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tag: green building
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The "Lexus" HVAC system - Variable Refrigerant Flow Technology
Air Conditioners are sized for the Hottest day of the year. This results in rather uncomfortable AC about 70% of the time, as well as electric bills that are needlessly high. Enter Variable Refrigerant Flow Technology. This allows your AC to run at any capacity from 15% up to 100%. Join me for a system overview
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Southern HVAC Best Practice Videos
This is my collection of my 9 best HVAC related videos. Most will be relevant no matter your climate but many speak specifically to best practice for the Southern US.
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Ventilation Strategies for Houses in the Hot-Humid South: Good/Better/Best
Build tight, ventilate right. I learned that from building science guru Mark LaLiberte. But what is the right way to ventilate a house in Texas (or anywhere in the hot/humid South)? I'll give you my recommendations for three strategies.
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Indoor-Air Quality and Ventilation for Homes in Hot-Humid Climates
1 commentThe weather in the Southern United States poses a unique challenge to the issues of ventilation and indoor-air quality. Here are my opinions and suggestions on how to address these issues if you are building or remodeling in the South.
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Nest Review - Builder Perspective
3 commentsThe Nest thermostat has a ton of buzz, but is it worth the price? In this review you'll hear my perspective as a builder.
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High-Performance Homes Dos & Don'ts: Mark LaLiberte Seminar Notes
2 commentsMark LaLiberte is an amazing building-science teacher. Read my blogging notes from his seminar titled "Building High-Performance Homes Dos & Don'ts," which I attended in Austin, Texas. Remember that this is focused on Texas construction, but there is plenty to learn here for anyone in the U.S.
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Texas Deep-Energy Retrofit Remodel
When you hear about a deep energy retrofit project most people think of the snowy North Eastern US. I can tell you that the strategy for a Northern remodel with energy efficiency in mind is very different that our strategy for Hot/Humid Texas. In this video I'll show you 6 things we are doing to making a dramatic difference in this 1950's slab on grade house's energy bills.
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Smart Design Advice for Hot & Humid Climates (i.e. The South)
Architect Peter Pfeiffer talks about how to utilize smart design for a house in a hot climate zone. His green building advice is practical and following his advice will result in a house that's well designed for the rigors of a hot climate. If you want a comfortable, efficient, durable house and you live in the South then this video will give you tons to think about.
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HVAC Ducting: Rigid Metal vs. Flex
5 commentsIn our Texas climate a well installed HVAC system is a must for a new home. I'm surprised by how few builders are using Rigid Metal ducting anymore. Come see how my crew uses both Rigid Metal & Flex for great air distribution in the homes I build.
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Best Attic for Hot/Humid Climates
Most houses in Hot/Humid climates don't have basements so that means that most ductwork in Southern house runs through super hot attic spaces. In this video I'll show you a rather civilized attic space that really makes for a comfortable & efficient house!
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Can't We Build Simple, Low-Tech Homes and Still Be Comfortable?
3 commentsA Massachusetts homeowner wonders how a green design might look for someone who likes to keep the windows open and the heat turned down
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One view of the net-zero energy frontier
A white paper explores how builders, manufacturers, and government entities can develop the market for projects designed for net-zero-energy performance
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Building a radon-resistant home.
1 commentWhat is deadly and might be lurking in your basement? No, not a Ninja (well probably not), in most cases it is Radon. And it is important to know what Radon is and how to ensure it isn't a threat to your household. From building to testing, I will share what I learned about Radon while building my house.
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A Passive House in Rhode Island
2 commentsAn ultra-efficient home in Rhode Island offers inspration for the rest of us
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How to Live Comfortably Off the Grid
2 commentsA builder in British Columbia will soon be building an off-the-grid house for an island couple. Although the house will be heated primarily with wood, it will still need a backup system, and he looks for advice on the best approach.
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What's Worse: Air Leaks or Not Enough Insulation
3 commentsAl Cobb's goal is simple: Build better houses and help consumers make better choices. To do that more effectively, he wants to understand the root causes of heat loss a little better. Are air leaks or low insulation levels the real culprit?
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The Devil Is in the Details
4 commentsSome modular homes are getting better, but the construction details in many modular homes are still downright scary. Here are a few photos I secretly shot recently.
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What's the Best Way to Control Indoor-Air Quality and Humidity in a House?
1 commentThe tighter the house, the greater the need for whole-house ventilation. But what system would work best for your house?
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Green Building is for Whiners and Hippies
6 commentsScott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) and the Wall Street Journal take aim at green building.
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Make Up Air For Commercial Exhaust Fans in Homes
My clients specified a huge gas commercial range with a high CFM exhaust fan. I was worried that this fan wouldn't exhaust properly with a fully spray foamed tight shell. In this video I'll show you how we provided make-up air so that the exhaust fan would have enough air coming in to exhaust.
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How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
