Brian Knight Archives - Green Built Alliance

BK’s Compost Water Heater

Brian Knight

Compost and hugelkultur mounds with cherry and peach tree picture.

Heating water is expensive and comes with many hidden environmental and societal costs. For growers, gardeners and residents passionate about their landscape, compost water heating measurably decreases these costs and substantially increases quantities of composted organic matter for a universe of soil fertility benefits. This is an illustration of my domestic compost water...

Natural Building

Brian Knight

Cordwood wall with insulation between inside and outside mortar

Natural building is similar to green building. It seeks to reduce the environmental impact of our dwellings without sacrificing health or comfort. Green building often includes materials that many see as unhealthy or not natural. It's tricky defining natural building systems and we urge people to view the big picture...

Choosing Windows Part 3: Materials Exposed to the Exterior

Brian Knight

Old wood window picture

[caption id="attachment_2184" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Is wood good?[/caption] When choosing windows for a home, deciding on the material exposed to the outside is important. This post is focused on the exterior window parts exposed to weather. While many materials can make up a window unit, this is where most window...

Choosing Windows Part 2: Total Window Area and Orientation

Brian Knight

Knowing the impacts of window quantity and their orientation with the path of the sun will help the process of choosing overhangs, covered porches, U-factor (R-value) and especially Solar Heat Gain Coefficient SHGC. This information involves site and design. It applies to new construction, renovations, window replacement and landscaping. Choosing...

Choosing Windows: Part 1

Brian Knight

Selecting windows for custom homes or buildings is complicated. It's among the biggest material investments in upfront costs. The choice includes durability, functionality, and energy use concerns. Of green building's top 3 priorities, reducing monthly, energy use is the most important. Windows are a major part of efficient and durable building envelopes....

Keeping Homes Cooler and More Comfortable in the Summer

Brian Knight

blower-door

[caption id="attachment_1813" align="aligncenter" width="150"] The real reason for this blog is to post a baby penguin picture.[/caption] Western North Carolina is a popular destination in large part because of its climate. Not too hot and not too cold with the right mix for most people. We are half way through...

Green Building’s Top 3 Priorities

Brian Knight

natural gas

[caption id="attachment_2385" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mountaintop removal mined coal, is the main source of the Southeast US's energy for homes and buildings.[/caption] Green building reduces negative influences on health, the environment and society. These are my top 3 priorities for Asheville green builders and green building in the Southeast US. They...

Rainscreens

Brian Knight

Picture of Drainable Housewrap closeup

Rainscreens are systems that ensure an airspace, behind a building's siding or exterior finish. This airspace has profound influences on the physical effects of rain on our dwellings and their ability to dry out after getting wet. Building researchers find that these techniques combined with proper flashing of weather barriers, is...

Top 3 Ways Water Destroys Homes and Buildings.

Brian Knight

water damage 2

Preventing water damage is the primary challenge for any structure seeking durability. Thermally efficient homes do not dry out as quickly as the energy wasting houses of older generations. Newer, engineered lumber products are less tolerant of frequent wetting. Most damage hides behind finishes, with long term negative impacts on indoor-air quality....

Breathing Walls?

Brian Knight

water-vapor-research-building-science-infiltration-through-drywall-e1383511992861

While most building researchers avoid it, breathable is a term that will not go away. With better building science education, the terminology is on the decline but is still used generically to describe the drying ability of materials, particularly walls. Breathing is generally not a good thing if it includes uncontrolled air...