FIELD NOTES

"The attic is hot, the basement is cold..." A pre-purchase home performance study of an old farmhouse, in five parts and twelve days.

A homebuyer showed me his house reimagined by ChatGPT: a good instinct, and a flat picture. Here's what an AI render leaves out, and why a professional uses AI to refine the work, not drive it. With neuroscientist Dr. Poppy Crum on the "cognitive tax" of AI.

California put $1.15 billion on the table for community resilience centers in 2026. As a Passive House-credentialed architect who just wrote a proposal for one in Redding, here's what the field actually looks like: the funding stack, six case studies, and why the building envelope is the real resilience strategy.

A few weeks ago a prospect asked me a fair question. The design-build firm down the street had offered her a free quote for her restaurant build-out. I had proposed a feasibility study first, and I charge for it. Why, she asked, should she pay me for something the other firm gives away? Here is what I told her, and what I tell everyone who asks. A free quote and a feasibility study are not the same product They are not the same thing wearing different price tags. They are two

Protect your home from wildfires with our guide on wildfire defense, home hardening, and creating defensible space for California residents.

Fixed-price diagnostics, design fees set phase by phase, and hourly billing for focused questions.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Trends: compact, eco-friendly spaces that boost property value. Perfect for rentals or family.

In the quest for a healthier, more sustainable living environment, the concept of air sealing in new home construction plays a pivotal role. This process, crucial in Passive House design, ensures that homes are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable and durable. Passive House Scheme - Ventilation System - source: Wikimedia Why Air Sealing Matters Air sealing prevents unwanted air infiltration, which can lead to moisture damage, energy loss, and poor indoor air quality

What a feasibility study checks for a home or a commercial space, and what you keep at the end.