BackPage Primers

Thermal Mass: What It Is and When It Improves Comfort

Heavy or massive objects like masonry can help improve thermal comfort, if used properly. They often don't insulate well, however.
Environmental Building News—November 1, 2007

Binders in Manufactured Wood Products: Beyond Formaldehyde

Concerned about emissions regulations, the manufactured wood products industry is moving away from glues formulated with urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde.
Environmental Building News—October 1, 2007

Ground-Source Heat Pumps: Tapping the Earth's Mass

Ground-source heat pumps take advantage of stable temperatures just below the Earth's crust for energy-efficient heating and cooling.
Environmental Building News—September 1, 2007

Light-Emitting Diodes: Chasing White Light

LED lighting is becoming more energy-efficient and cost-effective, but it has not yet realized its potential for efficacy, and for wider applicability.
Environmental Building News—August 1, 2007

Volatile Organic Compounds: Definitions Matter

Because of how air-quality regulators define VOCs, judging a product's contribution to indoor air quality using only VOC content can be misleading.
Environmental Building News—July 1, 2007

Drywall Options: Paper-Faced, Monolithic, or Fiberglass-Faced?

Drywall types differ in cost, recyclability, and response to moisture and mold.
Environmental Building News—June 1, 2007

Insulated Concrete Forms

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are permanent forms for poured-concrete walls.
Environmental Building News—May 1, 2007
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Member Comments

Plyboo Bamboo Flooring

Meredith Elbaum says, “I'm having a hard time finding if the entire Plyboo product has no added urea formaldeyhde. I know the...” More...


Watermiser Flow Control Valve

Brent Ehrlich says, “These valves are appropriate for residential use, but because of the installation cost on a retrofit you may be better...” More...

oso koenigshofer says, “How is the water pressure? I am remonded of the Seinfeld episode with the low flow shower heads where everyone...” More...


Solar-Thermal News

Ethan Goldman says, “The Solar Mining Company sounded like a great way to finance a solar thermal system, but unfortunately their website says...” More...


Energy Dashboards: Using Real-Time Feedback to Influence Behavior

Kevin Little says, “The Prius effect is a real phenomenon, in which drivers use the mileage display feedback to improve performance—they actually change...” More...

Kevin Little says, “There’s a lot to discuss in terms of performance feedback systems but I’ll put the philosophy discussion in another comment.” More...


Free Energy Modeling in Google SketchUp

Caleb Crawford says, “Hi, I read about the IES VE software as a free plug-in to SketchUp and Revit. I am an educator, and...” More...