28 Comments

1. 
   5C8rvfuWev | Oct 14, 2011 10:05am | #1

   Good Grief
   Martin, why on earth isn't this a book?

2. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Oct 14, 2011 10:23am | #2

   Response to Joe
   Joe,
   Talk to Taunton Publishers -- put in a word for the idea!

   At their last book editors' meeting, the idea was shelved. I guess the bankruptcy of Borders Books has publishers wondering how books can be marketed these days.

3. 
   tfarwell | Oct 15, 2011 10:45am | #3

   Great Resource
   Thanks

4. 
   s2L7hfK99U | Oct 16, 2011 12:28am | #4

   Good Grief indeed
   God knows I'd buy it.

5. 
   gusfhb | Oct 18, 2011 08:42am | #5

   re:
   The book I would like to see him write is:

   "Replacing the Hippie House"

   subtitled 'what I am going to do with the millions you pay me for writing this book'

   Seriously, without all of the 'well you could do this' or 'you might choose to do this' that is required of Martin in this online job of his.

   I think it would be a good read.

6. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Oct 18, 2011 09:07am | #6

   Response to Keith
   Keith,
   Trust me -- there will never be "millions" for writers who advise builders on construction methods. It's not a lucrative field. So if you have kids in college wondering about what subject to major in, I don't recommend journalism or English literature -- especially if they seek "millions."

   So, am I reading you correctly: you are tired of advice that explains that there are always two or three solutions to every problem? Instead, would you rather hear me voice a strong opinion stating, "This is the way to build a house"?

7. 
   gusfhb | Oct 18, 2011 10:33am | #7

   RE Martin
   tongue was firmly in cheek regarding the millions.

   I think it is interesting to see what smart people do regarding choices and trade-offs. I think the personal decision making is sometimes more interesting than general advice. It is a very different thing, educational in a different way.

8. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Oct 18, 2011 10:37am | #8

   Response to Keith
   Keith,
   Here's the short answer: I try to plug a few more air leaks every year, and I burn firewood that I cut myself. I don't anticipate building myself another home in my lifetime.

9. 
   homedesign | Oct 18, 2011 05:17pm | #9

   This is the way.....
   Martin,
   I think that Keith asked a very good question.
   It is a question that you usually seem to dodge.
   Perhaps you do not need or want another home....
   What construction method would you suggest if a close friend or family member wanted to duplicate your hippie house in Vermont?

   Joe Lstiburek's "perfect" (outside insulation) ?
   or a "Double Wall with cellulose" AKA Turd ?

10. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Oct 18, 2011 06:47pm | #10

    Response to John Brooks
    John,
    Believe it or not, I'm being honest when I say there are a lot of ways to build energy-efficient walls, and they all work. I am in favor of double-stud walls filled with cellulose, and I also like walls with thick exterior polyisocyanurate insulation. Both work well.

    I recently had an exchange of e-mails with architect Jesse Thompson, who says he is getting tired of the endless discussions about walls. I may be putting words into his mouth, but I get the impression that he is thinking, "Enough already! Who cares?"

    After all, if you build a good, tight, well-designed high-R wall, it's going to work. So let's stop arguing. There are other aspects of houses to discuss: attic insulation, windows, airtightness, house size, orientation, passive solar features, and heating systems. If anyone of us builds a house with very low energy bills, let's just say, "Bravo!" and move on.

11. 
    albertrooks | Oct 20, 2011 03:20pm | #11

    Almost complete but needs one more...
    Martin,

    Can you help us with:

    "How to survive the recession"?

12. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Oct 20, 2011 03:25pm | #12

    Response to Albert
    Albert,
    Ask your grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles who remember the 1930s. Here are a few reminders:

    1. Have a vegetable garden.

    2. Turn out the light when you're not in the room.

    3. Invite the extended family to live together in the same house.

    4. Barter with your neighbors.

    5. Cook more grits, oatmeal, rice, and beans. Cook a big pot and it will last for several days.

    6. Patch your clothes.

    7. Walk and bicycle to get around.

    8. It's never too cold to cut firewood when you are all out.

13. 
    K4SH9nAKFH | Oct 24, 2011 11:20am | #13

    ICF Construction
    I don't know, maybe I missed something but I didn't read one 'How To' title which even made a reference to ICF house construction. You go on and on about fancy framing, vapor barriers, thermal bridging, and so forth up the ying yang but for my construction dollar nothing beats ICF to deal with all those issues in one fell swoop. End of story and of my rant.

14. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Oct 24, 2011 11:36am | #14

    Response to Jeff
    Jeff,
    Although I haven't written a blog about ICF construction, plenty of other GBA authors have.

    If you search our website using the search terms "insulated concrete form" or "ICF," you'll get lots of links, and have plenty of articles to read and videos to view.

15. 
    vCWJKZSiuP | Oct 26, 2011 06:29pm | #15

    surviving
    Martin,
    I live in Hew Hampshire,but I'm ready to break camp and relocate.I would be a good neighbor.How is the real-estate market in your neighborhood?

16. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Oct 26, 2011 06:34pm | #16

    Brian - about the real estate market
    Brian,
    I don't know much about real estate. I think it's fair to say that real estate prices everywhere have dropped from two or three years ago.

17. 
    user941025 | Nov 15, 2011 04:50pm | #17

    top post
    May I suggest permanently and prominently linking to this digest at the top of the Q&A page?

18. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Nov 15, 2011 05:41pm | #18

    Thanks, MD
    MD,
    Glad to hear that you find that the page is useful.

19. 
    [email protected] | Oct 11, 2013 03:49pm | #19

    Thanks Martin!
    I would order this book right now, if it was a book.

    Taunton Press pay attention, please!!

20. 
    user-1046359 | Jul 08, 2014 08:47am | #20

    Martin
    I have followed GBA
    Martin
    I have followed GBA for the last few years. Your blogs are always interesting, balanced, and well written. You are fundamentally an educator who will have a lasting effect in your field. Making millions is not generally part of being an educator but respect from people who may have millions is not uncommon.

21. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Jul 08, 2014 10:05am | #21

    Response to W. Timothy Ward
    Timothy,
    Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad that you find the articles to be useful.

22. 
    bobhol | Jul 09, 2014 11:16am | #22

    Maybe an E-Book ?
    Possibly put all the articles together in an E-PUB format and make it downloadable for a fee ...I know I would want it just to reference articles more easily..thanks,Martin for all your research...Bob

23. 
    lindenboy | Jul 14, 2014 11:17am | #23

    You need a DONATE button!
    Sounds to me like a lot of folks would be willing to pay for this, whether it was a legitimate book, fee-based e-book, or just a button to click "buying you a cup of coffee" through Paypal. Take note! And great work...

24. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Jul 14, 2014 11:48am | #24

    Response to Jason Burk
    Jason,
    If you or any other readers want to contact Taunton Press with any suggestions for a book which you are interested in seeing published, you can contact Taunton via this e-mail address: [email protected]

25. 
    benrush | Jul 13, 2015 04:41pm | #25

    Thank you
    Martin,
    Thanks for putting all these links in one place. Very helpful.
    Ben

26. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Jan 26, 2017 04:45am | #26

    Yes, Taunton will publish a book
    Taunton Press will soon publish my book, titled Musings of an Energy Nerd.

    [Later edit] The book is now available from the Taunton Press web site. Here is the link: Musings of an Energy Nerd.

    .

    
27. 
    somewhere_or_other | Jul 23, 2018 09:35am | #27

    GBA Prime Annotation
    Martin,

    Any chance you could put a small "GBA Prime" symbol next to the links to articles that are behind the paywall? It would save a lot of frustration.

    Lloyd

28. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | Jul 23, 2018 09:47am | #28

    Response to Lloyd Brown
    Lloyd,
    We'll consider your suggestion. Thanks.

    In the meantime, there's another way to reduce your frustration. If you subscribe for a month for $15, you can read all of the articles listed on this page. And your $15 will help pay for the salaries that make this site possible. Without revenue, there would be no GBA.