Remember when you are clearing your driveway from a snow storm to also remove the snow from your outdoor units. Snow, ice, and leaves can pile up around your outdoor heat pump which could drastically reduce the efficiency of the unit. The outdoor unit may also not be able to...

A green roof, living roof, or vegetated roof are all terms used to describe a partially or completely covered roof with vegetation over a waterproof membrane. There are two types of vegetated roofs, intensive or extensive. The difference is simply the depth of the planting...

Thanks for all your comments about the design flaws in the below images. You guys hit all the high points. The biggest is accessibility for sure. A door handle that can be opened with an elbow as well as a hand offers more flexibility for those of any ability. If you have your...

So you are going to build a speculative house to market to the masses. What design flaw did this builder install that limits his marketability?

The number and strength of extreme weather events continues to increase. Watching the news we see stories of floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and extreme cold temperatures. The news coverage shows buildings that no longer exist. Piles of rubble where once birthdays were...

I get questions on a regular basis about home comfort and efficiency. This question came from someone who read my blog and wanted to get their HVAC system adjusted and wanted to know who to call. “Our house is quite cold this winter and our energy costs are pretty high...

Here is the picture I posted recently about why every home needs a building science specialist. There is visible evidence of long-term moisture issues in the corner of this all wood window(discolored wood in the corner). The home is located in Central Virginia on a wall that is...

Can you identify the potential problems with this home? There is visible evidence of long-term moisture issues in the corner of this all wood window (see discolored wood in the corner). The home is located in Central Virginia on a wall that is directly impacted with most local...

We design many different types of buildings. One of the most interesting to design (while they may lack something in aesthetics) is the warehouse. You have to learn how the facility inhabitants move materials (food, lumber, medical supplies…) whatever they are and design a...

Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or glaring artificial light. There are many consequences from light pollution including: wasted energy habitat and migration disruption human health impacts not being able to see stars in the sky Light pollution can be avoided with...