Energy Efficiency Building Science Archives

John Senechal: Energy Retrofits at Gray Rock Inn

Energy Retrofits at Gray Rock Inn: The Benefits of Efficiency Upgrades on Mature Buildings By John Senechal The building was tired, but the bones were good. In 2001, the Gray Rock Inn at 100 Biltmore Ave. in downtown Asheville was in bad shape with a leaking roof, termite damage, and...

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Geoffrey Barton: Designing for Density: Green Affordable Homes at East Haven Apartments

Designing for Density: Green Affordable Homes at East Haven Apartments Geoffrey Barton [caption id="attachment_5065" align="alignright" width="460"] East Haven Apartments contains a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in two four-story L-shaped buildings that enclose a large courtyard. Photos courtesy of Mountain Housing Opportunities.[/caption] When designing any building, and particularly...

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Leigha Dickens: Sustainable Building is Resilient Building: Designing Spaces that Last

Sustainable Building is Resilient Building: Designing Spaces that Last By Leigha Dickens In a world with a changing climate, how we design our homes matters. Reduced environmental impact has long been a huge focus of green building. Yet our homes are also critical in protecting us from the environment...

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Amy Musser and Matthew Vande: Bang For Your Buck: 7 Ways To Use Your Stimulus Check For Energy-Efficiency Improvements

Bang For Your Buck: 7 Ways To Use Your Stimulus Check For Energy-Efficiency Improvements By Amy Musser and Matthew Vande [caption id="attachment_5143" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Weatherstripping is installed on the front door of a local home. ENERGY SAVERS NETWORK PHOTO.[/caption] So you received your economic impact payment from the federal...

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Maggie Leslie: Leaner and Greener: Green Built Homes Rolls Out Updated Checklist, New Certifications

Leaner and Greener: Green Built Homes Rolls Out Updated Checklist, New Certifications By Maggie Leslie As codes have changed and technologies have advanced in the 16 years since the program’s inception in 2004, Green Built Homes has continually evolved to encourage positive changes in the building industry and highlight...

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Rick Bayless: Healthy Houses on a Budget: Identifying Ways to Improve Home Health for Less Than $1,000

Healthy Houses on a Budget: Identifying Ways to Improve Home Health for Less Than $1,000 By Rick Bayless All houses can be sick or healthy. A sick house ultimately brings an overwhelming load of both expenses and costs upon those who own and/or occupy it. These literal and figurative...

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Amy Musser and Matthew Vande: Hot Water Recirculating Loops: A Tricky Green Feature To Get Right

Hot Water Recirculating Loops: A Tricky Green Feature To Get Right By Amy Musser and Matthew Vande Hot water recirculating loops are having a moment. They’re popular with plumbers because they reduce callbacks from homeowners who don’t want to run their taps and wait for hot water. Recirculating loops...

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John Senechal: Gray Rock Inn: The Evolution From Historic Boarding House to Affordable Housing

Gray Rock Inn: The Evolution From Historic Boarding House to Affordable Housing John Senechal In 2001, I took on a rehab project that featured energy retrofits, historic restoration, and affordable housing. At the time, the building at 100 Biltmore Ave. was falling apart and needed a lot of TLC. ...

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Emily Boyd: Net-Zero House, Below Zero HERS: Recent Project Sets New Green Built Homes Record

Net-Zero House, Below Zero HERS: Recent Project Sets New Green Built Homes Record Emily Boyd Becky Wood and Carol Kemp came to us several years ago with the goal of relocating from Seattle to build a new net-zero house in the Asheville area that would support electric vehicles, have privacy...

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Small-Scale Residential Housing: Infill Housing, ADUs and Tiny Homes

Small-Scale Residential Housing: Infill Housing, ADUs and Tiny Homes Joe Archibald Often when people think about sustainable building, they think about material sourcing, location of the building on the property, renewable energy sources and the other more common metrics. Just as important a factor, however, is where the building...

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