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Video Tip: Self Draining Sill Pans
Water Can Collect at Window Sills Installing windows is tricky— A window is basically a big hole in an otherwise continuous surface that's insulated and protected from rain and wind.…
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I-joists are not ductwork
What’s wrong with this picture? a) The rim joist is too heavily notched. b) Using framing cavities as duct runs is frowned upon by codes and professional associations. c) This…
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Not all duct design manuals are created green
Manual D is about comfort, not energy efficiency. Its requirement in LEED-H makes green certification too expensive to justify the benefit. I've been building solar and green for 30 years.…
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Life-Cycle Assessment is a Tool, Not a Silver Bullet
Are steel studs greener than wood? Is plastic pipe greener than copper? And is vinyl siding green? A product's total environmental impact must be considered. There are few green building…
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Do Window Shades Save Energy?
_Yes, but high-performance windows and exterior shading may save more_ While it's theoretically impossible for anything to actually save energy, interior window shades can indeed keep summer heat out and…
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Energy Star Raises the Bar for Home Builders
_New Standards Push the Energy Envelope 50% Past 2006 IECC_ A couple of interesting announcements from Sam Rashkin, the national director of Energy Star for Homes: new standards that raise…