http://www.esmallhouseplans.com/top-3-green-building-mistakes-in-small-house-plans/ Affordable Small Home Floor Plans Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:16:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://www.esmallhouseplans.com/top-3-green-building-mistakes-in-small-house-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-326 Rand Soellner Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:40:46 +0000 http://www.esmallhouseplans.com/?p=600#comment-326 Good thoughts here. We have several more in our Green Home Architects section of our website, if you might choose to publish that, especially this one about sustainable home design: http://www.homearchitects.com/sustainable-home-design that we just posted. We also have quite a few facts about how to properly install windows. For instance, we feel that asphaltic felt probably does a better job for sheathing protection, but not many manufacturers have a flashing tape capable of bonding to that surface. We actually found a major company that did create the proper chemistry for excellent bonding to the felt, so, at least on our projects, this problem has been eliminated. We'd be happy to offer more related information to help the public. Your comment about ductwork is right on point. One of the main issues regarding insulation is not so much their R value (which is extremely important, don't get me wrong), but their cost and whether or not they have to be ventilated. For instance, spray foam polyurethane is the king of all insulations, but with it comes a hefty pricetag. In the end, you have to weigh your initial capital cost against your hopefully reduced monthly utility bills. Good thoughts here. We have several more in our Green Home Architects section of our website, if you might choose to publish that, especially this one about sustainable home design: http://www.homearchitects.com/sustainable-home-design that we just posted. We also have quite a few facts about how to properly install windows. For instance, we feel that asphaltic felt probably does a better job for sheathing protection, but not many manufacturers have a flashing tape capable of bonding to that surface. We actually found a major company that did create the proper chemistry for excellent bonding to the felt, so, at least on our projects, this problem has been eliminated. We’d be happy to offer more related information to help the public.
Your comment about ductwork is right on point.
One of the main issues regarding insulation is not so much their R value (which is extremely important, don’t get me wrong), but their cost and whether or not they have to be ventilated. For instance, spray foam polyurethane is the king of all insulations, but with it comes a hefty pricetag. In the end, you have to weigh your initial capital cost against your hopefully reduced monthly utility bills.

]]> http://www.esmallhouseplans.com/top-3-green-building-mistakes-in-small-house-plans/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Tim Cahill Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:22:31 +0000 http://www.esmallhouseplans.com/?p=600#comment-299 Great article! Many people install new windows thinking they're being energy-efficient, but unless they're installed properly, you're still losing energy. And not many people think about sealing around all the duct work, so thanks for mentioning that as well! These are the first three items a home energy auditor will look at, by the way! Great article! Many people install new windows thinking they’re being energy-efficient, but unless they’re installed properly, you’re still losing energy. And not many people think about sealing around all the duct work, so thanks for mentioning that as well! These are the first three items a home energy auditor will look at, by the way!

]]>