This time of year, I see a lot of ads for various types of electric space heaters. They all promise that you'll save money by using them rather than whatever other type of heat you have in your home. Some…
Long before any dirt is moved, developers make a choice that affects the cash flow of the eventual residents of the new community they're planning. They've got a piece of land, the survey is done, and then they sit down…
Although I rarely get to listen to it these days, I love the show Science Friday with Ira Flatow on NPR. It's always interesting, and you get to learn cool new science stuff. This past Friday, they covered a topic…
I just finished teaching another ENERGY STAR Version 3 class for HERS raters. As usual, the new HVAC requirements generated the most discussion and raised the most concerns. I haven't heard any hard numbers yet, but I'm wondering how much…
Remember that science class where you learned about the three forms of heat flow: conduction, convection, and radiation? Well, class, let's make it real today. You insulate your walls, floors, and ceilings to limit the amount of heat your home…
I love the look and idea of this new thermostat called the Nest and want to install one as soon as I can. It's gorgeous. It's simple. And it's smart. I love the look and idea of this new thermostat…
Radiant barriers are cool! Well, actually they get quite warm, but they help the space below them stay cooler when used on a roof assembly above an unconditioned attic. They can drop the temperature of an attic about 20° F.…
About a decade ago, I read about a new book that Stephen King had just published. It was titled, On Writing, and I was puzzled about why he'd want to write about writing. I mean, the guy's a fiction writer,…
I'm teaching a HERS rater class this week, and on Monday we went out to look at a couple of houses and do a Blower Door test. The second house we visited was under construction, and the builder had used…
In the guest post I wrote for Bob Borson in his blog Life of an Architect, I gave an overview of the types of attic insulation. I didn't discuss radiant barriers in the article, but it's a hot topic, so…