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How Wasted* Is Bringing Sustainability To The Portable Sanitation Industry
Believe it or not, there’s a lot of waste in the portable waste industry, and we’re not just talking about human waste. From route optimizations, to what kind of toilet paper is used
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Strategies for Encouraging Continued Green Building Materials Demand and Supply Growth
I recently had a sober conversation with a colleague where we agreed we should be further along in quite a few ways than we are in terms of green building. I imagine many people in our wider cir
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VRF Heat Pump Installation - In Progress!!
Hi everyone -
I've mentioned in our newsletters about how we are going to be intalling VRF heat pumps in the future, and.... the future is here! I look forward to sharing
DIY Solar Power Fan Installation - Reduce Shed Heat and Stagnant Air
A solar powered fan is a great and simple idea to remove excess heat from a shed. And this is a Scout project in addition, where (with supervision), the kids can get involved and learn as well.
Smart Exhaust Controls - Sensors Improve Garage and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
"There are good garages and bad garages…” according to Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. And in the good ones, we breathe better air!
Remote Hood Exhaust Fan Retrofit Delivers Significant Noise Reduction
Sometimes, a smaller targeted project can be the best project! I am excited to report that we just completed a retrofit to install a remote hood fan for our kitchen exhaust hood, and it instantly made
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Automatic Bath Fan Sensors Reduce Humidity, Pollutants, and Odors
As Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. points out, most people don’t use ventilation properly. Exhaust fans can be a missed opportunity for improving Indoor air quality, or IAQ,
Rainstick Showers - Higher Water Pressure, Using 80% Less Water?
The Rainstick shower seems to offer the impossible, delivering high water pressure, while using a lot less water. If you’re concerned about lower water pressure, this product can deliv
Heat Pumps and Cold Weather - Q&A / Myth Busting
Some myths take a while to go away… Decades ago, Atlanta Green Builder Matt Hoots would likely have agreed that heat strips were often needed to help heat pumps keep up with heat
Finding Paths Forward: Ideas for When We Disagree in the Green Building Industry
It was energizing to receive quite a few positive responses to Rate It Green’s New Year’s email. Some people were appreciative of our efforts to bring the green building community to
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COP28 - Is this Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
The 28th COP, or Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, took place in Dubai from November 20 to December 13, 2023. If you're an optimist, you might think it&rs
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Major Green Building Organizations Rally Around the Common Materials Framework (CMF)
At Greenbuild 2023, leading green building organizations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), the International WELL Building Instit
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Global GreenTag International Launches First Nature Positive Standard and Declaration
Global GreenTag International recently launched the first Nature Positive green building programs, the NaturePositive+ Standard™ and the NaturePositive+ Declaration™. Both programs call on
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Top Factors for Selecting New Windows
How do you decide what windows you need? Green Builder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. shares some top considerations, but first he reminds us that every client, every job, every building, an
Deciding When to Replace Windows
Thanks to GreenBuilder Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. for kicking off our series on Windows and Energy Efficiency!
In this conversation, Matt explains when it’s time to start thin
European vs. American Windows - What's the Difference?
Have you been wondering what the difference is between European and American windows? (And have you had a European window seem to fall on you during vacation, and perhaps you panicked?) Check ou
Energy Efficient Steel Windows and Doors - Arcadia Custom
Arcadia Custom Windows and Doors has met the challenge to prevent energy loss and to meet or even exceed energy codes with steel doors and windows. In this video, Matt Hoots talks with M
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Strategies for Managing Summer Attic Heat - Air Sealing and Insulation
Join Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. and Amelia Godfrey, EarthCraft Program Manager for a conversation about attic heat, including why our attics get hot, why this matters, and strategies
Aiming for Higher Performance Homes - A Holistic Approach is Best
There are plenty of reasons people might not want or be able to renovate the interior of the home when trying to improve building performance. What can you do to improve performanc
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What is the Compressive Strength of ROCKWOOL Insulation?
No, you shouldn’t drive over ROCKWOOL or any other insulation, but apparently people have done it….
In this video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc.
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How Effective is ROCKWOOL Stone Wool Insulation Against Water?
What happens to ROCKWOOL stone mineral or stone wool insulation when it gets wet? This is an important question, as insulation is installed on the outside of the house, on the roof, on t
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Reviewing the Benefits of ROCKWOOL Stone Wool Insulation
In this video, Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. and Chris Laumer-Giddens of LG Squared, Inc. share why they think highly of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation, also known as mineral wool in
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What are Outriggers, and Why Do We Need Them?
As Matt Hoots of Sawhorse, Inc. and Chris Laumer-Giddens of LG Squared, Inc. explain in this video, outriggers are rafters or trusses that extend beyond the roof of the building. Ou
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First Net Zero Energy Community in Georgia
Even though we are in a hot building market, it is important to innovate and design based on consumers' ever-growing needs. The timing is perfect for a house that matches the realities that
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Why Air Sealing and Insulation are Both Essential
Why do we need to air seal AND insulate? The answer is that these control layers work together to protect air quality and energy efficiency, improving comfort, protecting our buildi
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