, in spite of how much you vacuum and clean? Have you tried all the tricks – HEPA vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, taking your shoes off before coming in the...
View ArticleHow NOT to insulate your house
The other day, I was talking with a friend of mine – an energy auditor who was a builder for decades. The topic came around to bad advice that “experts” give about insulating. It’s something that we...
View ArticleInsulating Basement Crawl Spaces
Crawlspaces – those nasty, damp, moldy spaces under your home that you dread entering. They’re one of the least understood parts of a home and the source of countless problems. In this post, I’ll...
View ArticleGenerators
While it’s too late for this storm (we’re currently awaiting the full force of hurricane Sandy), I thought the current conditions were appropriate for a post on generators while waiting for trees to...
View ArticleHow to Install House Wrap around a Window
When I head out around the countryside, I am frequently dismayed by all the examples of improper construction techniques. “There’s another house that’s going to rot out in a few … Continue reading How...
View ArticleHeating Systems 101 – Learning the Lingo
She Blinded Me With Science! One of the toughest things about researching a new heating system is learning the tech talk. Your HVAC company will throw out all sorts of … Continue reading Heating...
View ArticleHow Should You Insulate Your Attic?
One of the hottest topics in energy efficiency and building science is “how should you insulate your attic?” Why? Simply put, the attic has more impact on your efficiency and comfort than any other...
View ArticleLED Recessed Light Retrofits – Pros and cons
A reader, Adam, recently asked about the pros and cons of using LED retrofits vs. sealing recessed lights from the attic. It’s such a good question that I had to write up a quick post detailing my...
View ArticleWhy can’t they make a thermostat that can keep the house at a constant...
Someone asked me this question, and I live this reality every day. Let’s look at what’s involved! Each room in the house has its own thermal loss and gain. To simplify, this is directly related to the...
View ArticleExterior Insulation – Do’s and Don’ts
If you’re building a new house or redoing the exterior of your existing home, do yourself a favor and watch this excellent video on exterior insulation. It could save you huge amounts of heartaches and...
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