We have completely dug down the cellar by 3 and 1/2 feet. Then we put a vapour barrier and 3 inch insulation which we taped at the seams. Then we put down the salvaged fencing from the back yard to act as strengthener for the cement. On the fence we tied the pex tubing for […]
Laying the foundation for the concrete slab Read More »
We are inserting the salvaged poly iso insulation board into the top floor ceiling of the house between the joists. All the joists have been sistered with “new” salvaged joists. You can see the bolts holding them together. We are packing four layers of poly iso board, making it an air tight R 36. The
Inserting the Insulation Into the Roof Ceiling Read More »
Here is an interesting article. It describes all the kinds of house wraps and vapor barriers in detail. It also concludes that despite all the fancy new products the good old tar paper is still the preferred product for the author. I like building that sticks to the basics and avoids as much as possible
About House Wrap and Tar Paper Read More »
I subscribe to some very scholarly journals on green building. I also subscribe to some radical journals on politics and conspiracies. I like to check out the pulse from various sources. And when I start seeing trends overlapping I know it is something worth paying attention to. Use of Mixed Hemp Fiber This week I
Hemp – Stonger and Lighter than Cement Read More »
Green Building is like life: it is all about energy. How you control it, who has it, where it is flowing, and where it isn’t flowing. You control the energy and you have a great house (possibly a great life too). Insulation Part of Green Building So obviously insulation plays a huge part ini green
Eco Friendly Insulation Has Arrived for Green Building! Read More »
I discovered a great web site today called Radiant Heat Institute.com It is a godsend for a builder like me who likes to green build cheap. He has loads of practical info. Very good site. Here is from his site on how to build green: 1. Locate house with south orientation, +5 or – 5 degrees
Green Building Notes Read More »
Last week I attended an Energy Efficiency Seminar hosted by Landmark West!, The Community Preservation Corporation and Steven Winter Associates, Inc. Examples of Energy Efficiency I covered the many ways to make a building more efficient. First we looked at where the energy goes, from heating, to hot water, to appliances, to holes in roof. We
Energy Efficiency Seminar – Energy Optimizer Read More »
When talking heat there are three ways heat or cold moves through space. Knowing these ways is important because it determines what kind of insulation you use or on the opposite end what kind of heating to use. 3 Types of Heat Transfer Here I have described 3 most important heat transfer methods you can
Three Types of Heat Transfer in Your House Read More »
In the constant quest for a greener insulation I have considered many options. – Cellulose is good but messy and dusty. – Isonyne spray foam or Demilec spray foam is good but not that cheap and quite honestly not as green as they say. It takes huge amounts of energy and petroleum to create the
Choosing Green Insulation – Consider Recycled Green Foam Board. Read More »
Here are six things anyone can do to their home to make it greener. A “green home” means a lot of things. But it always includes energy efficiency. These simple things increase the efficiency of the home by attacking the most dramatic energy loss aspects of a house. They are relatively cheap and simple steps
Six Steps to a Greener Home – Your Dream Green Home Read More »
