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How Thick Can Foam Be Installed Beneath a Roof Deck?
Safety tests still confound the experts, but local code officials have the last word
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Can Conditioned Attics Be Too Big?
Weighing cost and performance benefits of conditioned and unconditioned spaces
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Using Sand to Store Solar Energy
Assessing the controversial claim that solar thermal heat gathered in summer can be stored in sand for winter use
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How to Keep Garage Fumes Out of the House
If the house has an exhaust-only ventilation system, will fumes be drawn inside?
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Reviving an Old Debate on Vapor Barriers
Despite evidence that interior polyethylene vapor barriers can cause problems, some architects still specify them
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Are High-Performance Windows Worth Their High Cost?
Simple payback may not be enough to justify the investment in triple-glazed windows, even in a cold climate
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How to Calculate the Value of Energy Improvements
With so many variables at play, how does one measure energy savings when justifying the cost of retrofit measures?
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How to Insulate a Cathedral Ceiling with Mineral Wool
If the rafter bays of a sloped ceiling are packed with insulation, is venting the roof necessary?
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Should It Be a Passivhaus or a Passive House?
The goal of the Passivhaus standard is energy efficiency and air-tightness on the cheap, not a green label
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Right Idea, Wrong Result: A Cellulose Insulation Job Goes Off Track
Too much cellulose in the wrong place creates a winter nightmare