Chicago Green Insulation

Hot Second Floor in Chicago Homes: Why Upstairs Gets Too Hot and What Actually Helps

If your second floor is too hot in the summer, you are not alone. This is one of the most common comfort problems we see...

Most homeowners think insulation is the thing that makes a house comfortable.

It is, but only if the air is controlled first.

That is the part most people miss.

Insulation slows heat transfer. Air s...

Air Leaks, Stack Effect, and What You Can Do Right Now

When Chicago turns brutal, it’s easy to blame the furnace. But most of the time, the furnace isn’t failing—your home is losing the fight because heated air is escaping and cold air is being pulled in faster than your system can comfortably replace it. 

The good news: there are DIY steps you ca...

Attic Insulation Strategies
My architect told me we need R-49

If you’ve ever had an architect, inspector, or well-meaning neighbor tell you, “You need **R-49**—that’s code,” you’re not alone. In the Chicago area, R-49 has become a kind of shorthand for “a properly insulated attic.”

But here’s the part that matters for *your* house: **R-49 is a number, n...