With any house, there are so many variables that influence the decision to choose one particular mechanical system over another; climate, home size, cost, local availability and cost of fuels and materials, and the life style and preferences of the occupants. There is no "one-size-fits-all" system that one can reliably prescribe to all projects. So…

Enter the Dollar! Now it's time to start figuring out just how much these solar sytems will cost. Moreover, we'll find out how to calculate your return on your investment. Then Phil takes us out with a great song called Earl Jean by Beachwood Sparks. Enjoy.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

The thing about photovoltaic(PV) Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic cell has no moving parts; electrons are energized by sunlight and result in current flow. solar (or PVPhotovoltaics. Generation of electricity directly from sunlight. A photovoltaic (PV) cell has no moving parts; electrons are energized by sunlight and…

Chris and Phil have a nice chat with energy auditing guru, Allison Bailes, As a Green Building Advisor and the man behind the Energy Vanguard, Allison knows his stuff. Together they discuss the new Energy StarLabeling system sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy for labeling the most energy-efficient produ…

The Lounge welcomes John Straube for a drink and chat about the latest news in Building Science. The drink ends up being of the caffeinated variety (due to the early temporal placement of the recording within the day) and the conversation covers many topics such as his new book and what commercial buildings should strive for, where green building a…

Some see the glass as half full, others see it as half empty. Jim tells you what the %$#@! is in the glass, how it got there, and what SHOULD be in the glass instead. Join Chris and Phil as they interview author, and social commentator, James Howard Kunstler. Jim delivers his commentary on the built environment in a refreshing, unique, and blunt ma…

It's one thing to design a house, and it's another entirely to turn that design into a physical reality. In this episode, Chris and Phil kick back with an autumn cocktail and talk about the process of bringing on a builder and the challenges of keeping control, quality, cost, and expectations managed along the way.…

It's one thing to design a house, and it's another entirely to turn that design into a physical reality. In this episode, Chris and Phil kick back with an autumn cocktail and talk about the process of bringing on a builder and the challenges of keeping control, quality, cost, and expectations managed along the way.…

Sprout Follies read moreKirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

You know him, you love him, (or at least his articles) it's Martin Holladay. He was in the neighborhood, so he stopped by to chat with Chris and Phil for this episode of the Green Architects' Lounge. This is your chance to get to know the man behind some of your favorite articles. Hear how he spent his youth abroad and how it has shaped his current…

Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly in grid-tied renewable energy systems, because of tra…

Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly in grid-tied renewable energy systems, because of tra…

Phil and Chris finally get to talk about one of their favorite topics. Net ZeroProducing as much energy on an annual basis as one consumes on site, usually with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics or small-scale wind turbines. Calculating net-zero energy can be difficult, particularly in grid-tied renewable energy systems, because of tra…

You've probably heard about 'Passive House' (or 'Passivhaus'). And like Phil and Chris, you can feel the buzz in the air from it within the green housing community. It's a building certification that is focused completely and only on reducing energy consumption. Join Chris and Phil as they summon their own energy to discuss this hot topic over a co…

You've probably heard about 'Passive House' (or 'Passivhaus'). And like Phil and Chris, you can feel the buzz in the air from it within the green housing community. It's a building certification that is focused completely and only on reducing energy consumption. Join Chris and Phil as they summon their own energy to discuss this hot topic over a co…

You've probably heard about 'Passive HouseA residential building construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. Developed in the early 1990s by Bo Adamson and Wolfgang Feist, the standard is now promoted by the Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany. To meet t…

In the final part of this episode we talk about the cost of some of these home energy monitoring systems, and what the future holds for this budding industry. Phil share Hot Zigg! (a good idea) (or so he thinks) Then he takes us out with Rococ by Arcade Fire.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

In this part of the episode, Chris, Phil, and Peter discuss the different types of home energy monitoring systems and what you should expect from each.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

Peter Troast of Energy Circle stops by to share a drink with Phil and Chris and share his knowledge on Home Energy Monitoring Systems. In Part 1, Chris shares a 'Pomini' cocktail recipe and Peter explains what energy monitoring is, and why you'd install such a system.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

I sent an email out to Jeff Gagnon and Jim Godbout and asked them five basic questions about ground source heat pumpHeating and cooling system in which specialized refrigerant fluid in a sealed system is alternately evaporated and condensed, changing its state from liquid to vapor by altering its pressure; this phase change allows heat to be transf…

In part one of this episode from the Green Architects' Lounge, we only scratched the surface. Now it's time to really dig in and decide if a ground source heat pumpHeating and cooling system in which specialized refrigerant fluid in a sealed system is alternately evaporated and condensed, changing its state from liquid to vapor by altering its pres…

If you've done any amount of research on ground source heat pumps, chances are likely that you've heard from those who have said that you'd be insane to consider this as a viable system for your house, AND you've heard others say you'd be insane NOT to use GSHPs. Where insanity and green architecture meet, there you shall find our intrepid architec…

In Part 3, Chris, Phil, and Pat wrap up their discussion on BiomassOrganic waste that can be converted to usable forms of energy such as heat or electricity, or crops grown specifically for that purpose. Boilers with a chat about cost, a 'Hot Zigg', and a 'Six Digit Idea'. Then the episode concludes with a song by Pete Miller called Daydreamer.…

In Part 2, Phil Chris and Pat continue their discussion on gasification Log boilers and introduce Pellet boilers to our listeners.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

With over 20,0000 barrels of crude oil spilling into the gulf of Mexico every day as a result of the BP Deep Horizon disaster, there has never been a more important time to explore and advance the use of renewable fuels for our homes. Pat Coon of Revision Heat is back for this episode to discuss residential biomass boilers and wood as a renewable a…

This is the last part of the Green Architects' Lounge three-part series on deep energy retrofits. In this episode, Phil and I are basically wrapping up the segment. We discuss the importance of sizing your new HVAC system to the heat load of your newly renovated house (this is where that energy audit information, that we mentioned in previous episo…

This is part two of the Green Architects' Lounge three-part series on Deep Energy Retrofits. In this episode, Phil and I discuss what we feel is the most crucial part of a DER, the exterior building envelope. There is no single solution. Here, we must be nimble and thoughtful and deal with the structure that we're given and apply the skills we've l…

Deep Energy Retrofits - Part 1: Our Nation is full of an existing housing stock in desperate need of improvement. There is scarcely a greener thing to do than to assign our collective architectural skills to the task of improving the efficiency, durability, functionality, and all-around livability of these homes. We're talking DEEP energy retrofits…

Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan

Maine architects Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan look at air barriers — one of “The Big Three” topics (along with insulation and windows) of green construction. They also share the recipe for their Cocktail of the Week: the Simple Charm.Kirjoittanut Chris Briley and Phil Kaplan