Insulation Materials… or “How to build a better house” – Part3
Part3 in my series – "How to build a better house". Last week we talked about advanced framing techniques, which in simple terms replaces lumber with insulation material and maximizes the wall that’s insulated. This effectively improves the thermal resistance or R-value of a wall. As a reminder on how important advanced framing is, [...]
Some of the “coolest” houses on the planet….literally!
Today I'm kicking of a series of some of the "coolest" green building projects on this planet. The DGBA Green Building Video Collection. document.getElementById(“post-1602-blankimage”).onload();
Why you should do some homework before hiring a contractor……
…… that's why. The picture above shows water damage at the floor framing level in the entry door area of the house we are currently working on. The entry door we're replacing is not that old. This is only one of several areas we found in this home that have severe wood rot. The [...]
Advanced Framing Techniques… or “How to build a better house” – Part2 of 7
Last week's post on "Thermal Bridging" kicked off a series of articles that I have wanted to share for a long time. These articles cover issues, techniques and solutions related to how we build exterior walls and the impact of some of those decisions. Today's article is about one of the solutions to minimize "Thermal [...]
The Home Energy Audit – Part1
For us, Green Building and Remodeling is all about efficiency. There's efficiency in managing resources, construction waste and of course…. using energy. How do we know how efficient our existing homes are before we start a remodel? And how do we know if the improvements we made worked as anticipated? Answer: A Home Energy Audit. [...]
A new investment idea! A home energy retrofit…..
How about that idea…… ditch the stock and invest in your home! Energy efficiency is becoming more and more important for homeowners in Dallas. So it comes as no surprise that people all over the country are finding that an investment in their home is the best decision they can make. So how about investing [...]
Energy Efficient Homes – Super energy efficient Swiss Design wins 2010 PassivHaus Award
And another big announcement in the award circle this month – this one in the category for energy efficient homes. A home built by Swiss architect Peter Schuerch, principal of firm Halle58 won the 2010 PassivHaus award. Built in Bern, Switzerland, the home is a stunning example of how proper design and siting can [...]
Was your house built before 1978? Then you should read this……
Was your home built prior to 1978? In Dallas, TX over 70% of existing homes were built prior to 1978. So why is that date so important you ask? Well…. 1978 was the year lead was banned as a substance to be used in paints and finishes. Prior to that, lead was used heavily in [...]
Busted by the Expert: 3 Green Building Myths!
In celebration of #EarthDay I thought it was in order to write about some of the myths that still exist about green building. As a custom builder and remodeler of energy-efficient and healthy, so called "green" homes, clients always ask… Are green homes or remodeling projects more expensive? The short answer is: NO! They [...]
A “sneak peak” into the upcoming Green Built Texas Existing Homes Program
As some of you have probably read in my last article about the Texas Green Building Summit, Phil Crone, Director of Green Building Programs for the HBA of Dallas announced the ALL NEW GBT-EH certification program at the show. This is exiting news for homeowners and remodelers alike, since it is one of the [...]
