Building Codes, Efficiency & Passive House Principles On Existing Homes

On the Passive House in the Real World (with Mike Duclos) discussion board… 
Takeaways:

Homeowners looking to incorporate Passive House principles in existing buildings should consider getting a home energy audit. Still, after a home is built, serious energy reductions (say 50% to 90%) become very expensive.
Attic insulation adjustments and window treatments offer more immediate fixes toward energy efficiency.
Electricity is typically our dirtiest fuel, […]

October 14th, 2015|Categories: Passive House, Sustainable Building|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Read More

Get Building Before NESEA’s BuildingEnergy NYC 2015

BuildingEnergy NYC 2015
“BuildingEnergy NYC is a rapidly growing, cross-disciplinary conference that offers practical, hands-on solutions to the financial, environmental, legal, and maintenance challenges facing NYC building owners and practitioners in every neighborhood and borough. Conceived in 2012 and nearly doubling in size yearly, BuildingEnergy NYC sets itself apart as a place where members of New […]

September 8th, 2015|Categories: Building Science, Zero Net Energy Buildings|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Read More

Principles of Deep Energy Retrofits: Homes & Buildings

Principles Underpinning Deep Energy Retrofits (DER) of Both Homes and Non-residential Buildings
In this article, Marc Rosenbaum discusses…

Examples of both Home and Non-Residential Building retrofits
Upgrades to energy and mechanical systems in older buildings
Heating cost and air quality differences between DER spaces and non-DER spaces
How you can learn more about Deep Energy Retrofits through HeatSpring

Deep Energy Retrofits […]

August 28th, 2015|Categories: Building Science, Zero Net Energy Buildings|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Read More

“Deep Energy Retrofits” with Marc Rosenbaum

Right now, sitting in his office on Martha’s Vineyard, Marc Rosenbaum is building “Deep Energy Retrofits”, the newest Building Energy Masters Series offering. Here’s a recent update from Marc:
I’m happy to report that the ten weeks of presentation powerpoints are done, and I’m starting on the case study powerpoints today. (I am less happy to report […]

August 25th, 2015|Categories: Building Science, Zero Net Energy Buildings|Tags: , , , |
Read More

3+ Ways to Replace Spray Foam Insulation in Your Basement

Here’s a discussion feed from one of our best-selling courses, Zero Net Energy Homes. In the discussion, one of our students asks Marc Rosenbaum for foam-free ways to retrofit her New England basement.

Here are the alternatives to spray foam discussed below:

Expanded cork board insulation
Rigid rock wool
Mineral wool batt to conform roughly to the rubble wall […]

April 27th, 2015|Categories: Building Science, Green Building, Zero Net Energy Buildings|Tags: , , , , , , , |
Read More