Best Practices
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Methods for Reducing Sound Transmission
A builder’s tips for achieving acoustical comfort
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Grilles, Registers, and Diffusers, Part 1
An in-depth look at how this oft-overlooked HVAC component functions and affects interior conditions
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Air-Sealing Garage Doors
A method adopted from the commericial industry for reducing air leaks around overhead garage doors
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Indoor Relative Humidity and Window Condensation
A practical solution to preventing wood-framed windows from sweating in a tight house
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Recessed Lights and Air Leakage
Tips for insulating and air-sealing around this notoriously leaky lighting fixture type to save energy, improve comfort, and protect building materials over time
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Air-Sealing Electrical Penetrations
Penetrations in a wall assembly to accommodate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing lines are a source of air leakage and need to be sealed
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Benefits of Simple Building Forms
Basic shapes and small volumes minimize a project’s materials, construction complexities, and carbon output
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Minisplit Maintenance
Cleaning filters and coils is critical to effective operations and optimal performance
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Airtight Electrical Boxes
Methods for installing electrical boxes that limit air movement and thermal bridging
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Passive House Remodel in a Historic Neighborhood
A century-old bungalow maintains its original character while achieving Passive House certification
