Martin Holladay

Martin Holladay built his first passive-solar house in northern Vermont in 1974, and he has lived off the grid since 1975. He has worked as an editor since 1999 and is now senior editor at both Fine Homebuilding and GreenBuildingAdvisor.com. His weekly blog at GBA, “Musings of an Energy Nerd,” focuses on energy-efficient residential construction.

Energy Efficiency is Easier Than Ever
Over the last 25 years, some mechanical equipment and systems have improved.
Three Ways to Insulate Basement Walls
For interior insulation, you'll need to use either rigid-foam boards or spray polyurethane foam.
Smart Vapor Retarders for Walls and Roofs
Can a smart vapor retarder be used to make an otherwise risky assembly safe?
Six Rules for Polyethylene
Martin Holladay reconsiders the use of interior plastic sheeting as a vapor or air barrier.
Insulating a Wood-Framed Floor Assembly
For better energy performance, homes built on piers, rooms above garages, and cantilevered bays need properly air-sealed and insulated floors.
Insulating Rim Joists
Use rigid foam or spray foam, not fiberglass or mineral wool
Three Ways to Insulate a Basement Wall
For interior foundation insulation, the safest choices include rigid foam board and spray polyurethane foam.
Foam-Free Insulated Foundations
If you want to avoid foam insulation, you can use semi-rigid mineral wool—or you can build your house on piers.
Insulating Basement Walls with Embedded Joists
If the ends of your floor joists are embedded in the foundation walls, assess the situation carefully before you insulate.
Five Cathedral Ceilings That Work
As long as you pay attention to minimum code requirements for R-values, these cathedral ceiling details can be used in all climate zones.

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Martin Holladay

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