Getting Connected: Structured Wiring Basics
The wires included in a structured wiring bundle vary by manufacturer, but look for at least two coaxial cables of RG-6 quality and two twisted pair cables of Category 5 (CAT-5) or higher quality. Higher end options may also include fiber optic ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Energywise House: An Ultra Energy-Efficient Home In The ...
This desert home is essentially a jumping-off point for discussions of energy-saving measures that could be used to achieve similar results in other homes and climates. "Homeowners want to save money. Using less energy to heat or cool a house is ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Energywise House: Video Resource Library
CertainTeed WeatherBoards FiberCement Siding - Steve Easley is joined by CertainTeed's Steve Booz to discuss the siding being used on the EnergyWise House. CertainTeed WeatherBoards FiberCement Siding is manufactured in the exclusive DuraPress ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Effects Of Sound In The Home
Uncontrollable noise is irritating. The roar of an airplane overhead, the rattle from a passing train, and chronic urban noise can have negative effects on health. Uncontrollable noise exists in homes, too—intermittent, impulsive, and continuous ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Home Automation Alliances
An alliance is a group of companies that have agreed to support a particular technology or standard with their services and products. The three big alliances in the home-automation industry are ZigBee, INSTEON, and Z-Wave. Each alliance features ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Installing The Superior Walls Foundation System
The prefabricated, insulated wall panels were delivered to the jobsite on a flatbed truck. There they were lifted one at a time by a crane and carefully and precisely mnanuevered into place on a 4"-6" bed of compacted stone which acts as a ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Johnson Space Center Tour
Bob's impression? "You could call it the 'Ultimate Smart House'. Not only does it 'communicate' in English and Russian-it is soon going to learn Spanish, Japanese and a host of other languages as new countries launch their additions and they are ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
Creating Your Ideal Home Theater
But not everyone has that luxury, of course. If you can’t do a new room, the best choices are square or rectangular rooms that are enclosed, have standard-height ceilings and have few windows or controllable light, says Paul Diggin, managing ... [... more]
Bob Vila |
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