What is expected to be one of the most energy-efficient homes in Boston began as the workshop for an 1850's gunsmith. Abandoned since 1980, the building was initially destined to be renovated into a passive-energy-use house, but due to structural issues, it is now being rebuilt to the original dimensions. More

Are you overwhelmed by the different options when it comes to insulating your home? You probably understand what an R-value is and that the attic is probably the first place to begin. But when it comes to type of insulation and proper installation, are you as well informed? See a great resource after the jump. More

After renovating most of my own home, there are certainly some things I'd recommend doing myself, and somethings that are better left to the pros. The renovator of a 1920's bungalow in L.A. recently gave an interview about some of the lessons learned from his own DIY experience...
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Rockwool was used in Anne's Sunny Renovation

Yesterday we told you about a great construction material, cellulose insulation. Another great material you may have noticed popping up in a lot of our house tours is Rockwool Insulation, also known as mineral wool or slag wool. That's right - just like fiberglass insulation is essentially spun glass, Rockwool is literally rock that has been melted and spun into fibers... More

Cellulose is sexy! Or at least better to the touch than most insulation materials. Cellulose is one of the oldest insulation materials to be used in buildings, but it has changed considerably since old newsprint was stuffed into wall cavities at the turn of the last century. The pulp is finely ground and sprayed with a flame, mold, and rodent retardant, typically boric acid. This treatment has satiated many of the historic concerns about using the material, namely the combustibility of paper and the fear of multiplying mice in your walls... More

When it comes to acoustic-friendly insulation, sound quality tends to overpower eco-friendliness. In the last year or so though, companies have been coming out with alternatives to formaldehyde and phenol packed insulation. The latest is from Knauf Insulation, which makes Ecose insulation from naturally occurring and/or recycled raw materials...
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We're rather intrigued with straw bale construction; a few years ago, we saw it in practice in a community in Costa Rica. And that's when we decided to associate straw bale construction with rustic, rural communities. But take a look at this home in California's wine country; it's got walls two feet thick, stuffed with straw... More

I love a house that is proportionally shaped like an iconic "house" — two stories with an approximate roof pitch of 45 degrees! The plans for this home in Poland by moomoo architects take the basic "house" shape and play with it by simplifying the form and then wrapping the home's exterior in Thermopian — a plastic material used in roofing that has thermal and acoustic insulating abilities. The best part? Thermopian can be produced in ANY color!

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With the help of solar panels, super-efficient windows and insulation, and low-flush toilets Mig Halpine, Calico Harington, and their children are living an almost energy-independent home life in Bethany, Connecticut. The New York Times shows us how the gardening and bee-keeping family lives a "normal" lifestyle in a very green way... More