New home comfort issues
Our four-part series explores how to handle comfort issues in a new home.
Builders enlist help from energy raters and performance consultants to create the most energy-efficient house plans. This process starts with the framing, by looking for gaps and holes which occur due to wood not being uniform.
In phase two, they check insulation to ensure there is enough and that all the walls and the attic are properly covered.
In the final phase, devices are used to perform a multitude of tests to measure the energy efficiency of the house before the homeowner closes on their new home. Many energy-efficiency problems can be fixed by the builder before the closing date.
In this video: See how involving an energy rater during the planning phase ensures an energy efficient outcome for a new home.
Our four-part series explores how to handle comfort issues in a new home.
Structural insulated panels, also called SIPs, foam-core panels or stress-skin panels, are significantly more airtight than stud walls.
When building your new home, don't forget about the importance of energy-conserving products like furnaces, air conditioners and appliances.
Before you break ground on a new house, give your utility companies a call. They can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and construction delays.
Your roof and attic play the most crucial role in your home's energy efficiency system, reducing your energy costs during the winter and summer.
A preservation expert shares how to restore an older home economically and energy efficiently.
Habitat for Humanity is an organization that provides simple, sturdy homes. Learn how energy efficiency is a key factor in building these homes.
A century-old barn gets the ultimate makeover - with lots of energy-smart technology.
New, energy-efficient homes need new solutions to circulate and ventilate the air inside the home.