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Vermont Addresses the 20+5 Wall Problem — Sort Of
The 2015 Vermont energy code tries to steer builders away from exterior rigid foam that is too thin
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Climate Change Challenges the Human Imagination
At times of crisis, we turn to art and myth, the realms where hope resides
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Martin’s 2017 Christmas Poem
On a dark December night, a lonely builder feels he’s getting old
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Three Code-Approved Tricks for Reducing Insulation Thickness
Savvy builders know that there are several legal ways to install less insulation than the minimum requirements in the prescriptive code table
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Sill Pans for Exterior Doors
Flashing the rough openings of exterior doors isn’t just a good idea; it’s a code requirement
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Lumber from a Bandsaw Mill
This simple piece of equipment turns logs into building materials
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What’s the Definition of ‘Green Building’?
I’ve identified ten principles that show up in the various definitions of this tricky term
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Revisiting Ventilation
An updated overview of residential ventilation systems
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Kitchen Design
Common-sense principles for a green kitchen
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Rethinking the Rules on Minimum Foam Thickness
Exterior rigid foam doesn’t always have to be as thick as the rules recommend