“A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow,” by Joshua S. Goldstein and Staffan A. Qvist (2019) Here’s a quick summary of the main points from this excellent book… My two main criticisms of this book Despite these specific differences of opinion, I love this book for selling … [Read more…]
Dr. Steven E. Koonin’s 2021 book “Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters” pushes back against the characterization of climate change as “settled science” in media and policy discussions. All figures in this post come from the book. The book argues that policymakers and the media have deliberately misled … [Read more…]
While the previous chapters have been prescriptive, finish steps are a great opportunity to individualize your home to fit your aesthetic and demonstrate your unique choices. As such, this chapter provides loose recommendations only. I’ve broken the finish work down into four phases. These can be done in any order, but this is the order … [Read more…]
Hire a drywall company to install and finish the drywall. Specify ½” drywall for the walls and 5/8” drywall for the ceilings. Specify moisture resistant drywall for the bathrooms and the wall areas behind the kitchen sink, laundry machines, and dishwasher. Ask the drywall company to install drywall up to the windows so that no … [Read more…]
Hire an insulation company to install closed cell foam in all the exterior stud and rafter bays. With 2×4 studs and 2×6 rafters, the R-values of the walls and roof will be 24 and 38, respectively, compared to the recommended values illustrated in Figure 11. In 2021, the author received a quote of $6,000 for … [Read more…]
Ductless mini-split HVAC systems are simple, inexpensive, and energy efficient. They can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer with no special equipment other than a vacuum pump, which can be rented. Because they run refrigerant to each of the indoor units, they do not require ducts. This reduces the accumulation of dust and mold in the … [Read more…]
Before beginning the electrical work, consult with your local utility to understand the requirements for connecting to their grid. Typically, the utility will charge you a connection fee that will include the cost of installing everything up to and including the electrical meter, and you will be responsible for everything from the meter to your … [Read more…]
You will complete the plumbing in three phases: Step 1 Before beginning the plumbing work, consult with your local water and wastewater utility (if applicable) to understand the requirements for connecting to the sewer and water supply pipe at the street. Start plumbing drain installation at the sewer or septic tank and work up to … [Read more…]
You can install the windows and exterior doors after you tape the OSB sheathing, and before installing the siding. Ensure that the openings are square, level, and plumb. Windows with nail fins are better for new construction because they are easier to install and waterproof. Prior to installing the windows, window flashing tape should be … [Read more…]
The simplest, least expensive roof option is an asphalt shingle roof. These roofs require a minimum slope of 3:12 (3 feet vertical rise for every 12 horizontal feet). The simplest design option for a roof is a gable roof with no chimney and only one central plumbing vent penetrating the roof deck (see Figure 6). … [Read more…]
Americans usually build house walls with dimensional lumber (typically 2x4s and sometimes 2x6s). This process is simple, fast, and inexpensive, although dimensional lumber is less available and more costly in other parts of the world. The framing crew typically assembles 2×4 walls lying on the foundation, with a 2×4 base plate, two 2×4 top plates, … [Read more…]
The one tricky thing about this step is that it is fairly site specific. You will need to know the frost depth in your area. This is based on how cold it gets where you live. The figure below illustrates frost depths for the continental U.S. Figure 3. Frost Depth (in Meters) To design your … [Read more…]
Home construction can be broken down into the following simple steps: 1. Floor 2. Walls 3. Roof 4. Windows and Doors 5. Plumbing 6. Electrical 7. HVAC 8. Insulation 9. Drywall 10. Finish (including cabinets) This series of posts will describe how to build a house in these steps. It won’t be easy, but it … [Read more…]
In Bhopal, India, in 1984, a leak from a Union Carbide pesticide storage tank killed thousands of people sleeping in nearby residences. To mitigate the risk of a Bhopal-like incident in the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began requiring Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting, which obliges certain industrial facilities to provide data to the … [Read more…]
Alright, this is going to be pretty contraversh, but I think you should have a basement. If you have a basement, great! I’ve got no bone to pick with you today 😊 But if you don’t, can you get one? I mean really think about it. If you’re life depended on it, could you get … [Read more…]
In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the generation, transport, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. The next time you can’t sleep, check out 40 CFR 261 through 265 to see the actual rules. The table below summarizes the rules for facilities who generate hazardous waste. The rules are complicated because they are … [Read more…]
This post describes the process by which you can construct a septic system for a single-family residence located on soil with sufficient permeability. The system is based on the preservation of a constant gradual slope for all the piping from the house drain to the leach field. Because it uses gravity, it is not subject … [Read more…]
The sciences help us understand what can be objectively known and the laws by which the universe operates. Artists help us interpret the unknown in ways that might be useful or interesting to us. Artists live right at the edge of order and chaos, interpreting the chaos and sometimes organizing it in such a way … [Read more…]
When I was in college, we worked on a project as a group of geoscientists and engineers to try and select the best possible disposal option for nuclear “waste.” As I remember, our favorite idea was geologic disposal beneath subducting plates that would carry it into the earth’s core. Dumping it into outer space was … [Read more…]
Its just a plan, and no plan ever survives contact with the enemy. I say the APR-1400 is the best now, and it is not perfect. It is a very solid piece of technology with a great track record, and it has low recorded costs and construction times relative to others. But there is some … [Read more…]