Home Building Is Like Skiing
I spent a few days in Colorado this past week. This was a rare trip for me: It wasn't for business or a conference. My wife, Elaine, and I went there on a belated honeymoon (we got married in 2009),…
The Energy Vanguard Blog
Vented Crawl Spaces and the Psychrometric Chart Are Not Friends
Really, the argument about whether you should vent a crawl space in a humid climate is over. Advanced Energy's research project from 2002 proved that closed crawl spaces outperform vented crawl spaces. A quick look at the psychrometric chart shows…
The Tail-Wagging Labradors of RESNET
Labradors? James Brown? What do either of those have to do with the RESNET conference?! Be patient, my friend. All will be revealed shortly. The 2013 RESNET conference just ended, and it was fantastic. It and Building Science Summer Camp…
The Best New Blower Door Device You’re Gonna Love!
Last night I was at the Energy Avenger...er, the Energy Logic hospitality suite at the end of a great first day of the RESNET conference. I got a chance to talk with many of the wonderful people in the HERS…
Size Matters — How Big a House Can You Test with One Blower Door?
I get asked variations of this question often enough that it's worth addressing here. If you're doing a blower door test, how big a house can you test with one fan? Or, put another way, how many blower doors do…
Are You a Conference Commando? — Advice for RESNET and Beyond
A couple of years ago, my friend Steve Byers of Energy Logic wrote an article about how to get the most out of your conference experience. In it, he included a link to a paper titled 15 Tips from Keith…
How to Install Flex Duct Properly
I've written a lot about duct problems, especially those in flex duct because they're so abundant. A couple of years ago, I even wrote an article about whether or not flex duct should be banned. My answer was no but…
The Science of Global Warming Is Older Than Quantum Mechanics
I'm new to global warming. I didn't hear about it until 1983. Even thirty years ago, the science behind the greenhouse effect and global warming was well known. French Physicist and mathematician Joseph Fourier (shown at left) is generally credited…
In or Out? Where Does the Paper Facing of Batt Insulation Go?
If you install fiberglass batt insulation* with a kraft paper vapor retarder in a home, which way do you face the vapor retarder? To the inside of the home or the outside of the home? For many building science questions,…
I Blew a Gasket — Air Leakage at Electrical Switches and Outlets
One thing that invariably surprises people when I walk them through a house during their first blower door test is how much air leaks in through the electrical switches and receptacles. On Friday, we went out to do the last…