Indoor Air Quality Checklist Maggie Leslie Ensuring healthy indoor air quality in a home starts with the very foundation. Many simple building techniques, from radon-resistant construction to drainage planes, can prevent unwanted air-quality problems in the future. To prevent unwanted moisture and contaminants from entering, it is very important...
Article Category: Technical Checklists
Maggie Leslie: Insulation 101
Insulation 101 Maggie Leslie There are many types of insulation. The most common type of insulation is batt or blanket type insulation (typically fiberglass) which is the least expensive, but requires more careful installation to ensure 100 percent coverage. Blown types such as fiberglass, cellulose (recycled newspaper) and foams...
Maggie Leslie: A Checklist for Ducted Heating and Cooling Equipment
A Checklist for Ducted Heating and Cooling Equipment Maggie Leslie Your home can be heated or cooled using electricity, gas, geothermal energy, solar energy or a combination of each. Radiant floor heating systems are an inherently efficient way to heat because there is no heat lost through duct work....
Maggie Leslie: Air Sealing Checklist
Air Sealing Checklist Maggie Leslie Air sealing is a crucial part of building a healthy, energy efficient home. Below is a checklist of items to make sure to seal when building or renovating a conventional stick frame home. A leaky home will decrease the r-value of your insulation effectiveness,...
Checklist: Choosing a green builder
Checklist: Choosing a green builder By Hans Doellgast on 03/22/2010 As people become educated about the benefits of building and owning a green-built home, more builders are advertising themselves as "green" builders. For the most part, this is a good thing. For those of us who have preached environmentally sensitive building...
Top 10 signs of greenwashing
Top 10 signs of greenwashing By on 03/22/2010 Fluffy language: Words or terms with no clear meaning (e.g. "eco-friendly"). Green product vs. dirty company: Such as efficient light bulbs made in a factory that pollutes rivers. Suggestive pictures: Green images that indicate an unjustified green impact (e.g. flowers blooming from exhaust pipes). Irrelevant claims: Emphasizing...
Technologies explained
Technologies explained By Elizabeth Koenig on 03/22/2010 What are carbon offsets? First calculate your "carbon footprint" by using one of the many online tools (simply perform a search for "carbon offsets" using any search engine). To get an accurate number, you will need to know your utility usage and fuel consumption....
Green-building glossary
Green-building glossary By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 Advanced Framing: Framing techniques that use less lumber, thereby reducing material cost and use of natural resources, and increasing the level of insulation as a result. Also known as Optimum Value Engineering. (9) Air Barrier: A rigid material installed around a building frame to prevent or...
Checklist: Installing Insulation the right way
Checklist: Installing Insulation the right way By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 There are many types of insulation. The most common type is batt, or blanket-type insulation (typically fiberglass). This is the least expensive but requires careful installation to ensure 100-percent coverage. Blown types, such as fiberglass, cellulose (made from recycled newspaper)...
Checklist: Indoor air quality
Checklist: Indoor air quality By Maggie Leslie on 03/22/2010 Ensuring healthy indoor air quality in a home starts with the very foundation. Many simple building techniques, from radon-resistant construction to drainage planes, can prevent unwanted air-quality problems in the future. To prevent unwanted moisture and contaminants from entering, it is very...