by Tim Snyder | Aug 29, 2013 | Building Envelope, Conditioned Spaces
A little bit of insulation and caulk can make a big difference in comfort When it’s cold outside, can you feel chilly drafts around your windows? Many homes have this problem. Air leaks around windows don’t cause much discomfort during summer months. But in the...
by Larry Janesky | Aug 28, 2013 | ABC Action Plan, Attics, Heating & Cooling
There are 88 million homes in the U.S. and Canada alone that burn twice as much fuel for heating and electricity for cooling than they need to. This is because they are insufficiently insulated and poorly air sealed. They also have energy-wasting building assemblies,...
by Tim Snyder | Aug 15, 2013 | Attics, Building Envelope
Permanently fix your drafty living room with an airtight cap you control from inside the house. Do you have a wood-burning fireplace or a woodstove that’s installed in a fireplace? If the answer is “yes,” you might benefit greatly by having an airtight chimney cap...
by Joseph R. Provey | Aug 12, 2013 | Conditioned Spaces, Heating & Cooling
What do athletes and dancers have in common with HVAC systems? Good balance! Without it, all sorts of fumbles, falls, and fiascos can ensue. For example, one room or floor of a house might be uncomfortably hot while another too cold. Air you’ve paid to heat gets...
by Tim Snyder | Aug 6, 2013 | Attics, Heating & Cooling
Air-sealing and insulating the attic will improve upstairs temperatures and cut your utility bills. Upstairs rooms (those directly beneath the attic) suffer the most when the attic isn’t well insulated. In the summer, these rooms are often uncomfortably hot even...
by Susan Jensen Smith | Jul 24, 2013 | Attics, Heating & Cooling
While I normally write about practical design (a.k.a., things you can see), my overall objective is to help homeowners fall in love with their homes. If your rooms are uncomfortable, it doesn’t matter how beautiful they are. A pretty house with ugly room...
