Transforming shipping containers into habitable homes isn't a new concept to our Re-Nest community. So far, reviews have been overwhelmingly positive in favor of this type of re-use but now, an alternative viewpoint is emerging arguing that there may be more of a downside than originally thought. More

There are a lot of choices when and comes to insulation materials (we've covered several green options), but knowing what type to use and how to use it can be confusing. Once you've figured out where you need to insulate, determining the best method is your next step. Check out our picks after the jump to find out how to get the best bang for your insulation buck! More

One of the first things people look to when designing or renovating a home is good, energy efficient windows. But, with the ever changing window technology and tax incentives, it can be hard to sort out the good from the bad, so after the jump we've highlighted the most important things to look for to save money and energy. More

There are a lot of green building techniques to make a house more energy and resource efficient than a conventional building — one of these, Passive House, has been showing up in the news more recently as a leading green standard and certification of an energy efficient building. But even for us it can be hard to keep track of the various terms and certifications, so we've asked a green architect, Mark Miller, to help explain Passive House building: More

Matali Crasset is the designer behind these forest dwellings (or 'feral houses') located within the 5,000-hectaures forest along the Sentier du vent pathway in France. The idea is that by not having a foundation, they can be easily installed or moved without disturbing the natural surroundings too much. With four of these units located throughout the forest, each offers a different lifestyle inviting you to harmonize yourself with nature. More

Tight homes, such as Passive House, make for very efficient structures. However, where old homes could depend on small cracks to let in fresh air, new tight homes must integrate a mechanical ventilation system to ensure a healthy interior. Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators (HRVs and ERVs), do this, and more: More

While there's been a lot of excitement recently about passive homes and Passive House Certification, one of our favorite go-to building techniques is passive solar design. It is actually different from Passive House and the technique has been around for ages. It is a very simple design concept wherein the building relies on its local climate and the sun for heat, instead of mechanical or electrical systems. More

Last year during Home Hacks month we wrote a few turorials on working with contractors: How To Find A Good Contractor and How to Work With a Contractor and Not Get Ripped Off. We turned to one of our favorite green architects, Nathan Kipnis, for advice, but as some of you suggested, it'd be good to hear what the contractor himself has to say. So we did! More

Coal, wood and gas have long been the standard fuel sources for heating our homes and powering our appliances. One alternative fuel source is gaining momentum and is super efficient — pellets. They're made from industry byproducts such as sawdust and wood chips, burn clean and can be used any a variety of heat sources such as fireplaces, furnaces and boilers. We recently attended a presentation on pellet appliances, find out what we learned about this super fuel source, after the jump. More

The amount of snow most of the US has received is crazy! Even more is coming, and while this is quite the burden, it does provide one easy and free opportunity to assess your home's insulation quality. You can do this audit yourself (as long as snow is on the ground). Fnd out how after the jump! More