While the federal government is ramping up measures that increase building energy efficiency, home builders in a handful of states, including North Carolina, are pushing back against more stringent building energy efficiency measures. But what is in the best interest of homeowners?

Lumber costs have skyrocketed in recent years. In addition, more stringent building energy efficiency requirements mean more builders are interested in advanced framing. The key to advanced framing success lies in the details for areas like corners, wall intersections, and around windows.

NAIMA has just released a new guide, Passive House Construction with Fiberglass and Mineral Wool Insulation. This new publication compares code-built, net zero, and passive house construction in terms of energy optimization, ultimately demonstrating that Passive House construction is the most rigorous in performance. It also presents a case study...

Blown-in fiberglass (or loose fill) insulation is increasingly popular in new residential construction and in renovations, accounting for 19 percent of current insulation market share and growing[1]. More stringent energy codes, the ease of installation, as well as the safety and health profile of the product over other insulation types have all...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized the requirements for the latest version of its long-running ENERGY STAR Single Family New Home program. The National Version 3.2 puts the thermal envelope requirements of the 2021 International Energy Conservation code front and center. The new version now stipulates mandatory envelope...

Each year since 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Housing Innovation Awards recognize forward-thinking builders who construct homes that are Zero Energy Ready (with net zero achievable with the addition of solar panels). Among the winners of the 2021 Housing Innovation Awards is Milwaukee-area builder Tim O’Brien Homes, which took a top...

If you’ve been following our blog for some time now, you know that we write regularly about basic building science. In fact, we completed a primer, Building Science 101 with Building Scientist Allison Bailes a few years back. Dr. Bailes, a Georgia resident, recently wrote the state’s Department of Community Affairs to object to a proposal that...