Category: Blog
Active House The Active House standard comes from Europe, and is intended to steer the builder toward a comprehensive and affordable pathway to high-performance, low-impact buildings. Instead of points, this …
The standards of the IBN are very rigorous. Results cannot be accurately anticipated at the design phase of the building; on-site testing post-construction is the only option. However, homeowners and …
There is no doubt that the most skepticism and wariness about sustainable technologies will happen here, at the foundation. As with any change, the underlying assumption — the “foundation” — …
There are two types of rammed earth mixtures: Unstabilized Using only naturally occurring soil ingredients. A quality unstabilized mix can have high compressive strength, but will be susceptible to degradation …
Putting It into Practice At the design phase, it is important to develop a vapor control strategy that is based on climatic conditions and material choices that meet the goals …
Any homeowner or builder faces a potentially intimidating regulatory process when undertaking a building project. There can be a lot of red tape to cut through on the way to …
Thermal Mass The subject of thermal mass can be confusing, as the effect of thermal mass is often equated with thermal insulation. However, thermal mass is not insulation. Insulation limits …
Indoor environment quality: Inert. Insulation choices may have IEQconse-quences, as will finishes applied to exposed concrete. Waterproofing materials on the exterior may contaminate soil/ groundwater. Foam insulated concrete forms are …
There are several types of pier foundation, defined by the pier material: Concrete piers — Concrete can be poured into tubular forms, or CMUs can be stacked and core-filled to …
Despite the long list of potential regulatory hurdles to be crossed, we will focus here on the building permit because of its direct effect on the selection of materials and …
