Fiberglass insulations received a ringing endorsement in a recent report by Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) that examines the health impacts of materials used in weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income multifamily housing stock.

The report reviews the materials used in these retrofits and ranks products – including various...

What was a lofty philanthropic effort by actor Brad Pitt has morphed into a disastrous example of how poor construction of affordable, energy-efficient housing can negatively impact homeowners and put the builder and building designer in a precarious position.

NOLA.COM reported this week that in 2007, two years after Hurricane Katrina, Make it...

In the quest to meet new energy code requirements of the 2012/15 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), some builders are finding that passing that all-important blower door test is their biggest challenge. As we’ve reported earlier this year, only 40 to 50 percent of new construction homes that must now meet the 3 ACH50 blower door target...

There are more Wi-Fi devices in use than there are people on Earth and about 50 percent of Internet traffic flows through Wi-Fi networks.[1] Wireless devices are everywhere, so it’s easy to understand why Wi-Fi connectivity is critical for homebuyers. Virtually everyone has had that experience of being in a home or building that has weak Wi-Fi...

Don’t Park the Prius on the Roof

In this age of technology, one of the great ironies of modern home shopping is that buyers more often than not consider resale homes first over new construction. In fact, in some markets, up to 90 percent of homes sold are lower priced, less efficient resale homes. Homebuilders can reverse that trend by...

In our effort to help builders and contractors reduce air leakage in new construction homes, much of the focus has been on the building envelope. However, there are other areas outside of the building envelope that can prove problematic for air leakage. Bob Nelson of Ener-G Home Performance Consultants shed some light on three commonly overlooked...

The Role of Data in Assessing the Potential Hazards of Man-Made Vitreous Fibers

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (“NAIMA”) occasionally gets questions about the health and safety of fiber glass and mineral wool insulation products. To answer those questions, NAIMA is launching a new blog series. Our first post is on the use...

In his more than 30 years as a residential building contractor, Jim Iredale focused much of his career on constructing code-built custom homes. That changed in 2012 when he had the opportunity to work on a very high-end project that was designed to meet passive haus (house) standards, and a devotee was born.  

By: Matthew Brown, CGP, APA Engineered Wood Specialist

Insulation can increase a home’s energy efficiency, but only if it’s properly installed. Batt insulation installed as per manufacturer instructions should perform at its stated value, but R-value can decrease if it’s compressed in tight spaces.

In roofing assemblies, conventional trusses can...

Some people think that the idea of a high-performance building is a new concept, but it has been around for some time now. As defined in the Energy Policy Act 2005, a building that “integrates and optimizes all major high-performance building attributes, including energy efficiency, durability, life-cycle performance, and occupant productivity” is...