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 […]
Choosing Windows Part 2: Total Window Area and Orientation Read More
There was a recent blog from Martin Holliday at Green Building Advisor on the Pretty good house approach. (https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/martin-s-pretty-good-house-manifesto ) It is an interesting and valuable look at building green
Is passive solar design passe’? Read More
Building a green home is serious business. It’s complicated, it’s expensive, and the implications for getting it wrong are tremendous. It may be a good idea to get some help
Why you shouldn’t hire an experienced residential architect or designer Read More
Solar energy has received significant attention in Western North Carolina lately, but nowhere is the recent solarization more strikingly visible than on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Cantilevered off the
Re-energizing the Community with Solar Read More
“Imagine a world that is ecologically sustainable, culturally rich, socially just and beautiful” This is the vision of the Living Building Challenge founder Jason McLennan. Folks familiar with the evolving
Good News, Bad News and the Living Building Challenge Read More
Building a Better Future Garret K. Woodward When Boone Guyton moved to Asheville in 1991, “There wasn’t a green building movement.” But, Guyton knew he was somewhere that could potentially
Garret K. Woodward: Building a Better Future Read More
How many green builders does it take to install a lightbulb? Lightbulbs are so easy to use that they’re the subject of countless jokes. Buying a lightbulb and putting it
Seeing the Light: Myths About Light Bulbs Read More
Getting Through Winter on $28 Garret K. Woodward James McGarvey shakes his head. “I cringe when I hear somebody is paying more than $50 a year to heat a house in
Garret K. Woodward: Getting Through Winter on $28 Read More
Last post was about what I’d do differently after building my soon to be net zero house in Asheville; faithful readers will recall a fairly long list. Fortunately, the things
Lessons Learned (part 2) Read More
The news on climate change has been coming fast and furious lately. The UN report (https://www.ipcc.ch/ ) and the US report ( https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/ ) both explained the increasing threat and present day effects
Act Locally, Build Green Read More
