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The Evolution of Superinsulation
The net-zero design approach challenges some of the fundamental assumptions of the 1980s superinsulation movement
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Split-System Heat-Pump Water Heaters
Japanese ‘Eco Cute’ water heaters will soon be available in the U.S.
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Rules of Thumb for Ductless Minisplits
How to design a house that can be heated with one or two ductless minisplits — and how to operate the units once the house is occupied
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Simple Methods for Measuring Air Flow
Homemade flow hoods, the credit card test, the garbage bag test, and calibrated laundry baskets
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What is Comfort?
As designers engage in an arms race to develop increasingly comfortable homes, green builders need to know when to say ‘enough is enough’
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Building a Foam-Free House
If you plan ahead, it’s not hard to build a house without any rigid foam or spray foam insulation
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Redefining Passivhaus
The Passive House Institute U.S. takes a stab at developing new passive house standards for North America
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Solar Thermal Is Really, Really Dead
A new analysis shows how much cheaper it is to heat water with PV modules than with solar thermal collectors
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Martin’s 2014 Christmas Poem
Is that a raven tapping on my window?
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Is OSB Airtight?
Builders and researchers in North America and Europe report that air can leak right through oriented strand board