Musings of an Energy Nerd

Get insights on the most important considerations related to high-performance residential construction from GreenBuildingAdvisor.com senior editor and seasoned energy-efficiency expert Martin Holladay.

How Much Insulation Is Too Much?
Martin Holladay shares insights from industry experts about when envelope improvements are a waste of money and how to determine when enough insulation is enough.
Stapled Housewrap
What if staple legs poke through the sheathing and into the blown cellulose in the wall cavity?
Cellulose Blowers
Is there a source for non-pros who want to do their own dense packing?
Do I Need a Vapor Retarder?
Most buildings don’t need polyethylene anywhere, except directly under a concrete slab or on a crawlspace floor.
Insulating an Old Cottage
Learn how to insulate a house that has no exterior wall sheathing.
Does Passive-Solar Design Actually Save Energy?
Given that today’s houses are better insulated and a lot more airtight than they used to be, Martin Holladay argues that passive-solar design no longer makes sense.
Ridding an Old House of Radon
Step one: consult a certified radon-mitigation contractor.
Is My Abandoned Chimney Hurting My Energy Efficiency?
The stack effect may be pulling conditioned indoor air through gaps and up the flue.
Plan Ahead to Save Energy
When building a new home, your insulation strategy should be part of the design process, not a last-minute decision.
How to Insulate Walls with No Sheathing
Use one of these two energy-smart details to make existing walls more energy-efficient when doing a gut rehab on an old home that has no exterior sheathing under the siding.

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Musings of an Energy Nerd

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