Builder Magazine: Energy-Efficient Construction

How to Install Fiberglass Batt Insulation

Tue, 21 May 2013 05:39:56 EST

For the best insulation performance, install with care.

Mystery Inspector 6: Simple, Neat Air-Sealing for Plumbing and HVAC

Thu, 16 May 2013 01:39:03 EST

An inspection of a Maryland jobsite reveals good air-sealing techniques put into practice.

Mystery Inspector Visits Arlington, Va.

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:08:10 EST

Over the past decade as better building practices have worked their way into the code, and as builders and consumers have become more interested in energy-efficient construction, it has been interesting to see if the practices that we write about in magazine articles make it to the job site.

Mystery Inspector 1: Wasteful Wall Framing

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:30:57 EST

An unsuspecting production builder is the object of our inaugural sneak peek. We visited a multifamily jobsite over the weekend to have a look at quality measures being implemented by one of America’s biggest builders. The houses are framed, plumbed, wired, ducted, and in the process of being insulated -- a prime opportunity for a surprise inspection...

Mystery Inspector 2: Air Sealing Electrical Boxes

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:46:58 EST

How to get a tight air seal and provide insulation at electrical boxes like light switches in new wood frame construction.

Mystery Inspector 5: Ductwork Done Right

Thu, 9 May 2013 01:45:59 EST

Sealed ductwork saves energy and keeps indoor air clean, and the materials you use make a difference.

New Barrier Offers Easy-to-Use Protection for Window Corners

Wed, 8 May 2013 03:36:28 EST

Ease window installation with this wall-integrated system that creates a seamless barrier around corners.

A Prefab House Adapts to Changing Weather Conditions

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:23:03 EST

Dynamic D*Haus can open up into different shapes to expose more walls to sunlight.

10 Business Trends That Will Shape Housing in 2013

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:30:16 EST

Builders were growing again in 2012, but new challenges lie ahead.

The Chemical Industry Weighs In on Buildings’ Energy Efficiency

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:41:55 EST

A new report about lowering greenhouse gas emissions is part alarm, part product pitch.

Revitalizing the Nation with Urban Construction

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:25:14 EST

A new book posits that America desperately needs a peacetime challenge, and building entirely new cities could be it.

High-performance builders need to offer energy efficiency; comfort

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:52:57 EST

As homes get better at keeping the outdoors at bay, high-performance builders seek better ways to deliver indoor comfort and energy efficiency.

A New Label to Declare Building Products' Contents

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 01:17:53 EST

A West Coast–based certifier's new content label allows manufacturers to declare their products' contents in an effort to promote greater transparency.

Reducing Buildings' Greenhouse Emissions Will Require a Global Effort

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 02:39:19 EST

A new survey of real estate and construction executives finds that cheap energy and lax regulations are obstacles to creating more-efficient buildings.

Unity Homes Launches, Aiming at Affordable High-Performance

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 03:28:43 EST

The new builder has lofty growth ambitions, made possible by its panelized construction process.

Seeking Building Material Alternatives in the Natural Order

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:29:20 EST

Scientists turn to biomimicry to devise better, safer products.

Materials Supplier Gives Strapped Cities a Reason to Reuse Vacant Lots

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:48:10 EST

AmeriSus kicks in $2,500 for every house built with its kits.

Sizing up Green: Combining Big Size With Sustainability Goals

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 12:24:06 EST

VertHaus, a New Jersey green developer, retrofits homes on spec. In this example, the home's footprint increased from 2,300 to 5,000 square feet. Can it still be considered green?

A Modular Unit for a Shifting Population

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 03:19:11 EST

At 400 square feet and free of the grid, the structure offers unique solutions to some of society’s upcoming challenges.

Is It a Green House? You Can't Tell by Looking Anymore

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:30:15 EST

Four eco-wise homes, from ultra-modern to super-traditional, are handsome proof that you can't tell a green house just by looking at it.