The building foundation is at the core of a safe and secure home environment for our families. As the base of all structures, foundations provide the stability needed to create a solid and healthy environment. Some builders are...
Tiny houses —100 to 400 square feet—are fueling conversations about the impact of our buildings on the environment. Buildings use 41 percent of our nation’s energy, and much of that energy is wasted...
Previous issues of Modern Materials have examined some of the myriad advantages to specifying spray polyurethane foam (SPF), especially its insulation value and air barrier qualities. This spray-applied, insulating foam plastic...
Last time we showed you DALE, an innovative net-zero housing concept from the SCI-Arch Caltech team at theSolar Decathlon. With its movable modules and open-air design, DALE also offers a one-off, unique – modern layout and...
The excessive use of water drawn from both surface and underground sources has led to a deficit in this precious resource. Various water-efficiency measures (e.g. low-flow fixtures, sensors, use of non-potable water for...
Plastics play a vital role in providing dependable piping service. In applications such as landscape irrigation systems, drain, waste, and vent (DWV) systems, and sewage transport, polymer-based products can offer myriad...
Now that sustainability has lost its ‘fringe’ status and has become accepted in the mainstream, building industry leaders are trying to deepen their awareness about the many diverse facets of environmentally responsible and...
Plastics And The 2005 Energy Policy Act – Possible Tax Credits For Foam Insulation With the price of oil hovering between $60 and $70 a barrel, energy costs could remain quite high for the foreseeable future. For...
Energy consumption may be regulated by code, but it is increasingly driven by client demand. With the rising costs of utilities, heightened efficiency goals are surfacing as key green building design...
What’s the number one user of energy in America? (Hint: You’re likely in one now.) Nope, not our cars. Not our airplanes or factories. It’s our nation’s homes and buildings. Technically, the residential and commercial...
Poor Insulation = Waste of Money How does a book about homebuilding written shortly after World War I relate to today’s common construction practices? In a book published by Weyerhaeuser in the early 1920s called “High...
We’re going to need all sorts of modern (plastic) building materials. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November 2021 authorizes more than one trillion dollars in Federal spending to help rebuild America’s...
Extreme-weather events have become more frequent in recent years across the United States. In August 2020, Hurricane Laura struck the Louisiana-Texas coast with 150 mph winds. It was a reminder of recent hurricanes — from...
A few months ago, GreenBuildingSolutions.org told you about an exiting opportunity to help determine America’s next model energy code. Now that time has come — and with sufficient action, the energy efficient future may...
Attempts to Roll-Back Energy Code Improvements To-Date Greenbuildingsolutions.org has tracked legislative and regulatory attempts to roll-back, weaken, or delay implementation of the energy codes in thirteen states so far in...
If you had a tiny house, where would you call home? The mobility and functional minimalism of tiny houses have sparked widespread cultural interest, leading to TV shows, DIY classes, and even entire communities. It’s easy to...
Economics & Statistics Department American Chemistry Council February 2017 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The use of insulation in U.S. homes in businesses saves energy, putting more money in the pockets of households and business owners....
This Tech Matters resource gives a step-by-step approach for the design thought process.
Green Building Solution Videos Watch interviews from DOE Solar Decathlon 2015 for green construction tips and energy efficient building pointers. See past energy efficiency DOE Solar Decathlon winners using spray foam...
