Sustainable building materials / Discussions

Which is better, cellulose or loose-fill fiberglass insulation?

I have a 100-year-old Arts & Crafts home in North Texas.  At some point in the past there was some kind of insulation blown in the walls, evidenced by the plugged holes in the wood siding between each set of studs.  All I know is about it is that it was done at least 15 years ago. Now that I am looking to add or re...

Posted by L SMITH Nov. 12, 2024 Insulation and soundproofing

Where can I find spray hempcrete?

...building in Sudbury ON To find Spray hempcrete manufacturers and installers, check here in the Ecohome Professionals and Product Directory - Find Hemp Insulation in the Ecohome Directory  

Posted by Jack Wolofsky Oct. 27, 2024 Wood and organic materials 1 response

What kind of paint can seal stucco?

My stucco walls are out putting some very bad smells, is there some product I can stop it with? thanks

Posted by Jill Gallaher Oct. 26, 2024 Exterior cladding

What do you look for when buying an existing home to convert to a green home?

...building and renovations in the Ecohome Building Guide. Transitioning to net zero carbon building materials 2026 standards requires a fundamental shift in how we evaluate the life cycle of every component. After you've been through those pages, let us know if you have more questions. 

Posted by Ismael Rumzan Nov. 30, 2021 Architecture and plan design 1 response

how do I find a window/glass vendor who really understands passive solar houses?

We just bought a passive solar house. Half the roof is windows and they need to be replaced. I am trying to find a vendor who understands the windows' role in the house design so I can make sure we get the right windows etc. We are having trouble finding someone  in our area (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) and I wondered if ...

Posted by Brigid O'Connor Oct. 23, 2021 Passive solar home design 1 response

What is the best non toxic insulation for a house?

...building on an island in Florida and the house is 12 feet off the ground. What materials can we use to insulate the ceilings and air spaces?  Additionally, what eco-friendly and human-friendly products are out there for wall insulation? Thank you  There are a lot of natural insulation choices that will not off gas toxi...

Posted by Jude Smith Sept. 10, 2021 Insulation and soundproofing 1 response

What is the most cost effective way to build a rain screen wall assembly?

...buildings and reconstructing them for affordable housing.  I'm a real fan of the rainscreen wall as it really lets us be creative with the exterior cladding materials.  With the cost of materials all over the place lately we are going to do a lot of research on this to make the right choices.  Typically we have been us...

Posted by Jess Glowacki June 22, 2021 Wall assemblies - new construction

Where can I find Shou Sugi Ban carbonized wood siding?

...building product directory. You can search by category and location, either for products or professional installers. We aren't a manufactuer or supplier of Shou Sugi Ban, we just love the stuff and have a page about it. Hope that helps a bit, good luck! 

Posted by Peter Mitsakos July 12, 2022 Exterior cladding 1 response

What is the best way to renovate and make a self sustaining eco friendly family house?

...Building Guide,  they are categorized, so between that and the keyword search box you should find all you need.  But I would point you specifically to these pages as a starting point – How to plan and budget for home renovations and new builds How to create a house building budget and stay within it Free Energy Audits,...

Posted by Emmanuel Sylvestre Aug. 31, 2020 Concept and design 1 response