Green buildings often emphasize use of "natural ventilation" which is great in theory, but in the city seems like it would be problematic as noise from traffic, restaurants/clubs, and general city noise would enter into the home. What techniques can be utilized to decrease the amount of sound and reverberation that enters into a "green" building?

I know it is going to be hot inside no matter what. I am wondering what type of insulation will keep the walls the coolest, or the lowest temperature?

Foam sheets, spray foam, fiberglass roll insulation, etc.

I want to know, is it cheaper running central heating at a constant heat 24/7, or does it work better having it on a timer?

Eg, at the moment our landlord lets it run from 5.30 in the evening to 11 at night. Does that work out more expensive?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

I’m looking a for Website the has the newest and latest in making your home green and self sufficient. I want one that could describe how to make a house completely sufficint, incorperating all the new advances of technology

I am a smoker and I can’t quit and will be taking my habit to the grave. With that out of the way I’m asking for some help with ways to help my birds.

I already know to ventilate.

What kinds of filters work the best for smoke? Hepa, ionics, what?

I found a nice GE Hepa for only 60 with replacement Hepa filters only 20 they are a room size and I was thinking of getting two, maybe three.

But I know there are lots of air filters on the market and wanted some input from other bird people as to what works best, especially with cig smoke.

Thanks alot.

I’m a 1st time home buyer looking to buy a ranch style home in CT, a little under 1,000 square feet. I can’t find an estimate of oil costs anywhere, and the companies won’t give them to me unless I’ve got the place. I’m just trying to find out if buying this home is even affordable for me;

How much does it actually cost to heat YOUR home in the winter with oil? Please, any reasonable estimate would help me out a lot to start planning if I can budget this or not.

Wondering how much extra solar power I need to calculate. Or, should I use non-lighted switches. Thanks, Rick

I live in Newark NJ and I just switched from oil to gas heating system and I have an above ground full oil tank in my basement, does anybody knows any oil company that can buy me this oil? I might have 250 gallons in it.
Thanks,

I live in an old building that is poorly insulated. I am planning on putting it in the kitchen to replace an existing one that is only 5000 btu’s. I want to make sure that it will cool my apartment. I am also putting it in the wall vs the window, if that helps at all. Thanks Everyone!

say i build a turbine that was turned by a belt off the motor and ran and tube from it and put the hose going to the carburater so it forced air into it the motor. would this add any horse power or change anything?

a source of heat what kind would you get? Is gas heat really more expensive then electric now?

recommendations needed for small to mid size contractors who have a proven great reputation in the philadelphia/suburban area.

I wanted to learn how to wind the wires in a stator so that I can recharge a set of batteries in parallel. Where can I find the equations to do such a thing. For example, I would need to know the wire gauge, number of wire loops, and magnet strength. Thank you.

Just out of curiosity.
Interesting when I lived in section 8 we had a gas furnace and the bills were much higher than I pay now for the electric heat/air central combination thing. Maybe it was just a bad system.
Or maybe it’s just that electric is cheap here since we’re on hydro?