We use windows to give us views, fresh air, and passive solar heating in the winter, but are there good ways to modify them to prevent too much solar gain in the summer? Yes, and new research from BuildingGreen (my company) and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL) tells us which “window attachments” are worth using.

(Via GreenBuildingAdvisor.com.)

Homeowners love to let the sun shine in.

But builders and architects know that flooding rooms with natural light—through windows, skylights, solar tubes, light wells, clerestories, and other building-envelope penetrations—can create problems, especially in northern and southern regions where heat loss or heat gain often accompany any increase in glazing. Bringing natural light deep into a home’s interior, whether for new construction or renovation, also can require difficult and costly building efforts but can reap huge rewards in efficiency and comfort if implemented effectively.

(Via Ecohome Magazine.)

Beefing up R-values and reducing air leaks are the twin rallying cries of builders focusing on energy efficiency. Regardless of the particulars of the house design, more insulation and fewer air leaks make houses more comfortable, more durable, and less expensive to heat and cool.

(Via GreenBuildingAdvisor.com.)

Contractors say that too many homeowners and architects are naive in their reliance on the bid process as the major tool to lower project cost, and that they ignore the negative impact this process can have on the quality of construction, the level of service provided, and the development of the trust needed among all the parties for a successful outcome. If builders see that a bid process is not supported by thorough drawings or structured to ensure that all bidders develop accurate costs, they feel competitive pressure to provide lower bid figures that increase the chances of getting the job rather than finishing it the way the owner intends.

(Via Fine Home Building.)