Vapor barriers cause a lot more harm than good in many parts of North America. Understanding vapor barriers begins with knowing what it means to be one

Simple upgrades to steps you take anyway can significantly boost the energy performance of a home

Outside insulation is an effective way to keep heat in. The devil is in the details, such as this one

Like an out-of-plumb wall, an insulated and unvented roof can work well—or not.

The first layer of foam is mostly an insulation layer; the outer layer is the air barrier and drainage plane. This video is about the first layer.

A retrofit solution that works great for a low-skill workforce—like volunteers

A saw and a knife that cut rockwool insulation like a "laser"

If you can't build to stay dry, build to tolerate wet

Make a route for drainage, protect the structure, and use water-tolerant materials to rebuild

Turns out, ducts buried under insulation actually can work to save energy and eliminate condensation inside the ducts. If you seal and insulate them first

 

Everything* you need to know about adding insulation to the outside of old homes with cold bones

Stop rot with house wrap​

Pennsylvania, New York, and Vancouver think so.

Mark the trusses before you unbundle them

Continuous exterior insulation means smaller studs and higher performance

In this video, the robotic 'narrator' asks multiple questions about construction innovations of the near future.

An item on the Energy Star Thermal Bypass Checklist. Item 5.1.2, to be exact ...

Two ways to insulate a brick veneer wall, from the Inside