Replacing the siding is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to upgrade the energy performance of a home

Everything there is to know (well, almost) about blower door testing with a few engineer-y jokes along the way.

When talking to homeowners or trade contractors about energy-efficient construction this question is inevitable. The answer: Tight houses are good because they lower energy bills and increase comfort. But there's a big BUT

Flashing, ventilation, and ice dams

A thermal bridge is an area of the building enclosure—whether it be the walls, roof, or foundation—that has significantly higher heat flow than intended.

Fat walls mean skinny energy bills

Wrapping the outside of a house adds thermal stability and bridges the gaps between new and old construction

Every layer you add has two sides that can become air p[athways to the inside of a building

Three mechanisms usually work together to move electrons from more to less. These three mechanisms can conspire to move heat AROUND your insulation.

Wrapping an old house in a blanket of insulation is a no-brainer when you're replacing the roofing and siding anyway

This Best Practice Handbook covers the roof, walls, and floor assemblies of the building envelope.

ZIP System R-12 insulated sheathing covers a regularly framed wall, a shear wall, and a firewall

Two stud walls—and meticulous airsealing—make a super-efficient structure to hold your roof up

A basement built with frost heave in mind

This R-58 wall has I-joists screwed to the outside and dense-packed with cellulose. It is also one of the four best in 'BS and Beer' circles

A field-tested collection of videos, articles, and animated details on practical improvements to the framing process that strips out the less-valuable 'advice' often passed on by others