The extremely tight envelope of my home is designed to prevent air from leaking in or out. That’s why I installed an HRV system to mechanically send stale air out and bring fresh air in. When I tell people about my continuous insulation and air tight home design, I often hear, “but the house needs … Read more
When your goal is energy efficiency, appliance selections matter. We have chosen to install a ventless heat pump dryer, rather than a traditional gas or electric vented dryer. Read below about the pros and cons of both. Hey! It has been a while since you last heard from us. It turns out that building a … Read more
When building a two-story home, it’s standard to put a subfloor down during the building process, and put the finished flooring (whether it be hardwood, carpet, tile, etc.) down toward the end of the project. I chose to ditch the subfloor altogether, and use one layer of hardwood as both my structure and my finished … Read more
In an energy-efficient home, the right insulation details are critical. I have a continuous layer of insulation around my entire building envelope. I used multiple layers of XPS foam on the walls and in the foundation, and used polyiso on the roof. Read on to learn more about my design, product selection and installation. We … Read more
Howdy! If you live in or around Old Hilliard there’s a good chance you’ve been past my new job site on Wayne Street. You probably even slowed down after seeing two bearded guys in kilts. I have designed an energy-efficient, healthy, functional, modern home for my family and I, and am now in the process … Read more
One extremely important detail on my new home is the water and air control layer. It is continuous around the entire house, from the foundation to the roof. I plan to have very little air infiltration, which means cleaner healthier air, lower heating and cooling bills, no bugs and a more durable structure. As I’ve … Read more
I want my home to stand the test of time. My non-traditional framing technique is one way I will ensure that happens. My framing details were designed not only for strength and durability, but also for energy-efficiency. Learn more about my framing detail, and why I chose this unique method. When you think of framing … Read more
Learn about the benefits of a monolithic slab over a traditional concrete foundation, and see how I implemented this in my energy-efficient home. It has been a while since you heard from me. Turns out building a house takes a lot of time and energy. That said, I promised to take you along my energy-efficient … Read more
Our homes are built to shelter us from the elements and provide a comfortable living space for us. Most homes fulfill these basic requirements, but at what cost? How much energy is wasted through air infiltration? Is there mold and rot behind the flashy tile shower? Are families getting sick because of the air quality … Read more