The push for energy-efficient campus buildings has gained significant momentum in recent years, and few projects illustrate the potential of high-performance design better than Unity College’s TerraHaus in Unity, Maine. As the first Passivhaus-certified student residence on a U.S. college campus, this compact 2,000-square-foot building houses 10 students while demonstrating that rigorous energy standards and […]
Water management ranks among the most critical aspects of durable building construction. The rainscreen system stands out as a simple yet highly effective method for keeping exterior walls dry. A rainscreen creates a drainage layer and ventilation space between the exterior cladding and the wall sheathing, allowing moisture that penetrates the siding to escape rather
The home building industry has long struggled with a reputation for inefficiency and inconsistent quality. While many sectors have embraced factory precision and standardized processes, residential construction has remained reliant on site-built methods that vary dramatically from project to project. One company working to change this is Unity Homes, a New Hampshire enterprise born from
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina across New Orleans in 2005 exposed critical vulnerabilities in conventional residential construction. In the years that followed, architects, engineers, and builders began rethinking how homes could be rebuilt to withstand both flooding and extreme weather while maintaining exceptional energy performance. One of the most promising frameworks to emerge from
Solar water heating has long been recognized as one of the most cost-effective renewable energy technologies for warm climates, and Florida offers some of the best conditions in the country for these systems. A solar thermal system can meet up to half of a household’s hot water needs while significantly reducing monthly utility bills. Despite
The building retrofit movement has gained remarkable momentum as states and municipalities seek practical ways to reduce energy consumption across existing building stock. New York State’s passage of the Green Jobs/Green NY Act of 2009 represents one of the most ambitious attempts to address the upfront cost barrier that has historically prevented homeowners and businesses
The air inside your home can contain pollutants that affect your health, yet most homeowners have no way of knowing what they are breathing. Unlike outdoor air, which is monitored by government stations and reported through weather apps, indoor air quality remains invisible and unmeasured in the vast majority of homes. The good news is
Homeowners and builders looking for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional pressure-treated lumber have turned in recent years to products like TimberSIL, a sodium silicate-treated wood that promised durability without toxic chemicals. Yet real-world experience has revealed a different story, as Trenching Safety How To Avoid Trenching Troubles With Your Trencher Attachment reminds us that even
Retrofitting historic homes for energy efficiency presents unique challenges that differ significantly from new construction. In the United Kingdom, where hundreds of thousands of Victorian-era buildings remain in active use, finding ways to improve thermal performance without compromising architectural heritage has become a priority for designers and builders alike. One standout example comes from Hereford,
In southeast Portland’s Sunnyside neighborhood, a duplex known as TrekHaus demonstrates how the Passivhaus standard can be applied to infill development while pushing toward net zero energy performance. Designed by architect Robert Hawthorne of PDX Living and built by Bart Bergquist of Willamette Valley Remodeling, the project delivers two mirror-image three-bedroom homes on a single
