Energy & Climate
Guides on house plans, building costs, permits, materials and energy efficiency, with plans you can buy today.
Passing the Blower Door Test: An Air Sealing Checklist for Hitting 3 ACH50 A failed blower door test can hold up your certificate of occupancy and your closing. This stage-by-stage checklist shows where a new wood-frame house leaks and how to seal it before the drywall goes up. Read more →
Where Do the Ducts Go? Keeping HVAC Inside Your Two-Story Home Ducts in a hot attic quietly waste the energy you pay for. Here is a step-by-step way to plan HVAC inside the conditioned space of a two-story house before the contractor bids. Read more →
Solar-Ready House Plans: 7 Myths About Roofs, Pitch and Panels That Cost Owners Money The house plan decides how much solar your roof can carry long before an installer shows up. Here are seven common myths about solar-ready design, and what actually matters in 2026. Read more →
Energy Code by Climate Zone: Insulation, Windows and Heat Pumps Checklist for a New Home A stage-by-stage checklist that turns your IECC climate zone into real decisions about 2x6 walls, attic insulation, windows, blower door tests and heat pumps. Read more →