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This article addresses the issue of top chord bearing truss in conventional residential construction framing in Phoenix AZ consuming considerably more wood than should have been used resulting in… Read More

High performance homes—due to superior insulation, better performing windows and more efficient lighting and appliances, can be expected to have smaller sensible cooling loads than typical new homes… Read More

Why a Ventilation System?All buildings require controlled mechanical ventilation, or the controlled, purposeful introduction of outdoor air to the conditioned space. Building intentionally leaky… Read More

Why a Ventilation System?All buildings require controlled mechanical ventilation, or the controlled, purposeful introduction of outdoor air to the conditioned space.  Building intentionally… Read More

Ventilation system intakes must be sufficiently separated away from potential contaminant sources, and locations of dust and debris. Mechanical sealed combustion equipment intake should also be… Read More

Ductwork, furnaces and air handlers should be sealed against air leakage. The only place air should be able to leave the supply duct system and the furnace or air handling unit is at the supply… Read More

The location of the duct system can have a significant impact on the overall performance of the system—both the utility use and the ability to provide comfort. The energy loss from the ducts for… Read More

These systems are completely decoupled from the interior environment through the use of dedicated outdoor air intake and exhaust ducts connected directly to the unit. This change completely… Read More

Crawlspaces should be designed and constructed as mini-basements.  Crawlspaces should not be vented to the exterior (see FAQ on Crawlspace Venting). They should have their floors uninsulated,… Read More

Basements are part of a home, within the building boundary—despite repeated attempts over the years to disconnect them from the living space. Because of this, basements should be designed and… Read More