Green home construction
More builders are offering sustainable choices in new home construction. Find out what's available and how it impacts the earth and the bottom line.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs), also called foam-core panels or stress-skin panels, are sheets of foam insulation sandwiched between oriented strand board or another type of composition wood.
Unlike traditional wood construction, SIPs use no studs in the construction process. These strong, super-insulated structural building components can be used for floors, walls and roof.
In this video: An industry expert demonstrates SIPs and how they can integrate into your home.
SIPs also offer a few more advantages over standard framing:
Older types of SIPs did have concerns with fire safety and insect damage, but improved manufacturing techniques, along with proper installation, have eliminated the problems.
While SIPs cost more than traditional building materials, they require less labor to install, making the total construction cost about the same.
More builders are offering sustainable choices in new home construction. Find out what's available and how it impacts the earth and the bottom line.
A century-old barn gets the ultimate makeover - with lots of energy-smart technology.
Learn about some of the changes for new homes built today. An expert highlights some of the things to consider when building a new home.
An energy rater can help make your new home more energy-efficient through every stage of the construction process.
Before you break ground on a new house, give your utility companies a call. They can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and construction delays.
This kitchen remodel features a new window, energy-efficient lighting, new appliances and side-wall insulation.
An energy-smart builder will help you make the right choices for your family and lifestyle.
New, energy-efficient homes need new solutions to circulate and ventilate the air inside the home.